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. Keep checking in. We’re glad to have you reading along.
Thursday, November 10, 2022
The Internal Revenue Service has released new limits for the coming year. After months of high inflation and financial uncertainty, some of these cost-of-living-based adjustments have reached near-record levels.Individual Retirement...
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Tuesday, November 8, 2022
We were nominated for the Marshall Independent's Readers' Choice 2022 award!Check out our nomination and vote daily now through November 10.VOTE HERE!
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Monday, October 31, 2022
With temperatures falling and the nights growing longer, goblins, ghouls, and ghosts across America are preparing for our second-largest commercial holiday: Halloween. With this frightful day fast approaching, here are some fun facts...
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Monday, September 19, 2022
Have you ever heard the expression, "What's the smart money doing?""Smart money" is an expression that often refers to experts and suggests that well-informed people have a better perspective on current events and what actions to take....
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Monday, September 12, 2022
If you’ve felt like stock prices were a little more volatile in 2022 than in recent years, your “spidey senses” are right on the money.The S&P 500 has posted 81 daily moves of at least 1% through August. Of those...
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Tuesday, August 30, 2022
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 hit in September and October, and other...
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Monday, August 22, 2022
Expect More Rate HikesMinutes from July's Federal Open Market Committee meeting indicated that additional rate hikes would be needed to help manage inflation. Fed officials did acknowledge that further rate hikes risked unintended...
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Tuesday, July 19, 2022
During periods of market turbulence, I take comfort in one of my favorite Warren Buffett quotes:“Don’t watch the market closely.”The Oracle of Omaha gave this sage advice in 2016, when Brexit, China’s economic...
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Monday, June 20, 2022
What an “interesting” week. In a move unseen since 1994, the Federal Reserve has taken an aggressive stance toward inflation by raising the key interest rate by three-quarters of a percentage point.Investors initially...
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Tuesday, June 14, 2022
Few investors should have been surprised when the Federal Reserve raised interest rates after its May meeting. Throughout April, Fed Chair Jerome Powell and several Fed Governors talked about the need to keep raising short-term rates to...
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Monday, June 6, 2022
An Uncertain MarketStocks experienced wild swings last week, in part, due to ongoing uncertainty over economic health and the path of inflation. Investors seemed conflicted when interpreting the data, in some instances viewing economic...
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Monday, February 14, 2022
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Tuesday, November 30, 2021
News of a new, highly virulent COVID variant triggered a market sell-off on Friday, sending stocks into negative territory for the week.The Dow Jones Industrial Average slid 1.97%, while the Standard & Poor’s 500 slumped 2...
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Wednesday, November 24, 2021
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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Tuesday, November 23, 2021
Stocks were mixed last week in choppy trading as investors battled the crosscurrents of good economic data and a troubling rise in COVID-19 infections globally.The Dow Jones Industrial Average slid 1.38%, while the Standard &...
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Tuesday, November 16, 2021
Stocks posted small declines last week as investors digested recent stock market gains and an unexpectedly high inflation read.The Dow Jones Industrial Average slid 0.63%, while the Standard & Poor’s 500 retreated 0.31%. The...
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Monday, November 8, 2021
A Federal Reserve announcement on tapering, a fresh batch of corporate profits, and encouraging economic data lifted stocks to another weekly gain.The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 1.42%, while the Standard & Poor’s 500...
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Tuesday, November 2, 2021
A fresh wave of positive corporate earnings surprises sent markets to new record highs last week.The Dow Jones Industrial Average increased 0.40%, while the Standard & Poor’s 500 rose 1.33%. The Nasdaq Composite index picked...
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Saturday, October 30, 2021
It’s National Life Insurance Awareness month and whether you need insurance or want to get a new healthcare plan, open enrollment -- the period when you can enroll in a health insurance plan or make changes to your current plan...
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Monday, October 11, 2021
The overhang of bumping against the federal debt ceiling was lifted last week with an agreement to extend the debt ceiling through early December, helping propel stocks to a weekly gain.The Dow Jones Industrial Average increased by 1...
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Thursday, October 7, 2021
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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Tuesday, October 5, 2021
Higher bond yields and a legislative stalemate in Washington, D.C., added up to losses for the week.The Dow Jones Industrial Average declined 1.36%, while the Standard & Poor’s 500 lost 2.21%. The Nasdaq Composite index fell...
