The recent rise in “risk-free” short-term interest rates has many people reconsidering the risk vs. reward dynamic relative to the stock market. While the increase in yields is welcomed relief compared to the historically low interest rates of the past 15 years, it is important for investors not to lose sight of the primary purpose […]
Last year was a challenging year for investors, to say the least. The overall stock was on the cusp of a bear market, declining close to 18%. Unfortunately, the bond market did not do much better and was down almost 13%. Good financial management demands that you periodically review and monitor both your portfolio performance […]
Access to lending on short notice can be a valuable asset. When we need to borrow money, we often think of traditional lending from a bank. However, one quick source of funds at competitive rates is a margin loan against your investment portfolio. With a margin loan, you put up your personal investment account as […]
In 2022, the market suffered a hangover after almost 12 years of fiscal and monetary accommodation on the backend of the financial crisis of 2008-09 and Covid-19 in 2020. What brought the party to its end was the emergence of inflation and the Federal Reserve’s response to it via increased short-term interest rates and quantitative […]
With the S&P 500 currently down over 19% and the US Aggregate Bond Index down over 12%, the desire for many investors to move on from 2022 is understandable. But before we do, it’s essential to learn lessons from this year’s market to avoid repeating the same mistakes in the future. It reminds me of […]
With the end of the holiday season right around the corner, we start looking ahead to a new year and new financial opportunities that can help impact our goals. Now is a great time to begin planning for 2023 and the perfect opportunity for you to save more in tax-deductible retirement plans. For weekly insights, […]
It is no secret that the stock market and bond market have both taken big hits this year. The Federal Reserve is on a tear with raising interest rates in an effort to tamp down inflation. So far this year, the Fed has raised rates 5 times, but inflation continues to persist. Last week’s Consumer […]
In last week’s article, 4th Quarter investment success, we discussed several ways to position your portfolio for year-end planning. We reviewed strategies that included rebalancing between/within asset classes, tax loss harvesting, and the IRA to Roth IRA Conversion. We’ll now go into additional detail with IRA to Roth IRA conversions, as it is an underutilized […]
The broader capital markets struggled through the first three quarters of the year, but despite all the volatility, there are some tactical moves that can help you take advantage of this environment. Depending on your current investment strategy, here are a few potential moves that you can review for 4th quarter success. For weekly insights, […]
Albert Einstein once said, “Compounding interest is the eighth wonder of the world. He who understands it, earns it; he who doesn’t, pays it”. There is a magic to investing that many people never learn. Unfortunately, this usually results in mediocre financial success at best. In fact, about 97% of all workers never accumulate enough money […]