Blog
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...
“Stocks have a Case of Bad Breadth”
Blog“Stocks have a Case of Bad Breadth" ‘Market-breadth’ refers to the number of companies responsible for driving the returns of the overall market. If a small number of companies account for the vast majority of the market’s (or an index’s) return over a...
“Housing Market Frustrations”
Blog“Housing Market Frustrations" Last week I spoke about the complacency we feel in the US economy despite some attractive economic metrics. Yes, unemployment is historically low, yes GDP grew over 4% in the third quarter of 2023, and yes inflation seems more under...
Complacency in the US Economy
Blog “Complacency in the US Economy” How bad or good is the US economy right now? Why is it that good news seems to create negative reactions in the stock market? Are we spoiled from the recent low interest rate...
Common Financial Scams Targeting Older Adults
Blog“Common Financial Scams Targeting Older Adults” As our world becomes ever more digital, it is easier and easier for scammers to present legitimate appearing situations that end up being financial scams targeted at the elderly. I’ve personally had friends and...
Can you Save Too Much in a Health Savings Account?
BlogCan you Save Too Much in a Health Savings Account? Health Savings Accounts are not spoken about nearly as much as they should be. For individuals and families currently enrolled in a High Deductible Health Plan, the HSA is an incredibly tax...
Year-end Tax Planning
Blog “Year-end Tax Planning" As the calendar year winds down, it's the perfect time to think about your finances and make strategic moves to reduce your tax bill. Here are some straightforward year-end tax planning ideas that many should consider well before December...
“House Rich but Cash Poor”
Blog“House Rich but Cash Poor" If you are like many other Americans who have owned a house over the past ten years, you’ve seen very nice appreciation and therefore equity build-up in your home. While this shows up on a Net Worth statement, it oftentimes doesn’t lead...
“Avoiding Common Retirement Pitfalls“
Blog“Avoiding Common Retirement Pitfalls" There's no such thing as one-size-fits-all retirement planning and planning the perfect retirement may be a pipe dream. For many folks, their view of what retirement will look like tends to change after the first few months...
“How Much is Enough?”
Blog“How Much is Enough?" This question is always relative. How we answered this question in our 20’s might be very different to how we answer in our 40’s, 50’s or beyond. Additionally, who we hang around and compare ourselves to (dangerous!) also plays a big...
“America’s Problems are Relative”
Blog “America’s Problems are Relative” Not many people would argue with you if you said that America is a great place to live but also has many problems. Whether it’s our national debt, inflation, interest rates, or political division, it can be easy to assume that...
“In Good Years the Market Still Goes Down”
Blog“In Good Years the Market Still Goes Down" It’s a simple thought, but I really enjoyed this article from Ben Carlson over at A Wealth of Common Sense. I hope you enjoy it too: The S&P 500 is up just shy of 17% so far in 2023. Maybe these gains...
“Yield Curve Inversion”
Blog"Yield Curve Inversion" If you loan (not gift) someone money for 2 years, you would expect to get your money back plus some level of interest since they held your money for 2 years. If you decided to loan that same money to someone for 10 years you would...
“Good and Bad News About the Economy”
Blog “Good and Bad News About the Economy" It is hard to decide which voices you listen and ultimately which voices guide your line of thinking and decision making. I thought this recent article from Ben Carlson at a Wealth of Common Sense did a great job...
“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...
“How Americans Save, Spend and Invest”
Blog "How Americans Save, Spend and Invest" Ever since the pandemic hit us in early 2020, something that has been very interesting to watch is how Americans save, spend, and invest their money. While during COVID lockdowns, our spending choices looked...
Should we be Bullish for the 2nd Half of 2023?
It’s safe to say that with all the talk of a pending recession coming into 2023, the first half of the year has been more favorable than expected for stockholders. The S&P 500 is up around 20% from its lows in October 2022. This has been nice to see but is...
“Quoting and Comparing Home and Auto Insurance”
Blog Quoting and Comparing Home and Auto Insurance Many of you may not know, but May was national insurance planning month and while insurance isn’t the most exciting of topics, it is usually a place that monthly or annual savings can be found with a little...
“Debt Ceiling Showdown”
Blog “Debt Ceiling Showdown" I thought this recent article from Capital Group did a good job summarizing the debt ceiling issues and what, if anything, investors should be doing as a result. Unfortunately, the reality is that we’ve been here before in 2011...
Getting Financially Organized
Blog“Getting Financially Organized” Getting organized and staying disciplined can be difficult with any area of life. Sometimes when results can be visibly seen it can be a motivator (think staying fit or keeping your house clean). However, when it comes to...
“Is Cash King Yet Again?”
Blog“Is Cash King Yet Again?” The rapid and parabolic rise of interest rates throughout 2022 and into 2023 has meant that there are finally alternatives to investing only into high growth stocks. For so much of the bull run in 2020 and 2021, the alternatives...
“Uncertainty is the Only Certainty”
Blog“Uncertainty is the Only Certainty" If you keep up with the news on a daily basis, it’s hard not to notice the constant fluctuation and turmoil on a geopolitical and financial front. Whether it is increasing interest rates, persistent inflation, or inverted yield...
“Re-Thinking your Giving with a Donor Advised Fund”
“Donor Advised Funds are a great way to be more intentional and tax efficient with your charitable giving!”
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