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Economists like to remind us there is no such thing as a free lunch. In investment parlance, that just means all investments carry risk—even cash. And the big risk with cash is reinvestment risk. That is, while short-term rates...

If you're a business owner, you are likely the Chief Everything Officer at work and have many responsibilities. A business owner's situation is unique since they are asset-rich and cash-poor since their wealth is in their...

The following content is prepared by LPL Research--First quarter earnings season is nearly complete, and it has caused us to regret titling our earnings preview commentary on April 10, “Malaise Continues.” While the...

The COVID-19 pandemic has turned many industries on their heads, and in many parts of the country, the wedding industry is among them. Time-honored customs like the newly-wed couple mingling from table to table, talking to hundreds...

Much has been written lately about the threats facing the reserve currency status enjoyed by the U.S. dollar. “De-dollarization” headlines appear on a near-daily basis, suggesting the dollar’s reign is in looming...

Planning for marriage should involve more than just picking out invitations and deciding whether you should serve chicken or fish at the reception. More importantly, you'll want to take a look at how marriage will impact your financial...

The following content is prepared by LPL Research--“Sell in May and go away” is probably the most widely cited stock market cliché in history. Every year a barrage of Wall Street commentaries and stories in the...

Business succession planning — what is it? One of the important decisions a business owner must face is when and how to step out of the business — in other words, business succession planning. Do you expect to retire from...

The following content is prepared by LPL Research--Investors use various analogies to describe the importance of small businesses in the domestic economy. Some refer to the small business sector as the backbone or the lifeblood of the...

While you never know your needs as you age, the first step is thinking about your financial situation and health today so you can plan for your later years. With a one in four chance of making it to our 90th birthday, being independent...

The following content is prepared by LPL Research--The commercial real estate (CRE) market has recently captured the spotlight after being flagged as the next potential shoe to drop following last month’s banking turmoil. While...

Teaching children about money and financial literacy through games can make learning fun. Financial literacy games can also prepare children for financial confidence in adulthood while making parents and children comfortable talking...

First quarter earnings season kicks off this week with some big banks reporting toward the end of the week. In some ways this quarter’s earnings season will probably be déjà vu all over again—earnings declines and...

Financial literacy is crucial, not only for adults but for everyone in the family. When you have a good foundation of financial literacy, you will have a greater understanding of money and prepare yourself for a brighter financial...

Financial markets and the Federal Reserve are reading from two different playbooks. Who is right? The markets are pricing in several rate cuts by the end of this year, while the Federal Reserve communicated more rate hikes with an...

The following content is prepared by LPL Research--A lot has changed in the past few weeks, both in terms of expectations for interest rates and lost confidence in the health of the banking system as a result of the sharp rise in...

What is it? Introduction If you're the beneficiary of a large inheritance, you may find yourself suddenly wealthy. Even if you expected the inheritance, you may be surprised by the size of the bequest or the diverse assets you've...

The following content is prepared by LPL Research--The Federal Reserve (Fed) has a history of raising short-term interest rates until something “breaks.” Considering the Fed has raised rates from a near-zero level to 4.75%...

There are many reasons why people save money. For some, it is so they can enjoy a certain amount of financial confidence and freedom, while others squirrel away money for emergencies or future plans like the down payment for a home,...

Last week did not play out how we anticipated. Coming into the week, it was all about Federal Reserve (Fed) Chair Jerome Powell’s congressional testimony and the February jobs report. Instead, we got a shockingly fast collapse of...

Generation Z, also known as Gen Z, is the demographic group born between 1997 and 2012. This generation is characterized by its confidence and ambition, and many members of Gen Z believe that they can retire at the age of 59. There are...

The following content is prepared by LPL Research--Suggesting an economy makes “no landing” makes no sense. Analogies eventually break down, especially this one. Economic activity does not stop like an airplane eventually...

Employee benefits are an important part of any company's strategy to attract and retain top talent. As the workforce continues to evolve, employee benefit trends are also changing to meet the needs of employees. Here are five trends...

While concerns about the debt ceiling have been increasing, markets, businesses, and the economy are likely to see only minimal impact until we are days, or maybe a few weeks, from the “x date,” the date on which the...

Retirement planning may not be your idea of an exciting date night. However, retirement strategies and goals are so varied that couples in committed relationships need to set aside time to discuss plans for when they leave the...

Markets have adjusted to several changes this year. The pace at which inflation has cooled is slowing. The market has started to believe the Federal Reserve’s (Fed) “higher for longer” message. The bar for earnings...

It's common for people who are retiring to set their retirement date in either the springtime or the early summer. If you happen to be one of those lucky folks who are going to retire this year, then "Congratulations!"But before you...

