Another Surprise – Yet Again!
The recent vote in Britain to exit the European Union is yet another reminder of how markets often react negatively to surprises. We cannot help but ask ourselves, “Is it different this time? Maybe this is the event that upends markets as we know them, and I would be stupid not to react!” As it […]
Introducing Kevin Sullivan
Rockbridge is pleased to announce that Kevin R. Sullivan joined the firm in April after spending 25+ years in the trust & investment management divisions of local banks. Kevin is a graduate of St. John Fisher College and brings to Rockbridge experience with trust and estate planning issues, portfolio management and business development for both personal, trust […]
Brexit Votes and Market Outcomes
Believe me, we get it. After yesterday’s Brexit referendum and its startling outcome, it’s hard to view today’s news without feeling your stomach twist over what in the world is going on. Whenever the markets scream bloody murder, your instincts deliver a sense of unrest ranging from discontent to desperation. Financial author Larry Swedroe has […]
Investing and Entertainment: John Oliver’s Take
Thanks in part to our evidence-based approach to investing, we don’t have to eat our words or advice very often. But recently, we discovered that we stand corrected on one point. Fortunately, it’s a point we’re happy to concede: Evidence-based investing doesn’t have to be such a boring subject after all. In his recent “Last […]
Are There Better Options Than the Lockheed Martin Target Date Funds?
The default investment option for the Lockheed Martin Salaried Savings Plan (SSP) and the Capital Accumulation Plan (CAP) is the managed Target Date funds. A Target Date fund is designed to capture the entire investment market in a single fund. In addition, as you approach retirement, the Target Date fund becomes less and less risky. […]
Lockheed Martin MST Voluntary Layoff Program
Lockheed Martin MST recently announced the upcoming Voluntary Layoff Program with the goal of reducing the divisional workforce by 1,500 employees. If you are considering retirement and are eligible for the Voluntary Layoff Program, it may make sense to deeply consider the options. As with all retirement and transition decisions, there are two main components: […]
Rockbridge Understands You – Lockheed Martin
When evaluating a financial advisor, the most important factor is that they truly understand you as a person and your personal situation. At Rockbridge, we have a dedicated focus in working with clients that are employees of Lockheed Martin. Because of this, we already have an expertise in all employee benefits plans and how each […]
Market Commentary April 2016
Stock Markets After January’s rough start, stock markets bounced back nicely in March, bringing most numbers into the black for the quarter. Domestic Small Cap and International Developed Markets are the exception – down about 1.5% and 2%, respectively. Notice from the accompanying chart that it was Emerging Markets that led the way, earning nearly […]
Clearing Up Confusion About New Social Security Rules
As you may have heard, there have been some drastic changes to Social Security regarding the file-and-suspend and restricted application methods of filing. These changes were announced back in October 2015 when Congress passed their 2016 budget. (You can read more about the specifics of these changes in this article.) As expected, there has been […]
Market Commentary January 2016
Stock Markets In 2015, domestic large cap stocks (S&P 500) and REITs were up while other markets were down – emerging markets were off big! The positive results in the S&P 500 were driven by just two stocks – Amazon and Google. Otherwise it would have looked like other market indices. These results, I think, […]