Blog

SECURE Act 2.0 Passed in Final Days of 2022

Congress spent the final days of 2022 on new reforms designed to help Americans save more for retirement.You may hear the changes called SECURE Act 2.0, which is a follow-up to the Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement...

Putting Interest Rates Into Perspective

Traditionally, I’ve been a little cautious when people say, “it’s different this time.” After all, the past few years have seen more financial “firsts” than most.But despite that skepticism, this...

What’s the Fed’s Master Plan?

Wall Street is always searching for a hero to embrace or a villain to blame. And right now, Fed Chair Jerome Powell is the villain.After the September Fed meeting, Powell said interest rates may be heading higher for longer than...

Major Student Loan changes announced

There are still many details to come, but here is what we know so far:1.       Forgive $10,000 ($20,000 if you received Pell Grants) of student loansMust make under $125,000 if single or $250,000 if...

So are we in a recession or not?

Friday's surprise jobs report adding 528k jobs and the unemployment rate falling to 3.5% adds confusion to the Recession picture.  A week ago, a second consecutive decline in GDP was reported which meets one...

Are we (or are you) in a recession?

There are varying definitions of recession. What matters most is if you are personally in a recession.  As the old adage goes if you lose your neighbor loses their job we are in a recession and its a depression when you lose yours...

THREE THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT BEAR MARKETS

A bear market is generally defined as a decline in the stock market of 20% or greater. Let's review their regularity, what to expect based on history, and what you should and shouldn’t do in a bear market.1) Declines are normal...

Stock Bear Market Survival Guide

A few years ago we started preparing for the next bear market here. Our advice remains the same today.  Here are some practical tips to get thorugh the bear market.  1) Assess your risk levels. Now is a good...

Where do stocks go from here? Some reckless predictions

I don't have a crystal ball but I do know how markets work.  Predictions are tough, especially about the future!  But here is my best educated guess going forward.  As I outlined here based on history there is...

Where do stocks go from here?

The investment see-saw is broken

The investment see-saw is broken: BOTH stocks and bonds are declining in value

A good reminder during this tough market...

PULLBACKS, CORRECTIONS, AND BEAR MARKETS

Finding a financial planner and why choose A CFP® PROFESSIONAL?

Jake Marty, our newest CFP® certificant!

2021 Investment Review and 2022 look ahead

5.9% COLA Increase Announced for Social Security

On October 13, 2021, the Social Security Administration (SSA) officially announced that Social Security recipients will receive a 5.9 percent cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) for 2022, the largest increase in four decades. This...

Adam Pearce is now a Dave Ramsey SmartVestor pro!

Dave Ramsey has a lot of financial advice to give and I recently became a @Dave Ramsey SmartVestor pro! Reach out if you want to learn more or advice on how to do it the " #Ramsey way ".

Mixed Signals on Inflation

Are you having a tough time keeping track of inflation's mixed signals? You’re not alone.Consumer prices in July climbed at their fastest rate since August 2008. Worse, producer prices, which can be an indicator of future price...

A 6.1% Bump in Social Security?

The news keeps getting better for Social Security recipients.It's now projected that benefits will increase 6.1% in 2022, up from the 4.7% forecast just two months ago. That would be the most significant increase since 1983.1...

Rising Inflation: Where Will It Go from Here?

In March 2021, the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) rose 0.6%, the largest one-month increase since August 2012. Over the previous 12 months, the increase was 2.6%, the highest year-over-year inflation rate since...

COVID-19 Relief Bill Signed Into Law

The House of Representatives passed a $1.9 trillion relief package focused on economic relief following the COVID-19 pandemic. The bill was signed into law at the White House on Thursday.1Beyond the much-discussed $1,400 stimulus...

Gamestop, AMC Theaters, Reddit, Robinhood, Wall St Bets, and more

When you see this seemingly crazy behavior in the markets and hear this strange language of shorts, halts, and hedge funds, it might not make sense to those who should long term investors. In fact, when we see this happen, I often hear...

2020 Annual Investment Letter to Clients

Much ink has already been spilled on the woes of 2020 …. so what’s a little more! As always though, our focus is on your investments and of course the pandemic loomed large over the markets. How remarkable was the 2020...

NTSA Congratulates Adam Pearce 2021 Ford Volunteer Service Awardee

The NTSA Leadership Council and the NTSA 2021 Ford Volunteer Service Award Judging Committee are proud to announce the 2021 Awardees of the Richard Ford Volunteer Service Award. Congratulations to: Tamara Indianer, CFP®, AIF®,...

THREE KEY QUESTIONS TO ANSWER BEFORE TAKING SOCIAL SECURITY

READ TIME: 3 MIN Social Security is a critical component of the retirement financial strategy for many Americans, so before you begin taking it, you should consider three important questions. The answers may affect whether you make the...

What’s the Buzz with Bitcoin?

Hardly a day goes by that the topic of bitcoin or other cryptocurrency assets doesn’t come up in meetings with clients and prospects or from friends and relatives who want to know, “what all the buzz is about?” The...

What would Benjamin Graham do? (stock valuations)

Among the many indicators we follow is one taught by famed investor Benjamin Graham (Warren Buffet’s teacher). It is a simple comparison of the earnings yield for stocks compared to interest rates. While the stock market is...

All eyes NOT on Georgia?

