Blog
What’s on our mind? You can read about it in our blog. Whether it’s ideas from the industry or emerging trends, you can read about it here. And once in a while, we may throw in a movie review or some other surprise. So keep checking in. We’re glad to have you reading along.
TD Ameritrade / Charles Schwab Transition FAQ
ABOUT THE TRANSITION Do I need to do anything to have my account(s) moved to Schwab? Your accounts will automatically move to Schwab, but to access it afterward, you must have a Schwab login. We will send a letter with details about...
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Market Assesses First Republic, GDP Report
Financial markets can be challenging to understand. And when markets enter a “bad news is good news” cycle, it becomes even more challenging to follow along.Stock prices rallied at the end of April after the Commerce...
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“Better” Is the Best Word on Wall Street
From my perspective, we can't hear the word "better" enough in the weeks ahead."Better than expected." "Better than feared." "Better than forecasted."These are winning phrases that can be used by market pundits when they compare a...
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Fed Chair Powell Can't Keep a Secret
Jerome Powell would be terrible to have in your book club. He would always reveal how the book would end.When the Fed Chair spoke following the Fed meeting in February, he said, “we’re in the early stages of...
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Don't Watch The Markets Too Closely
One of my favorite Warren Buffett quotes is, “Remember that the stock market is a manic depressive.”What he’s suggesting is that stock prices can sometimes swing wildly from day to day in response to even minor news....
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Words of Wisdom from Warren Buffett
The stock market can provide some head-scratching moments, which is why I like Warren Buffet’s quote, “...don’t watch the market closely.”Stocks have been strong this year, and they rallied sharply before...
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Is the Bear Market Over?
Please read our Blog Disclaimer."Is the bear market over?"That's a question I've been asked a number of times in recent weeks. And my answer is the same, "Let's give it a little time."But people are quick to remind me that stocks are...
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Inflation Is Trending Lower. Now What?
The December inflation report had some encouraging news. It showed that consumer prices trended lower for the month, but more importantly, it confirmed that overall prices have been trending lower for the past six months.Now the ball...
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SECURE Act 2.0: An Overview
In the final days of 2022, Congress passed a new set of retirement rules designed to make it easier to contribute to retirement plans and access those funds earmarked for retirement.The law is called SECURE 2.0, and it's a follow-up to...
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SECURE Act 2.0 Passed in Final Days of 2022
Congress spent the final days of 2022 on new reforms designed to help Americans save more for retirement.You may hear the changes called SECURE Act 2.0, which is a follow-up to the Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement...
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Happy Holidays
Once again, the year has flown by! In these final weeks of the year, our thoughts often turn to the comforts of home and family — of sharing good cheer with neighbors, friends, and loved ones.In that spirit, I would like to wish...
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Oil Prices Make a Round Trip in 2022
The financial markets are complex systems. They can move from one event to the next so quickly that it's hard to know what’s driving prices.For example, look at the roundtrip oil prices in the chart below.Oil prices surged to...
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Outlook 2023: CEOs Are Cautious
It appears that America’s corporate leaders are preparing for the worst while hoping for the best.Almost half of S&P 500 CEOs in second-quarter conference calls pointed to “recession” as a potential headwind in 2023....
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Is the Fed Ready to Pause?
Over the years, the Fed has followed a similar pattern with interest rates. It raises interest rates, then pauses, so it can see how the economy is adjusting to the higher rates. The chart below shows the Fed’s pattern with...
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Will the Midterm Elections Move Markets?
The midterm elections have come and gone, and although the results don’t appear as one-sided as many predicted, it seems one party will narrowly take control of the House, while the Senate may hinge on a Georgia runoff.It's...
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Warren Buffett on Contrarian Investing
You may have heard the phrase “contrarian investing,” but did you know that one of the most reliable contrary indicators is individual investors?Retail investors often do the wrong thing at the wrong time. But this year,...
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How the Fed Has Navigated World Events
I’ve always been a little cautious when people say, “it’s different this time.” But the table above suggests the Fed is approaching 2022’s inflation differently than other financial events in recent...
