A yield curve is a graph that plots interest rates at a certain point in time for different length bonds (of equal credit quality). The most common yield curve compares the 3-month, 2-year, 10-year and 30-year US Treasury debt. The rates serve as a guide for other rates, such as mortgage rates or bank lending…
Looking Back at November November was perhaps the most volatile month in 2018. Two major conditions that influenced the market: The fear that the Federal Reserve Bank (Fed) would continue to raise interest rates in December (and several more times in 2019) and the uncertainty of trade with the possibility of increased tariffs. Both conditions “spooked” the…
Tax-loss Harvesting (or tax-loss selling) is a way to help eliminate gains from stocks you may have sold during the tax year. This benefit is for taxable accounts; generally it does not apply to IRAs or 401ks. If you have an investment that has lost money during the year, then you can sell it at…
Most Americans trace the history of the traditional Thanksgiving holiday to the 1621 harvest feast between English colonists (pilgrims) and the Wampanoag people. The Pilgrims contributed fowl (possibly turkey, but more likely geese or ducks) while the Wampanoag people brought venison to the feast, which may have also included fish, vegetables, and beer. Although these…
As this year draws to a close, you may be looking closely at your accounts and considering your options in order to start 2019 in the best possible light. Whether you are searching for tax breaks, investment opportunities, or other financial benefits, a careful review of all your options is crucial. One such…
Looking Back at October The S&P 500 lost 6.8% in October 2018 (total return). It was the worst month in more than seven years (since the September 2011 loss of 7.0%). It was also the worst October since the index fell 16.8% in October 2008, the beginning of the global real estate crisis. The…
As consumers continue to raise expectations of being social responsibility for our planet, they have also become very aware of companies that are socially aware and taking responsibility for their environmental impact. Early on, companies taking an active role in being environmentally conscientious tended to be small with products or services that were difficult to…
An ETF is a security that tracks an index, commodity or a basket of assets. Each ETF has a preselected collection of stocks or bonds. ETFs are less costly than purchasing mutual funds or even buying individual stocks. Each time you buy or sell an individual security you pay trading costs, while an ETF is…
In today’s society, people are constantly bombarded with messages telling them what they need and why they need it. Whether through the media or advertisements (via billboards, print, online, TV, etc.), our culture has become unphased at being talked at, rather than listened to. Yet, it is critical that service providers really listen if they…
Market pullbacks never feel good but are required for a healthy market. The first pullback this year was in February. Since then, the market has recovered and moved higher. It is not easy to see a dramatic drop in the market, especially in such a short time period. Part of the reason for this…