Business Owners, Beware of the “Missing Middle”
For many family businesses, the lack of clear succession plans is the most significant challenge.
March: Predictable Madness and Markets | Financial Perspectives
In the NCAA tournaments, uncertainty and underdogs pulling off the impossible upset of a top-ranked team is a certainty. This week, Kent Kramer observes how we can learn from March Madness and apply those observations to investing.
Celebrating 50 Years of Equal Credit Opportunities for Women
Category: Foster Group
As a woman in finance, I often like to think about how far we, as women, have come. A lot has changed for women in finance in the last 50 years, and I hope to see even more changes in the next 50!
“Sportsified” Diversification
The benefit of a diversified investment portfolio is that, while again we do not know who the actual winners and losers will be, the risk of excluding the best is greatly reduced.
2024 Looks as Uncertain as Ever | Financial Perspectives
The world is, and has always been, a surprising and uncertain place. This week, Kent Kramer dives into Foster Group's foundational investment principle #2: Embrace Uncertainty. He provides four positive reasons to embrace uncertainty and two big dangers of not embracing it.
Chart of the Month – March 2024
Many people are apprehensive about the markets, whether we’re in a bear market or a bull market. The fear of a market correction is always present.
Navigating the Noise: A Reality Check on Fearful Headlines
Sometimes headlines are right, but remember they are created to get your attention, not necessarily to provide you with helpful information.
Thermostats and Peanut Butter Jars
Category: Financial Planning » Cashflow
“Scrape the bottom of the peanut butter jar,” in order to set yourself, your family, and others up for future happiness.
Webinar: Straight Up Money Talk
Category: Financial Planning » Behavioral Finance
Starting a conversation about money with your children or grandchildren can be difficult, but Foster Group can help. Learn why it’s important to be a positive and proactive role model, how your childhood experiences with money can influence your behaviors and thoughts, and financial lessons you can share with kids of all ages to help position them for success.
Psychology and Wealth
Category: Financial Planning » Behavioral Finance
The different ways people react to and treat wealth and finances is fascinating. Although not everyone can be put in a box, there are five main personality types when it comes to psychology and wealth: Neuroticism/Emotional Stability, Conscientiousness, Agreeableness, Extraversion, and Openness.
War in Israel: Market Meltdown?
Category: Investing » Equity / Stocks
Does war in Israel mean a big market meltdown? It’s hard to escape the war news. One way to think about the future is by looking at the past for similar circumstances.
Does War in Israel Mean Market Meltdown? | Financial Perspectives (In a Minute)
Category: Investing » Equity / Stocks
It is hard to escape the news of war in Israel. And it is not unusual for investors to wonder about possible impacts the war may have on markets. This week, Kent Kramer analyzes returns of foreign and US stock markets during years when Israel has been at war.
Time to Revisit Your Cash Reserve Fund
Category: Financial Planning » Cashflow
Nearly four out of ten Americans lack enough money to cover an unexpected $400 expense? The statistics on this have remained consistent over the years. One of the first steps in building a strong financial foundation is creating an emergency fund. The idea is to prepare for the unexpected expenses of life.
The IRS Punted on 2023
Category: Financial Planning
The IRS is allowing some people to skip their Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs) from inherited IRAs. If you inherited an IRA in 2020 or later, you may not need to make a distribution this year. Read for some background.
Chart of the Month – Oct 2023
Have you ever said to yourself “If I would have just bought that stock, I would be set!” Or “How did I not see this coming? I was watching this stock years ago!” Or maybe “I should have never sold that stock!”
The Curse of Short-Termism | Financial Perspectives
Why is short-termism a curse for investors? How can you overcome it by focusing on the big picture? This week, Kent Kramer explains how to avoid the pitfalls of recency bias and market noise.
Money Silence Hurts Families – Three Tips to Break the Cycle
Category: Financial Planning » Behavioral Finance
If you think talking about money with your spouse, parents, or children is difficult, you are not alone. Here are three tips to get started on a healthier money talk journey with your loved ones.
Celebrating Saying Goodbye Day
In our family, we have a tradition in which, the night before our kids’ birthdays, we pause for a moment to recap the last year by reminiscing about their successes and failures. It dawned on me that these are the same feelings investors experience and learn from on their financial journeys.
5 Important Ideas for Investors | Financial Perspectives (In a Minute)
There's a lot of uncertainty in the world. Investors are asking, "What should I be doing in my portfolio right now based on what is happening in the world?" This week, Kent Kramer looks at five key investment ideas to help determine if your approach is reflecting the things that are most important.
The Three To-Do’s in the Fourth Quarter
Category: Financial Planning » Cashflow
The beginning of the fourth quarter is a great time to check-in on your finances and make sure you consider planning opportunities before the end of the calendar year. Read this blog to see my top three priorities when it comes to fourth quarter planning.
Do Headlines Cause You to Take Action?
Takeaways from a smattering of the headlines across a wide range of news sources in 2022 and early 2023.