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Stubborn Inflation Tests Fed's Resolve
Stubborn doesn’t seem like a strong enough word, but that’s how Fed officials are describing inflation.Inflation's “stubbornness” has been on full display in recent weeks: First, the Producer Price Index (PPI)...
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JOLTS of Optimism for the Markets?
We measure the jobs market in many ways, but the Job Opening and Labor Turnover Survey or JOLTS report seems to be of particular interest to Fed Chair Jerome Powell.The JOLTS report tells the Fed how many job openings there are each...
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Putting Interest Rates Into Perspective
Traditionally, I’ve been a little cautious when people say, “it’s different this time.” After all, the past few years have seen more financial “firsts” than most.But despite that skepticism, this...
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What's the Fed's Master Plan?
Wall Street is always searching for a hero to embrace or a villain to blame. And right now, Fed Chair Jerome Powell is the villain.After the September Fed meeting, Powell said interest rates may be heading higher for longer than...
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What is Happening in the Market?
Believe me, everyone on Wall Street wants inflation to go away, or at least shrink back to below 2%, a level we enjoyed not so long ago.But Tuesday's Consumer Price Index report showed it might be some time before we see 2% again....
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These Months Are More Volatile Than Others
We’re entering a tricky time of year: September and October have a reputation for bringing an extra measure of market volatility.Some of the stock market’s most challenging events have hit in September and October, and...
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Important Details on Student Loan Forgiveness
The White House recently forgave up to $10,000 to student loan borrowers as part of a larger debt forgiveness program. There are still quite a few questions to be answered, but here are some key points to know.Pell vs....
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Inflation's Last Stand
Does waiting 30 days for a government report seem a bit unreasonable? After all, we live in a world of instant messages and real-time quotes. Why should we wait a whole month between updates on the Consumer Price Index to see what's...
Read MoreUnpacking the Summer Economy
In the financial world, some weeks are more important than others, and we just lived through a big one. Let's unpack each of the four key stats:The Fed. As expected, the Fed bumped up short-term rates again at its July meeting....
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Inflation, Interest Rates and Indiana Jones
Stop me if you heard this already—roughly half the population wasn’t alive last time inflation was at this level.It’s true. According to IMDb.com, Raiders of the Lost Ark was the #1 movie at the box office the last...
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3 Tips for the Second Half
With half the year behind us, now is a great time to consider what the remainder of 2022 may hold. However, with inflation and economic uncertainty causing many of us to delay or cancel vacations, large purchases, and more, it can be...
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When Will the Stock Market Hit Bottom?
The number one question I’m hearing this week is, “When are we going to see the stock market reach a low point?” In spite of recent volatility, my answer remains the same: rather than timing the markets, focus on time...
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Powell News Kicks Off Volatile Season?
The holiday season is often a quiet, positive time for the financial markets. The phrase “Santa Claus Rally” was coined in the early 1970s to reflect the stock market’s upward bias during the November-January stretch...
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The Infrastructure Bill is Signed
At the White House on Monday, President Biden signed a $1T bipartisan infrastructure bill set to enable enhancements for transportation and utilities over the next five years.1 Over those five years, $550 billion will be invested into...
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When Bad News is Good News
Financial markets can be challenging to understand. But when markets enter a “bad news is good news” cycle, it becomes even more difficult to follow along. At its November meeting, the Fed outlined its plan to taper...
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Tax Changes: What's In, What's Out?
While it’s still too early to draw any final conclusions, Congress is getting closer to outlining what tax law changes are under consideration to pay for the proposed $1.75 trillion Build Back Better Plan.1 For now, it appears...
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More Gridlock in the Supply Chain
While the world has begun to recover from the economic disruption of the COVID-19 pandemic, the delayed reaction has been felt in the supply chain. Industrial shutdowns around the world slowed production to a relative crawl, leaving...
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Are Your Taxes Going to Change?
