August 15, 2022

Our business relates to money, specifically your money, so our interest is always piqued when we hear about scams seeking to separate our clients from their hard-earned assets. And if you think we focus on this topic too much, you’re correct. In fact, we’d like to send out even more reminders. 

August 15, 2022

A rapid rise in inflation roiled the stock and bond markets this year, resulting in the worst first half ever for U.S. corporate investment grade bonds. As we’ve previously noted, that’s atypical, as bonds often increase in value when the equities markets drop. As bonds play such a critical role in client portfolios, the next two articles, utilizing analysis by Vanguard^1,2, help to put recent volatility into a long-term perspective.

June 30, 2022

As we move into summer, thoughts naturally turn to vacations. Living on the East Coast, one may think about a trip to the shore (if you’re in New Jersey) or the beach (the term for “sand” used by everyone else on the planet).

June 30, 2022

It would be logical to assume that financial planners want clients to spend less than more each year. While logical, that assumption is not absolute. Rather, there are occasions where we encourage clients to spend money as/if necessary, to include paying life insurance premiums to safeguard against loss of income, premiums for long-term care insurance, paying fees to an attorney to draft updated wills and related documents, et al. Last, but far from least, is paying fees to an accountant to prepare tax returns and do tax planning. 

June 30, 2022

A successful retirement is about so much more than no longer working at a job. To put you on the right path, the AARP Bulletin¹ recently published a list of nine questions. As they write: “Ace these 9 questions and you’ll be doing just fine.”

May 15, 2022

To long-time clients, let me start by saying: “Here we go again.” To newer clients, I’ll say: “Don’t worry; this is normal.” And to everyone else: “Buckle up for the ride.” I am referring, of course, to the latest, and current, stock market correction.

May 15, 2022

Inflation has been lifting prices lately, and with that comes a barrage of news articles, TV talk show segments, and social media posts about how best to beat inflation in your portfolio.  One of the hottest tools on the market currently is Series I bonds.  They're "hot" since they currently have a published rate of 9.62%.  With a rate like that, who wouldn't want to invest?

May 15, 2022

The chart below from Dimensional Funds¹ depicts in graphic form how much the S&P 500 Index has gained (or lost) in every year since 1926. While the average annual return is approximately 10%, “it’s important to remember that returns in any given year may be sky-high, extremely poor, or somewhere in between.”

March 31, 2022

When you work with as many families as we do, there’s always a story. Some are comical in nature, and we get to share a laugh, while others are profoundly serious. Based upon lessons learned over the past 26 years, this Stan’s World is for every client who has living parents or adult children. 

March 31, 2022

Michael Bloomberg is credited with saying: “…the best financial planning ends with bouncing the check to the undertaker.” The man was right when he first said it, and he’s still right today. Who would have ever thought that living too long could be a bad thing?