Chart of the Month – Sept 2022
Following Russia's invasion of Ukraine, gas prices spiked to a nationwide peak of $5.02/gallon on June 13, 2022. Since then, the price of gas has been coming down, but the discussions about it have not slowed at all.
How to Start Talking with Kids About Money
Category: Financial Planning » Cashflow
A few weeks ago, I talked with our two kids – one a preschooler and the other a kindergartner – about money. Here are some starter topics for you to discuss with your kids.
Webinar: Making Your Own Path Through Election Year Financial Markets
There's always concern and uncertainty present in election years. Predicting the markets impact of potential political transition isn't easy for anyone. With inflation rising, it's understandable to be concerned. Is there another way to think about the unknown?
Selling a Business Is Just as Tough as Owning One
Owning and operating a business is a tough task. Selling a business is equally difficult. If you’re a business owner, the odds are that you haven’t put together a plan to do this. It doesn’t have to be this way.
How Much Should I Have in Stocks? | Financial Perspectives
Category: Investing » Equity / Stocks
Many people like the idea of higher expected returns that stocks may produce, but the higher return potential comes with more risk. This week, Kent Kramer walks us through a possible approach to understanding how much of your portfolio could be invested in stocks.
How Much Should I Have in Stocks? | Financial Perspectives (In a Minute)
Category: Investing » Equity / Stocks
Many people like the idea of higher expected returns that stocks may produce, but the higher return potential comes with more risk. This week, Kent Kramer walks us through a possible approach to understanding how much of your portfolio could be invested in stocks.
What If…
Category: Foster Group
What if my spouse is gone tomorrow? What if I live to 110? What If I want to retire as soon as possible? What if I have a Long-Term Care event? Where do you seek guidance, clarity, and understanding on your financial plan to help address these questions?
Having Faith When It’s Scary
Market volatility can sometimes be downright scary. The other day, I read that the quarter ending June 30th was the 16th worst quarter in the history of the stock market. Even worse, the first quarter was bad too, making it one of the very worst six-month periods in nearly a century. How does an investor respond?
Spending That Can Wreck Retirement
Category: Financial Planning » Cashflow
In more than a decade of working with clients, I’ve discovered that one thing tends to do more damage to financial plans than any other.
Webinar: Financial Forecasts for 2022: When to React. When to Relax.
Category: Foster Group
Welcome to the noisiest time of the year, with pundits predicting boom or bust for your portfolio in 2022. In the webinar, you'll learn about: The risk of acting on predictions, the importance of a long-term investment plan, and predictions that never panned out.
What Do You Want?
Tragically, we humans are, to put it bluntly, awful at wanting the things that will create the most meaning and satisfaction in our lives.
New Year – Rates are Rising | Financial Perspectives
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.
The Joy, Excitement, and Relief of Life
Category: Foster Group
At Foster Group, we know there are more important things than money. There's the joy of providing a lovely home for your family. The excitement of an early retirement. The relief knowing that an unexpected emergency won't ruin your finances. At Foster Group, we're invested in the things that make life, life. And how to get there.
If You Had a Dollar for Every Financial Advisor that Just Wanted Your Money
Category: Foster Group
If you had a dollar for every financial advisor that just wanted your money - your financial future would already be secure. At Foster Group, our team is different. One whose focus is on you and your dreams. Together, we'll create a strategy that helps get you there - wherever 'there' is for you.
Financial Advice Is Useless – Without Empathy
Category: Foster Group
Financial advice is useless - without empathy. At Foster Group, we want to hear your story. Your goals. Your worries about the future. Only then can we help you feel confident about all aspects of your financial life.
Things You Can Do Today to Be Ready for Retirement
Category: Financial Planning
We often see a lot in the news about how many people aren’t prepared for retirement. But saving for retirement in a 401k doesn’t have to be scary or complicated.
Purpose Before Portfolio
Are you making investment decisions in light of the game you really want to win?
Still Searching for the One?
You do not need to pick the next big winner in order to have a successful investment experience. As a matter of fact, behaving as if this were possible is an almost certain way to have a terrible investment experience. What are the hallmarks of a more successful approach?
December 13, 2021 Financial Perspectives
Category: Investing
Are you wondering what happened to that big tax and spending bill that was working its way through Congress, you know the one that was supposed to raise taxes on most Americans with incomes over $400,000 and invest heavily in various domestic programs? You’re not alone. This week Kent Kramer discusses what is in and what is out of the latest rendition of the Build Back Better Bill.
All I Want for Christmas Is a Budget
Category: Financial Planning » Cashflow
Planning your gift-giving budget for the holidays may give you a little more freedom and a little less stress. Here are a few ideas of how you can plan ahead … for next Christmas, of course!
Let Charitable Giving Take the Sting Out of Taxes
Category: Financial Planning » Charitable Giving
Foster Group has a number of philanthropically-focused team members who can walk you through the integration of charitable intent with your financial plan. There are several ways to give, save taxes, help worthy organizations, and leave a legacy both through heirs and non-profit organizations.