{"id":1191,"date":"2015-12-30T23:15:07","date_gmt":"2015-12-30T23:15:07","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/vhfinancialmanagement.com\/?p=1191"},"modified":"2015-12-30T23:15:07","modified_gmt":"2015-12-30T23:15:07","slug":"wrapping-up-2015","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/vhfinancialmanagement.com\/2015\/12\/30\/wrapping-up-2015","title":{"rendered":"Wrapping Up 2015"},"content":{"rendered":"
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As we come to the close of 2015, we can look back and review a year that was just plain odd.\u00a0 We spent most of 2015 waiting for the Federal Reserve to raise interest rates.\u00a0 Finally, in December, they pulled the trigger for a quarter percent increase.\u00a0 The market initially cheered this move but has since declined, which is more in-line with expectations.<\/p>\n

Unfortunately, we also spent the year watching horrifying scenes of terror attacks. \u00a0This too, impacted the market, especially international markets, which were already in pain.\u00a0 Most international funds have been on a downward trajectory since June of 2014.<\/p>\n

As the presidential primary started to heat up, the rhetoric and dissension increased as well, which I feel has its own way of creeping into the market and the economy. It\u2019s easy to prematurely prognosticate one direction or the other\u2026and some chose to do this with their money and business decisions. \u00a0So, while this may have a smaller impact on our economy at the moment, it could become a larger mover of the market and economic environment as we get closer to the election.<\/p>\n

Also, in true congressional fashion, congress once again waited until the last minute to deliver a Christmas present to us taxpayers. \u00a0Right before Christmas, President Obama signed the Protecting Americans from Tax Hikes (PATH) Act which extends numerous tax provisions.\u00a0 Here is a list of the most notable items:<\/p>\n