Looking Back at March Thinking that the United States and China might be close to a trade deal caused the market to be relatively quiet in March – until the last week when the yield curve inverted. Essentially this means shorter term interest rates became higher than longer term rate. This yield curve inversion caused…
DetailsFinancial Advisors often get asked about Investment Opportunities outside of the mainstream. While these options are not typically offered as part of a Financial Plan, a professional financial advisor can provide insight and help evaluate the upside and the risk in these types of investment options. There are numerous alternate, or unconventional, investment options. The…
DetailsA real estate investment trust, known as a REIT, is a company that owns income-producing property. As a small investors, you can purchase shares of a REIT (if they are publicly traded) through an ETF or mutual fund. There are several types of REITS. Two of the most common are Equity REITS and Mortgage REITS.…
DetailsLooking Back at February January and February have been very productive months for the market. Most US companies have reported earnings for last quarter. In general, while not as robust as last year, they are positive. The Federal Reserve (Fed) has decided to keep interest rates where they are for the moment, while continuing to…
DetailsCLAREMONT, CALIFORNIA – February 25, 2019 – Henry Ford, Senior Advisor and Principal of LifeSteps Financial, a Registered Investment Adviser (RIA) firm located in Claremont, California predicts the 2019 New Normal: Volatility and Financial Wellness. While seemingly a dichotomy, Mr. Ford believes that financial planning can bridge the ‘new normal’. Volatility and Financial Wellness…
DetailsThere are two basic philosophies for analyzing the stock market, one is fundamental analysis, the other is technical analysis. Fundamental analysis looks at the economic and financial factors that influence a business (financial statements, future projections, etc.). Technical analysis, on the other hand, exams the price movement of a security. Technical analysis looks at the…
DetailsIt is important for the financial wellness of an individual, family or business, for that matter, that the Estate or Business plan be revisited at least annually. A lot goes on over the course of a year. It may seem to go by slowly, but the dynamics are always changing the landscape of finances. Whether…
DetailsFOR THE YEAR – The S&P 500 lost 4.4% (total return) during 2018, breaking a streak of 9 consecutive “up” years for the $22.1 trillion index that was created in 1957. The raw index fell 6.2% but after factoring in the impact of reinvested dividends, the overall decline was reduced by 1.8 percentage points. The…
DetailsLooking Back at December I’m sure we’ve all had a few sleepless nights over the market the last few months. And, being anxious over the swings is understandable. There are several reasons for the volatility – some, somewhat logical; others, emotional: 1) Computer algorithms that trigger buy or sell signals when certain limits are hit…
DetailsCybercrimes aren’t anything new, but cyber attackers have become sneakier and more aggressive. As a result, companies are becoming increasingly proactive about protecting their technological profiles, especially as some of the biggest data breaches in recent history happened to companies such as Yahoo, JP Morgan Chase, Target, Starwood Hotels, eBay and more. The Yahoo data…
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