How Elections Affect the Market
Category: Investing
A bit of history helps bring some perspective to trying to read too much into the influence of elections on stock markets.
Coronavirus Worries Drive Economic Uncertainty and Stock Market Declines
Category: Investing
Investment markets around the world have been declining sharply this week in response to the Coronavirus outbreak.
Recent Market Volatility: Coronavirus Worries Are Only Part of the Story
Category: Investing
In addition to the coronavirus, other sources of investor uncertainty include global economic growth, the UK finalizing their Brexit negotiations, trade negotiations between Europe and the US, President TrumpÆs impeachment and ongoing Senate trial, and 20
Diversification: Preparing for the Next Surprise
Category: Investing
Probably only one thing is certain: The world is still full of surprises yet to be revealed. Is your portfolio diversified in preparation for the next one?
2020: A Predictor’s Kryptonite
Category: Investing
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.
Is a Recession Around the Curve?
Category: Investing
Being a Counterintuitive Investor – Do Stock Markets Follow GDP?
Category: Investing
It turns out GDP growth rates and stock market performance are not highly correlated in the way we would expect.
Elections and Your Money Q&A
Category: Investing
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.
Diversifying Away the Troubles with Tariffs
Category: Investing
How do tariffs impact your investment portfolio? Kent Kramer takes a look at the latest tariff policies, market volatility, and why diversification is key to managing uncertainty.
Am I OK? Building Income Safety Into Your Portfolio
Category: Investing
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.
Why the Market’s Volatility Is Different This Time…and The Same. What You Should Expect.
Category: Investing
Kent Kramer tackles the question, 'Is it different this time?' by analyzing what’s different and what's the same in market downturns. He discusses historical market declines, the catalysts behind them, and the importance of maintaining long-term optimism despite short-term volatility.
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!
Barbell Portfolios Can Be Hard To Hold On To
Category: Investing
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.
Cloudy Markets Still Have a Silver (Tax) Lining
Category: Investing » Diversification
During negative market cycles, there are some planning and investment strategies that might strengthen your financial plans. One such opportunity is tax-loss harvesting
Why Index Funds Don’t Work for Some People
Category: Investing
Index funds are popular investment tools for good reason. They are low cost, effective ways to capture market return. Choosing to use index funds is only half the battle though; you must use them correctly to truly benefit.
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.
Home Sweet Home, or an Investment?
Category: Financial Planning » Behavioral Finance
Homes are commonly thought of as investments. It’s easy to see why. For most of us, it’s the single biggest thing on our balance sheets for years.
Tailoring Your Financial Plan to Match Your Goals
If you are a client of Foster Group and have met with your advisor recently, you may have discussed what’s important to you, what we are planning for as it relates to your goals, and what you hope to achieve.
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?
Positives About the Market
Category: Investing
2022 was a historically painful year as an investor with stock markets experiencing a bear market, and bond markets having one of their worst years ever. However, as we enter 2023, I’d like to consider the positives.