With control of the Senate hanging in the balance I don’t think the market is paying attention much less expecting a Democrat sweep. If the Democrats control all three branches, the preferences shift somewhat dramatically and the...

2021 Potential Policy and Legislation Affecting Markets

Bidens's White House -Executive actions: increased regulation, unwinding Trump era policies -Dovish Treasury -Easing of trade tensions Split Congress -Some stimulus, aid -Infrastructure (skinny) Democrats Control Congress (due to GA)...

Forget the election and keep an eye on the vaccine

If your still connecting election year politics with stock market investing you need to disconnect the two. The market has moved on. Right now the vaccine (vax) is center stage. As long as positive news on the vax continues it can...

Election 2020: Preparing for Any Outcome

As the U.S. presidential election draws near, expect to see more and more headlines that propose, "What will happen next if this person is elected?" or, "What policy changes to prepare for in the next four years?"In reality, however,...

Wills and trusts - special price for our clients

During this "stay at home" season our clients have been reaching out to us wanting to get their financial house in order. Check those lingering financial matters off your list. What should be at the top of your list is getting your...

MUTUAL FUNDS VS. ETFS

READ TIME: 4 MIN MUTUAL FUNDS VS. ETFS The growth of exchange-traded funds (ETFs) has been explosive. In 1998, there were only 29; at the end of 2018, there were over 1,900 investing in a wide range of stocks, bonds, and other...

The Bull Is Back... Will It Keep Charging?

These are extraordinary times, and traditional expectations and measures of value may not tell the whole story. On August 18, 2020, the S&P 500 set a record high for the first time since COVID-19 ushered in a bear market on February...

30-year Home Loans Fall to Historic Lows

Lately, it can feel like each day brings a new headline about fluctuating market behavior. But amid the ups and downs of 2020, there may be some potential good news on the horizon. On July 16, 2020, the interest rate for a 30-year...

IRS Clarifies COVID-19 Relief for Required minimum distributions (RMDs), loans, and withdrawals

Retirees who took RMDs in 2020 have until August 31, 2020, to roll the money back into a qualified account. This rollover will not affect the one-rollover-per-year rule. IRS Clarifies COVID-19 Relief Measures for Retirement Savers The...

Social Security and Medicare Face Financial Challenges

Based on the "intermediate" assumptions in this year's report, the Social Security Administration is projecting that the cost-of-living adjustment (COLA), which will be announced in the fall of 2020, will be 2.3%. This COLA would...

IRS Health-Care Spending Rules Under CARES Act

The IRS provided COVID-19 guidance for health Flexible Spending Arrangements and section 125 cafeteria plans related to high-deductible health plans through Notice 2020-29. The amended rules under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and...

The Shape of Economic Recovery

Most economists believe that GDP will turn upward in the third quarter, but it will take sustained growth to return the economy to its pre-recession level. On June 8, 2020, the National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER), which has...

Form CRS: Helping You Understand the Financial Professional Relationship

Have you received what's known as "Form CRS" from your broker-dealer and/or registered investment advisor? Have you received what's known as "Form CRS" from your broker-dealer and/or registered investment advisor? If not, then sometime...

Coping with Market Volatility: Understand How Your Biases Can Affect Investment Decisions

Understanding your biases may help you avoid questionable calls in the heat of the financial moment. When it comes to your finances, "go with your gut" might not be the wisest adage to follow. In fact, it may work against you,...

Coping with Market Volatility: Cash Can Help Manage Your Mindset

Consider how a cash position could enhance your ability to make thoughtful investment decisions. Holding an appropriate amount of cash in a portfolio can be the financial equivalent of taking deep breaths to relax. It could enhance...

Coping with Market Volatility: Be Willing to Take Advantage of Market Downturns

Smart investors are prepared to weather the inevitable rough patches. Anyone can look good during a bull market. Smart investors are prepared to weather the inevitable rough patches, and even the best aren't successful all the time....

U.S. Government Sends Millions of Economic Impact Payments by Prepaid Debit Card

In May 2020, the IRS sent Economic Impact Payment (EIP) prepaid VISA debit cards to individuals who qualified for a stimulus payment under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act and didn't receive a payment via...

Think Twice Before Speculating on a COVID-19 Cure

Headline-induced price swings suggest that investors are making investment decisions driven by hopes and fears, and possibly based on limited information. As hundreds of companies race to develop vaccines and drug therapies that could...

2019 IRA Contribution Deadline Has Been Extended

Making a last-minute contribution to an IRA may help you reduce your 2019 tax bill. If you qualify, your traditional IRA contribution may be tax deductible. And if you had low to moderate income and meet eligibility requirements, you...

Coping with Market Volatility: Continuing to Invest May Help You Stay on Course

Try not to let short-term anxiety make you forget your long-term plan. In the current market environment, the value of your holdings may be fluctuating widely — and it's natural to feel tentative about further investment. But...

Student Debt Help

I have made retirement planning my specialty, focusing in on the needs of educators and employees of non-profit organizations. Student loans are a problem for many educators when developing a retirement plan. The more I researched, the...

Coping with Market Volatility: Avoid Rash Decisions

During periods of market volatility, avoid making investment decisions based on emotions If you've been watching the market lately, perhaps the first question on your mind is, "Should I make a big change in my investments?" In reality...