Investment Planning Insights

September 2022 Market Commentary

For 2022, it may feel like the theme has been “nowhere to hide.” As this is written, the year-to-date performance of stocks is -22.17% and typically stable bonds are -13.54% through 9/22/2022. So, what is going on? While no one knows for sure what drives the stock and bond market in the very short-term, I think it is safe to say there are a few issues that are weighing on investors’ minds:

Three Things Retirees Can Do to Combat Inflation

Inflation, often referred to as “the hidden tax", is the thief in the night that slowly erodes the value of those hard-saved dollars. If you are retired and living on a fixed income source like Social Security and/or a pension, you are most vulnerable to inflation and its impact on your lifestyle.

The Myth About Holding Individual Bonds

“My bond pays me 6%.  It’s crazy that people own bonds yielding only 2%.” “My broker built a bond ladder of individual bonds.  As long as I hold until maturity, it can’t lose value.” You may have heard statements like this before.  If true, it certainly appears that holding individual bonds is superior to holding bonds via a mutual fund or ETF. But is it?

June 22nd Market Commentary

It's no secret that the markets are experiencing a challenging year with many wondering if we're nearing a recession. So we asked seasoned members of our Investment Committee, Pat Collins, CFP®, EA, and Greg Hobson, CFP®, AIF®, to speak to those challenges and lend some valuable perspectives based on what they've experienced during their respected careers.

DeFAANGed: A Nightmare on Wall Street

Goliath. Achilles. The bear from The Revenant. Powerful, imposing, and victorious as these legendary figures became, their mighty falls remain infamous…

Market Commentary: May 17, 2022

The stock and bond markets have been struggling in 2022. We thought it would be helpful to provide an explanation regarding what has been happening, how to think about these issues, and what we are doing about it.

I-Bonds: The Treasury’s Best Kept Secret

If something sounds too good to be true, it usually is not all it’s cracked up to be--- unless it is the current yield on Series I savings bonds, also known as, I-bonds. I-bonds are savings bonds guaranteed by the US Government that currently yield 7.12% and will increase to 9.62% in May.

Residential Rental Real Estate: Buyer Beware

Many major asset classes have experienced substantial growth over the last several years, resulting in very expensive valuations. This has led some investors to think beyond traditional investments like stocks and bonds and consider investing in single-family residential real estate for its steady cash flow and price appreciation potential. can this be a good use of capital for investors looking to earn higher potential returns?

Market Commentary: Crisis in Ukraine

The events of the past several weeks have been devastating and unsettling on many fronts. When it comes to how these events have impacted the investment markets, there are several items we believe investors should keep in mind...