Newsletters

The Fear of Running Out of Money Financial planning is focused on setting goals and making decisions that put you on the path to achieving those goals. Enjoying a secure and rewarding retirement is a common goal for many, and we are often asked by our clients whether they have saved enough money...

As leaves in the Washington area fade from green to darker colors of fall, investors are also watching a gradual turn in the economy and wondering what’s next for markets. The S&P 500 declined 3% in the third quarter, and signs of a looming recession are growing. Meanwhile, a fully employed...

Retirees could cut their lifetime tax burden as well as minimize taxes’ impact on the long-term wealth of their heirs.   So, you’ve worked hard throughout your career, saved for retirement and now the light at the end of the tunnel is becoming larger and brighter. It’s pretty simple — freedom...

When Not to Convert a Traditional IRA to a Roth IRA   You hear the talk at cocktails parties about your friends converting their Traditional IRA accounts to Roth IRAs and now it is nagging you…are you missing out? Should you convert your Traditional IRA assets to a Roth IRA? Converting a...

  Many travelers will hit the beaches this summer, while market watchers keep an eye on the horizon for the next big wave that may impact investment returns. This year, Artificial Intelligence (sometimes referred to as “AI”) technology has become a significant driver of total market returns...

Planning for Longevity and Vitality   If you’re an avid reader of health and science journalism, you have likely noticed the recent emergence of longevity as a buzzword. This shouldn’t come as a surprise, for most people it’s relatively easy to make a case for a lifestyle that maximizes one’s...

Markets delivered relatively good results in the first quarter. With stocks up approximately 7.5%, investors are perhaps looking ahead to a recovery in the economy and earnings, while shrugging off new challenges in the banking sector. These challenges may prompt a new direction for the Federal...

What’s Next for Banks and Markets? You have likely seen headlines over the past few days regarding regional bank failures and Federal Reserve actions to support depositors. FBB’s team of analysts and advisors has been evaluating the situation and working to analyze the implications for broader...

The misery index is getting better, but Americans may feel a lot more miserable in 2023. How should investors respond? Many Americans are hoping for a happy new year after the economic and financial challenges of 2022, which included eye-watering inflation and a bear market. Careful what you wish...

Turning Points Dear Clients and Friends, Investors are eager to welcome a new year and forget a dismal 2022, which saw one of the worst performances for balanced stock and bond portfolios since the Great Depression. Savers, investors, and advisors are licking...

20 Tasks to Cross Off Your Year-end Financial Checklist “Recorder ground control.”“On.” Those are the first spoken words between a Captain and First Officer prior to a detailed and precise takeoff procedure onboard an Airbus A320. First, the crew confirms that the recorder is on, ensuring that the...

Investors Prepare for a Deep Freeze this Winter Dear Clients and Friends, Investors have suffered a string of challenges this year including rising concern for European security, energy prices, and the possibility of a recession this winter. While the U.S. economy and job market remain intact for...

Education Planning: Legal Documents Every College Student Should Have As the dog days of summer start to fade into thoughts of fall, you realize that back to school will look radically different this year as your child is heading to college. It seems like...

Testing Our Resolve Dear Clients and Friends, The first half of 2022 has tested the resolve of many long-term investors as economic surprises, stock performance, and even bond market returns all went in the wrong direction. While it may be tempting to sell risk assets during challenging periods...

How the Russian Invasion of Ukraine Impacts ESG Investors and What to Look for Ahead Since the beginning of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the world has understandably focused on the tragedy inflicted on the people of Ukraine. When it comes to investing, the invasion has profound implications for...

Women & Finance: The Importance of a Rainy Day Fund Your insurance agent, banker, and financial planner are likely to deliver some version of “rainy day” advice to clients. Bankers may advise small business owners to maintain an open line of credit; insurance agents may recommend insuring...

A Motley C.R.U. of Market Pressures Market pressures persist into the second quarter of 2022, though we continue to see a way out for both stocks and bonds over the medium term. So, what’s got markets on edge this time? Investors are selling both risky assets and safer securities amid an unwelcome...

Powell, Putin, and Probabilities Dear Clients and Friends, A string of unexpected events in the first quarter left investors scratching their heads and dramatically adjusting probabilities of potential market outcomes. Jay Powell and the Federal Reserve emerged from hibernation this winter with a...

Millennial Investors and the Great Wealth Transfer Millennials (those born between 1981–1996) are now the single largest generation group in the U.S., having surpassed baby boomers (born between 1946-1964), 72.1 million to 71.6 million, as of 2019. Much has been written of the varied challenges...