October 2018 marked the 10th year of the longest bull market in history. In 2017, the stock market (S&P 500) moved placidly upward; in fact, the market set record highs over 100 times since the Presidential election in November 2016. This year, 2018, has given investors pause to think, however.
There is an old curse: “May you live in interesting times.” The stock market has definitely had those “interesting times” in the last few months. Triple digit moves in the index (both positive and negative) have had investors hanging onto their hats for a wild ride. Pundits on the financial
An annuity is a stream of income paid to the client over a specified time period. Generally, annuities can be either: Fixed or variable-where the amount paid is based on the nature of the underlying investments, Single premium or flexible premium-how the annuity fee is paid, Immediate payout or deferred
Beta, in the investing universe, is a measure of risk relative to a chosen benchmark. For example, if a stock has a beta of 1 vs. the S&P 500, it should move just as far up (or down) as the index itself does. The definition and calculation of investment indices
Retirement is a popular topic of discussion and, in some cases, an item of concern. There have been television commercials of “What is your number?” and “Do you have enough money for retirement?” This Quarter’s newsletter discusses some of the factors that lead to a successful (financial) retirement. These factors
Happy New Year; 2014 is a year of memories and 2015 is a year of promises. Some of those promises might not be pleasant for individuals transferring an Individual Retirement Account (IRA) unless they follow very specific rules. The Transfer IRAs can be transferred to a new advisor or trustee
More and more retiring employees are facing the question of whether to take their retirement benefits as a lump sum payment or a life-time monthly payment. The “correct” decision obviously lies with the individual’s particular circumstances (health of retiree and spouse, other financial assets, fund needs, etc.). There are compelling
How long can a good thing last? This summer has been quite mild in comparison to the past several Texas summers, but as many of us know, one strong high pressure system can change all of that. The stock market and Texas weather may have a few things in common.
There is considerable discussion in the investment profession concerning the compensation of advisors for investment advice. What is the difference and does it matter? That’s the subject of this discussion. Fee Only Fee only compensation means the advisor is compensated by a flat fee or percentage of assets under management
In this quarter’s newsletter I will be discussing Estate Planning, Exchange Traded Funds (EFTs), and Retirement. Although each of the following articles cover a different topic, they are all components of the financial planning process. Although estate planning is a subject that some people would prefer not to discuss, it