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.
The Human Factor in Financial Success
Things like asset allocation and investing strategy are important, but they make up only one part of an integrated financial planning and investing process. To get the other essential ingredients you need an expert who can assess your uniqu
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Avoiding Retirement Claustrophobia
Retirement is supposed to be a time of increased freedom and happiness. After all, when you no longer need a job to provide your living, you can pursue the things you never had time for before.However, for many people, the thought of...
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What happens when investors believe losing is unthinkable?
It's tough to lose after you've only known winning. And a similar reckoning has arrived for many investors (especially younger ones) who have never experienced anything but a rising market.
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What to do during a bear market
It's not news to anyone that the first half of this year has been rough on investors. After reaching record levels at the end of 2021, the market has experienced six months of volatility and decline.1 In fact, coming on the heels...
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Secret to retirement happiness: Planning for fun
Just as you're planning for your financial needs in retirement, you should also be planning for ways to spend time having fun. They go together. And how you plan to spend your days should be part of your conversation with your trusted advis
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Independence Day: Freedom to do what?
In the musical West Side Story, several of the characters who are recent immigrants to New York debate the pluses and minuses of their new home in the song "America."1The young women sing:Skyscrapers bloom in AmericaCadillacs zoom...
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A stock picker asks: Is it really worth all the work?
When it comes to stocks, it's easy to have a short memory. Everybody seems focused on what's happening today and the near future. What are the pundits saying about this week? What are the forecasters predicting for the next...
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Recessions Happen
It’s true, recessions happen. Generally speaking, they consist of two consecutive quarters of negative GDP or a significant decline in economic activity that is spread across the economy and lasts more than a few months1....
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My Bear Market Survival Guide
Many people assume successful investing comes from picking winners.The way you win is by producing alpha and outsmarting the market.There is an infinitesimal percentage of the population that can do this consistently over the long haul...
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Why "buying the dip" is not a foolproof investing strategy
On its face the strategy of "buying the dip" seems much more measured than merely trying to identify low-cost stocks that are destined to become the next Apple. But it's still a risky strategy.Just like it sounds, to buy the dip is to...
Read MoreExchange Traded Funds: What are they and should I invest in one?
Since the earliest days of trading goods, humans have looked for ways to decrease risk by sharing a cut of the profits. For example, it wasn't seen as wise to invest all your capital in a single ship. If it sank, you'd lose everything....
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Why worrying about the things you can't control holds you back from reaching your goals?
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When the luck runs out: Why it's so hard for active fund managers to beat the market
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The Dutch origins of American Thanksgiving
Many of us know the basic details of the Pilgrims: How they left England and came over on the Mayflower. How they all nearly died that first winter. And how they survived with the help of an English-speaking Native American named...
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Before you can create good financial habits, you need this
In 1989 Steven Covey published The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. Having sold more than 25 million copies, it remains one of the most popular self-help books of all time. And Time Magazine listed it as one of "The 25 Most...
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What's the difference between investing and speculating (and does it really matter)?
The words "speculating" and "investing" often get used interchangeably. And that's not surprising, since they describe somewhat similar concepts. In both cases, you are laying out money with the hope of gaining a return in the future....
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What's the difference between investing and speculating (and does it really matter)?
The words "speculating" and "investing" often get used interchangeably. And that's not surprising, since they describe somewhat similar concepts. In both cases, you are laying out money with the hope of gaining a return in the future....
Read MoreFree trade among the ghosts and goblins: The economic principles you can learn from Halloween
Halloween, as comedian Jerry Seinfeld pointed out, is the best possible holiday a child can imagine.1 You simply go door-to-door and the neighbors give you handfuls of candy for free. But according to Kerry McDonald, trick-or-treating...
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A simple lesson in discipline from a legendary baseball coach
Chris Sperry, a consultant who works with young baseball prospects, tells about a lesson on discipline he'll never forget.1 He was attending the American Baseball Coaches Association convention, where for two-and-a-half days more than...
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Is a housing market crash right around the corner?
