from FREEDMAN FINANCIAL | September 23, 2016

Raises All Around!

Has the US economy hit a turning point?

According to recent US census data, the American middle-class received a raise recently - and it was a good one. Median household income rose by five percent last year, or about $3,000. It marks the first time since 2007 that the middle class have seen an increase in their pay.

There are other good notes for the economy as well. Unemployment levels are at the lowest levels we've seen in years. And the number of Americans living in poverty has decreased; as well as those without health insurance. These upticks are considered strong indicators of positive movement for the US and its economy.

Finally, the Economy is Growing for All

Kids Today

How things have changed.

Remember when you're parents used to say "When I was a kid...?"

Chances are you tuned them out and continued enjoying the advances of "modern life". Well guess what? You're now in your parents' shoes. Life has changed over the years.

Gone are the days when the kids hogged the phone, went to their rooms as a punishment, or stayed out late to play hide and seek. Today kids have their own phones (but they text rather than speak into it). They only wish you'd let them spend MORE time in their rooms as they have every creature comfort imaginable; and they spend thier time playing Xbox, streaming videos and snap-chatting friends. The world is different.

Do you remember the "Palmer Method for learning cursive?" That's gone too. Who hand writes anything these days? Banging out letters on a manual typewriter used to be a hated class in school. Now kids type on a keyboard (without looking) by 6 years old. Chances are they never typed "The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog" on a Smith Corona.

Today's youth adapt to change with eagerness. They bore easily; and can't wait for an upgrade. While you might not be ready to try everything that's new. Talk to the grand-kids. They'll talk fast, but we're sure they'll have much to share.

8 Things Not to Expect from your Grandkids

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT

Freedman Financial's Blog

Read our latest blog post here, as well as find other postings that may be of interest to you.

Weekly Market Commentary

EM Earnings: Beginning to Emerge

Charitable Funds

What you need to know about Donor Advised Charitable Funds.

Paying taxes is not a favorite chore for most Americans. Given the option to reduce what you owe in taxes, usually raises a few eyebrows of interest. Some investors who are charitably inclined have an option, it's called a Donor-Advised Fund or DAF. Qualified investors simply fund an account with an initial deposit and then have the option to give to any 501(c) charities over time.

So why would you open such an account instead of simply writing a check to your favorite charity? There are several tax advantages. To read more click on the link below.

Benefits of a Donor Advised Charitable Fund

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