A 401(k) plan is one of the most popular and effective techniques for saving for your retirement. A company will automatically withdraw and contribute money from each paycheck to your 401(k) plan. Some employers will even match a percentage of the contribution. Are you maximizing these contributions? There are also limits on how much you … Continued
Although achieving your financial goals is more challenging than following a step-by-step recipe, a few common ingredients and preparation methods may help improve your ability to manage financial resources. Here is one recipe for a tasty Financial Dish. Ingredients One cup of clear financial goals Two cups of smart budgeting 3/4 cup of consistent saving … Continued
What is it? According to the IRS, you are self-employed if you carry on a trade or business as a sole proprietor, as an independent contractor, as a member of a partnership, or if you are otherwise in business for yourself. You can be a full-time employee and still have self-employment income from a side … Continued
A trust is a legal vehicle that protects your assets that contains instructions for your assets when you die or become incapacitated. When you set up a trust, you transfer assets from your name into your trust’s name while you still retain control of the assets until you die.
We’re officially in the season to thanksgiving and while economic and geopolitical uncertainty can overshadow the positives, there are always things to be grateful for. Here is just some of what we’re thankful for, now that we’re in the second to last month of the year. A resilient U.S. economy. Coming into 2023, the dreaded … Continued
High Net-Worth executives and those that have been self-employed, can experience common problems in their financial planning journey. Often, they have missed opportunities in their financial planning because they haven’t planned adequately for their retirement even though they make a high income. It’s easy to think that everything will work out with their retirement plan, … Continued
If you find yourself wavering back and forth on whether it’s worth involving a financial professional for tax, retirement, or investment advice, consider this: A financial professional may be able to help defend you against crime and fraud (like Batman). What’s more, they may also help you heal from financial mistakes more quickly (like Wolverine) … Continued
In these uncertain times, the value of objective financial guidance cannot be overestimated. The importance of the financial profession has never been more apparent. Regulatory changes initiated well before any of us had even heard the phrase “social distancing” are now in effect, establishing a new landscape that governs the relationship between those who seek … Continued
Tips to help you find a financial professional and financial planning firm The financial professional and financial planning firm you pick to manage your assets and advise you on key financial decisions can affect your retirement and other major financial goals more, maybe, than even you. So it’s imperative that you make an appropriate choice … Continued
For some people, the thought of using financial services is a scary experience. It involves planning for a future where you may not know how the economy may be, how your health may be, or what your financial needs might be. One of the reasons that many people find planning out their finances intimidating is … Continued
Making economic forecasts and stock market predictions can be humbling. It’s especially tough when you expect stocks to go higher and get a big drop instead. The environment today is the opposite, but still tricky, as recession hasn’t followed the chorus of predictions. In some ways, figuring out what to do now that stocks have … Continued
Looking back on the first half of 2023, it’s probably fair to say the outcome has been a bit better-than-expected for the stock and bond markets, especially compared to 2022’s tumult. Here are the major points have we learned through the first half of the year: Inflation’s path is not endlessly higher. The return to … Continued
Every so often Washington likes to remind us how hard it can be to get things accomplished. The most recent example is the debt ceiling—the amount Congress can borrow to pay its bills. It seems like we have this debate every few years and in the end a deal is made, which is just what … Continued
Spring is often thought of as an uplifting time, marked by growth and renewed hope as we emerge from the long months of winter and look ahead to the rest of year. Investors saw signs of such renewed hope in recent weeks, especially on the inflation front as several inflation measures showed signs of improvement. … Continued
The financial markets’ resilient performance during March was striking, despite pockets of uncertainty surrounding the strength of the economy—and not to mention concerns over the durability of the banking system. The ability of the market to navigate nearly two weeks of headline-related risk tested the underlying resolve of the market’s capacity to look ahead. Moreover, … Continued
Have you ever been worried to do something, so fearful that you lose sleep, that your stomach hurts? You know, like give a presentation or get on a rollercoaster. Then, you do the thing, and that thing you were so scared of really bad, wasn’t terrible at all? Well, we’re kind of in one of … Continued
The beginning of a calendar year is often the time when the previous year’s reflections transition to a new year’s hopes. Given the market’s continued instability during 2022 and a resulting tough period for stock and bond prices, everyone is hoping for a fresh start. And history gives us cause for optimism following a difficult … Continued
Through all the challenges, newfound opportunities, and every high and low we’ve experienced during the last couple of years, it’s no surprise why we might be striving for more balance. Whether it’s about the markets and global economy or what’s happening in our local communities, the news we’re hearing on a daily basis has the … Continued
October delivered on its track record as a historically favorable month for stocks, offering some respite for investors as stocks rose for the month. The downside pressure on equities had gotten a bit overdone after investor pessimism during September reached lows not witnessed in quite a few years. From a contrarian perspective, extreme pessimism can … Continued
