The Fed Raises Rates, Should You Sell Bonds?

Thad Schlaud

Don’t let public perceptions drive your investing because that’s speculating. On May 4th, the Federal Reserve raised interest rates by 50 basis points and scaled back other pandemic-era economic support, as it stepped-up its fight against the highest inflation we’ve seen in 40 years. “Inflation is much…

Categories: News, The Market

How to Help Your Kids Understand the Value of a Dollar

Young children tend to think money simply appears somehow and that their parents have an unlimited supply to spend on them. This is, of course, highly unrealistic, and part of your job as a parent is to help your kids understand the value of a dollar and grow into responsible…

Categories: Family

It Might Not Be Enough to Diversify at the Asset Class Level

Ben Klamo

Traditional investing, frequently coined a “buy and hold” investment strategy, incorporates a mix of assets that create a portfolio of investments. This portfolio of assets generates an expected return given an investors’ risk profile. We refer to this type of investing as Strategic Asset Allocation (SAA). At the core of…

Categories: News, The Market

First Quarter 2022 Review and Outlook

David Martin

U.S. equities closed out their first quarterly loss in two years with the S&P 500 Index falling 4.9% in Q1, the first quarterly decline since the 20% plunge in Q1 2020 at the start of the pandemic. The first Fed rate hike since 2018, the highest inflation in 40 years,…

Categories: The Market

If Russia Invades Ukraine, What Should You Do?

Thad Schlaud

Wall Street has little recent history to go from, but two things are very likely. Starting in late 2021 and throughout all of 2022, Wall Street has debated what markets might do if Russia invades Ukraine. On February 11, Jake Sullivan, the White House national security adviser, warned that Russia…

Categories: News, The Market

Year End Recap and 2022 Outlook

David Martin

The S&P 500 rallied 26.9% in 2021, thanks in large part to record earnings revisions, the strongest economic growth in decades, and unprecedented stimulus from the Federal Reserve. Those conditions will almost assuredly not be as market friendly in 2022. Earnings growth should slow to single digits, real GDP could…

Categories: News, The Market

Hoping That Next Year is When You Retire Early?

Thad Schlaud

As we enter into a new year, maybe the dream of an early retirement starts to take shape in your mind. Maybe you’re researching when you might first qualify for Social Security retirement benefits (hint: for Social Security income, the youngest age when you can apply is 61 years and…

Categories: Family, The Market
Video

Cybersecurity: Protecting Yourself

Thad Schlaud

Guests, Paul Ewing and Jonathon Wojtkun, Senior Consultants at Charles Schwab Advisor Services, spoke with Thad Schlaud about Cybercrime and how to protect yourself. If you missed the call, you can catch the recording here. Paul and Jonathon work as technology consultants at Schwab, providing technology and operations strategy to…

Categories: Education