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Saturday, October 2, 2021
Estate planning is an important but often overlooked aspect of financial planning. National Estate Planning Awareness Week is in October, so it's as good a month as any to review your estate plan, especially if it's been a while. If...
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Monday, September 20, 2021
Stocks weakened ahead of this week’s Federal Reserve meeting and amid persistent concerns about the Delta variant’s impact on the economy.The Dow Jones Industrial Average was flat (-0.07%), while the Standard &...
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Wednesday, September 15, 2021
In a quiet week of news, stocks moved lower amid simmering concerns over the Delta variant’s effect on the progress of economic reopening.The Dow Jones Industrial Average declined 2.15%, while the Standard & Poor’s 500...
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Saturday, September 4, 2021
Saving as little as the price of a cup of coffee, about $2 per day, could put you on the road to a more comfortable retirement. You can invest as little as your employer allows under their retirement program. However, by contributing...
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Monday, August 30, 2021
The stock market powered to record levels last week amid talk of Fed tapering and a deceleration in new Delta variant cases.The Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 0.96%, while the Standard & Poor’s 500 increased 1.52%. The...
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Tuesday, August 24, 2021
Stocks turned lower last week amid the increasing probability of a Fed tapering, mixed economic data, and growing concerns about the economic impact of the Delta variant.The Dow Jones Industrial Average slumped 1.11%, while the...
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Tuesday, August 10, 2021
Overcoming jitters about the Delta variant and the reintroduction of mask requirements, stocks climbed higher on strong employment data and a fresh batch of strong corporate earnings.The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 0.78% while...
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Monday, August 9, 2021
Q: Why should you start a 403(b)? A: It can become one of your best retirement savings vehicles.A 403(b) is a great option for building retirement savings. You can defer a bit of your salary into the account each month, without...
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Monday, August 2, 2021
The stock market posted small losses last week despite a very strong showing by corporate America.The Dow Jones Industrial Average slipped 0.36%, while the Standard & Poor’s 500 lost 0.37%. The Nasdaq Composite index dropped...
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Sunday, August 1, 2021
If you are paying off debt, take the month of August to develop a strategy for paying it down faster. If you are a homeowner, refinancing your mortgage can help you save money on interest. If you're paying off credit card debt, a good...
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Wednesday, July 28, 2021
Overcoming a COVID-related economic growth scare, stocks moved higher amid a week of strong corporate earnings reports. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 1.08%, while the Standard & Poor’s 500 gained 1.96%. The Nasdaq...
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Wednesday, July 21, 2021
Despite a good start to earnings season and some solid economic data, worries of slower second-half economic growth led to a pullback in stock prices last week.The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 0.52%, while the Standard &...
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Wednesday, July 7, 2021
Strong employment reports and rising consumer confidence sent the stock market broadly higher last week.The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 1.02%, while the Standard & Poor’s 500 picked up 1.67%. The Nasdaq Composite index...
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Sunday, July 4, 2021
It’s summertime and a great time to cull your expenses by going through your bank statements and finding items you can cut out or cut back on. One of the most common culprits is monthly subscriptions, so look for recurring...
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Monday, June 28, 2021
Stocks reached new all-time highs last week as markets staged a strong rebound from the previous week’s declines.The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 3.44%, while the Standard & Poor’s 500 picked up 2.74%. The Nasdaq...
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Tuesday, June 22, 2021
New messaging from the Federal Reserve on interest rates and inflation last week led to a broad retreat in stock prices.The Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 3.45% while the Standard & Poor’s 500 lost 1.91%. The Nasdaq...
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Tuesday, June 15, 2021
Stocks ended the week mixed as investors appeared to shrug off a hotter-than-expected inflation report.The Dow Jones Industrial Average slipped 0.80%, while the Standard & Poor’s 500 advanced 0.41%. The Nasdaq Composite...
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Tuesday, June 8, 2021
A strong, but not too strong, employment report sparked a rally on the final day of trading, propelling stocks to a modest gain for the week.The Dow Jones Industrial Average climbed by 0.66%, while the Standard & Poor’s 500...
