A silver lining of recent interest rate increases is the ability to earn some level of interest on cash balances. When reviewing the various options with a client recently, she asked what exactly a money market fund was and whether there were any risks associated with this investment vehicle. Let’s take a closer look at […]

It’s officially back to school season. The streets are once again filled with school buses and my social media feeds contain pictures of smiling kids on their front porches, all ready for their first day. I always loved school. Not necessarily all of the logistics and social dynamics – but the learning element. Our school […]

When discussing the upcoming annual enrollment season (the time of year when employees need to elect various health care and employee benefit elections), a client recently asked for a refresher on Health Savings Accounts (commonly known as HSAs). These are very powerful tools – both for health care costs as well as for long-term investing […]

It wasn’t all that long ago that inflation was a seemingly theoretical discussion topic.  We’d bring it up to clients (usually during a financial planning future illustration) and try to find a way to explain it.  “Your money will be worth less over time” or “your purchasing power will decline” were phrases we’d use. While […]

Five years ago, I was lucky enough to have a wonderful western adventure with a lifelong friend, spending time in Wyoming and Montana. During that trip, we visited Grand Teton National Park which encircles the beautiful town of Jackson, WY. The area is absolutely beautiful and if you haven’t been, maybe this will nudge you […]

I make it a habit to follow and consume a variety of voices concerning investing and personal finance. I believe there is always something to be learned – both from those we agree with and those we may not be fully aligned with at all times. Earlier this week, I saw a post from an […]

If you listen or read investment-related news, you are likely to encounter the term “factor” or “factor based investing” as this concept has taken off in recent years. A client recently asked for our take on this concept. Great question! Definitions Think of factors as traits or characteristics of the underlying company. Factors are not […]

Some problems are definitely better than others. A recent client question about possible ways to circumvent a material gain in a taxable account is certainly a nice problem to have – but one that still deserves some discussion. Investment Taxation Basics Let’s start with an overview of taxation of investments. If you are buying and […]

As we approached the end of June 2022, markets seemed to be in a free fall. There was no shortage of things to worry about as an investor – inflation, rate increases, global unrest, midterm elections, covid variants, and perhaps front and center: Recession fears. With reports of a slowing economy and the persistent belief […]

If you are at or nearing Medicare age, you are well aware of its underlying complexities. We frequently work with clients as they navigate this program – but always recommend the inclusion of a Medicare insurance advisor/broker as well, given the intricacies and considerable nuances. One such nuance that a client just ran across this […]