Financial Blogs
Top 10 Questions High Net Worth Individuals Ask About Social Security
Social Security, the program you may have spent a lifetime paying into, is designed to offer stability, supplemental income, and other valuable benefits that can play a role in your overall financial strategy after you retire. We've...
Read MoreUnderstanding the September Effect: What It Is and Why It Happens
If you ask the average investor which month is the most volatile for the stock market, they will probably say October. It's a reasonable answer, but it's incorrect. Despite October's reputation for market-defining events like the...
Read MoreDon't Get Hooked: A Guide to Recognizing and Avoiding Phishing
As financial professionals, we understand how vital it is to safeguard your personal and financial information. Unfortunately, in our increasingly digital world, cybersecurity risks, such as phishing attacks, have become a prevalent...
Read MoreMoney Tips for Parents Sending Children Off to College
You’ve done a great job teaching your children vital life lessons and instilling values that will last a lifetime. As summer ends and a new school year begins, one thing that shouldn’t be overlooked, especially for...
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2023 | August Risk Odometer
Our Risk Odometer remains unchanged at +1 in August, and we maintain our “Cautiously Positive” Outlook. We continue to witness negative fundamental indicators and positive technical indicators. Our positive technical...
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Attention Parents and Grandparents of College-Bound Students: FAFSA Gets an Overhaul
Changes are coming to the complicated form that students must submit to qualify for college financial aid, known as the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).The Department of Education is calling it the “most...
Read MoreThe 6 Biggest Mistakes DIY Investors Make and How to Avoid Them
IntroductionOver the last several months, I have met with quite a few self-proclaimed do-it-yourself (DIY) investors who, after struggling with the markets in 2022, approached me asking for a second opinion. Interestingly, almost every...
Read MoreHow the SECURE 2.0 Act Changed 529 Plans
Changes to 529 Plans in the SECURE 2.0 ActThe SECURE Act was initially passed by Congress at the end of 2019 and was intended to improve retirement savings opportunities. It was a big deal at the time and the most significant piece of...
Read MoreHealth Savings Accounts: Pros, Cons, and Retirement Considerations
What if your child needs braces? The cost may be as much as $6,000 for metal braces—more modern versions can run as much as $13,000. Your health insurance may cover only a portion of the cost. If you're well past the braces stage...
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2023 | July Risk Odometer
For the third month in a row, our Risk Odometer remains unchanged at +1 in July, and we maintain our “Cautiously Positive” Outlook. We continue to witness negative fundamental indicators and positive technical...
Read MoreTop 7 Most Common Estate Strategy Mistakes (and How to Avoid Them)
Getting your affairs in order and outlining what you want done with your estate after you’re gone is one of the greatest gifts you can leave your loved ones. However, not preparing for the transfer of your assets can lead to...
Read MoreNavigating the Costs of Senior Care: Tips for Preparing for Long-Term Care
Senior care costs can be overwhelming, particularly when long-term care is required due to illness or medical conditions. With the number of seniors in the U.S. expected to rise exponentially by 2030, it's crucial to be prepared for...
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2023 | June Risk Odometer
Our Risk Odometer remains unchanged at +1 in June, and we maintain our “Cautiously Positive” Outlook. For the second month in over a year we do not have a defensive outlook as our timelier technical indicators remain...
Read MoreLiving Trusts: Understanding the Basics and Key Considerations
Estate management can be a complex and daunting task for many people, but it’s a critical step in helping your assets get managed and distributed according to your wishes.One popular tool that can be used in estate strategies is...
Read MoreTrying to Time a Recession?
Economies move in cycles – always have, always willThe Federal Reserve has been steadily increasing interest rates in an attempt to slow the rate of inflation. Its efforts are yielding some results, although inflation remains...
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2023 | May Risk Odometer
Our Risk Odometer moved up one point from 0 to 1 forcing us to move our Current Outlook to “Cautiously Positive”. This has been the first time in over a year that our Risk Odometer has registered a positive reading.We...
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2023 | April Risk Odometer
Our Risk Odometer was unchanged in April, remaining at a net score of 0 and a Current Outlook of Use Caution. Surprisingly the banking turmoil caused by the Silicon Valley Bank failure in March did little to impact the Risk...