Given the timing of the recent increase in market volatility, we feel now is a good time to take stock of all that has transpired in 2022. First, It has been a difficult year on many fronts. Not only for investors but also for households and businesses as we all navigate higher prices and borrowing … Continued
When it comes to stock market performance, August was “the best of times, and the worst of times.” The strong market rally that peaked in mid-August was viewed by many analysts as a transition from a bear to bull market, based on the surge in breadth that stocks enjoyed and the magnitude of the two-month … Continued
Last week was epic for market-watchers. A Federal Reserve (Fed) rate hike, a much-anticipated gross domestic product (GDP) report, and the busiest week of earnings season got most of the headlines. There was even a surprise out of Washington D.C., with a Schumer-Manchin agreement on a climate-healthcare-tax bill and some inflation data that added to … Continued
As the calendar has turned to July, investors would certainly like to forget the first six months of 2022. However, the Fourth of July Independence Day holiday does bring with it reason for celebration. Not only is it the 246th birthday of the United States of America, but July has historically been a pretty good … Continued
Markets continue to be volatile, we don’t expect that to stop…the good news is we’ve had some “winning” days lately. Here’s more “good” news about bear markets, and how markets perform when we’re not headed toward recession. Bear markets without recessions tend to last an average of about seven months, and we’re already five months into … Continued
As we move into spring and leave behind the last signs of a long winter, many worries from a chilly start to the year for markets, unfortunately, are still with us. The S&P 500 Index had its worst April in more than 40 years, leaving the index down over 13% for the year. Previously highflying … Continued
Stocks have gotten off to a very rocky start in 2022, with the potential for Federal Reserve rate hikes coming and the geopolitical worries over Russia and Ukraine only adding to the uncertainty. We don’t want to minimize the impact of that major geopolitical event, but there is some positive news out there, even though … Continued
Stocks have gotten off to tough start in 2022. Why has the market pulled back and what might we see going forward? Periodic stock market volatility is entirely normal. Historically, the S&P 500 Index has averaged three pullbacks of 5% or more per year and one correction of more than 10% annually. We’ve grown accustomed … Continued
With the New Year comes new beginnings, new goals, new challenges, new friendships, and new opportunities. 2021 was an incredible year for the economy and investors, and to us the future remains bright for 2022 and beyond. Taking a look back at 2021, our economy is on track for over 5% growth for the year, … Continued
The emergence of the COVID-19 Omicron variant triggered a market selloff in the days following Thanksgiving and offered an unpleasant reminder that the pandemic is not over. The economy and financial markets remain somewhat reliant on the medical community and research developments. Additionally, Chairman Jerome Powell and the Federal Reserve did an about face on their … Continued
The economy continues to strengthen COVID-19 trends are greatly improving, and this still relatively young bull market is alive and well. As the leaves turn colors and begin to fall to the ground, we have many reasons to be thankful. The economy slowed considerably in the third quarter due to the COVID-19 Delta Variant (as … Continued
Change in life is constant, and during the past year and a half, we have experienced more change than any of us bargained for. Change is disruptive—change also brings opportunity. As investors, there is no shortage of change to think about, and those changes may set the stage for the next leg higher for this … Continued
Six months and counting. That is the current monthly winning streak for the S&P 500 Index. To take that a step further, this key equity benchmark has posted gains in 13 of the last 16 months—dating back to the March 2020 low. With stocks nearly at a double from those lows, it has indeed been … Continued
Ryan Olson, MBA, CFP®, an independent LPL Financial advisor at Mustang Private Wealth with offices in San Luis Obispo and Orcutt, CA today announced his inclusion in LPL’s Patriot’s Club. This elite award is presented to less than 9% of the firm’s more than 17,000 financial advisors nationwide*. “On behalf of LPL, I congratulate Ryan … Continued
As we move into June, a path to normalcy is coming quickly with stadiums allowing full capacity, restaurants filling up, and summer vacations in full swing. Meanwhile, the U.S. economy continues to recover and the stock market is near all-time highs. A lot of this good news is likely already priced into stocks. Companies are … Continued
It’s now been over a year since the COVID-19 pandemic officially began. While the pandemic has affected everyone to varying degrees, we can all agree that everyone’s life is different today than it was a year ago. Here’s a snapshot of where we are today: Over the past two months, COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations have … Continued
INDIVIDUAL ASSISTANCE Recovery Rebates Provides all U.S. residents with an adjusted gross income of $75,000 or less $1,200 for singles and heads of households ($2,400 for married couples filing joint returns and an adjusted gross income of $150,000 or less). The rebate is phased out by $5 for every $100 over $75,000 that an individual … Continued
New growth is beginning… This is a hard time to be an investor. It has been easy for a long time, long enough that many people have become complacent and forget that investing isn’t all rainbows and sunshine. And this moment in time, when uncertainty seems to be highest, is exactly the time to commit … Continued
“The stock market takes an escalator up, and an elevator down,” is a classic Wall Street saying. The last week has sure felt like taking an express elevator down, as the end of February brought a historic stock market sell-off, with the S&P 500 Index moving from an all-time high to a 10% correction in … Continued
Anyone else need a hug? These past few days have been trying for all of us, making us realize the value of life, and how fragile it can be. Our economy and standard of living are both showing cracks. I’ll be the first to admit that I underestimated the potential economic impact of the Covid-19 … Continued
