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Your financial journey will have many different turns and unexpected situations while hopefully achieving some significant milestones. This blog showcases areas that we often discuss with our clients and very well could be beneficial for others. Topics that will be discussed are: the economy, estate planning, taxes, investments, education, liability, and retirement planning. Questions in any other areas are more than welcome. Located in Grand Rapids, MI, The Braun Walsh Group assists individuals, businesses and families with their financial needs. 

Wednesday, March 4, 2026

You may be aware of an important update regarding Michigan state taxes on retirement income: beginning in 2026, most individuals will not be required to pay Michigan state tax on retirement income and pension benefits, including:...

Tuesday, December 9, 2025

Winter 2025 Digest offers timely market and economic commentary from Strategas as well as planning perspectives from Baird’s in-house experts. Our current edition includes: Planning Beyond the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act Letter from...

Monday, June 30, 2025

Turning 50 isn't just a birthday milestone—it's when the IRS allows you to "catch up" on your savings with catch-up contributions. For those in their early 60s, their savings potential has been supercharged thanks to the SECURE 2.0...

Thursday, February 20, 2025

Like you, I’ve read a few unsettling headlines in recent weeks–which has led to some moving and shaking on Wall Street. First, we read that “Chinese Start-Up DeepSeek Threatens American Artificial Intelligence Dominance.” That led to...

Friday, November 22, 2024

The Internal Revenue Service released the updated income tax brackets, standard deduction, and retirement contribution limits for the 2025 tax year. While these changes won’t impact you for some time, it may benefit you to start...

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Thursday, August 8, 2024

The trader's adage goes, “The stock market takes the stairs up and the elevator down.” The saying helps illustrate the speed at which stock prices can move, especially over the last few days. Here's how the recent stock market drop...

Tuesday, February 20, 2024

Stocks fell last week as investors reacted to disappointing inflation updates and other economic reports that fell short of estimates. Stocks Snap Winning Streak Markets were quiet Monday but opened lower Tuesday in response to the...

Wednesday, November 22, 2023

Fall 2023 Digest offers timely market and economic commentary from Strategas as well as invaluable planning perspectives from Baird’s in-house experts. Our current edition includes: Stay on Top of Your Plans, All Year-Round...

Wednesday, September 13, 2023

Summer 2023  Digest offers timely market and economic commentary from Strategas as well as invaluable planning perspectives from Baird's in-house experts. Our current edition includes:   Finding Strength in...

Wednesday, June 28, 2023

Jerome Powell skipped an interest rate hike at the Fed’s June meeting, but the market isn’t buying what the Fed Chair is selling about what’s next with short-term rates. Powell signaled that two more rate increases may...

Monday, May 1, 2023

Strong earnings from several mega-cap technology companies offset renewed regional banking jitters and weak economic data, leaving stocks higher for the week.The Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 0.86%, while the Standard &...

Thursday, March 2, 2023

Investors put the economy on recession watch when the Fed started its “higher in a hurry” push with short-term interest rates in mid-2022.After the 10-year/2-year Treasury curve inverted in July 2022, it was “all...

Thursday, January 19, 2023

In the final days of 2022, Congress passed a new set of retirement rules designed to make it easier to contribute to retirement plans and access those funds earmarked for retirement.The law is called SECURE 2.0, and it's a follow-up to...

Monday, November 28, 2022

I’ve always been a little cautious when people say, “it’s different this time.” But the table below suggests the Fed is approaching 2022’s inflation differently than other financial events in recent...

Wednesday, September 21, 2022

Believe me, everyone on Wall Street wants inflation to go away, or at least shrink back to below 2%, a level we enjoyed not so long ago.But Tuesday's Consumer Price Index report showed it might be some time before we see 2% again....