November 8, 2021 Financial Perspectives

Category: Investing » Foster Group Investment Principles » Apply Markets

By Kent Kramer

11/08/2021

You know the old saying, “What goes up must come down.” How is it that currently everything seems to be going up at the same time? Signs of inflation like oil prices, labor prices, trade deficits. And yet markets are going up with stocks at all-time highs. Bond prices are rising this week when often, bond prices move inversely to stock prices. Government spending is certainly going up, consumer spending is going up and tax rates seem to be poised to rise as well. What do all these upwards mean for investors?

November 23, 2020 Financial Perspectives

Category: Investing » Equity / Stocks

By Kent Kramer

11/23/2020

1:13 - In the News: COVID-19 Cases, Employment Recovery
2:36 – Elections through Inaugurations
3:15 – Equity Factors: Comparison of Various Stock Indexes
5:24 – Expectations: Thinking Back to March 23, 2020

November 22, 2021 Financial Perspectives

Category: Investing » Fixed Income / Bonds

By Kent Kramer

11/22/2021

In this week's Edition of Financial Perspectives, Kent Kramer chats with Mary Ellen Stanek, Co-Chief Investment Officer at Baird Asset Management. Baird specializes in risk-controlled fixed income management.

Not Flavor-of-the-Month Financial Planning!

Category: Financial Planning » Behavioral Finance

By Walt Mozdzer

10/11/2019

Foster Group does not raise a pumpkin spice flag in the morning to check the wind direction before offering prescriptive advice.

Not All Advisors Are Created Equal

Category: Foster Group

By Ross Polking

12/18/2019

If you are in the market for a financial advisor, rehearse these three questions before sitting down with a potential suitor.

No Better Time to Deploy Your Donor Advised Fund

Category: Financial Planning » Charitable Giving

By Wade Den Hartog

05/15/2020

One of the best vehicles to help our clients meet their charitable giving goals is a Donor Advised Fund (DAF). Having a DAF in place for times like these is important to help meet the needs of your community.

New Year – Rates are Rising | Financial Perspectives

Category: Investing » Foster Group Investment Principles » Accept Uncertainty

By Kent Kramer

01/10/2022

Welcome to 2022 where the news seem to focus, again, on rising rates –for COVID infections due to Omicron, inflation, and interest rates. The markets seem to be most concerned about interest rates. This week Kent Kramer looks at why that might be the case and what may be in store for interest rates in 2022.

Nervous About the Market? Maybe You Need a Lifeboat.

Category: Investing » Foster Group Investment Principles » Align Purposes and Portfolio

By Ross Polking

07/08/2022

Market volatility tends to unnerve even the calmest of investors. How do we know what to hold and how much to hold at any particular time? That’s a crucial question, but the answer does not need to be complicated.

Navigating the Noise: A Reality Check on Fearful Headlines

Category: Investing » Foster Group Investment Principles » Accept Uncertainty

By Marcus Iwig

03/05/2024

Sometimes headlines are right, but remember they are created to get your attention, not necessarily to provide you with helpful information.

It’s Worth the Trip!

Category: Investing » Foster Group Investment Principles » Align Purposes and Portfolio

By Joe Bantz

03/12/2021

We had completed our hike successfully, and the challenges made it more memorable and satisfying. The same is true for all of us as investors. 

It’s Never Too Early to Instill Financial Responsibility

Category: Financial Planning » Family Governance » Family Education

By Guest Blogger

09/16/2016

It’s Gotten Better – Expect it to Continue | Financial Perspectives (In a Minute)

Category: Investing » Foster Group Investment Principles » Accept Uncertainty

By Kent Kramer

11/27/2023

Coming off the Thanksgiving holiday, are you feeling optimistic? If you are an investor, you've likely answered the question with a "yes." This week, Kent Kramer explains why long-term optimism is justifiable in a world filled with bad news.

It’s College Planning Time. Are Your Finances Ready?

Category: Financial Planning » Education Planning » 529 Plans

By Brittany Heard

04/01/2021

As you start checking these items off the list, the biggest things you have running through your head are dollar signs – lots and lots of dollar signs.

Is Your Portfolio Tailored to Fit Your Needs, or Just ‘Off-The-Rack’?

Category: Investing » Foster Group Investment Principles » Advance with Science

By Kent Kramer

11/18/2019

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.

Is Your Portfolio Tailored to Fit Your Needs, or Just ?Off-The-Rack??

Category: Investing » Foster Group Investment Principles » Advance with Science

By Ryan Lamoureux

02/01/2019

Is Your Portfolio Aligned with Your Purpose and Plans?

Category: Investing » Foster Group Investment Principles » Align Purposes and Portfolio

By Kent Kramer

09/15/2017

Kent Kramer explains how to align your portfolio with your purpose and plans.

Is Your Family on the Same Page

Category: Financial Planning » Family Governance

By Wade Den Hartog

01/11/2019

Is the Stock Market a Glass Half Full?

Category: Investing » Foster Group Investment Principles » Accept Uncertainty

By Kent Kramer

02/08/2022

The month of January was marked by negative returns for global stock markets. But, as the well-worn phrase, “Is your glass half full or half empty?” implies, our view of, or the way we feel about the state of markets as investors, may be more related to our personal dispositions than what the numbers indicate.

Is Now a Good Time to Invest? | Financial Perspectives (In a Minute)

Category: Investing » Foster Group Investment Principles » Accept Uncertainty

By Kent Kramer

08/08/2022

A popular question investors often ask is whether NOW is a good time to invest. This week, Kent Kramer talks about what is happening in markets now, and in the past, and what investors may want to know.

Is Now a Good Time to Invest? | Financial Perspectives

Category: Investing » Foster Group Investment Principles » Accept Uncertainty

By Kent Kramer

08/08/2022

A popular question investors often ask is whether NOW is a good time to invest. This week, Kent Kramer talks about what is happening in markets now, and in the past, and what investors may want to know.

Is Leasing Right for You?

Category: Financial Planning » Cashflow » Budget Spreadsheet

By Walt Mozdzer

01/03/2024

October was the worst month for new car sales at his dealership in over ten years. In fact, only about 10% of car buyers that month were electing to lease new vehicles and typically, leasing is less expensive than buying. What’s going on here?