The Family Meeting: Communication is Key
The season for gathering is upon us. A little more than half of those in the baby-boom generation plan to travel in 2021, according to an AARP survey, and 57% of them are planning a trip to spend time with loved ones. Which brings to mind an important topic: the family meeting. Though it may…
Read MoreOctober Market Review
November 1, 2021 The major domestic equity indices climbed steadily through October, a confident step forward from September’s stumble even as supply issues created intermittent voids on supermarket shelves and broad patches of uncovered tarmac at car dealerships. Strong corporate earnings reports set the stage at the start of the month, and the release of…
Read MoreSeptember Market Review
October 1, 2021 Markets prefer clarity – or at least as close a facsimile as they can get. Since the start of the pandemic, we’ve seen how markets can push through uncertainty, up to a certain point. September, however, brought a stack of compounding uncertainties, combining to end the S&P 500’s seven-month streak. To understand…
Read MoreAugust Market Review
September 1, 2021 Record-setting earnings, official FDA approval of the Pfizer vaccine and anticipation that booster shots will begin in September helped drive equity markets steadily higher in August. The S&P 500 index, a common measure for U.S. large-cap performance, reached 12 highs during the month on its way to gains of roughly 3%. Since…
Read MorePlanning for Retirement – All About IRA’s
What is an IRA? An individual retirement account (IRA) is a personal retirement savings plan that offers specific tax benefits. In fact, IRAs are one of the most powerful retirement savings tools available to you. Even if you’re contributing to a 401(k) or another plan at work, you might also consider investing in an IRA.…
Read MoreJuly Market Review
August 2, 2021 As the major domestic equity indices continued to mark new highs through July, they provided an example of how dueling narratives can both be true while the forward-looking market produces a clearly positive result. In this case, optimism bolstered by a broad selection of economic data and sentiment – gross domestic product…
Read MoreWhat Savvy Investors Know About Social Security
Retirement and Longevity Explore some of the ways that well-informed retirees make the most of their Social Security benefits. In any financially independent retirement, Social Security benefits are bound to play a significant role. Not many reliable sources of income bring as much to the table regarding cash flow and cost-of-living increases just about every…
Read MoreLosing a Loved One: Things to Know
Losing a loved one can be overwhelming and emotionally draining. And in the wake of that loss, money may be the last thing on your mind when you’re dealing with making arrangements and picking up the pieces. It’s wise to put off major decisions while you’re grieving – conventional wisdom recommends taking a year to…
Read MoreFour Ways to Create a Meaningful Family Legacy
Family legacy planning that goes beyond finances can help us live with intention. Family lends us a strong sense of identity. So it makes sense that traditional legacy planning focuses on this area of our life and the financial resources we want to leave to our loved ones. However, we believe the best legacy plans…
Read MoreFirst Quarter 2021 Market Update and a Close Look at Inflation
First Quarter Market Update The first quarter of 2021 witnessed a boost for the economy as the continued expansion of the vaccine rollout and the passage of the almost $2 trillion stimulus bill was reflected in rising gross domestic product (GDP) estimates, a further move up in equity prices, and a steady rise in interest…
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