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Breaking Down the Banking Headlines: Part One | Financial Perspectives

Category: Investing » Equity / Stocks
By Matt Abels
03/21/2023

With the banking industry and markets continuing to be leading topics in the news, many investors are asking, “What is going on? Is this something to be worried about? Should I be taking action?” In this special edition of Financial Perspectives, Matt Abels and Michael Westphal provide context and insights to those questions. Tune in next week for part two, where we’ll be joined by Jim Plagge, President and CEO of Bank Iowa.

You Will Have Forgotten Monday, July 19

Category: Investing » Equity / Stocks
By Jason Brown
08/26/2021

By the time you read this, you will have most likely forgotten today. My guess is that you won’t remember what went on this day. You might remember a feeling or thought you had when you heard what was happening in the stock market. But then, you sent an email, mowed your lawn, took your dog on a walk and ate something healthy, like broccoli, for dinner.

Are You in the Bear Market Buyer’s Club?

Category: Investing » Equity / Stocks
By Caleb Brown
07/08/2022

For the person who is currently contributing to a portfolio and does not need to take distributions anytime soon, this is a gift. That’s right, a bear market is a gift to those investors. If you are contributing to an investment account right now, you are already in the Bear Market Buyer’s Club.

Timing Isn’t Everything

Category: Investing » Equity / Stocks
By Foster Group
08/01/2019
Attempting to buy individual stocks or make tactical asset allocation changes at exactly the “right” time presents investors with substantial challenges.

Six Key Ideas for Navigating Markets for the Rest of 2022

Category: Investing » Equity / Stocks
By Foster Group
10/27/2022

Over the next few months, both leading up to and immediately following the election, the winners and losers are going to seem omnipresent on the news, social media, even in the “entertainment” industry. So, here are six key ideas to keep in mind as you navigate the remaining months of 2022.

Barbell Portfolios Can Be Hard To Hold On To

Category: Investing » Equity / Stocks
By Marcus Iwig
11/03/2021

Barbells work great at the gym because they put weight on a bar in such a way that it’s balanced, leaving room in the middle for someone to use it to workout. We often see portfolios that are designed like a barbell at the gym: lots of risk in one account and lots of cash or very short-term securities in another. In aggregate, it might produce some balance, but the reality is that it can create some real challenges.

Q1 Wrap Up: Ukraine, Inflation, Interest Rates | Financial Perspectives

Category: Investing » Equity / Stocks
By Kent Kramer
04/11/2022
The first quarter of 2022 is in the books and once again, surprising events dominated the news. Russia invading Ukraine and the continued climb in inflation were the focus of attention and for good reason. In this week's Financial Perspectives, we'll take a look at what is happening in markets and the global economy and what investors may want to know.

ChatGPT & The Big 8 | Financial Perspectives

Category: Investing » Equity / Stocks
By Kent Kramer
06/12/2023

With the biggest tech companies regaining stock market leadership, it’s understandable why investors and the media are attracted to these stocks. However, it’s tempting to forget how these same companies’ stock prices performed in 2022. This week, Kent Kramer shares some investment lessons to be learned from this AI/big tech story.

Breaking Down the Banking Headlines: Part One | Financial Perspectives

Category: Investing » Equity / Stocks
By Matt Abels
03/21/2023

With the banking industry and markets continuing to be leading topics in the news, many investors are asking, “What is going on? Is this something to be worried about? Should I be taking action?” In this special edition of Financial Perspectives, Matt Abels and Michael Westphal provide context and insights to those questions. Tune in next week for part two, where we’ll be joined by Jim Plagge, President and CEO of Bank Iowa.

You Will Have Forgotten Monday, July 19

Category: Investing » Equity / Stocks
By Jason Brown
08/26/2021

By the time you read this, you will have most likely forgotten today. My guess is that you won’t remember what went on this day. You might remember a feeling or thought you had when you heard what was happening in the stock market. But then, you sent an email, mowed your lawn, took your dog on a walk and ate something healthy, like broccoli, for dinner.

Are You in the Bear Market Buyer’s Club?

Category: Investing » Equity / Stocks
By Caleb Brown
07/08/2022

For the person who is currently contributing to a portfolio and does not need to take distributions anytime soon, this is a gift. That’s right, a bear market is a gift to those investors. If you are contributing to an investment account right now, you are already in the Bear Market Buyer’s Club.

Timing Isn’t Everything

Category: Investing » Equity / Stocks
By Foster Group
08/01/2019
Attempting to buy individual stocks or make tactical asset allocation changes at exactly the “right” time presents investors with substantial challenges.

Six Key Ideas for Navigating Markets for the Rest of 2022

Category: Investing » Equity / Stocks
By Foster Group
10/27/2022

Over the next few months, both leading up to and immediately following the election, the winners and losers are going to seem omnipresent on the news, social media, even in the “entertainment” industry. So, here are six key ideas to keep in mind as you navigate the remaining months of 2022.

Barbell Portfolios Can Be Hard To Hold On To

Category: Investing » Equity / Stocks
By Marcus Iwig
11/03/2021

Barbells work great at the gym because they put weight on a bar in such a way that it’s balanced, leaving room in the middle for someone to use it to workout. We often see portfolios that are designed like a barbell at the gym: lots of risk in one account and lots of cash or very short-term securities in another. In aggregate, it might produce some balance, but the reality is that it can create some real challenges.

Q1 Wrap Up: Ukraine, Inflation, Interest Rates | Financial Perspectives

Category: Investing » Equity / Stocks
By Kent Kramer
04/11/2022
The first quarter of 2022 is in the books and once again, surprising events dominated the news. Russia invading Ukraine and the continued climb in inflation were the focus of attention and for good reason. In this week's Financial Perspectives, we'll take a look at what is happening in markets and the global economy and what investors may want to know.

ChatGPT & The Big 8 | Financial Perspectives

Category: Investing » Equity / Stocks
By Kent Kramer
06/12/2023

With the biggest tech companies regaining stock market leadership, it’s understandable why investors and the media are attracted to these stocks. However, it’s tempting to forget how these same companies’ stock prices performed in 2022. This week, Kent Kramer shares some investment lessons to be learned from this AI/big tech story.