Blog
529’s are no Longer Just for College
Blog529’s are no Longer Just for College 529 savings plans used to be something you saved in ONLY for future college expenses. While that still might be the majority of the reason that someone would save money into a 529 plan, it certainly doesn’t tell the...
Caring for Elderly Family Members
BlogCaring for Elderly Family Members Often referred to as a “sandwich generation” there are many adults these days that are caring for both their own children as well as aging family members. Whether you have kids of your own, or they are already grown and...
Housing for 2nd Half of the Year
BlogHousing for 2nd Half of the Year At the beginning of the year we put out a 2024 housing outlook that First Trust published. In that report it talked about how unique 2023 was for housing but also an expectation for home sales to pick up in 2024 with expected...
Thoughts on this Weeks Volatility
Blog“Thoughts on this Weeks Volatility" I’m writing this on Tuesday, August 6th so take the context into account as you read this on Friday morning but we’ve already had a busy week in the market. I find it helpful to always take a step back, breathe, and put market...
A History of the Federal Funds Rate
Blog“A History of the Federal Funds Rate" There is a lot of talk about the Federal Funds rate recently and whether or not the Federal Reserve will lower interest rates in 2024. I thought this recent article from Yahoo Finance did a good job explaining the history of...
Is the AI Fever Too Hot?
Blog“Is the AI Fever Too Hot?" I get a lot of questions about Artificial Intelligence and whether clients think we should be investing more heavily in some of these companies. While the growth has certainly been eye-catching, it’s important to not get caught up in the...
Why America is Still a Safe Bet
Blog“Why America is Still a Safe Bet" Over the past few years I regularly get asked if I think that America is in a downward spiral and whether investing in our future is still a safe bet. While I understand the question, and I don’t think you can argue that the...
Why the Stock Market Isn’t a Casino
Blog“Why the Stock Market Isn’t a Casino" I’ve heard people say before that the stock market is simply organized gambling and while I understand the sentiment I would have to disagree especially when you take into account the time it takes for a bet to play out in a...
Roger Federer vs. the Stock Market
Blog“Roger Federer vs. the Stock Market" If someone has a large amount of money to invest, it can sometimes be easier psychologically to put that money to work slowly over time. In other words, rather than investing $500,000 in one day, it can feel better to invest...
Mid-Year Stock Market Outlook
Blog“Mid-Year Stock Market Outlook" It’s hard to believe we are already at the halfway point of 2024! There are always a lot of question marks coming into a new year, however with numerous global elections already completed and a contentious US election in...
“Bearish is Easier than Bullish”
Blog“Bearish is Easier than Bullish" No matter what is happening in the markets or wider economy it seems you can always make a case for why the market is about to crash or why we are set for another bull run. 10 different advisors or economic “experts” can view the...
Why the Stock Market Isn’t a Casino
Blog “Why the Stock Market Isn’t a Casino" I’ve heard people say before that the stock market is simply organized gambling and while I understand the sentiment I would have to disagree especially when you take into account the time it takes for a bet to play...
Is Social Security Really Going Bankrupt?
Blog“Is Social Security Really Going Bankrupt?" Unless you’re living under a rock, you’ve heard some version of the statement that social security is running out of money and that we shouldn’t be counting on it for future retirement income. While there are certainly...
The Increase in Americans Retiring Overseas
Blog“The Increase in Americans Retiring Overseas” America can be an expensive place. Having personally lived overseas, it’s not to say that other areas are always cheaper, but the reality is that more and more Americans are finding retirement locations that they love...
Tax Disparity
BlogMay 3rd, 2024 “Tax Disparity” As we come into an election year, there will many different topics discussed and debated, but one that will likely come up is our country’s budget deficit (now over $33 Trillion) and how increasing taxes could help to offset this...
Separating AI Hype from Investment Opportunity
Blog“Separating AI Hype from Investment Opportunity" I receive a lot of questions from clients around Artificial Intelligence, where it might go in the future, and what companies or trends make the most sense to invest in. While anyone’s answers to these...
“Consistency is Attractive”
Blog“Consistency is Attractive" In the age of social media, it’s so easy to get caught up in what the latest trends are and then adjust to ensure your life is oriented towards those trends. Older generations can claim that it is a “millennial” issue but keeping up...
Are we Living in the Roaring 20’s?
Blog“Are we Living in the Roaring 20’s?" With all of the negative headlines that are easy to pick up on and read about on the news it can sometimes be lost on us what we are currently experiencing. Coming out of COVID in 2020, net worths are at all time highs, stock...
Humility Comes with Experience
BlogHumility Comes with Experience The more time I spend in finance, the more I realize how little we truly know or how foolish it is to try and predict what is going to take place. I’m convinced that if someone is absolutely certain of their belief of what will...
The Life Satisfaction Smile
BlogThe Life Satisfaction Smile I heard the concept on a podcast recently that was talking about what makes people truly happy. It’s an age old question and one that I would guess we aren’t going to have a universal answer for or “solve” anytime soon. That...
Re-Thinking your Giving with a Donor Advised Fund
BlogRe-Thinking your Giving with a Donor Advised Fund For many, the idea behind charitable giving has absolutely nothing to do with potential tax benefits. The fact that you are contributing to a cause that you are passionate about and one where you can see...
Your Goals > Stock Market Movements
Blog“Your Goals > Stock Market Movements” For those who’ve been reading our weekly articles for some time, you might recognize the title. We have re-visited the idea that your personal goals should hold a greater weight in your mind than what is happening in the...
7 Important Ages for Retirement Planning
Blog“7 Important Ages for Retirement Planning" The amount of decisions and timeframes that arrive at your doorstep as you head into retirement can be overwhelming. It’s hard to keep track of what age you become eligible for Medicare vs. when you can take social...
Do I Need Umbrella Insurance?
Blog “Do I Need Umbrella Insurance" Umbrella insurance is an important risk management tool, particularly for people who have wealth, income, or future income potential. Additionally, it’s cheap relative to most other types of insurance! I’m always amazed at the...
Van Gelder Financial
Curious to know more?
We offer a free 30 minute introductory call for those interested in becoming clients with Van Gelder Financial. During this call we will ask a lot of questions and answer any that you may have to ensure there is a match.