March 25, 2020

As noted previously, we are continuing “business as usual” in a remote-work capacity. If you need to reach us for any reason, simply call or email as you would have before.

Help Now Available for People & Businesses Affected by COVID-19

The Coronavirus outbreak has certainly disrupted the market, the economy, our workforce, and our day-to-day lives. We at the Dowling Group are looking into the various emergency resources that may help you, your family members, or friends who have been affected. Much is still being worked out, but here is what you can do now:

Personal:

  • If you have been laid off, file for unemployment in the state in which you worked. Although weekly claims are surging, it is important that you file as soon as possible. Most states retroactively pay claims to the date unemployment began. Visit the Connecticut or New York Department of Labor website to start the process.
  • If COBRA is too expensive, apply for Medicaid or CHIP. Some states have opened their health insurance exchanges for a special enrollment period. You do not need to worry about deadlines for the exchange enrollment periods. If you were recently laid off, you will have a 60-day window to explore your options.
  • Check with your bank to see if they are providing any relief programs. Some banks are putting programs in place which will allow borrowers to defer mortgage, credit card, or car payments.
  • While we continue working to finish filing your taxes, payment of Federal, Connecticut, and New York state taxes can now be delayed until July 15th interest- and penalty-free. This includes both 2019 taxes owed and the first two quarters of estimated tax payments.

Business:

  • If you’re a small business owner, visit the Small Business Administration website. This government agency has very helpful information and provides relief programs, such as bridge loans and working capital.
  • The Connecticut Department of Labor has a dedicated website about their Shared Work program which allows business owners to retain staff at reduced hours and allows the employees to still apply for unemployment.
  • The Connecticut Department Economic and Community Development (DECD) offers advice and resources for small businesses. The DECD is also a direct lender. They are introducing a bridge loan program next week which will offer 18-month loans up to $75k. Businesses needing immediate help and/or questions answered can call the Business COVID Response Team at 860-500-2333 or email Covid19.gic@ct.gov.

We know you may have questions about the Federal Stimulus Bill and how it could affect you or your business. As of noon on Wednesday, March 25th there is an agreement in the Senate, but it has not been officially passed. We will share more specific information once the bill becomes law.

We continue to be here to support you. Feel free to give us a call if you have any questions or if you need assistance accessing the resources above.

Wishing you and your families well,
Sean M. Dowling, CFP, EA
President, The Dowling Group Wealth Management

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  • Government bonds and Treasury Bills are guaranteed by the U.S. government as to the timely payment of principal and interest and, if held to maturity, offer a fixed rate of return and fixed principal value. However, the value of fund shares is not guaranteed and will fluctuate.
  • Corporate bonds are considered higher risk than government bonds but normally offer a higher yield and are subject to market, interest rate and credit risk as well as additional risks based on the quality of issuer coupon rate, price, yield, maturity, and redemption features.
  • The Standard & Poor's 500 (S&P 500) is an unmanaged group of securities considered to be representative of the stock market in general. You cannot invest directly in this index.
  • All indexes referenced are unmanaged. Unmanaged index returns do not reflect fees, expenses, or sales charges. Index performance is not indicative of the performance of any investment.
  • The Dow Jones Global ex-U.S. Index covers approximately 95% of the market capitalization of the 45 developed and emerging countries included in the Index.
  • The 10-year Treasury Note represents debt owed by the United States Treasury to the public. Since the U.S. Government is seen as a risk-free borrower, investors use the 10-year Treasury Note as a benchmark for the long-term bond market.
  • Gold represents the afternoon gold price as reported by the London Bullion Market Association. The gold price is set twice daily by the London Gold Fixing Company at 10:30 and 15:00 and is expressed in U.S. dollars per fine troy ounce.
  • The Bloomberg Commodity Index is designed to be a highly liquid and diversified benchmark for the commodity futures market. The Index is composed of futures contracts on 19 physical commodities and was launched on July 14, 1998.
  • The DJ Equity All REIT Total Return Index measures the total return performance of the equity subcategory of the Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT) industry as calculated by Dow Jones.
  • International investing involves special risks such as currency fluctuation and political instability and may not be suitable for all investors. These risks are often heightened for investments in emerging markets.
  • Yahoo! Finance is the source for any reference to the performance of an index between two specific periods.
  • Opinions expressed are subject to change without notice and are not intended as investment advice or to predict future performance.
  • Economic forecasts set forth may not develop as predicted and there can be no guarantee that strategies promoted will be successful.
  • Past performance does not guarantee future results. Investing involves risk, including loss of principal.
  • You cannot invest directly in an index.
  • Stock investing involves risk including loss of principal.
  • The opinions voiced in this material are for general information only and are not intended to provide specific advice or recommendations for any individual. All performance referenced is historical and is no guarantee of future results. All indices are unmanaged and may not be invested into directly. Economic forecasts set forth may not develop as predicted and are subject to change. Investing involves risk including loss of principal.
  • The Price-to-Earning (P/E) ratio is a measure of the price paid for a share relative to the annual net income or profit earned by the firm per share. It is a financial ratio used for valuation: a higher P/E ratio means investors are paying more for each unit of net income, thus, the stock is more expensive compared to one with a lower P/E ratio.
  • These views are those of Carson Group Coaching, and not the presenting Representative or the Representative’s Broker/Dealer, and should not be construed as investment advice.
  • This newsletter was prepared by Carson Group Coaching. Carson Group Coaching is not affiliated with the named broker/dealer.
  • The foregoing information has been obtained from sources considered to be reliable, but we do not guarantee it is accurate or complete.
  • Consult your financial professional before making any investment decision.

ADV & Investment Objectives: Please contact The Dowling Group if there are any changes in your financial situation or investment objectives, or if you wish to impose, add or modify any reasonable restrictions to the management of your account. Our current disclosure statement is set forth on Part II of Form ADV and is available for your review upon request.