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Sunday, June 6, 2021
Start building your emergency fund It’s always a good idea to have money in an emergency fund -- ideally, enough to cover at least six to nine months of living expenses. While you clearly cannot be expected to build a full...
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Thursday, June 3, 2021
Optimism over the economic reopening and renewed enthusiasm for technology and other high-growth companies powered the stock market higher last week.The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 0.94%, while the Standard & Poor’s...
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Tuesday, May 25, 2021
Stock prices fluctuated amid inflation concerns and bargain hunting, leaving stocks mixed for the week.The Dow Jones Industrial Average slipped 0.51%, while the Standard & Poor’s 500 dropped 0.43%. The tech-heavy Nasdaq...
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Thursday, May 13, 2021
A recent survey shows that 63% of investors are more interested in protecting their financial assets and planning for uncertainty in the future than anything else.1There are many reasons for this change, but here are a few of the most...
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Tuesday, May 11, 2021
Stocks closed mixed last week as signs of continued economic recovery and upbeat earnings helped some sectors while the struggles persisted for high-growth companies.The Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 2.67%, while the Standard...
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Sunday, May 2, 2021
MAY: Pay the Government or Pay Yourself Now that you have filed your taxes (or about to!), you might realize you need to make some adjustments. If you ended up owing a lot, when you filed your taxes, your options were to pay the taxes,...
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Tuesday, April 20, 2021
Stocks reached record highs last week, riding the tailwind of improving economic data and a strong start to the earnings season.The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 1.18%, while the Standard & Poor’s 500 gained 1.37%. The...
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Monday, April 5, 2021
“ Stop in the name of love, before you break my heart.” We know The Supremes weren’t alluding to the pitfalls couples face when they grapple over money issues. But our own experience tells us that money plus love can...
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Tuesday, March 23, 2021
For those with a Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account (FSA), there may be some good news on the horizon. The American Rescue Plan Act, signed into law by President Joe Biden, boosts the amount that companies can allow workers to...
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Monday, March 22, 2021
Less than one month ahead of the traditional date, the I.R.S. has delayed the deadline for filing and paying taxes. The new deadline is May 17, 2021.1,2,3 The delay follows continued disruption from the COVID-19 pandemic and a late...
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Monday, March 15, 2021
Stocks were mixed last week as rising bond yields and heightening inflation fears sent stocks on a wild ride, capped by a remarkable Friday afternoon rally. The Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 1.82%, while the Standard &...
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Monday, March 8, 2021
Stocks dropped amid rising long-term bond yields, with sharp declines in high-valuation growth stocks leading the overall market lower. The Dow Jones Industrial Average slipped 1.78%, while the Standard & Poor’s 500 declined 2...
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Monday, March 1, 2021
March: End holiday debt & set up your IRA If you came away from the 2020 holiday season with debt, the sooner you make a plan to pay it off, the less interest you’ll rack up. Figure out how much you owe and how to pay it off...
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Monday, February 8, 2021
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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Monday, February 8, 2021
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. In light of the December...
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Monday, February 1, 2021
As part of our 2021 New Year's Resolution each 1st Monday we are taking steps to make this your best financial year ever! Here are your touch points for February - you don't have to finish them all today - but you need to resolve to...
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Tuesday, January 19, 2021
Shrugging off COVID-19 infections and the disruption at the Capitol on January 6, stocks powered higher to kick off a new year of trading.The Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 1.61%, while the Standard & Poor’s 500...
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Monday, January 4, 2021
The first month of the year is all about planning for the future. The first step is to set your financial resolutions. If you are just starting “adulting” then your first step is to set your budget. I know, you are thinking...
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Sunday, December 27, 2020
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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Thursday, November 12, 2020
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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Wednesday, November 11, 2020
Stocks soared last week as investors anticipated that a split Congress would raise legislative hurdles to changing corporate taxes and adjusting regulatory oversight of big technology companies.The Dow Jones Industrial Average jumped...
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Monday, November 2, 2020
On October 26, the Treasury Department released the 2021 adjusted figures for retirement account savings. Although these adjustments won’t bring any major changes, there are some minor elements to note.401(k)sThe salary deferral...
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Friday, October 30, 2020
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...
Read More