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...
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A Motley C.R.U. of Market Pressures
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
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
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...
Market Update Letter – The One-Two Punch
The One-Two Punch Dear Clients and Friends, The bull market of 2019 to 2021 is starting to feel like a distant memory. Markets in 2022 are off to a rocky start, with stocks entering a double-dip correction (down at least 10%) amid dual pressures from the Federal Reserve and Russia’s attack on...
Maximizing College Savings
Maximizing College Savings As students gear up to receive admissions letters, we thought we’d share some thoughts on planning for and paying for your student’s college tuition. With the cost of attendance at some of the most elite schools topping $75,000 per year, on average, students today face...
Market Update Letter: Volatility Returns
Volatility Returns Dear Clients and Friends, It’s been an interesting start to the calendar year, with Omicron cases spiking, the Federal Reserve threatening to tighten monetary conditions, and stocks moving all over the place, but generally down. The broader market fell ~4% on Monday, but raced...
Will the Aging Bulls Make it a “Four-Peat?”
January 1, 2022 Will the Aging Bulls Make it a “Four-Peat?” Dear Clients and Friends, This holiday season many Americans gave gifts, unwrapped presents, and checked their stockings. As we wrap up another calendar year, many investors checking their stocks have noticed that markets have delivered...
Women & Finance: Tax Efficient Ways For Charitable Women To Give in 2021
Tax Efficient Ways For Women To Give in 2021 As a working mother, there are lists that we write in our minds to prepare ourselves for the holidays even before school has begun. If giving is a part of your holiday tradition, this is one task that you can accomplish far in advance of the frenzy that...
The Real World and the Digital World
The Real World and the Digital World As the U.S. economy and corporate America discover new ways to adapt and grow in a global pandemic, stock markets continue to wow investors with double-digit returns (18% in 2020 and 16% in the first nine months of 2021). Despite strong overall market...
The Power of Patience in Maximizing Long Term Wealth
The Power of Patience in Maximizing Long Term Wealth “The first rule of compounding is to never interrupt it unnecessarily” – Charlie Munger One of the biggest challenges in maximizing long term wealth in the stock market is having the patience to stick with your positions and process...
Women & Finance: Mom’s Philosophy for Wealth Accumulation
Women & Finance: Mom’s Philosophy for Wealth Accumulation My 80-year-old mother lived in Korea through the remnants of the Japanese occupation, the full-scale Korean War, and South Korea’s triumphant industrialization in the 80s before immigrating to the United States in the 90s. With these...
Closing the Wealth Gap through Investment
Minorities – Close the Wealth Gap through Investment Perhaps unlike most investment professionals, my first exposure to the concept of the stock market came while watching an episode of Silver Spoons in the mid-80s. I recall the episode vividly: Ricky Stratton scrolled through the newspaper,...
Inflation: What’s the Buzz?
Inflation: What’s the Buzz? Dear Clients and Friends, The great reopening continues as warmer weather and loosening Covid restrictions allow for greater freedom of movement and improving economic conditions in the U.S. In Washington, DC an invasion of cicadas has proven to be a temporary nuisance...
Women & Finance: This is a blog written by women for women
This is a blog written by women, for women. More than thirty years ago, Susan Fulton and Margaret Broenniman were two mid-career women who recognized they were often overlooked in financial meetings. But when their friends’ parents began to age, their girlfriends’ mothers were often left to manage...
Financial Habits Wealthy Women Practice
Financial Habits Wealthy Women Practice Whether amid a life transition such as divorce, motherhood, widowhood, or starting a new job - women who take an active role in their financial future tend to share similar financial habits. While traditionally, women have taken a less active role in...
The Profits Tug-of-War
The Profits Tug-of-War Dear Clients and Friends, They say hope springs eternal, and we cannot help but find ourselves optimistic as longer, warmer days of spring coincide with more prevalent vaccinations and a significant improvement in Covid related news. Although hopeful, we remain vigilant as...
Financial Planning During a Pandemic
Pursuing Financial Fitness During a Pandemic In the past year, we have had a lot of time to think about where we are in life — to determine what we value most and to assess our financials, our health, our relationships, and our future. For some, maybe those thoughts turned into questions such as...
Escaping the Trap of Low Interest Rates and Equity Risk Aversion
Escaping the Trap of Low Interest Rates and Equity Risk Aversion: Two Problems and Two Solutions Investors with a long time horizon can use behavioral finance tools to maintain significant equity exposure, avoid risk aversion, and generate attractive risk-adjusted returns. It’s been a strange year...
A Turning Point
A Turning Point Dear Clients and Friends, At midnight on December 31, many of us cheered the turning of the calendar as a year of challenges took its place in the history books. We hope the new year will be a year of recovery—a turning point in public health, the economy, and the markets. We are...