The Silent Struggle: Why Baby Boomers Avoid Tough Conversations About Health and Wealth

The Silent Struggle: Why Baby Boomers Avoid Tough Conversations About Health and Wealth

Education Featured Financial Planning Lifestyle Money

Navigating the “Money in Motion” Era

Navigating the “Money in Motion” Era

Featured Financial Planning Investments Risk Management

In today’s rapidly evolving financial landscape, characterized by technological advancements, global economic shifts, and changing consumer .
Families Dealing with Addiction: A Roadmap to Stability and Support

Families Dealing with Addiction: A Roadmap to Stability and Support

Featured Financial Planning Investments Lifestyle Money Risk Management

Dealing with addiction within a family can have a profound impact on various aspects of life, including finances. It is crucial for families to .
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Take Hold of Life

Education Lifestyle Stories

Lately, we have been talking about the markets and market volatility. What can we do about it? Not much, so let’s focus on what we can control. We are living longer so let’s take better care of ourselves and strive for a better life. Let’s put things in order so that we can reduce some of the stresses in our lives. So, where do we start? Do we just focus on the financial stuff or look elsewhere for the things that are going to help us have a better quality of life? Here are a few thoughts:  Reduce time spent on social media. Yep, I said it. Why? Because when was the last time you felt really good about the time you spent on social media? When was the last time you closed your Facebook page and thought that was time well spent? For some, this could also be spending less time watching .
  September 14, 2018 1

Mid-Year Review of the Financial Markets (Video)

Economy Education Featured Stock Markets

Mid-Year Review of Financial Markets We are pleased to provide this 15 minute video on a Mid-Year Review of the Financial Markets from our colleague and friend, Charley Wright.  It includes a brief review of the investment performance of the ten major financial markets, Dr. Bob Diele’s “No Spin Forecast” of the Economy for the next 9 months, thoughts on probable prudent 401k allocations, and much more. Charley has worked hard to research and publish financial podcast over the past several years.  It is exciting to announce that he is now featured on “Reuters Insider” through Thomson Reuters.  Good job!   Guest Author: Charley Wright, CEO, Strategic Alpha Investment Advisors, LLC (RIA)
  August 27, 2018 3

The 6 Best Ways to Save For College

Current Tax & Finance Education Featured Lifestyle

With the cost of attending a traditional 4-year university somewhere between ridiculous and ludicrous, many students and parents alike have looked towards cheaper alternatives such as online universities or attending a junior or community college for the first year or two before transferring into the traditional universities. And, of course, we would all like to believe that our child will receive a full academic or sports scholarship leaving us with little to worry about. But reality is, very few full-ride scholarships are handed out, and unless a wealthy relative decides to front the bill, there is a good chance your child will join the other 70% of students that resort to some other means for financial aid (1). Below are 6 ways that may help with saving for the cost of college. #6 .
  August 14, 2018 0

Modernizing your Business

Featured Lifestyle Stories

There is so much in the way of new technology that it seems impossible to keep up with it all. There are so many digital tools available to businesses that it can be hard to evaluate what you need and this article certainly isn’t going to be one that helps you choose. All businesses face unique challenges such that making any sort of blanket recommendation would be foolhardy. What I will try to do is give you an idea of how to look at what your business needs. The first thing to do is to understand who your customers are. I live in Chicago which has America’s oldest tobacco shop, Iwan Ries & Co., founded in 1857. The shop does not look like it has changed since the 60’s or 70’s in terms of décor and it really captures the feel of old Chicago. As a private company it is impossible .
  August 8, 2018 0

Sell in May and Go Away?

Economy Featured Risk Management Stock Markets

What is this adage based on and is it good advice? Since trading in markets began, traders have been trying to figure out how markets work, what patterns to watch and how to predict the market ups and downs. After all, if you could figure out when the next market correction was going to occur you could sell your investments and avoid a loss. You’d stay invested until just before the market dropped so you could squeeze out that last bit of return. But predicting what the markets are going to do and when has proved difficult at least and a fool’s errand at worst. But that hasn’t stopped investors and those who invest for others from trying. Combine that with a bit of superstition and you get adages like “Sell in May and Go Away” or things like the Santa Clause Rally. So where does the .
  May 15, 2018 0

The Market Ups and Downs

Featured Risk Management Stock Markets Stories

What is going on with the markets?  You may have noticed recently that stock and bond markets have suddenly become more volatile, more prone to ups and downs. Until recently, volatility has been at an all-time low. How do we measure it objectively? Well, most of us are aware that the US markets recently dropped by more than 10 percent. The objective measurement, or the best one we have, is an obscure index called the VIX, sometimes referred to the “investor fear index.” The VIX measures volatility by gauging interest in options that that investors buy or sell to protect themselves from market ups and downs. Why is it relevant?  Though not perfect, it is the best measurement we have for understanding volatility and market risk. Interestingly, some investors bet that low volatility is .
  March 21, 2018 0

A Change in Sentiment

Economy Featured Risk Management

As CNBC and other news stations reported calamity in the stock markets around the world last week, I felt this would be a good opportunity to discuss how we currently view the markets and the economy. And though stocks rebounded some today, there could always be more volatility tomorrow. It is entertaining to discuss theories, historical trends and statistics in an effort to guess what the markets will do tomorrow, next week, next month or even by the end of the year. Theories or statistics such as the January Barometer, which is the hypothesis that stock market performance in January (particularly in the U.S.) predicts its performance for the rest of the year. I have also heard that February is only up 54% of the time making it the 3rd worst month to invest. I am not even sure that .
  March 20, 2018 0

Market Noise

Economy Risk Management Stock Markets

It is easy for emotions to get the best of us and lose sight of the big picture when the markets are so volatile. Political news feels like a rollercoaster ride in of itself.  Every day it seems like someone is leaving the current administration, or some new policy is being proposed. Although policy may affect the economic health both domestically and globally, it will most likely not happen overnight. Some policies, like tax reform, may benefit the economy.  We still won’t see the impact for several months, even though the markets reacted very positively to the new tax reform in a very short time throughout January. The recent news on inflation, interest rates, tariff’s, trade war, employment will all cause investors and managers alike to speculate one way or another on how it will .
  March 12, 2018 0

Tax Changes Are Coming Next Year, but You Can Plan for Them Now

Current Tax & Finance Featured Lifestyle

With the potential major changes to our tax laws in 2018, there are a few things that you can do now to help protect your future, but you have to act now! This article from the New York Times is very well written and informative. We suggest that you take the time to read this article to find the recommendations that may have a direct impact on your finances – for example: Pay your property taxes early Prepay your state taxes Make large charitable donations Harvest your losses High-earning taxpayers cannot afford to wait and see what happens with the tax overhaul; they need to act this month before certain opportunities go away. Read the full article, give us a call with questions, or consult with a tax professional to see if any of these recommendations are appropriate for your .
  December 20, 2017 0

Ward Aguilar Financial Market Update June, 2017

Economy Stock Markets

Tell me about the Global Economy. Things were looking up last quarter. Especially for emerging markets as global demand was picking up. However, there are some uncertainties on the horizon that could become a bigger concern for the global recovery. (1) China. We have heard this story before, but after stellar economic data in the first quarter, we have received not so stellar numbers that could suggest, their recent hot streak could be cooling down. We will have to see how things progress. (2) Brazil. Wait a minute; last quarter Brazil was stabilizing. That was true until another political crisis resurfaced in May following the release of secretly taped recordings involving President Michel Temer in a corruption scandal. Despite massive rallies led by the opposition, Temer has been .
  June 21, 2017 0
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