High Profit vs Low Profit: The Returns Are In!
If higher returns are offered to riskier investments, why is it that companies with higher profits generate better returns? Aren�t these companies less risky?
457(b): The Good, The Not so Good, and The Not Good at All
Category: Financial Planning
457(b) plans can be a great vehicle for retirement savings if available, but they are often complex and come with restrictions 401(k) and 403(b) plans don't have.
Alphabet Soup at Foster Group
Category: Foster Group
Our goal at Foster Group is to create an exceptional client experience. One way we try to achieve that is by having exceptional advisors.
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.
2019 Vectors & Viewpoints Q2
Category: Foster Group
Our quarterly newsletter covers the latest Foster Group news and updates.
Money and Emotions
Category: Financial Planning » Behavioral Finance
The first step to managing emotions in financial decisions is to understand the script or story you are telling yourself about money and where it came from.
The Power of Delegation for Executives
Are you making the most of the rewards for your hard work? Your organization benefits from your time, effort, and management skills, but does your family get the most from all that effort?
Foster Group among the Financial TimesÆ Top U.S. Registered Investment Advisors for 2019
Category: Foster Group
Foster Group is the only financial advisory firm in Iowa to make the 2019 300 Top Registered Investment Advisors list.
The Goslings at Foster Group Have Got Me Thinking
Category: Financial Planning » Behavioral Finance
We all will go through life seasons, and, with that, our ability to invest and what that ‘investment’ looks like will be different. No matter what season you’re in, don’t let it stop you from investing in something you care about.
CFP or ChFC, What’s the Difference?
Category: Foster Group
Knowing the educational scope of a specific designation will help you feel comfortable that the financial advisor you are working with has the knowledge and experience to help you pursue your goals.
Debt- A Useful Tool or Financial Burden
Category: Financial Planning » Cashflow
After 30 years of helping people think about all aspects of their financial plan, here are some thoughts on personal debt.
Life is Full of Taxes
Category: Financial Planning
As the calendar races to a close, it’s important to consider the impact of selling securities in a non-qualified (aka brokerage or non-retirement) account. While everyone’s situation is different, it’s important to understand the basics.
Is Your Portfolio Tailored to Fit Your Needs, or Just ‘Off-The-Rack’?
While the alterations may be small and subtle, they make a big difference when it comes to comfort and fit. Our experience is better. For an investment thought experiment, think of the “off the rack suit” as the broad market; we simply take what we get off the shelf with no alteration. Now think of Foster Group as the tailor and the alterations as portfolio personalizations called factor allocations.
Teaching Your Kids to be Grateful and Giving
Category: Financial Planning » Charitable Giving
Most of the time, it is not so much how we directly “teach” our kids about the value of money but rather how we model and speak about money around them.
Selecting the Best Ingredients for Your Portfolio
In this third piece of our series on building a better portfolio by thinking of it in terms of tastes, recipes, and ingredients, we’ll focus on the benefits of selecting better ingredients.
Who Really Needs a Financial Advisor?
Category: Foster Group
The truth is, I donÆt think everyone needs a financial advisor. In my limited time in the industry, here are some of the reasons I think working with a financial advisor might be a good idea.
An Executive’s Financial Guide
Category: Financial Planning » Estate & Transfer Planning
Our eBook, An Executive's Financial Guide, can help with your road map to retirement, as we show you new ways to make use of your wealth for purposes important to you.
Confirming What You Know
Category: Financial Planning » Behavioral Finance
Even though I’ve been helping married clients with their money for years, I realized we needed help. Were we thinking about things in the right way? Were we asking the right questions? Were we doing a good job of listening to each other and respecting our differences?
Not All Advisors Are Created Equal
Category: Foster Group
If you are in the market for a financial advisor, rehearse these three questions before sitting down with a potential suitor.
2019 Vectors & Viewpoints Q4
Category: Foster Group
Our quarterly newsletter covers the latest Foster Group news and updates.
The Ins and Outs of Paying Student Loan Debt
Category: Financial Planning » Behavioral Finance
Whether you are working on paying down student debt yourself, or have children looking to do so, below are some questions to consider.