This week on Troy Harmon, CFA, CVA, is joined by Managing Associate Shawna Theriault, CFP®, CPA, CDFA®, and Associate Michael Griffin, CFP®, who bring a discussion on the importance of both spouses being involved in the financial planning process, and how important it is for both spouses to plan for retirement should something happen to the other.

The major indices ended trading down on Monday as Technology brands led decliners on the NASDAQ Composite. However, while stocks slipped, oil climbed. West Texas Intermediate crude jumped up 1.9% settling at $69.98 a barrel. Stocks climbed on Tuesday as The Street saw strong earnings reports in the Industrials sector and a bounce back in Technology shares. In economic news, Consumer Confidence rose in July, but increasing pessimism marred expectations. Home purchase plans dropped to their lowest level in two years. Mid-week, the market was mixed with the Dow Jones Industrial Average and S+P 500 Index trading in the red while the NASDAQ stepped up. Comments following the two-day Federal Open Market Committee meeting came as no surprise. The Fed held interest rates steady but expressed the likelihood of further hikes as the economy remains strong and inflation tame. On another note, U.S. manufacturing slowed slightly in July. The ISM manufacturing index dipped to 58.1 from 60.2 in June. Consumer Discretionary and Technology brands led advancers on Thursday, while Energy and Materials lagged. The Dow shed some points and the S+P 500 and NASDAQ closed in the green as concerns of more tariffs ramped up. Meanwhile, Department of Labor numbers showed an increase in jobless claims from the previous week's unrevised level to 218,000 in the week ended July 28, a low level not seen since the early 1970s. Indices closed in the green zone on Friday on a variety of economic news. Data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics showed employers added 157,000 jobs in July versus an upwardly revised 248,000 in June. The result was shy of estimates of 193,000 but marks an 18-year low level in unemployment. Additionally, the unemployment rate dipped to 3.9%. In the last economic report for the week, the ISM non-manufacturing index showed activity decreased in July. The index fell to 55.7 from 59.1 in June.

This week on "Money Talks," Chief Economic Adviser Roger Tutterow, Ph.D., joins Troy Harmon, CFA, CVA, and Jarrett McKenzie, CFP®, CWS®, to discuss the week’s market moves and economic reports, including existing home sales, industrial production, and housing starts. Roger lends his expertise to a discussion on the escalating trade war and the tariffs that the Trump administration has placed on many Chinese goods. The experts also answer listeners’ questions on what to do with General Electric stock, Papa John’s International, Telephone and Data Systems, and using a trust as a beneficiary for retirement accounts.

Chief Economic Adviser Roger Tutterow, Ph.D., joins Troy Harmon, CFA, CVA, and Jarrett McKenzie, CFP ®, CWS ®, to lend his expertise to a discussion on the escalating trade war and the tariffs that the Trump administration has placed on many Chinese goods.

Stocks opened the week lower but managed to gain some ground in the afternoon. At the end of the trading session, the Dow Jones Industrial Average was down roughly 0.14%, while the S+P 500 Index was up 0.05% and the NASDAQ Composite was higher by 0.22%. The major indices were mixed again the following day as the Dow and S+P ticked up while the NASDAQ closed fractionally in the red. Stocks in the Energy, Materials and Telecommunications sectors led advancers on the S+P 500. Midweek saw green closes across the board as Industrials and Information Technology stocks stood out among advancers on the NASDAQ. In economic news, new home sales declined in June, with sales dipping 5.3% from a revised level for May; however, new home sales are still 2.4% higher than in June of 2017. Indices were mixed again on Thursday, with the Dow posting gains while the S+P 500 and NASDAQ shed some points. While economic reports were light, durable goods orders increased 1.0% in the month of June, slightly missing analysts’ expectations. Furthermore, initial jobless claims rose to 217,000 during the week of July 21st, which was in line with expectations. The major Indices closed in red territory on Friday, dipping amid a variety of economic news. Gross domestic product growth ticked up in the second quarter, as the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis showed real GDP grew 4.1%, following a revised 2.2% in the first quarter.

The "Money Talks" experts answer listeners’ questions on what to do with General Electric stock if you have a loss in your shares, Papa John’s International, and Telephone and Data Systems. They also discuss the benefits and drawbacks to using a trust as a beneficiary for retirement accounts.

This week on "Money Talks," Tax Manager John Dickson, C.P.A., CFP®, CVA, joins Troy Harmon, CFA, CVA, and K.C. Smith, CFP®, to discuss the news in the market, including year-to-date performance and the Technology sector’s growth in the last 25 years. Now that it’s mid-year, John highlights some of the major changes from tax reform that will affect everyone’s 2018 taxes. He discusses what you should watch out for, moves you should consider if you know you’re losing some itemized deductions, and how tax projections can help you determine how to best position your money. The experts also answer listeners’ questions on choosing between an IRA and 401(k), why IPOs are considered speculative, and if extended car warranties are worth the purchase.

Henssler’s experts answer listeners’ questions on choosing between an IRA and 401(k), why IPOs are considered speculative, and if extended car warranties are worth the purchase.

The major U.S. stock indices kicked off the week with mixed moves on Monday. The Dow Jones Industrial Average added points while the S+P 500 Index and NASDAQ Composite closed in the red. The mixed results were likely on a variety of economic data. While Retail Sales posted their fourth consecutive month of solid growth, the Energy sector weighed on the market as the price of crude oil dropped nearly 4%. The following day, the NASDAQ closed at a record high, led up by rebounding technology brands. Earnings season fueled the movements for the Dow and the S+P mid-week as the the sentiment of earnings and the economy outweighed trade and tariff tensions. The major indices reversed course and closed in red territory on Thursday with Financial stocks leading decliners amid a variety of economic news. Initial jobless claims decreased last week as the Department of Labor data showed first-time claims fell by 8,000 to 207,000 for the week ending July 14. Despite spending the majority of the session in positive territory, stocks ended trading fractionally lower on Friday; however, gains in the Financials and Consumer Staples sectors limited declines on the S+P 500. It seems that President Trump’s comments suggesting more tariffs on Chinese goods stirred enough doubt for investors to take late-day profits.

Tax Manager John Dickson, C.P.A., CFP®, CVA, joins Troy Harmon, CFA, CVA, and K.C. Smith, CFP®, to highlight some of the major changes from tax reform that will affect nearly everyone’s 2018 taxes. He discusses what you should watch out for, moves you should consider if you know you’re losing some itemized deductions, and how tax projections can help you determine how to best position your money.