April is National Financial Literacy Month

Thad Schlaud

April is National Financial Literacy Month – an entire month dedicated to underscoring the importance of learning, establishing, and maintaining healthy financial habits. Sadly, the money habits of the average American reveal that: • Only about 40% of adults use a budget and track spending; • More than three out…

Categories: Industry Ideas, News

COVID’s Impact on our Super Bowl Spending

Thad Schlaud

When you add it all up, how much money is spent on the Super Bowl? How much do we really consume on Super Bowl Sunday? And how much do we wager? While those are interesting topics to explore as we get ready for Super Bowl LV between the Kansas City…

Categories: News

2020 Year-End Review and Outlook

David Martin

During the year 2020 we saw the global economy fall into its deepest recession in the postwar era due to COVID-19, with the S&P 500 falling by as much as 34% from its late February highs into late March. But as early as the second quarter (Q2), the economy began…

Categories: Industry Ideas, The Market

Your 2021 New Year’s (Financial) Resolutions

Thad Schlaud

Cleaning up personal finances remains one of the top resolutions every New Year. But we all know what happens to most such self-promises, so here’s a month-by-month to-do list to cultivate better financial health. January: Organize paperwork. This obvious starting point eludes many. Are your financial documents organized, in paper…

Categories: Education

Eddie Van Halen, Cancer, and Money Discussions

Guys, this is a difficult post. It was hard to write, and it may be hard to read. Specifically, if you have recently lost a loved one to an illness, you may want to skip this post. That said, because these topics are taboo, we don’t talk about them enough.

Categories: News

3Q Review and Outlook

David Martin

After the strongest August in 34 years, momentum reversed in September. The S&P 500 Index finished the month down 3.9%, but still left the index up 5.5% on the year. The decline in September was led by the mega-cap growth stocks that had helped drive the market to new highs…

Categories: Industry Ideas, The Market

Making Sense of the Payroll Tax Executive Order

Thad Schlaud

After negotiations for another stimulus bill stalled for two weeks, President Trump issued an executive order suspending the collection of Social Security payroll taxes from September 1 through December 31, while hinting that it might go beyond that time frame, too. It would impact those making less than $4,000 for…

Categories: News