range·bound / ˈrānjˌbound/• adj. (generally of market prices) not straying outside a particular range Source: Encyclopedia.com After a strong recovery in the stock market following the Great Recession, the last couple of years for investors have been lackluster–better yet, frustrating, but it hasn’t been due to lack of excitement. We’ve had the Fed raise rates, the market getting upset…
Author: Justin
The Presidential Election and Your Investments
With Donald Trump as the last standing Republican presidential candidate, and Hillary appearing to have a lock on the Democratic nomination, the conversation in financial media has already turned to “which candidate is better for your portfolio?” Although no one really knows what impact the election will have on the market’s short term return, it will be a daily conversation for…
Whole Life Insurance: Financial Planning Red Flag #1
I recently met with an ambitious 20 year old looking to make sure she was building a sound foundation for her finances. As we talked about her goals, financial situation, and savings I learned that she has been sold a whole life insurance policy–financial planning red flag #1–after meeting with a friend just getting started in the business. For those not…
Assembling Your Financial Dream Team
Basketball has always been a big part of my life; I fell in love with it when I was two years old, played through college, and continue to enjoy it with my two boys. The other day I was watching a game with my oldest, Roman, and I had an epiphany. Much like a basketball team’s quest for a championship…
All About Your Benjamins First Video Blog: The DOL’ s Fiduciary Ruling
This is the first of many video blogs (not sure I can bring myself to use the term “vlog”) to come. Producing a short video is much harder than I expected; mainly, because I don’t know how to edit yet, so I’ve got to try to nail it in one take. Overall, I’m happy with the first video, and I’m…
The Quest to Become the Fittest Financial Advisor 16.3
16.3 came and went. I’m a little late in posting this update, but it’s for good reason. Busy days with clients will always postpone a CrossFit related post on this financial blog. Priorities.
Today in History…
March 9th will always be a day I remember for two reasons, separated by twelve years, and totally unrelated: one in 2009 and one in 1997.
Fiduciary
Fiduciary. If you are not familiar with this term–you should be, and you soon will be thanks to the Department of Labor. Currently, the DOL is proposing a new standard for financial advisors. If the bill passes, advisors working with clients on retirement accounts (IRAs, 401(k)s, etc.) will be held to a higher standard of being a fiduciary; the “Fiduciary…
The Quest to Become the Fittest Financial Advisor 16.2
16.2 is almost in the books. Unlike last week, I will be taking another shot at it Monday evening; I’ll provide an update afterwards. Checkout the workout below, and I’ll reveal my initial results:
Less People On The Couch
Jobs Friday is here…it’s the first Friday of the month, and that means the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) releases information on the health of the US Labor Market. Today we learn how many non-farm payrolls (aka jobs) were added in February, along with any change in the unemployment rate. We’ll also get revisions to previous months’ reports. The fact…