In talking with a client and their tax advisor this week, there was some confusion over why mutual funds make distributions (typically in December) that result in unexpected tax consequences. It’s a great question and one you should keep in mind for your portfolio, especially in 2022. Let’s dive in. What is a mutual fund […]

It’s hard to escape the constant chatter about rising interest rates lately, so it was only natural for a client to ask about the interplay between interest rates and asset prices. Interest rates are an essential driver of asset prices. You don’t have to take it from me – here’s a quote from famed investor […]

When in a meeting recently, I was explaining to a client a quick way to think about varying rates of return – the Rule of 72.  The client wasn’t familiar with it – so I thought a few of you may also wish to learn more about this simple but effective formula. It’s called the […]

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 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 […]

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 […]

Another month has come to and end. This one was far kinder to asset class returns. See for yourself – a summary of several index returns is provided below. In two words.. Much Better!

While it may seem like we just went thru a major election cycle, it is almost that time again. A client recently inquired about ways to keep track of what’s happening in our nation’s capital and the related impact on markets/portfolios. I have just the sources! In the interest of keeping things simple, I’m sharing […]

A client asked for a debrief on the Federal Reserve’s actions. Here we go! What happened at the meeting? On July 27, 2022, the US Federal Reserve (the “Fed”) once again raised the Fed Funds Rate by 75 basis points. The Federal Funds Rate now ranges from 2.25-2.5%, up from near zero in March. This […]

It’s easy to get stuck on the headlines these days – especially when it comes to inflation. Turn on the tv, listen to a podcast, open your email – and odds are you will see some sort of jarring financial headline concerning inflation. Even a drive past the gas station can bring the topic front […]