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Tax time is here again and the April 15th deadline for filing tax returns is approaching quickly. Here are some strategies to consider and reminders for the upcoming tax season.  You May Still Be Able to Lower Your 2018 Tax Liability Even though 2018 has ended, there are still steps you may be able to […]

A brief look back at some of the economic, natural, political, and societal events that shaped 2018.

Following a disappointing fourth quarter, stocks got off to a blazing start in 2019! Despite the U.S. government shutdown casting a shadow on sentiment, a gain of 8.1% made January 2019 the 10th strongest individual month for world stocks (MSCI ACWI) since the index’s inception in 1994. Bonds also delivered modest positive returns, while alternatives […]

John (Jack) C. Bogle may not be a household name amongst individual investors, but his profound impact on the financial services industry is undisputable. In 1975, Bogle made it his life’s work to provide low-cost investing solutions that bettered the industry and the lives of countless individuals when he founded Vanguard Group. It is safe […]

At the beginning of every new year, there are many opportunities to reflect on the past year and plan for the year ahead. Whether or not you have made New Year’s resolutions in the past, consider making at least one this year: Resolve to create a budget and stick to it. Build Your Budget As with […]

Good money management skills are not something you are born with; rather, they are acquired over a lifetime of successes and failures. Giving your children a weekly allowance is a great way to give them experience with money and get them on the path to successful money management as an adult. The Goal of Kids’ […]

Through December and much of the fourth quarter of 2018 investors had to contend with rising interest rates in the U.S., a sharp slowdown in Eurozone business confidence, weaker Chinese growth and rising trade war concerns. As a result, stocks were hit hard in the month of December, posting their worst monthly losses in years. […]

Looking back at the start of 2018, analysts feared the economic expansion was nearing its end. It was common to hear the expansion was running on borrowed time as the economy grew closer to its longest expansion in history. However, the top of the business cycle proved these misnomers to be just that, misnomers. A […]

No one likes volatility, but it is an unavoidable part of investing in stocks. Recent trading sessions in late December 2018 and into January 2019 have brought back stock market volatility quite dramatically. 2018 was disappointing as nearly all asset classes ended in the red. Dramatic declines are unsettling regardless of the backdrop, but following […]

As we enter what feels like an unprecedented new year of volatility, market pressure, and uncertainty, many investors are on edge. Fear can cause many to lose their better judgement. In these moments, it is critical to focus on the long term and resist the temptation to try to time the market. Let’s sort through the […]

Cost basis is a crucial piece in determining how much gain/loss from the sale of an investment will be reported on your tax return. Despite cost basis being so important, required accurate reporting of cost basis by custodians has only been in effect since 2011 for stocks (and 2012 for mutual funds). Therefore, it is important […]

Certain events in your life are happy and planned – graduations, getting that job, and having a child. Other significant events may be sudden and unexpected – disability, divorce, and premature death. We call these “life’s critical events.” They happen to each of us, albeit not at the same time or in the same magnitude, […]