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June was a month with mixed results for stocks as international stocks were down across the board while U.S. stocks were positive. Emerging markets continued their 2018 struggles, down 4.2% in the month. On the other side, U.S. small value stocks were the top performer – gaining 0.8%. Results were slightly positive among bonds, with […]

Sir John Templeton once said, “For all long‐term investors, there is only one objective – maximum total return after taxes.” We could not agree more with this statement. Traditionally, the investment industry has focused on measures of risk and return while ignoring the tax implications of investing processes. In an effort to address this shortcoming, […]

Having a healthy relationship with your personal finances may take as much work as an exercise routine. Describe your current method of handling finances, outline your responsibilities, create a timeline, admit your fears, and commit to learning more are the five steps that will allow you to make decisions with confidence and help you achieve a sense of financial well-being.

The financial services industry is having a conversation. At the center of this conversation are women: women in financial service provider roles and women as investing clients. Depending on which metrics you are tracking, it is reported that only one in four financial advisors are women. Specifically, the Certified Financial Planner Board reports only 23.17% of […]

With all the buzz around “tax reform” and changes to the tax code in the last several months, you may be wondering, should I still prepare my own taxes? Or is it time to consult with a tax professional? Don’t get me wrong; when it comes to getting my hands dirty and trying some new craft, […]

Savant CEO Brent Brodeski was one of the RIA leaders who spoke with Financial-Planning.com for the article, “Will Robo Rush Follow Edelman and Financial Engines’ Blockbuster Deal?” The article discusses what effects the $3 billion deal may have on the industry’s digital services and capabilities, moving forward.

At least once a year I like to reflect on my own personal financial planning. I think about what I did well and where I can improve financially. I prefer to evaluate my financial planning at the beginning of the year because I feel more comfortable implementing any needed changes and starting the year off […]

While Savant’s Women’s Wealth Initiative is new, Savant empowering women to pursue their best financial futures is not. Certain aspects of this initiative are brand new and others were developed during our first generation women’s initiative called “Savvy Women”. I joined Savant in February 2015 and, along with two other female advisors, we hosted our first […]

Global stocks eked out a gain of 0.4% in May, with U.S. stocks pulling all of the weight. U.S. small stocks were the top performer – gaining 6.1%! Results were mixed among bonds, but U.S. bonds managed marginal, positive returns. Despite continued global growth, stock and bond markets have had trouble gaining traction in 2018, […]

On June 23, 2016 British voters stunned politicians and investors alike by choosing to leave the European Union (EU). The narrow victory hammered stocks around the globe as the S&P 500 dropped 5.3% and the FTSE 100, measuring U.K. stocks, plunged 5.6% over their next two trading sessions. Legislators and economists, among other influencers, insisted […]

If you are a business owner who receives “pass-through” income, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act included a major provision that you need to be aware of and start planning for. The largest take away from the new legislation might be the reduction of the corporate tax rate from 35% to 21%. However, this does […]

Should stock investors worry about changes in interest rates?  With markets near all-time highs, it’s human nature to worry about what might cause the end of this bull market. One common opinion is that as the Fed raises interest rates they may force banks to raise their discount rate or choke economic growth and cause […]