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2023 | March Risk Odometer
Our Risk Odometer improved again in March from -1 to 0, thus upgrading our Current Outlook from “Defensive” to “Use Caution”. Although this is an upgrade in our net score and outlook, there are still many...
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2023 | February Risk Odometer
Our Risk Odometer improved from -3 to -1 for February but our Outlook remains “Defensive”. This is the second time our Risk Odometer has improved from -3 to -1 with the last time being in December. In December,...
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2023 | January Risk Odometer
Our Risk Odometer moved lower in January from -1 to -3. Our Outlook remains “Defensive”. Last month we had expressed hope that the stock market rally in October and November would signal better times ahead but...
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2022 | December Risk Odometer
Our Risk Odometer remained unchanged for December and our Outlook remains “Defensive”. The stock market experienced a considerable rally in October and November, triggering our Technical Price Action to turn positive,...
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2022 | November Risk Odometer
Our Risk Odometer net score moved up one point for November to -1 but still remains in negative territory. Our Outlook remains “Defensive”. The improvement in our net score was due to improved Technical Price...
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2022 | October Risk Odometer
Our Risk Odometer remains unchanged in October at -2. Our Current Outlook also remains unchanged at the lowest level of “Defensive”. Our outlook moved lower to Defensive last month when our fundamental...
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2022 | Septemeber Risk Odometer
For the first time since 2020, our Risk Odometer has moved into negative territory at -2 and our Current Outlook downgraded to its lowest level of “Defensive”. For four consecutive months we had been witnessing...
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2022 | August Risk Odometer
For the 4th month in a row, our Risk Odometer is unchanged at 0 with a Current Outlook of “Use Caution”. While the net score and Current Outlook are unchanged, indicators under the hood are changing, reflecting...
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2022 | July Risk Odometer
For the 3rd month in a row, our Risk Odometer is unchanged at 0 with a Current Outlook of “Use Caution”. We continue to witness conflicting signals which gives us caution. Our more sensitive and timely technical...
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2022 | June Risk Odometer
Our Risk Odometer is unchanged for June at net score of zero and a “Use Caution” Outlook. This more cautious outlook reflects the conflicting signals our indicators are giving us. Our more-timely technical...
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2022 | May Risk Odometer
Our Risk Odometer moved lower in May, and now, for the second time in three months, stands at 0 with a “Use Caution” outlook. This more cautious than normal outlook reflects the deterioration we have witnessed in technical...
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2021 | October Risk Odometer
Our Risk Odometer moved down 1 point from +5 to +4 in October. Our Current Outlook remained unchanged at its highest possible level of “Positive”. Despite the one point drop in the Risk Odometer economic growth remains robust and our...
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2021 | September Risk Odometer
Special Note About a Change in the Risk Odometer: We have changed our Risk Odometer from seven underlying indicators to five. This will not have an impact on the net takeaway or our “Current Outlook”. We dropped the...
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2021 | August Risk Odometer
Special Note About a Change in the Risk Odometer: We have changed our Risk Odometer from seven underlying indicators to five. This will not have an impact on the net takeaway or our “Current Outlook”. We dropped the...
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2021 | July Risk Odometer
Our Risk Odometer remain unchanged at an elevated +4, and our Current Outlook also remain unchanged at its highest level of “Positive”. The economy continues to run red hot as life in the US returns to normal post Covid....
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2021 | June Risk Odometer
FCWS VIEW JUNE 2021 | OUTLOOK: POSITIVE Special Note About a Change in the Risk Odometer: We have changed our Risk Odometer from seven underlying indicators to five. This will not have an impact on the net takeaway or our...
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2021 | May Risk Odometer
FCWS VIEW MAY 2021 | OUTLOOK: POSITIVE Our Risk Odometer moved another point higher from +2 to +3 in May, and our Current Outlook remained at its highest level of “Positive”. The only negative reading in our subcomponents...
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2021 | April Risk Odometer
FCWS VIEW APRIL 2021 | OUTLOOK: POSITIVE Our Risk Odometer moved one point higher this month to +2 and our Current Outlook also increased to “Positive”, its most optimistic level in its four-level outlook status. Our Risk...
