Is your cash earning interest?
Interest rates are rising, and yet you may not be earning much on your cash. As financial markets finally begin to reflect a recovery from the crisis of 2008-09, the brokerage industry is changing the way they handle customers’ cash, and investors need to pay attention. Over the past ten years we have become accustomed […]
Understanding bond returns
We had several clients this year reach out to ask how bonds were performing in their portfolios. These are great questions, so we created a few items to address what you see in your statements. Some people notice they have held bonds for several years but seem to have a loss with their holding. This […]
New tax law makes bundling gifts to donor-advised funds attractive
“Give, but give until it hurts.” – Mother Teresa – I don’t think Mother Teresa paid much attention to the tax code, but her quote is unusually prescient for 2018 taxpayers. The changes have made it unlikely to get a tax break on money given to your favorite charities. When the Tax Cuts […]
What to ask your financial advisor
How does/and how much does your advisor get paid? Fees matter. It is important to know how much you are paying and the value you receive for that payment. If you’re paying 1% or more for only investment management with no in depth retirement planning, we should talk. Is your advisor required by law to act […]
The 5-year countdown to retirement
While you should think about retirement planning as early as possible, the five years leading up to retirement are critical. If you believe you are 5 years or less away from retirement, now is the time to seriously take a look at your finances and get a plan in place. The New York Times recently […]
How to prepare for a market correction
It’s simple. Don’t. A common question we receive is “how do I prepare for the inevitable stock correction?” There are two answers to this question: the one you want to hear (which is wrong), and the one you don’t want to hear (which is right). Mainstream media wants you to believe that you can outsmart […]
Market commentary – july 2018
Stock Markets Returns from various stock market indices over several periods ending June 30, 2018 are shown to the right. Here are a few highlights: Domestic stocks continue to lead the way. REITs were up nicely for the quarter, but non-domestic stocks were down. Due to political turmoil and the specter of a trade war, […]
The least prepared in decades
A recent headline in the Wall Street Journal declared, “A Generation of Americans Is Entering Old Age the Least Prepared in Decades.” The article starts out by stating, “Americans are reaching retirement age in worse financial shape than the prior generation, for the first time since Harry Truman was president.” It is a familiar story […]
Investment committee thoughts from friday 4/27/18
Last week, we introduced you to our weekly Investment Committee meetings. When we met for class on 4/27/18, we began our discussion on the subject of an “optimal portfolio.” The centerpiece of investment management is portfolio construction. Alongside financial planning, the manner in which one’s money is invested is critical to meeting one’s financial goals. […]
Investment committee thoughts from friday 4/20/18
Introduction People from all across the world look forward to Friday. Friday marks the end of a (usually long) work week and the start of what is supposed to be a relaxing weekend. At Rockbridge, we look forward to Friday’s, particularly Friday mornings, for a different reason. Friday mornings have become a tradition, some say […]