Second Quarter 2025 Review: Why International Diversification Matters
2025 highlights a key lesson: while U.S. markets have often taken the spotlight over the last decade or so, valuable global opportunities to enhance portfolio returns remain.
First Quarter 2025: A Sputnik Moment (For Diversification)
In late January, a Chinese artificial intelligence (AI) startup called DeepSeek launched a powerful, low-cost AI tool. This challenged the belief that only the most prominent U.S. tech firms could lead in AI.
Birthday Reminders: 9 Important Milestones to Remember as You Prepare for Retirement
No matter when you decide to stop or phase-out of work, there are some important milestones to remember and plan for:
Fourth Quarter Review - Higher Interest Rates, a Few Good Stocks
Two important developments are worthy of exploration in this quarter's commentary. First, rising intermediate and long-term interest rates are creating a markedly different environment for bonds and the broader investment landscape. Second, the trends that have characterized stock market returns over the last few years continued to an even greater degree in the fourth quarter and full year 2024.
QCDs – An Underutilized Philanthropic and Tax-Planning Tool
QCDs (Qualified Charitable Distributions) are not widely utilized but can be very beneficial to taxpayers aged 70 1/2 or older, who are charitably inclined and carry high IRA balances.
Third Quarter Review: The Fed Cut Rates - Small and Value Stocks Finally Outperform
Investors were treated to a bumpy ride in the third quarter, but stocks are at record highs as the final three months of 2024 get underway, and bonds are solidly in the green. The Federal Reserve’s long-awaited reduction in interest rates played a crucial role in the solid returns on stocks and bonds.