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2021 | March Risk Odometer
FCWS VIEW MARCH 2021 | OUTLOOK: CAUTIOUSLY POSITIVE Our Risk Odometer and Outlook remain unchanged in March at +1 and Cautiously Positive, one level below our most positive level. Technical signals continue to remain strongly positive,...
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2021 | February Risk Odometer
FCWS VIEW FEBRUARY 2021 | OUTLOOK: CAUTIOUSLY POSITIVE Our Risk Odometer and Outlook remain unchanged in February at +1 and Cautiously Positive, one level above our most positive level. Technical signals continue to remain strongly...
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2021 | January Risk Odometer
FCWS VIEW JANUARY 2021 | OUTLOOK: CAUTIOUSLY POSITIVE Our Risk Odometer begins 2021 in the same place it was last month at +1 with a Cautiously Positive Outlook. Our net Odometer reading remains positive, but our technical and...
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2020 | December Risk Odometer
FCWS VIEW DECEMBER 2020 | OUTLOOK: CAUTIOUSLY POSITIVE For the first time since February, our Current Outlook moved into the top half our four-level grading scale. Moving from “Use Caution” where it had been for the...
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2020 | November Risk Odometer
FCWS VIEW NOVEMBER 2020 | OUTLOOK: USE CAUTION For the third consecutive month, our Outlook remains at “Use Caution” and our Risk Odometer remains at +1. Economic fundamentals and market technicals continue to give us...
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2020 | October Risk Odometer
FCWS VIEW OCTOBER 2020 | OUTLOOK: USE CAUTION Our outlook for October remains unchanged at “Use Caution”. Our Risk Odometer also remained unchanged on the month at +1. Economic fundamentals and market technicals continue to...
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2020 | September Risk Odometer
FCWS VIEW SEPTEMBER 2020 | OUTLOOK: USE CAUTION Our Risk Odometer ticked up one level from 0 to +1 for September, but our Current Outlook remained stable at “Use Caution”. While the economy has continued to improve it...
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2020 | August Risk Odometer
FCWS VIEW AUGUST 2020 | OUTLOOK: USE CAUTION Our Risk Odometer for August remained unchanged at 0, and our Current Outlook also remained unchanged at “Use Caution”, thereby keeping us with a defensive bias. Although these...
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2020 | July Risk Odometer
FCWS VIEW JULY 2020 | OUTLOOK: USE CAUTION Our Risk Odometer moved up two notches, from -2 to 0, subsequently moving up our Current Outlook from “Defensive” to “Use Caution”. Although the outlook has improved,...
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2020 | June Risk Odometer
FCWS VIEW JUNE 2020 | OUTLOOK: DEFENSIVE For the 3rd consecutive month, our Current Outlook remained at our lowest level of “Defensive”. Our Risk Odometer reading did move up one notch from -3 to -2 this month as our...
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2020 | May Risk Odometer
FCWS VIEW MAY 2020 | OUTLOOK: DEFENSIVE Our Risk Odometer moved deep into negative territory to -3 and our Current Outlook remains at our lowest level of “Defensive” for the 2nd consecutive month. The economic and earnings...
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2020 | April Risk Odometer
FCWS VIEW APRIL 2020 | OUTLOOK: DEFENSIVE For the 3rd consecutive month, we have moved our Current Outlook down another level to “Defensive”, the lowest of four possible levels. The downgrade comes as significant price...
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2020 | March Risk Odometer
FCWS VIEW MARCH 2020 | OUTLOOK: USE CAUTION We are moving our Current Outlook down one notch again for the second consecutive month, from “Cautiously Positive” to “Use Caution”. This is one level above our most...
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2020 | February Risk Odometer
FCWS VIEW FEBRUARY 2020 | OUTLOOK: CAUTIOUSLY POSITIVE We have moved our Current Outlook down one notch, from “Positive” to “Cautiously Positive”. Although the coronavirus has caused volatility and fear to start...
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2020 | January Risk Odometer
FCWS VIEW JANUARY 2020 | OUTLOOK: POSITIVE Happy New Year to all our readers! I hope everyone had an enjoyable holiday season. In terms of the markets, 2019 could not have been more different from 2018, as almost every asset class...
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