2020: A Predictor’s Kryptonite
At the end of 2019, Foster Group’s Investment Strategy Group wanted to create an object lesson to illustrate how hard it is to predict what will happen in financial markets and the world in general.
August 21, 2020 Financial Perspectives
Category: Financial Planning » Behavioral Finance
0:50 - In the News: August 10th - August 21st
2:46 - What Is “Aseasonality” and Why Can It Lead to Impatience?
4:30 - Historical Disruptions
5:50 - Behavioral Biases: Why Does This Seem So Bad?
Being a Counterintuitive Investor – Do Stock Markets Follow GDP?
It turns out GDP growth rates and stock market performance are not highly correlated in the way we would expect.
September 4, 2020 Financial Perspectives
1:00 - In the News: Record Budget Deficits, Employment Improves, Back to School, Markets Give Up Some Gains
3:00 - Investing "FOMO" - Fear of Missing Out
7:26 - Predictable Mistake: Chasing Top Performers
Elections and Your Money
Kent Kramer and Jason Brown discuss the potential tax implications of either political party being in office and how the market and economy have performed historically in election years.
Elections and Your Money Q&A
Since we were unable to answer all of the questions asked during the live webinar, we'd like to share some of the questions and answers in written form.
September 21, 2020 Financial Perspectives
0:51 - In the News: Dr. Fauci, Employment, September Markets
4:18 - Which party would be better for markets and the economy?
4:45 - How would taxes change under each administration?
6:48 - 2021: What will have the most impact?
Don’t Borrow from Your Future Self
Category: Financial Planning » Cashflow
While each person has different long-term goals, a common future desire that exists for most people is retirement. There's a day coming when you won't want to, or can’t, work anymore, and your income will need to be replaced. This is a huge “future self” liability that has to be considered.
Advisor Spotlight: Ryne Oller | Financial Perspectives
Category: Foster Group
This week, Jason Brown is joined by Lead Advisor, Ryne Oller. Hear Ryne share what he likes most about his job, how his perspective has changed over the years, what he feels clients value the most about working with Foster Group, good and bad money decisions, and what he's hopeful for in the future.
The Time Might Be Right to Refinance Your Mortgage
Category: Financial Planning » Cashflow
If you’ve financed your house with a 30-year or 15-year mortgage in the last six years, odds are you’re paying a higher interest rate than today's rate.
Who Can Benefit from a 529 Plan
While the tax advantages and financial benefits are well-known aspects of a 529 plan, what are some lesser known features of the program?
While You Were Sleeping
Imagine that you fell asleep at the beginning of the year and woke up at the end of 2020. When you wake up, there are some things that would immediately feel different.
Don’t Mix FOMO with Home Buying
Category: Financial Planning » Cashflow
For most Americans, their house is their most significant asset. But it’s also the most personal one. There's a lot of emotion inside those four walls. If you want to buy your first or next home, it’s crucial to have a game plan going into it. Here are a few principles to consider when it comes to buying a home.
Making the Most of a Bear Market
If you’re a young professional, negative market returns can carry less weight than you might think. Let’s use 2022 as an example.
The Advantages of 529 Plan Educational Funding
A common financial goal of young families is funding their children’s future education expenses. In this blog we address many of the "what-if's" that clients are asking.
Should You Work with a CEFEX-Certified Advisory Firm?
Category: Foster Group
Foster Group is the only firm in Iowa and Nebraska that has been CEFEX-certified since 2007.
What Tax Documents Do Investors Need to File?
Category: Financial Planning
I start getting anxious this time of year when I am forced to collect all the necessary information for my tax advisor. In preparation for the upcoming tax deadline, Monday, April 18, 2022, I wanted to summarize what to expect in the way of relevant tax information related to your investments.
Fantasy Football and Financial Planning: What is your strategy?
Making good decisions and ultimately avoiding costly mistakes can be life-changing. Note that it does not start and end with picking the best player or hot stock but rather goals and a plan.
Past Performance is Not Indicative of Future Results
Category: Foster Group
“Past performance is not indicative of future results.” Most people think of investing when they hear or read the sentence above, the ultimate statement of caution. What do you think of this statement when it comes to baseball?