All Trumped Up
A recurring theme you’ve heard from us is that stocks take their longer-term cues from what’s happening to corporate profits and expectations of corporate profits, how the economy is expected to perform (which supports profits), and what’s happening to interest rates. But shorter term, any number of events or issues can creep on to the […]
Read ArticleA Look Back at 2016 and What Might Be Ahead
2016 has come and gone. It started out in a very rocky fashion, with comparisons to 2008 that were too numerous to count. Let’s be clear. As we’ve emphasized in past summaries, markets don’t always trade in a quiet and orderly fashion. But, just because we run into turbulence doesn’t mean it’s time to retreat […]
Read ArticleWho Needs Financial Planning? Everyone!
It puzzles me when I meet people who don’t have an advisor to assist them with financial planning. In my mind, the health of your finances is somewhat like your physical health, in that a professional should make any required “diagnosis.” When you’re sick, you go to a doctor; with respect to financial planning, think […]
Read ArticleThe Emotional Side of Financial Planning
A financial advisor should understand every aspect of a prospective client’s financial life and frankly – take too much time with them — by design. It’s important to learn their goals and dreams, as well as their challenges and fears, and that means developing relationships that are both professional and personal. By getting to know […]
Read ArticleShould My Financial Planner or Advisor Charge Me a Fee on Uninvested Cash?
The answer to this question is not as simple as you might expect. Depending on the circumstances, the answer could be yes or no. I’ll help you understand those circumstances! What is the Difference Between Fee-Based, Commission-Based or Fee-Only? Critical to answering the question is an understanding of the difference between a fee-based advisor and […]
Read Article10 Things You Should Say to Your Financial Advisor
COMMUNICATING WITH YOUR FINANCIAL ADVISOR You hired a pro for a reason. His or her time is precious, and so is yours. I always say communication is the absolute most important thing an advisor and client can work on; it takes a little reflection and a lot of practice to optimize. Here are my top […]
Read ArticleWhat Mentoring and Financial Planning Have in Common
Is there a greater honor than having a significant influence on someone’s life? I don’t think so. Thus, I was honored and touched when my nephew, Wil, named me #3 in a school project focused on the biggest influences of his life — right behind his parents. When I started thinking about writing this article, […]
Read ArticleWhy We Buy What We Buy
Last month, we wrote about stocks and how the collective wisdom of the market values, or prices, companies. Continuing on with that theme, it’s important to understand why we may recommend a particular stock, bond, or any investment for one person, and why that same security may not be appropriate for another. In some ways, […]
Read ArticleThe Seasons of the Market
The Clouds Part We have seen an interesting turn of events for the market, one that favored the bulls and rewarded those who did not abandon the strategies we recommend. Notably, upward momentum came in a month that historically has a ghoulish reputation. But as we point out shortly, reputation and reality do not always […]
Read ArticleDon’t Sweat the Headlines
Volatility Can be Managed In last month’s market commentary, we talked about looking past scary headlines. It’s easy to say when stocks are holding up or moving higher, but a jarring correction may create uneasiness. We are reminded of a comment by John Bogle, retired CEO and founder of the mutual fund giant, The Vanguard […]
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