Chart of the Month – June 2025
Asset Class Returns – Can We Just Pick the Winners?
The Gift of Fandom—and Financial Wisdom
What do investing and being a loyal sports fan have in common? More than you might think. Read on to discover how the ups and downs of fandom can mirror the journey of long-term investing—and why both are worth the ride.
Women Live Longer- What That Means for Income Planning
On Average, women tend to live longer than men. What does that mean when it comes to retirement planning and income?
How Much Income Do I Need in Retirement? | Financial Perspectives
How much will you really need in retirement? And how do you make it last? This month, Kent Kramer and Marcus Iwig discuss forecasting expenses, managing investments for income, and handling life's curveballs in retirement.
Am I OK? Building Income Safety Into Your Portfolio
Market periods like these have a way of making virtually everyone ask the questions, "Am I okay? Is my financial plan going to survive these latest seismic events?" Kent Kramer looks at historical worst-case scenarios and how they could be used to inform your financial plan.
Chart of the Month – May 2025
When it comes to future performance, you don’t always get what you pay for. Let’s take a closer look.
How to Use the Dollars: Building Your Income Stream
Category: Financial Planning » Behavioral Finance
Retirement is exciting—but having a well-thought-out distribution strategy could help ensure your money lasts. Let’s explore the key considerations for crafting a smart plan that works for you.
Creating Your Paycheck in Retirement
Category: Financial Planning » Cashflow
What’s your plan to create a paycheck in retirement? In this blog, we’ll break down a few key ways to bridge the income gap that retirement can bring.
Harnessing Optimism
Category: Foster Group
Want to live a longer, healthier, and happier life? Research shows that optimism isn’t just wishful thinking—it can be a powerful strategy for resilience and progress. Read to discover why optimism matters and how you can cultivate it in your own life.
Inflation? We’ve planned for this.
Category: Investing » Asset Allocation
Inflation has been a hot topic in recent years, often misunderstood and heavily debated. Attempting to stay ahead of inflation is one of the biggest reasons to invest over the long term. Let’s break it down and focus on what really matters.
Chart of the Month – February 2025
2024 was another great year for the U.S. stock market, with the S&P 500 index returning 25%. Now that the year is over, we can analyze the winners and losers of 2024. Let's take a look.
Inflation. Is It Good or Bad and What Can You Do About It?
Inflation has been one of the buzzwords in the news media for the past couple of years. Let's explore if it is good or bad and what can you do about it.
Chart of the Month – January 2025
Market conditions are usually not a good reason to change your portfolio. Instead of trying to position your portfolio based on where you think interest rates and inflation will be, talk to your advisor about how your portfolio will support your overall plan.
What if Inflation Isn’t Quite Done? | Financial Perspectives
This month, Kent Kramer and Caleb Brown discuss insights on how inflation could impact your financial plan and portfolio. Learn how to prepare for inflation, plan for future spending, and invest wisely for your retirement.
What I Learned About Cash, Awareness, and Random Acts of Generosity
Category: Financial Planning » Behavioral Finance
The key to it all is intentionality, which may seem odd when the subject is random generosity. But if you’re not intentional about carrying cash, being aware, and engaging people in need, you’re going to miss the opportunity to experience even more joy during the holiday season!
Are You Hungry?
Category: Financial Planning » Charitable Giving
Often times, we think about giving to those in need or supporting our favorite non-profit organization(s) at Thanksgiving and Christmas or, with end-of-year gifts. This is great, however, the need to feed is ongoing. So the question, “Are you hungry?” is more about “Are you interested in learning more about how you can become more generous than you already are today?”
The Power of Invitation
Category: Financial Planning » Charitable Giving
How can extending a powerful invitation create an opportunity for connection? Let's take a look!
The Intersection of Finance & Life Well-Being with Professor Meir Statman | Financial Perspectives
Category: Investing » Financial Science (Academia)
This week, join Kent Kramer for an insightful conversation with best-selling author, Professor Meir Statman, a leading expert in behavioral finance. Discover how financial security, optimism, and resilience contribute to overall life well-being. Professor Statman shares his inspiring personal journey and offers practical advice on balancing financial wealth with life’s other important aspects, such as family, health, and meaningful relationships.
Tax Loss Harvesting: Losing to Win?
Category: Investing
In the investing world, how can it be possible to win even when you lose? That is precisely what occurs when utilizing a tax loss harvesting strategy. Let's take a look!