October 26, 2020 Financial Perspectives
1:42 - In the News: Expansion in the US
2:24 - Recent Market Performance
5:07 - Patience: Why This Election is Different
6:52 - Elections Through Inaugurations: Should You Stay Invested?
October 25, 2021 Financial Perspectives
Kent Kramer recaps his top take-away moments from our event last week with Morgan Housel.
Morgan used stories to illustrate lessons to help us understand behavioral finance and psychology and how that affects the way we invest.
October 12, 2020 Financial Perspectives
Category: Investing » Factors / Premiums
1:15 - In the News: What Employment Can Tell Us About Economic Recovery
2:52 - Stock Market Returns in October
3:43 - Value Stocks vs Growth Stocks Historical Returns
5:19 - Why Do Value Stocks Tend to Outperform Growth Stocks?
9:37 - What Should I be Investing in Now?
October 11, 2021 Financial Perspectives
Friction can slow can down any machine. What was humming along only minutes or weeks ago, can labor under the strain of too little oil, a little sand in the gears, you name it. The US economy and markets have been seeing an increase in perceived frictions over the past month. Can we get back to smoother operations?
November 8, 2021 Financial Perspectives
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
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
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
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
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
If you are in the market for a financial advisor, rehearse these three questions before sitting down with a potential suitor.
Is Leasing Right for You?
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?
Is it Possible to Stop Worrying About Money? Yes!
Category: Foster Group
One of the most important things we do at Foster Group isn’t tangible. It’s emotional. Let's look at some things that you might worry about but wish you no longer had to worry.
Is Investing a Science Project? | Financial Perspectives
A wise investor will advance with science to increase the probability of good investment outcomes. This week, Kent Kramer shares examples of how advances in finance and economics have impacted investor experience.
Is Fear the Only Thing to Fear? | Financial Perspectives
Fear can grab us and demand a response, such that fear itself can become the real danger. This week, Kent Kramer explores how fear and bad news can impact investing and some simple steps you could consider to avoid emotional investing.
Is ESG Investing Right for You? | Financial Perspectives
Category: Investing » Equity / Stocks
What is ESG Investing and what could you expect over the long term?
Is a Bitcoin ETF a Fit for Your Plan? | Financial Perspectives
Category: Investing » Foster Group Investment Principles
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.
IRS Allows for Reversal of 2020 RMDs
Category: Financial Planning » Cashflow
In late June, the IRS announced RMDs would be able to be reversed from any account requiring them through August 31st. Since the IRS is allowing this, it presents a potential tax planning opportunity.
Iowa Income Tax Changes Have an Impact in 2022
Category: Financial Planning
One of the significant changes in the tax reform bill signed by Governor Reynolds on March 1, is the eventual elimination of federal tax deductibility for determining taxable income. Iowa was one of the few remaining states that allowed taxpayers to deduct federal taxes to determine their state income taxes.
Investors Must Be Present to Win
For weeks, the major indices had been declining but in mid-March, we saw a very abrupt reversal. I’m often reminded of the familiar saying “Investors must be present to win.” In other words, the price (or cost) of admission to the investment experience is market volatility.
Investments Are Long-Term; Brackets Are Short-Term.
As the NCAA tournament wraps up, many sports fans are reflecting on their brackets, winning their office pools, and bragging rights with friends. Similarly, others focus on their investments and trying to predict which stocks will perform the best. We may think of these as two separate worlds, but there are numerous similarities between the two.