The Benefits of Always Being in the Market

CHRISTIAN COVEY

Monday, February 13, 2023

Nobody likes the feeling of a down day in the market, let alone a down week, month, or year. It can be tempting to try to time the market, seeking to avoid the bad times and get in for the good times. Part of the problem with this approach

The following content is prepared by LPL Research--Soft landing or no soft landing, that is the question, with all due respect to William Shakespeare. But while this may be the most commonly asked question these days, it may not be the...

Getting Out of the Market Because of Taxes? Are you thinking about bailing out of stocks because you are worried that the capital gains tax structure might change? Before you hit the sell button, think it over carefully and make sure...

Investors got more excited about international investing late last year. Some of that was chasing better returns, as developed international equities solidly beat the U.S. over the last three months of 2022. Some was the increased...

The script has been flipped in 2023. Last year’s underperformers have turned into outperformers this year, driving the S&P 500 Index up over 5% this month. The pace and composition of the rally have left many investors skeptical...

What is it?Even if you've always handled your family's finances, you may be overwhelmed by the number of financial matters you have to settle in the weeks or months following your spouse's death. While you can put off some of these...

The latest episode of the debate between stock market bulls and bears has gotten more interesting. For every valid point from one side, there’s an equally compelling argument on the other side. Perhaps the best reason for the...

No matter your age, financial competency is an important skill to have. The most important part of feeling confident in your finances is your ability to budget—and that’s not always an easy task. Here are a few helpful...

The following content is prepared by LPL Research--Fourth quarter earnings season is underway and probably won’t bring much good news. Lackluster global growth, ongoing profit margin pressures from inflation, and negative...

How long do you think you will live? How long does your money need to last? If you’re like most people, you get this age wrong.The consequence? Faulty retirement planning, overspending now and running out of money before you...

The following content is prepared by LPL Research--We believe accountability and modesty are among the keys to success in this business. In striving for those qualities, LPL Research has a tradition of starting off a new year with a...

You tie your life to another’s in many ways with that ring on your finger: family, friends, jobs and where you live, to name a few. You also certainly combine finances and attitudes about money. Is your spouse also always the...

The following content is prepared by LPL Research--2022 was a dizzying year as markets and the global economy continued to find itself out of balance due to the still present aftereffects of the COVID-19 pandemic and the policy...

What is a living trust?A living trust is a separate legal entity that you create to own property for you (like a house, boat, or mutual fund shares). You transfer all or some of your property to the living trust as soon as it is...

In October of 2022, the Social Security Administration announced that Social Security and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits for more than 70 million Americans will increase 8.7%.The adjustment will increase monthly Social...

The January Effect was first noticed by investment banker Sidney Wachtel in 1942 and the theory proposes that a pattern existed in the price of stocks in the last few trading days of December and the first few weeks of January.

The following content is prepared by LPL Research--The Federal Reserve (Fed) wrapped up its last Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) meeting of the year last week, where it hiked short-term interest rates for the seventh time in as...

Over the last 20 years, the median-age for Americans (the median age is the point where exactly half the population is older and the other half is younger) has increased by about 3 ½ years. Today, the median age is 38.8 years. But...

The following content is prepared by LPL Research--Despite the S&P 500 Index starting December with five consecutive days of losses, we think December is down but not out. December often starts slow but historically has been a strong...

Most folks just don't make preparations before dying. Preparing means communicating with relatives and other loved ones – and it’s really hard.Here is a metaphor that might encourage you to plan for when you’re no...

The following content is prepared by LPL Research--Economic and corporate data support the initial strong reads on holiday retail sales despite the macro headwinds, reinforcing the idea that today’s consumer is in a better...

October is usually one of the worst months for stocks, but October 2022 is shaping up to be the best month on record since 1976.Did you sell your equity positions at the end of September because you could no longer stomach this...

With the holiday season upon us and the end of the year approaching, we pause to give thanks for our blessings and the people in our lives. It is also a time when charitable giving often comes to mind. The tax benefits associated with...

The following content is prepared by LPL Research--Recent inflation data has tempered expectations for future Federal Reserve tightening, including a potential peak in the terminal rate near 5.0% in May or June of 2023. While the...

Many programs and resources are available from your community to help you live independently at home. Some of these programs are funded either by your state government or by the federal government. Others are privately funded or are provide

The following content is prepared by LPL Research-- The growth vs. value debate has been pretty one-sided in 2022, with value outperforming growth for a sustained period for the first time in almost 15 years. However, the debate is...

Black Friday and Cyber Monday are two of the greatest days to score deals for holiday shopping. Unfortunately, with amazing deals plentiful, some scammers use these days to take advantage of shoppers looking for the greatest bargains...

