A Note from Henry Ford: As a business owner, the lines between business and personal finances can sometimes be blurry – especially when business is good and priorities require immediate attention. At LifeSteps Financial, we try to help by taking a global view of the financial landscape and provide insight and advice on short and…
DetailsLooking Back at November The U.S. stock market had some nice gains during the month of November. However, economic data was mixed. Manufacturing was slightly weakened throughout the year. Consumer and service sectors remain strong. (Black Friday and Cyber Monday exceeded previous online records.) And, because global manufacturing has weakened, several Reserve Banks outside of…
DetailsWhole Life Insurance is coverage that lasts throughout the entire life of the insured person, providing cash to the beneficiaries when the insured dies. Whole Life Insurance usually includes an investment piece that is known as the policy’s cash value. This cash grows slowly over the life of the policy. The insured can borrow against…
DetailsA good financial plan is an essential step toward wealth management, providing for your family and planning your legacy. Preparation and process are critical to creating a plan that can support your long-term financial goals. Risk management is key to any financial plan, and while it can’t be eliminated, one way to allay your risk…
DetailsOur colleagues over at American Business Bank recently sent us a reminder about the need to be vigilant and prepared for earthquakes. While we focus at LifeSteps Financial on being vigilant and prepared with finances, this reminded us to be equally vigilant and prepared for unexpected acts of mother nature. In California, that means earthquakes and fires. Here…
DetailsLooking Back at August August was a volatile month with the stock market dropping almost 3% on August 14, 2019 when the yield curve inverted for the first time since 2007. The yield curve inversion means that the interest rate on the US two-year bond is higher than the interest rate on the 10-year bond.…
DetailsRisk Management Is a term used in finance. Basically, it is the practice of identifying future or potential risks in advance, analyzing them and then taking the necessary steps to try to minimize or reduce the risk. A well-balanced portfolio should be designed with a variety of assets, including (but not limited to) equities, fixed…
DetailsPreparing for school can be overwhelming, even for families who can afford an expensive education for their children. Family financial literacy, planning early and defining clear goals will make the process smoother. Family Financial Literacy Financial literacy is an imperative life skill. Yet, for many of us, it is elusive, if not intimidating. Unfortunately, finance…
DetailsLooking Back at July Worldwide economies have not been as robust in recent months as the United States economy. During the month of July, the U.S. economy was very strong, and the market reflected this with the S&P hitting all-time highs, passing the previous 2950 mark. This discrepancy between the U. S. economy and the…
DetailsHappy Summer! While the market, interest rates and the impact of foreign affairs continue to be on our minds, vacations and family time are priorities this month. And, it seems that family time has prompted many of our clients to re-evaluate home and lifestyle preferences. We’ve had a lot of questions about the outlook for…
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