The brokerage industry is largely shifting towards zero-commission trades. On the surface, this would appear to be for the benefit of investors, but there are hidden costs to zero-commission trades.  This shift creates several questions investors should contemplate.  How are brokerages replacing their primary source of revenue?  Are brokerages switching to zero-commission trades to benefit investors?  There…

After months of negotiations, a new tax and spending bill was approved by Congress and signed into law by President Trump on July 4. This new budget is far-reaching, it makes many parts of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act permanent, it raises state and local tax exemptions, extends the estate tax limits, and much…