The following content is prepared by LPL Research--Midterm elections are upon us, with Election Day on Tuesday. Republicans are strongly favored to win the House, and the Senate is roughly a tossup. We believe either outcome would be...

The Internal Revenue Service might soon add 87,000 more to its staff. While the IRS may not be your favorite federal agency, criminals posing as IRS representatives are unquestionably the much bigger problem. Here’s what to know...

Massive computer hacks and data breaches are now common occurrences — an unfortunate consequence of living in a digital world. Once identity thieves have your information, they can use it to gain access to your bank and credit-card accounts

With a series of important economic indicators suggesting the economy is declining and inflation is finally decelerating, albeit very slowly, markets are beginning to factor in that the Fed may soon transition to a less aggressive stance in

If the U.S. economy enters a recession, the causes and potential outcomes will be hotly debated. At LPL Research, our starting point is always looking at history. This week’s commentary will remind us of three things we know...

At one time, the only way you could join your company's 401(k) plan, 403(b) plan, or 457(b) plan was to put pen to paper and sign yourself up by filling out the appropriate forms. Now, though, in an effort to help participants increase...

Expectations are very low for this earnings season. The challenges are many, with intense cost pressures and slowing economic growth at the top of the list. The chorus of analysts and strategists calling for big cuts to estimates has...

How you perform against one index bears little on your financial well-being. Study after study has shown that beating the S&P 500 over the long term is nearly impossible. Yet, nearly every time I meet with a new investor, they ask the...

The British pound had been weakening for some time amid a backdrop of dollar strength and a poor economic outlook as the U.K. has been wracked by rising energy costs. A stimulus-packed government ‘mini budget’ announcement that included sig

The strong dollar is much in the news lately. But most Americans, other than tourists beyond our shores, don't focus on what that means to them. For U.S. investors, the upshot is not great. In fact, for most, currency fluctuations...

On October 16, China will begin its 20th National Congress of the Chinese Communist Party in Beijing. This plenum is especially significant because it is expected that President Xi Jinping will be granted an unprecedented third term,...

For those who don't have a 401(k) option through their employer—which includes some small-business owners—how to save for retirement might be challenging. In a competitive employment market, offering retirement options to...

Because the equity risk within our diversified asset allocation portfolios is still the largest contributor to total portfolio risk, we like the defensive properties that bonds could play on a go-forward basis. In the form of high-quality..

During their lives, many individuals make donations to favorite charitable causes to address social ills or support certain institutions. For some, altruistic motives predominate. Many technological, medical, and educational advances...

The following content is written and prepared by LPL Research--Inflationary dynamics continue to surprise to the upside, and markets now expect the Fed to pursue one of its most aggressive rate hiking campaign in years. U.S....

Combining today's low gift tax rates with a historic peak in the lifetime gift tax exemption amount (currently $11.58 million), now could be a great time for high-net-worth investors to pass along assets to family members and other...

The following content is written and prepared by LPL Research--Federal Reserve Chairman Jay Powell reiterated his warning that getting inflation under control will require some pain. Powell is likely making these warnings based...

The primary purpose of life insurance is to provide financial resources for those that depend on you when you die. However, you can lessen the complexity of charitable giving through wealth transfer by using life insurance as a gifting...

The following content is written and prepared by LPL Research--The difficult 2022 for stocks may not get much easier because as we now wait for better news on the inflation front, we have to contend with a seasonally weak month...

Americans donate billions to charity annually. If you give to charity, you need to know about one of the best tools to facilitate generosity: Donor-Advised Funds (DAFs).DAFs date from the 1930s but did not become popular until the...

Earnings growth of 6-7% doesn’t sound very exciting, but given the challenges corporate America has faced, we consider the nearly-complete second-quarter earnings season a resounding success. The numerous challenges last quarter...

A qualified charitable distribution, or QCD, allows you to distribute funds from your IRA to an eligible charity (a 501(c)(3) organization) as long as you’re 70 1/2 years of age or older. Since the gift will go directly to the...

A common definition of a recession that many have used over the years is two consecutive quarters of negative GDP growth. But the National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER), which is the official arbiter of recessions, claims it’s much...

Charitable giving is a great way to support your community, make an impact, or leave a legacy while receiving tax benefits for giving. If you choose to give and find an organization you’re passionate about, add charitable giving...

Investors cheered the two better-than-expected inflation reports last week, pushing the S&P 500 to 16% above its June 16 low and only 11% below its all-time high. After this rebound, the key question investors are asking is whether...

