Our Latest News & Insights
3 Ways Typical Risk Tolerance Questionnaires Are Missing the Mark
Financial advisors have used risk tolerance questionnaires for years now, but they often leave too much room for interpretation. Investors are pigeon-holed into stereotypical categories based on a subjective risk questionnaire that nearly always misses the mark. This can leave investors with a portfolio that does not align with their investment goals and objectives […]
Some Maryland 529 Plans Just Got a Lot More Flexible
Along with the passage of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act legislation, there are new guidelines that affect Maryland 529 plans. If your child has a Maryland 529 plan, you’ll want to read on to learn about some changes that expand the list of qualified educational expenses. What’s Different As a Result of the New {…]
Investment Outlook: New Year + New Tax Code = More Growth?
As we look forward to 2018, let us reflect on how remarkable the last twelve months were for the major market indices. Contrary to the usual roller-coaster ride we experience with stocks, 2017 was an amazingly smooth journey to new all-time highs. The S&P 500 was so consistent that the index finished every month of the calendar year […]
4 Tips to Ensure Your Nonprofit Keeps on Giving This Holiday Season
Nonprofits often struggle when it comes to investing their hard earned donations. Your nonprofit was established to improve the world and the fear of losing charitable funds due to market fluctuations can complicate making sound investment choices. Regardless of the mission of your non-profit, all investing decisions must be made to serve your philanthropic goal, […]
Investment Outlook: Valuations vs. Data
While the temperature outside cools as we move into the fall and winter seasons, stock markets remain red hot. Despite three of the most powerful hurricanes to ever hit the U.S., political divisiveness in Washington, and threats from North Korea, U.S. stocks rose another 4.5% in the third quarter, bringing year-to-date returns on the S&P […]
Unlock 5 Advantages of Advisor-Guided Retirement Plans
With most Americans concerned that they won’t be able to retire on time, or perhaps worse, will outlive their retirement income, it’s time for business owners to get serious about employee-sponsored retirement plans. These plans are a primary money stream for individuals in their retirement years, making it absolutely essential that they’re designed to benefit […]
Investing 101: A Beginner’s Guide to Types of Investments
Someone not involved in the finance industry, or who hasn’t invested personally, might hear the words “stock market” and think of a far off place on Wall Street. However, that isn’t the only way to invest money. Anyone can get involved with investing, saving for retirement, trading, or just watching the stock market. For starters, […]
Our Investment Outlook: All About Growth
Despite distracting headlines out of Washington, domestic equity markets marched to new record highs (for the S&P 500 & Nasdaq) during the quarter. Equity markets focused on the upward trend in GDP growth and robust corporate earnings (up over 15% year-over-year) that recorded the most profitable period in over five years. Historically, such periods of […]
5 Financial Goals to Aim for in Your 20’s
“I just got a job and have a steady income. What now?” If there is one thing college doesn’t always prepare us for, it’s how to function in the “real world,” especially when it comes to dealing with finances, like paying bills, investing for the future, and doing taxes. As a finance major, I have […]
Network Safety Alert
The latest massive ransomware attack, Petya, is quickly spreading to the United States. Similar to WannaCry, Petya capitalizes on the same Windows vulnerabilities, but Petya has developed an even more devastating result. If infected, Petya moves quickly to encrypt your computer boot files and shuts down your entire system leaving you with little to no […]
Investors, Please Strap in Tight and Keep Your Hands Inside the Ride
As the weather heats up and local amusement parks tune up their rides for the summer crowds, dreams of heading to Hershey Park, Six Flags or Kings Dominion are in full swing. If you are anything like me, you like the roller coasters that go fast, twist you up, down, left then right, and finish […]
Investment Outlook: Earnings! Earnings! Earnings!
