Industry Insights

That these United Colonies are, and of right ought to be, free and independent States. So said the resolution presented before the Second Continental Congress on June 7, 1776.

As a financial advisor, I’d like you to take thirty seconds to read this story by the legendary fabler, Aeso

Every investor should have an emergency fund. What is an emergency fund?

No matter who you are or where you come from, you have goals in life. But no matter who you are or where you come from, there will come a time when you encounter obstacles to your goals.

As mentioned in previous blogs about planning for retirement, here is another practical retirement-related step you can take. This one is also very simple, and can apply to pretty much everyone. Make a List of Retirement Goals When it comes to retirement, besides the myriad of things you know you need to plan for financially, don’t ignore creating a very important VISION of your future that may help you to look forward to retiring rather than be concerned over it!

Ever ridden in a car with worn-out shock absorbers? Every bump is jarring, every corner stomach-churning, and every red light an excuse to assume the brace position. Owning an undiversified portfolio can trigger similar reactions. In a motor vehicle, the suspension system keeps the tires in contact with the road and provides a smooth ride for passengers by offsetting the forces of gravity, propulsion, and inertia.

Back in 2015, former President Obama called on the Department of Labor (DOL) to update certain regulations regarding the financial services industry. The end result was a new rule largely known as the “DOL Fiduciary Rule.” To put it very simply, this rule requires all financial advisors to act in the best interests of their clients when giving advice on retirement accounts.

No matter who you are or where you come from, you have goals in life. Things you want to do. The type of person you want to become. It’s a common link between all men and women who have ever lived or ever will live. Inside each of us is a restless soul who wants to do more than they have, or be more than they are. But no matter who you are or where you come from, there will come a time when you encounter obstacles to your goals. There will be times when the odds are stacked against you....

There has been much discussion in the news recently about new nominal highs in stock indices like the Dow Jones Industrial Average and the S&P 500. When markets hit new highs, is that an indication that it’s time for investors to cash out? History tells us that a market index being at an all-time high generally does not provide actionable information for investors. For evidence, we can look at the S&P 500 Index for the better part of the last century.

Every January, it’s customary to take a look back at the year that was. What were the highlights? What were the “lowlights”? What got us to where we are today? What were the events we’ll always remember? Most importantly, what did we learn? To answer that, let’s briefly recap some of the most notable events of 2016. Some have to do with politics and some with the markets. I’ll even throw a little “sports talk” in. Then see if you can spot a common theme.