In 2007 housing prices did something that was unthinkable at the time. They started to go down. And by the end of 2008 the Case-Shiller home price index reported its largest price drop in its history, a contraction of 18%.1 Homeowners...
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The savings-draining scam few victims want to talk about
Gloria (not her real name) was furious with her financial advisor. She wanted to move some money out of one of her accounts and her advisor, Melissa, told her she was hesitant to help with the transaction.1 How dare her advisor intrude...
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Labor Day: The tumultuous history of the last weekend of summer
This coming Labor Day will be characterized by backyard barbecues, back-to-school sales, and many employees enjoying the federal holiday. But few people will stop to consider what this day represents in the transformation of what it...
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Hiding in plain sight: lessons learned from Bernie Madoff
In his classic detective story The Purloined Letter, Edgar Allen Poe tells how an embarrassing letter has been stolen (purloined) from the French Queen to be used for blackmail. The authorities believe they know who took it, and order...
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Hiding in plain sight: lessons learned from Bernie Madoff
In his classic detective story The Purloined Letter, Edgar Allen Poe tells how an embarrassing letter has been stolen (purloined) from the French Queen to be used for blackmail. The authorities believe they know who took it, and order...
Read MoreSoul Crafting with Tanushree Interview on Abundance
Soul Crafting with Tanushree Interview
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Domesticating your emotions: How Stoic principles could make you a better investor
Tony Dungy, who is remarkable for winning a Super Bowl as a player and then doing it again as a head coach, has a simple philosophy for dealing with tough situations. "You can't always control circumstances," says Dungy. "However, you...
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The secret to Warren Buffett's success: Believing in The American Tailwind
It's hard to think of a more all-American investor than Warren Buffet. His company, Berkshire-Hathaway, is located not on one of the coasts but in Omaha, Nebraska. The firm's wholly-owned subsidiaries include such heartland favorites...
Read MoreReleasing The 5 Biggest Money Blocks Holding You Back (Purse Strings)
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Releasing The 5 Biggest Money Blocks Holding You Back (Purse Strings)
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The three basic things that retirement-savvy people do
If you've ever listened to the radio show hosted by personal finance guru Dave Ramsey, you know that most of what he says is for the benefit of people in financial trouble. They're seeking his advice to get out of debt, put more into...
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The origins of our Declaration of Independence
Isaac Newton, inventor of calculus, discoverer of gravity, godfather of modern optics, and the first to describe the laws of planetary motion, wrote, "If I have seen further (than others) it is by standing on the shoulders of Giants."...
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Getting It Wrong?
What happens when the predictions are wrong? Is it time to panic? Is it time to ditch our strategy? It's a fascinating question because it cuts right down to the question of what it means to live in an uncertain world. Humans are...
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It’s not a piggy bank: How early retirement account withdrawals can harm you in the long-run
Notorious criminal Willie Sutton was once asked why he chose to rob banks. He replied, “Because that’s where the money is.”1 Fortunately, the vast majority of people don’t pick up a gun to rob financial...
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The price of ignorance: Mistaken money beliefs can cost you
talking about the way he handled his finances, comedian Steve Martin said, “I love money. I love everything about it. I bought some pretty good stuff. Got a $300 pair of socks. Got a fur sink. An electric dog polisher. A...
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Things are a little different this year: Travel tips for Summer 2021
With COVID infections dropping and pandemic restrictions easing, that summer trip you’ve been wanting to take is now a real possibility. While businesses that serve travelers—like restaurants, hotels, and airlines—are...
Read MoreHow bad is buying at the peak of the market?
Roy Sullivan was enjoying a quiet Saturday morning of trout fishing when the lightning bolt struck. It hit him on the top of his head and exited his lower body, causing burns down his chest and abdomen. Stunned by the strike but still...
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Want to succeed? Think like a successful person
"Believe in yourself. You can do it!" This is the message in about 75% of today's movies. And about 100% of graduation speeches. But as much as we hear this advice, we're still a little skeptical that all you need for success in life...
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Are you better off consulting a market forecaster or a psychic?
