Cryptocurrency: Not for the Faint of Heart

Category: Investing » Alternative Investments

By Ryan Lamoureux

07/23/2021

Will cryptocurrency replace the $20 bill in your pocket? Will the decentralization/digitization of currency end up solving anything? Will it be of long-term value? Or will it end up being only a place for speculators to try and capitalize on the sentiment of others? Anyone wanting to allocate to cryptocurrency should understand the inherent uncertainty and volatility of this relatively new digital commodity.

Do I Have Portfolio Exposure to China?

Category: Investing » Equity / Stocks » Foreign

By Ryan Lamoureux

11/10/2021

In recent weeks, China has been a part of US financial headlines for a number of reasons. At Foster Group, we believe in globally diversified model portfolios. We invest our equity portfolios across domestic markets, international markets, and emerging markets. Our models have equity exposure to over 51 countries.

Chart of the Month – May 2022

Category: Investing » Costs

By Ryan Lamoureux

05/05/2022

Since the beginning of 2020, checkable deposits have quadrupled, giving consumers the ability to continue spending and withstand increased prices. What does this mean for inflation and prices in the future? 

Chart of the Month – Aug 2022

Category: Investing » Costs

By Ryan Lamoureux

08/04/2022

The housing market has been hot since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. Prices have soared and the interest rate to borrow money for those homes has been at historically low levels. But what is happening now?

Chart of the Month – Oct 2023

Category: Investing » Foster Group Investment Principles » Accept Uncertainty

By Ryan Lamoureux

10/10/2023

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!”

Chart of the Month – Dec 2022

Category: Investing » Foster Group Investment Principles

By Ryan Lamoureux

12/16/2022

Those of you who keep up with the financial news are likely familiar with the three most quoted indices, the S&P 500, Dow Jones Industrial Average, and the NASDAQ. Sometimes, the returns for all of them are similar, but sometimes they are not.

Chart of the Month – Feb 2023

Category: Investing » Diversification

By Ryan Lamoureux

02/03/2023

Recently, a client asked me about sectors. What are they? And how do they fit into a portfolio?

Bad News

Category: Investing » Foster Group Investment Principles » Accept Uncertainty

By Ryan Lamoureux

03/31/2023

Is the title to this blog supposed to be clickbait? Of course it is. That is the point of this blog. Bad news sells.

Chart of the Month – Mar 2023

Category: Investing » Diversification

By Ryan Lamoureux

03/03/2023

Is there conclusive evidence that one sector is better than another when it comes to returns?

Are Rising Rates a Blessing or a Curse? | Financial Perspectives (In a Minute)

Category: Investing » Equity / Stocks

By Kent Kramer

09/27/2022

With the Fed having aggressively raised their target rate all year long and bond markets, as well as stock markets, having tough years, are rising rates a blessing or a curse?

Is ESG Investing Right for You? | Financial Perspectives

Category: Investing » Equity / Stocks

By Kent Kramer

10/10/2022

What is ESG Investing and what could you expect over the long term?

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.

Our Favorite Book & Podcasts of 2023

Category: Uncategorized

By Kent Kramer

11/28/2023

“What books would you recommend?” “What podcasts do you listen to?” At Foster Group we often get asked questions like these. Here’s a short list of some recent responses from our team. 

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.

The “Gift” You Shouldn’t Open: Predictions | Financial Perspectives

Category: Investing » Foster Group Investment Principles » Accept Uncertainty

By Kent Kramer

12/11/2023

It's that time of year -- news outlets are gathering up nicely wrapped predictions and estimates on what the markets will do in 2024. This week, Kent Kramer analyzes how accurate, or inaccurate, these predictions actually have been in the past.

Compound the Growth of Your 2024 Plans | Financial Perspectives

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

By Kent Kramer

01/08/2024

What small, consistent steps are in your control this year that, if you complete them, can result in accumulated progress for years to come? This week, Kent Kramer discusses how financial planning may help us discover these kinds of things.

How Should an Investor Position Their Overall Investment Portfolio Now and in the Future?

Category: Investing » Asset Allocation

By Kent Kramer

01/22/2024

Right after, “What will the stock market do next?” the positioning question may be the most asked and re-asked question by investors of all types.

Is a Bitcoin ETF a Fit for Your Plan? | Financial Perspectives

Category: Investing » Foster Group Investment Principles

By Kent Kramer

01/22/2024

Anytime there is something new that gets a lot of media attention, investors should ask themselves, "Is this an opportunity for me or a distraction for what really matters?" This week, Kent Kramer introduces the first of five investment principles for purposeful investors.

Basketball, Movies, and the Transformed Investor | Financial Perspectives

Category: Investing » Foster Group Investment Principles » Accept Uncertainty

By Kent Kramer

02/26/2024

In this week's edition of Financial Perspectives, Kent Kramer covers everything from basketball and movies to Nobel Prize winners and a unique investment journey with Dave Butler, Co-CEO of Dimensional Fund Advisors.

Watch "Tune Out the Noise": https://film.dimensional.com
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2024 Looks as Uncertain as Ever | Financial Perspectives

Category: Investing » Foster Group Investment Principles » Accept Uncertainty

By Kent Kramer

03/11/2024

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.

The Joy of Generosity

Category: Financial Planning » Behavioral Finance

By Kent Kramer

12/15/2023

In my experience, the joy of generosity is not dependent on monetary value or other objective measures of size or significance. Generosity done well always has the potential to bring joy to both givers and receivers.