Most likely, you’ve heard what’s brewing in Washington, D.C., called by one of these names. The Build Back Better Act. Or the $3.5 trillion budget reconciliation bill. Or the Jobs and Economic Recovery Plan for Working...
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Roller-coaster Week in Washington
Debates over government debt, taxes, and infrastructure have captured the attention of the nation this week. All eyes are on Washington and Wall Street as these events play out, with potentially far-reaching consequences that seem to...
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The Fed to the Rescue!
A funny thing happened in the investment markets the other day. September was living up to its reputation as a volatile month, but then the Federal Reserve came to the rescue. The Fed concluded its Federal Open Market Committee...
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So...What Happened This Week?
There’s a famous saying about a hurricane starting from a butterfly flapping its wings on the other side of the world. That “butterfly effect” is certainly happening in terms of the Chinese property market’s...
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The September Effect
The stock market notched its 7th straight month of gains in August, and the Standard & Poor's 500 index has set 53 new highs so far in 2021.1 During August, stocks rallied as investors looked past the increased number of COVID-19...
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Time For Your Mid-year Financial Check-up
With the first half of the year officially behind us, it’s time to face the facts: we’re in the second half of 2021. While there’s still plenty of time to enjoy the rest of summer, we encourage you to slow down and...
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Tax Refund Delayed? Here's Why.
We’ve been hearing from clients and colleagues that many taxpayers are still waiting on refunds when they filed their tax return as early as February. Some tax returns take longer to process than others, including when a return:...
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Inflation Can Be a Scary Word
Inflation can be a scary word for people who are retired. It’s code for “prices are going up, but my income may stay the same.” The most recent reading on consumer prices put inflation back into the conversation. The...
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COVID-19 Relief Bill Signed Into Law
The House of Representatives passed a $1.9 trillion relief package focused on economic relief following the COVID-19 pandemic. The bill was signed into law at the White House on Thursday.1 Beyond the much-discussed $1,400 stimulus...
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The Shadow of Inflation
I’m sure you’ve heard that the House recently passed the Senate another round of stimulus to try and counteract the economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. The new stimulus package could narrow income eligibility to...
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Bond Yields on the Rise: What Does it Mean?
One time-tested principle of investing is, "when bond yields move higher, bond prices tend to move lower." Investors are doing a "double take" on the 10-year Treasury yield, which recently topped 1.5% — its highest level in...
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Economic Predictions: What Lies Ahead...
It can be easy to overlook the nation’s solid economic fundamentals when the financial media splashes stories every day about an army of amateur traders, short-selling mania, and initial public offerings (IPOs) that double in...
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How Soon Might the Stimulus Arrive?
While many in the United States are beginning to receive vaccinations and people are starting to foresee a life after COVID-19, it remains clear that things aren’t yet back to normal. As a result, there has been a great deal of...
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What's This Market Rally All About?
Recently, the world has watched with great interest as a few companies have seen surprising rallies in their stock prices. You may have read stories of individual investors gaining massive returns on their investments, thanks to this...
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GameStop? Silver? What Gives?
You may have heard the news about stocks for certain companies suddenly ballooning, quickly going from lunch money prices to several hundred dollars a share. In one case, the shares rose over 1700% since December 2020.1 So, what...
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Tax Season is Coming Late This Year
Recently, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) announced that tax season will start a little later than usual. This year the IRS will begin accepting and processing 2020 tax returns on Friday, February 12, 2021.1 In light of the...
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How's Your Personal Savings Rate?
The personal savings rate in the United States, which is the amount of income left after taxes and household spending, has reached some significant milestones. In April, when much of the country stayed home to avoid the COVID-19...
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What's the Buzz with Bitcoin?
Hardly a day goes by that the topic of bitcoin or other cryptocurrency assets doesn’t come up in meetings with clients and prospects or from friends and relatives who want to know, “what all the buzz is about?” The...
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Highlights of the New Stimulus Package
After a bit of political posturing in December, the $900 billion Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021 (2021 CAA) was signed into law by President Trump as the COVID-19 pandemic continues to impact employers and employees....