Many investors want guidance from experts who can tell them what the stock market will do in the near future. It doesn't matter if these experts are consistently inaccurate or even if they're wrong more often than predictions based on...
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Rescue Bill (what's inside)
So, the next (final?) round of stimulus was signed into law by President Biden. Let’s dive in. The $1.9 trillion bill called the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 includes stimulus checks, child tax credits, jobless help,...
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Everybody is susceptible to panic, but you don't have to give in
When people get lost in the woods, they invariably do one thing. They run (or walk as fast as they can) to get away from the place where they feel lost. Sadly, this action often takes them in a circle.1But wait a minute, you say. That...
Read MoreWhat Makes You Happy?
There’s a lot we could be talking about this week. The pandemic. Vaccination rates. Earnings. Impeachment. Markets. Stimulus bills. Instead, how about we talk about something nice? What makes you happy? What does...
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Robinhood’s Not So Merry Men and Women
By now, the online mobile stock trading platform Robinhood has become part of everyday conversation. As of 2/1/2021, a Google search of Robinhood returns a staggering 225M hits!If you read many of the news stories, one can assume if...
Read MoreWhat's Up With GameStop?
Did you hear GameStop went viral? Here’s a quick guide to the market frenzy you’re seeing in the headlines. Long email ahead. (Buckle up, it’s a little complicated.) What is GameStop and why does everyone care?...
Read MoreBiden's Pen (what's in it for you)
After months of election uncertainty, Joe Biden was inaugurated as our 46th president, bringing the peaceful transfer of executive power that defines us as a democracy. President Biden’s pen has been busy, busy, busy so...
Read MoreSeason Two of 2020?
Does it feel like 2021 yet? The twists and turns so far make it seem like 2020 is dragging into a second season. As an American, I’m shocked and worried, and I’m wondering how political disagreements turned into excuses for...
Read MoreWealth Planning Advisor Magazine
Investment Fees — What Non-Investment Advisors Should Understand
Read MorePlanning For College Without Going Broke
Planning for College Without Going Broke Paying for college is one of the largest expense you will have in your life. A four-year degree can cost as much as $250,000. Most parents are wondering, “How I am ever going to pay for...
Read MoreWhat Fees Are You Really Paying For Your Investments
According to a survey conducted by the Rebalance IRA investment management firm, 46% of people between ages of 50 and 68 believe they are not paying any fees in their retirement accounts. 19% believed they are paying less than .5%....
Read MoreDisability Insurance
May is Disability Awareness Month 2 of the biggest myths about Disability That it doesn’t happen to younger people It is the result of work related accidents Statistics Over 1 in 4 of today’s 20 year old’s will become...
Read MoreHow Capital Intensive Business Owners Avoid Taxes and Pay
by Stephen, Jean Mathieu, Legacy Financial Solutions, Inc. & Dawn Santoriello, DS Financial Strategies One of the great challenges facing every business owner is how to get money out of their business in the most tax efficient manner...
Read MoreDo You Want to Own That House or Do You Want The Bank To Own It?
What comes to mind when you think of protecting your house from natural disasters such as hurricanes or floods? Most would rely on their homeowner’s insurance or flood insurance to keep them comfortable and make them whole;...
Read MoreCollege Savings Accounts: Pro’s and Con’s
Non Tax-Qualified Mutual Funds and Stocks Pros: Unlimited upside gains, can be sold at any time Cons: Not guaranteed. Unlimited downside losses. Any growth is taxed when sold, or each year if there are short term capital gains which...
Read MoreCommonly Asked Questions Regarding Qualified Plans
There are primarily two things you should expect in a qualified plan (aka QP): First of all, they defer the payment of taxes (but they do not necessarily save taxes). Secondly, they defer the tax calculation. Let me illustrate how QP’s...
Read MoreReasons Why You Should Have a Mortgage
The 4 reasons to have a mortgage are: You don’t have enough cash to pay for the house The tax deduction The potential spread between what your money can earn and the cost to borrow money. The most important reason is to have liquidity,...
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