Teaching Your Kids to Invest Early in Life

Category: Financial Planning

By Caleb Brown

07/19/2021

One of the concerns I continually hear from the clients I work with is whether the next generation can handle money well. The only way to know is to give them an opportunity. Helping them invest early and often will teach them discipline, patience, how to manage their emotions and the power of compound interest. All of it is essential learning on the path to financial independence . . . and many other things in life, as well.

How One Client Lives a Meaningful, Generous Life

Category: Financial Planning » Charitable Giving

By Brittany Heard

07/12/2021

At Foster Group, we encourage our clients to live lives of meaning and generosity, and some of our clients embody this. Of all the amazing stories I’ve heard, the following has impacted me most deeply.

Umbrella Insurance Is Just a Catch All Policy, Right?

Category: Financial Planning

By Guest Blogger

07/06/2021

Guest Blogger Tim Hibbing. Umbrella policies are becoming more and more popular in our litigious culture.

How Will You Pay for Long-Term Care?

Category: Financial Planning

By Nikki Nee

07/06/2021

Chances are, you’ve heard about long-term care insurance, but have you asked yourself if you need it? 

I Lead a Team of Financial Advisors, Here are 5 Reasons Not to Hire One

Category: Foster Group

By Jason Brown

06/22/2021

I love the place I work, I love the people I work with, and I think the work we do is almost always worth the money people pay us. Despite the fact I value all these things, I’ve come to realize there are some good reasons not to work with us. 

June 21, 2021 Financial Perspectives

Category: Investing

By Matt Moklestad

06/21/2021

As investors we are bombarded with continuous news on the stock market and bonds. We think it can be helpful to take a step back and ask the question: are the indexes on the financial media a proper point of reference for you?

Four Dimensional Mutual Funds Will Be Converted to Exchange Traded Funds on June 11th

Category: Investing

By Kent Kramer

06/08/2021

Four Dimensional Fund Advisors (DFA) mutual funds that are held in after-tax accounts managed by Foster Group at Schwab and TD Ameritrade will be converted by DFA to Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs) on Friday, June 11th.

I Want to Be Like Them

Category: Financial Planning » Charitable Giving

By Alex Battani

06/08/2021

Stories like this spread and inspire others to be generous.

June 7, 2021 Financial Perspectives

Category: Investing » Alternative Investments

By Kent Kramer

06/07/2021

It’s summertime and we have two summer’s worth of movies to look forward to after 2020’s reduced calendar. AMC, a company that runs movie theaters has seen their stock value go way up in the past few weeks. Is this about great movies or something else? This week Kent Kramer talks about two different valuation theories: Firm Foundation Theory and Castle-in-the-air Theory.

ESG Investing. What Does It Mean to be a Responsible Investor?

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

By Kent Kramer

06/10/2020

ESG investing is growing in popularity and public interest. The values being expressed through ESG related portfolio decisions are as diverse as the universe of investors participating in global markets today.

3 Options to Help Keep Your Ducks in a Row

Category: Financial Planning » Cashflow

By Foster Group

06/09/2020

Proactively working off a budget is challenging, both emotionally and practically. Here are some of the tools members of our team use that have helped them successfully manage their cashflow.

June 8, 2020 Financial Perspectives

Category: Investing » Economics

By Kent Kramer

06/08/2020

1:45 - Last Week's News
3:06 - Last Week's Financial Highlights
4:40 - How Will the US Pay for All This New Debt Spending?
7:54 - What Does GDP Mean for the Stock Market?

4 Reasons You Should Hire a Financial Advisor Right Now

Category: Foster Group

By Foster Group

06/08/2020

When we help people understand that their financial lives are Truly Cared For®, we usually think about how we help them plan, invest, protect, and give, but that doesn’t always address the reasons that people hire us.

What I Think About When Working From Home

Category: Investing » Foster Group Investment Principles » Accept Uncertainty

By Walt Mozdzer

05/29/2020

In the blink of an eye, it seems, our lives have taken a major turn, because of a sneaky, harmful, invisible germ. The concept of uncertainty is real and palpable.

May 29, 2020 Financial Perspectives

Category: Investing » Foster Group Investment Principles » Apply Markets

By Kent Kramer

05/29/2020

0:55 - This Week's News
2:39 - This Week's Financial Highlights
4:36 - Why Is the Stock Market Up When the Economy Is Down?
5:12 - Stock Prices Are Forward Looking
8:06 - Average Returns After Downturns Have Been Positive

How Could You Use Your Stimulus Check?

Category: Financial Planning » Behavioral Finance

By Brittany Heard

05/27/2020

You may be wondering what steps you can take to improve your financial life during these unsettling times. I would like to share some thoughts on how to use your stimulus funds and staying invested during anxious times.

Grow Through What You Go Through

Category: Investing » Foster Group Investment Principles » Accept Uncertainty

By Nikki Nee

05/22/2020

While this time has been incredibly difficult for so many, I hope that people look back on this time and remember the lessons they learned rather than the struggles they suffered.  

May 22, 2020 Financial Perspectives

Category: Investing » Factors / Premiums » Credit Quality (Fixed Income)

By Matt Moklestad

05/22/2020

0:51 - Recap of the News this Week
2:40 - Market Results for the Week
3:42 - What Do Low Interest Rates Mean for Investors?
6:40 - Fixed Income Analysis
7:45 - Corporate Bond Default Rates
8:21 - Corporate Bonds vs Treasuries

May 14, 2020 J. Ann Selzer Event

Category: Foster Group

By Foster Group

05/21/2020

Watch J. Ann Selzer's data-driven presentation on the political scene over the past year, the trends around the upcoming general election, and other topics.

Mutual Funds and ETFs: What’s the Difference?

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

By Ryan Lamoureux

05/19/2020

There are structural differences between an Exchange Traded Fund (ETF) and a mutual fund that can create advantages to using one over the other.

Five Reasons to Consider a Roth IRA Conversion

Category: Financial Planning

By Andy Mullan

05/15/2020

The first four months of 2020 have proven to be unpredictable, volatile, and challenging. Despite recent market changes, there continue to be several planning opportunities that we are monitoring for our clients. One of these is Roth IRA conversions.