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Thinking of You During the Holidays
For many of us, 2020 has been a year unlike any other. For some, it’s brought hardships that have tested the hardiest of souls. For others, it has brought unspeakable loss. Yet, we press on, and as we do, we may be surprised to...
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Will the Grinch Steal Christmas?
The start of the holiday shopping season can provide important clues about the economy's state and, more importantly, overall consumer confidence. So far, the results have been a “mixed bag” with empty malls and busy...
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Vaccines and the Economy
As the United States sees a rise in cases of COVID-19 across the nation, news of two promising vaccines out of hundreds being tested has offered a ray of hope for a fatigued world.1 A positive reaction to these vaccines affects every...
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Headlines and Speed Bumps
As an investor, it can be tempting to get caught up in daily news headlines. Consider how news about the election and COVID-19 vaccines have moved the markets over the past several weeks. But having a financial strategy can help you...
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What Does Joe Biden's Policy Initiatives Mean for You?
Now that several major news groups have projected Joe Biden the winner of the presidential election—and Congress appears divided with Democrats in control of the House and Republicans the Senate—it’s a good time to...
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Election 2020: Wall Street Reacts
After many weeks of telegraphing a long and careful ballot count, this week’s election lived up to that prediction in races for the Senate, the House, and the presidency. While Americans voted Tuesday, Wall Street cast its...
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Don't Second Guess Your Investment Strategy
It is a startling statistic. 45% of consumers with $100,000 or more investable assets expect to make changes to their investments due to the upcoming 2020 presidential election.1 Second-guessing your investment strategy is natural,...
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October is Financial Planning Month
When training to become a financial professional, much of our course work centers on the six critical areas of creating a financial strategy. Some recognize October as Financial Planning Month, so it's an excellent opportunity to...
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Election 2020: Economic Issues in the Crosshairs
It should come as no surprise to hear the economy is the top issue for voters in the 2020 election. Nearly 8 in ten voters say that the economy will be very important to them when they cast their votes.1 But when voters say...
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Election 2020: Preparing for Any Outcome
As the U.S. presidential election draws near, expect to see more and more headlines that propose, "What will happen next if this person is elected?" or, "What policy changes to prepare for in the next four years?" In reality, however,...
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The Race for a Vaccine
A U.S. drug company recently said that it’s in late-stage trials for its coronavirus vaccine and reported that it could be given to Americans as early as the end of the year.1 Great news. But it seems like every few days...
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Football is Back!
Football is back, which means Summer is coming to a close, days will get shorter, and sweaters will soon be in play. This year, there was no pre-season, so professional football started in September, which coincidentally, is a...
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The Dow Changes Its Starting Lineup
The Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA), one of the most widely followed stock market indices, has made some key changes to its starting lineup. Salesforce.com, Amgen Inc.and Honeywell International Inc. have replaced Exxon Mobil Corp...
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Has the Market Rally Left You Behind?
Some people in recent weeks may have been feeling that “the stock market seems to be doing so well but I’m not participating.” A look behind the headlines helps tell the story. A CNBC study found that between the...
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Is Inflation on the Rise?
Right now, many Americans are worried about their financial health due to the impact COVID-19 has had on the country. Adding to these concerns were July's consumer prices— excluding food and energy—which rose at the...
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Don't Overreact in August!
One of my favorite Wall Street quotes is from Mark Twain, who said: “October: This is one of the peculiarly dangerous months to speculate in stocks. The others are July, January, September, April, November, May, March, June,...
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The Main Street Lending Program
As businesses begin the process of reopening their doors after the COVID-19 shutdown, many have considered turning to the Federal Reserve’s Main Street Lending Program for aid. Announced on March 23, the Program’s goal is...
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Market Behavior and the Economy
As states cautiously begin the process of relaxing their COVID-19 restrictions, some are wondering, “Why are the financial markets doing so well when the economy is doing so poorly?” It’s a great question, and...
