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As we continue marching towards a new year, there are several important things to keep in mind regarding your financial planning. These items may or may not make sense for you, but they are topics you should generally evaluate each year. Maximize Retirement Plan Contributions It is important to remember that while IRA and Roth...
2024
The U.S. national debt is a hot topic, especially with the U.S. elections this year. Currently, the debt is nearing $35 trillion, which is over 120% of the country’s GDP and continues to rise rapidly. The amount almost sounds comical. It’s hard to comprehend such a large number in our minds. The government is spending...
2024
October 2024 With an impending election, this is a good time to review how markets have performed during various political cycles, as well as to look at some possible outcomes in 2024. For starters, it’s important to realize that people’s perceptions of the economy can vary drastically depending on whether the party they favor is...
2024
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Factor investing is a strategic approach that involves finding securities based on specific attributes such as value, quality, momentum, size, and minimum volatility. These factors, which are well-documented by researchers, are essential tools for investors seeking to outperform the market. Decades of research have revealed the sets of characteristics that explain differences in expected returns. […]
You are probably aware that a major determinant of your investment returns, as well as your portfolio risk and volatility, comes from the proportions of various asset classes or investments that you hold. As such, you likely gave a good deal of thought to your initial selection of what investment mix to hold in your […]
The stock market adage “Sell in May and go away” is based on the observation that the best-performing six-month rolling period historically occurs from November through April. During this time, average returns tend to outpace the subsequent six months (May to October). Investors are advised to sell their holdings in May, move into cash, and […]
Elevated inflation readings over the last several years, combined with worries that the Federal Reserve’s efforts to tame inflation might tip the economy into recession, have caused some pundits to begin talking about the possibility of stagflation. With that in mind, let’s take a closer look at what stagflation is, how likely it is to […]
Mutual funds, ETFs (exchange-traded funds), and SMAs (separately managed accounts) are three of the most popular types of investment vehicles. Investors are faced with so many options these days that it can be overwhelming and often confusing. Understanding the key differences among these three is important for any investor looking to build a diversified portfolio […]
With the November elections fast approaching, the news cycle is ramping up on what to expect. And while that often involves a nonstop flow of doom and gloom prognostications, as investors, we often stress that the key to success is to remove emotions from the mix and focusing instead on the facts. With that in […]
2024 will mark the first time in many decades that Berkshire Hathaway’s legendary Chairman, Warren Buffet won’t be joined onstage at the annual meeting by his longtime sidekick and Berkshire Vice Chairman Charlie Munger. Munger, who died late last year shortly before his 100th birthday was credited with being the “architect” of Berkshire Hathaway, with […]
While driving in your car and listening to the radio, it’s common to hear something like: “The Dow was up 500 points today, while the S&P was up 2%.” The commentators are talking about the daily performance of stock market indexes. These indexes represent a hypothetical portfolio of investment holdings, capturing a specific segment of […]
Employee Stock Purchase Plans (ESPPs) are popular employee benefits programs offered by many companies as a way to allow employees to purchase company stock at a discounted price. ESPPs are designed to enable employees to purchase company stock through payroll deductions, often at a discount from the market price. These plans are a way to […]
Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) have become a popular way to compensate employees for their efforts. RSUs are a type of equity-based compensation in which an employee receives shares of company stock as part of their overall compensation package. However, RSUs typically do not grant the employee ownership of the stock outright until certain conditions are […]
Looking for a financial advisor? Someone to bounce ideas off of or double-check what you hear from friends or read about online? Many people are in the same position, struggling to manage their finances and just not sure what the next steps are. According to the National Financial Educators Council, in 2023, U.S. residents lost […]
Direct indexing gives investors the ability to mimic the performance of an index such as the S&P 500 by purchasing its underlying stocks to create a customized portfolio. Since you can’t invest directly in an index, most investors will buy an exchange-traded fund (ETF) or mutual fund to replicate its performance. When you own shares […]