Stocks Fly! Stock markets are off to a strong start in 2017 fueled by healthy earnings growth. As companies in the S&P 500 index begin to report their results for the 1st quarter, aggregate sales and earnings growth are currently up 4.4% and 13.2%, respectively, when compared to last year. Political tailwinds? While much of […]
“The Plow Horse is Dead”
We continue to observe evidence of accelerating economic growth, an environment that historically bodes very well for stocks. We remain optimistic and anticipate a positive investment climate to persist for much of 2017. Brian Wesbury, Chief Economist for First Trust Portfolios, shares a similar viewpoint in this short video about how and why he believes […]
3 Common Retirement Accounts: Which One Is Best for You?
As a hard-working American, you spend a lot of your life punching the clock day in and day out, dreaming of the day when you can trade your business attire for a swimsuit as you relax by the beach while RETIRED! When I think of retirement, I think of golf, tennis, DIY projects, relaxation, travel […]
The Impact of Trump’s Proposed Tax Plan on You
On the campaign trail Donald Trump proposed significant changes to the income and transfer of taxation of individuals. Immediately upon Steven Mnuchin’s appointment as Secretary of the Treasury, Mnuchin made it clear there would be major changes to the tax code, the likes of which haven’t been seen since the Reagan years. With the House […]
2016: A Year of Two Halves
The stock market opened the year in a “risk-off” mode over fears of global growth slowing, falling oil prices, and a U.S. corporate earnings recession. By mid-February equities were down more than 10%. Although markets rebounded through the spring, the negative sentiment and volatility persisted for much of the first half. A quiet summer vacation […]
6 Steps to Safeguard Against Cybercriminals
We’ve all seen the headlines in the news in recent years — “Data Breach at XYZ Company.” Big-name companies such as Yahoo, Google, CVS, U.S Olympic Committee, Capital One, and an uncomfortably long list of others have been named in those headlines. Nearly 1,000 data breaches in 2016 put the personal information of more than […]
Will Santa Claus Remember Wall Street?
You better watch out You better not cry Better not pout I’m telling you why Santa Claus is coming to town He’s making a list And checking it twice; He’s gonna find out Who’s naughty or nice Santa Claus is coming to town – Santa Claus is Coming to Town, Haven Gillespie and J. Fred […]
Will Trump Make America Great Again?
In an election night shocker, Donald Trump emerged from the presidential election as the victorious candidate. The Republican Party also retained control of both chambers of Congress. As the election night drama unfolded, the markets initially plunged -5% with the Dow futures trading down over 700 points. But it didn’t last long. In a year […]
Votes = Volatility
Whether it’s a national election or a Fed vote on interest rates, markets hate uncertainty. Check out what’s been happening over the last quarter and our thoughts on where we go from here. Key themes from the third quarter Low Quality Dominates Brushing aside evidence of a global economic slowdown and political uncertainty, investors appear […]
Trick or Treat?
“Trick or treat!” Soon kids will be out and about dressed as ghosts, goblins, princes and princesses, animals, superheroes, and much more. “Knock, knock, knock” we will hear at our doors, answering with anticipation to see who and what is visiting in search of their trick or treat. While I pride myself on providing […]
Going the Distance
Hypothetical question: If you had to walk 10 blocks through a city, what would you wear? It seems like a pretty straightforward question, right? My initial thought is to look down at my clothes and say “this?” Am I the only one that would have that reaction? I am going to assume I am not […]
Low Rates, Slow Growth
Key themes in the first half of 2016 Brexit The surprise result of the U.K.’s “Brexit” vote to leave the European Union shocked financial markets and left Europe stocks down -3.8% for the quarter. Global equities initially reacted with sharp declines, but recovered into quarter-end to finish up slightly. […]
Should You Catch Them All?
What causes people of all ages to get outside and walk miles to catch fictional characters? Unless you have been living under a rock the past week, you know that the answer is Pokémon GO, the latest digital obsession. Perhaps it is the touch of nostalgia that Generation Y feels as they remember trading […]
#Brexit
What happened? On June 23, United Kingdom (UK) voters sent shockwaves through financial markets around the world by opting to leave the European Union (EU) by a 52% to 48% margin. The vote, commonly referred to as “Brexit” (by merging Britain and exit), sent the British Pound to a 31 year low versus the U.S. Dollar. […]
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