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Market Timing and Your Investment Strategy
Hindsight is 20/20. It’s only human to imagine what it might have been like to turn left instead of right on some fateful day. This happened to me recently. On my way home from a movie in late December, instead of taking my path...
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7 Facts About Stimulus Checks
Are you eligible for a stimulus check from the Treasury Department? As of Friday, April 24, the Internal Revenue Service said it had issued 88 million payments to individuals across the country. It plans to send out more than 150...
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The CARES Act and How it Can Benefit You
As I’m sure you know, the $2 trillion “Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security” (“CARES”) Act was recently signed into law. The CARES Act is designed to help those most impacted by the COVID-19...
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2019 Holiday Message
That special time of year is here – a time of love and happiness and wonder, an occasion when we all draw closer together. This Christmas season, I am thinking of you and wishing you and your loved ones all the best the season...
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Chalres Schwab to Acquire TD Ameritrade
As you may have heard in the news, Charles Schwab and TD Ameritrade have reached an agreement for Schwab to acquire TD Ameritrade. The combined company will retain the Schwab name, and will reflect the best that each legacy firm has to...
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Great News! $0 Commissions
You may have seen the news…first Charles Schwab, and now our custodian TD Ameritrade Institutional is eliminating base commissions for online exchange-listed stock, ETF (domestic and Canadian), and options trades, moving from $6...
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Turbulence? Stay the Course!
Inflation fears, trade talks, political and international developments… there’s a lot going on in the world right now. As we’ve seen over the years, events like these can influence stock prices in the short-term....
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Federal Interest Rate Drops
On August 1, 2019, Fed Chair Jerome Powell and the Federal Reserve lowered the benchmark rate for the first time in over a decade. The target range is now 2% to 2.25%, a cut of 25 basis points.1 In their statement, the Fed mentioned...
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Trade and Market Volatility
During the past week, stock prices dropped sharply on fears the trade dispute between the U.S. and China had escalated. Investors woke to the news on Monday, August 5, that the People’s Bank of China had manipulated its currency,...
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Summer hours
With Memorial Day on Monday, it is the unofficial start of "summer". I use the term loosely as this weather gives no indication of an upcoming summer. Nevertheless, from Memorial Day until Labor Day, we typically close the office one...
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Standing Letter of Authorization Notices
It is that time of year again! When our custodian, TD Ameritrade Institutional, confuses the heck out of us due to SEC regulation and mails what it calls “SLOA confirmation notices”. If you are an investment client of ours,...
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Important 2018 Tax Information
Tax time is almost here! January 28th is the date the IRS is giving for tax returns to begin being accepted. I wanted to provide some important updates, key dates and useful information for the 2018 tax season. For your tax forms...
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A Letter on Market Conditions, December 2018
As done in the past when markets have been volatile, I am reaching out to discuss the causes and what the present outlook is. As you may know, in recent weeks, the gains in the markets for this year have been predominantly reversed....
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Stay the Course! Or...Something Like That.
“Stay the course”. “Stick with the plan”. “We cannot control the market, so there is no sense in worrying about it”. You’ve likely heard me, or another investment professional, say...
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Market Conditions, October 2018
Well, we knew it had to come eventually, right? We had to see a sharp downturn. Even though we knew it would happen, we are human, and thus it is in our nature to be concerned – even anxious. But, being we are all disciplined...
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Peer-to-peer lending
My first experience with peer-to-peer lending was about 10 years ago. I was reading an article about original issue discount (OID) and P2P lending was mentioned as a recent primary source. Side note: if you don't know, OID is treated...
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Client Web Portal Upgrade
Late last month our third-party vendor, Morningstar*, upgraded our client web portal which many of you use. If you have logged in recently, you can see that it has a sleek new look with an interface that allows for quick and easy...
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Office Expansion and Summer Hours
If you came by our office during tax season, you may have noticed a big change. During the months of September 2017 thru January 2018 we expanded our office to the entire top floor of our building. This included not only a lot of small...
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Blog testing
Testing, testing, 1-2-3. We are posting this to make sure our blog feature is working.
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