The turmoil in the markets in the first few months of 2022 has demonstrated the benefits of diversifying your assets. Stocks plunged in January and February, rebounded in March, but are still negative YTD. And the bond market suffered...

Many nonprofit organizations set out to help others. They provide services, guidance, support, or other resources to a specific group or cause. Yet, to do the work they do, they often need financial strength. Nonprofit organizations...

Establishing and sticking to a budget is an important life skill to learn, even for college students who are focused on keeping up their grades and getting a good job when they graduate. Budgeting may help them understand how much...

Fresh off of OTA's! Andy & Christian had the opportunity to spend some time chatting with NFL Class of 2022 Wide Receiver and Return Specialist, Britain Covey, of the Philadelphia Eagles Football Team. Watch Now!

Whether to invest a large amount all at once or over a short period of time (lump-sum investing) or to invest gradually over a longer period of time (periodic investing) is an investment strategy decision you'll have to face if you're...

You may have envisioned retirement as a second childhood—a time to relax, enjoy yourself, and devote your time to your favorite hobbies. Unfortunately, worry-free retirement is not the reality for some. Challenges from stock...

Most of us cannot imagine the sudden loss of our spouse. Yet, difficult as it may seem to accept, U.S. Census data indicates that the overwhelming majority of married women will be on their own for a significant number of their later...

Losing experienced, hardworking employees can be costly for your business. So when one of your valued employees announces she is pregnant, do more than just congratulate her. You may want to consider encouraging her to return to work...

With news easily accessible through phones, social media, television, podcasts, and other means, I’m sure most of you have heard that we have entered a bear market. What does this mean, and is there anything we can do about...

Marriage is an important step in anyone's life and brings many challenges with it. One of those challenges is the management of your finances as a couple. The money decisions that you make now as a couple can have a lasting impact on...

Even with all of your savvy college shopping and research about financial aid, college costs may still be prohibitive. At these prices, you expect you'll need to make substantial financial sacrifices to send your child to college. Or...

While it may seem that fishing and investing are completely unrelated, believe it or not, there are some characteristics that make a person good at fishing that can also transfer to investing. Here are six fishing lessons you can apply...

Taxes are a great adult subject for every teen to start learning about. For teens and young adults who will be taking on summer jobs this year, it will be a time to gain experience, earn some cash and learn a bit about adulthood.

What does an entrepreneur need to create a dynamic company? The right mindset is a big part of it. As an entrepreneur, you devote half your time or more to the daily hustle, making things happen and accomplishing goals. The other half...

The market has tested our patience and resolve this year. We’re only about five months through the year, and we’ve already dealt with sticky inflation, global conflict, political discord, and declining consumer sentiment....

For quite some time, profit-sharing plans have been recognized by many small business owners and professionals as effective, qualified retirement savings mechanisms. Generally speaking, these plans allow employees to share company...

The health-care reform legislation enacted in 2010 included new Medicare-related taxes that first took effect in 2013. These new taxes target high-income individuals and families. Here are the basics: Additional Medicare Payroll Tax If...

One out of 11 women owns her own business and is responsible for employing one out of seven workers. It appears that much of the push behind women-owned businesses is the desire for independence.

Buying your first home is equivalent to embarking on a grand adventure. Although extremely thrilling, learning the ins and outs of the process can often seem overwhelming. From determining a budget to obtaining a loan, there are...

Regardless of your age, if you’re in a committed relationship, both of you should participate in planning for your financial future.

Ask your five-year-old where money comes from, and the answer you'll probably get is "From a machine!" Even though children don't always understand where money really comes from, they realize at a young age that they can use it to buy...

Getting reliable information and support is important when you have a child with special needs.

Maybe your charitable donations should stay in your zip code? For many of us, buying locally matters. We’ve all heard the term and seen the signs: Shop Locally. Eat Locally. But let’s extend that thought for a minute: do...

Most tax-exempt nonprofits must file a 990 form with the Internal Revenue Service every year, typically in mid-May. The 990 is purely informational. Nonprofits commit to serving an “approved purpose” – such as...

As you consider the traditional concept of retirement, you may discover that it doesn’t meet your needs.

As a business owner, you may hire your minor children to perform certain jobs... As long as you pay a fair market wage for the services they perform, the money they earn can be considered compensation income and be invested in a Roth IRA.

Families inherit money and sometimes make the right moves in investing and spending. Inheritances can also ignite disruption, divorce, and a host of bad behavior far from the hopes and plans of the benefactor.

The market has experienced a generous amount of volatility to start the year 2022. We wanted to take this opportunity to go through a few general reminders during a time like this. Making decisions based on emotions is a dangerous game...

Now that the door has shut on 2021, let's take a look at what is ahead in 2022.