Breaking down the basics.

Whether your 65^th birthday is on the horizon or decades away, understanding the different parts of Medicare is critical, as this government-sponsored program may play a role in your future health care decisions.

Parts A & B: Original Medicare. There are two components. In general, Part A covers inpatient hospital care, skilled nursing facility costs, hospice, lab tests, surgery, and some home health care services. One thing to keep in mind is that, while very few beneficiaries must pay Part A premiums out of pocket, annually adjusted standard deductibles still apply.^1,2

Understanding Enrollment Periods and Eligibility

For some, Medicare enrollment happens automatically. If you are already receiving Social Security benefits, your coverage will begin on the first day of the month you turn 65.¹

If you are not yet receiving Social Security benefits at 65, you may be delaying them until full retirement age or even until 70. However, you can still apply for Medicare. If you are approaching 65 and not receiving Social Security, SSDI, or Railroad Retirement Board benefits, you can determine your eligibility and apply by visiting your local Social Security Administration (SSA) office or going online at www.soci

Corporate America delivered another outstanding earnings season. S&P 500 Index earnings are tracking to an 8.2% year-over-year increase for the third quarter with just a handful of companies left to report. Excluding the impact of hurricanes within the insurance group, corporate America produced its third straight quarter of double-digit earnings growth. The amount of upside to earnings estimates was slightly below average in the quarter, but we consider the season a success given the strong upside to revenue forecasts, along with generally upbeat outlooks from corporate management teams.

The consistency with which companies

Fixed income investors experienced three different market environments in the third quarter: a period of relative calm in July, several flight-to-safety events in August, and a resumption of risk taking in September as August risks faded. The net result during the quarter was little movement in longer-term interest rates and a flattening of the yield curve, leading to positive returns for all major segments of fixed income. Short-term rates were pressed higher by the Federal Reserve’s (Fed) commitment to a continuation of gradual rate hikes and monetary policy normalization [Figure 1].

Much like the first half of the year,