Chart of the Month – March 2025
Category: Investing
Selecting a top-performing fund or manager is easier said than done, no matter the asset class. Let's look at why.
Cyber Coverage
Category: Financial Planning
For years we’ve suggested cyber coverage to all our business clients. What started with businesses moved over to the personal insurance world via home, auto, or umbrella policies. Now almost every policy we write includes some sort of cyber coverage. Let's explore the ins-and-outs of cyber insurance for you personally.
A Family Friend’s Close Call with a Cyber Scam
Category: Financial Planning
Tech support scams and phishing attacks are becoming increasingly sophisticated, making it crucial to stay vigilant. A recent incident involving a family friend highlights how easily fraudsters can gain remote access to a victim’s computer, install malware, and steal sensitive information. Read more to learn what to do if someone you know is compromised and discover actions to take to help stay secure online.
Why Your Financial Review Meetings Are as Important as the Dentist Appointments
Category: Financial Planning
Let's dive into why your financial review meetings are as Important as the dentist appointments.
Protect Your Taxes: What You Need to Know About IRS IP PINs
Category: Financial Planning
Tax season is already complicated enough, but identity theft can make it significantly worse. To help safeguard taxpayers, the IRS offers the Identity Protection Personal Identification Number (IP PIN). Here’s a breakdown of what an IP PIN is, how to get one, and insights on who should consider using it.
Inflation? We’ve planned for this.
Category: Investing » Asset Allocation
Inflation has been a hot topic in recent years, often misunderstood and heavily debated. Attempting to stay ahead of inflation is one of the biggest reasons to invest over the long term. Let’s break it down and focus on what really matters.
Chart of the Month – February 2025
2024 was another great year for the U.S. stock market, with the S&P 500 index returning 25%. Now that the year is over, we can analyze the winners and losers of 2024. Let's take a look.
Inflation. Is It Good or Bad and What Can You Do About It?
Inflation has been one of the buzzwords in the news media for the past couple of years. Let's explore if it is good or bad and what can you do about it.
More Than Just the Turkey
Category: Investing » Diversification
In both meals and investments, balance is key. A diversified portfolio can weather market fluctuations just as a well planned Thanksgiving dinner can satisfy almost everyone’s appetite.
The Ruling on the Field is Under (Fiduciary) Review
Category: Financial Planning » Behavioral Finance
Today, all sports have adopted official replay and the goal is to: Get the call right. Make the correct decision. Similar in use is the role of a fiduciary financial advisor. Having an objective resource to review one’s situation, incorporate goals, evaluate risks, and utilize precedence helps deliver peace of mind around financial decisions.
The Gift of You
Category: Foster Group
Time is a unique asset. We can’t save it for the future. We spend it with every minute that goes by. But as with other assets, we can be generous with our time. Here are four examples of people I know personally, who inspire me by their active generosity.
Avoid Being Surprised by Insurance Policy Changes
Category: Financial Planning
It’s that time of year — you know, the time when you receive a large envelope from your insurance company with your renewal documents. Do you look at the documents? Check out a few of the items we’re seeing in the marketplace today.
Selling Your Business: Tax Implications and Qualified Small Business Stock Opportunities
Category: Financial Planning » Education Planning
Selling a business involves numerous considerations, particularly the tax implications for key shareholders. There are potential tax advantages available to business owners and key employees that can help mitigate these costs. Let's take a look.
Chart of the Month – November 2024
When we examine the historical relationship between equities and cash, it becomes evident that while cash may offer safety and short-term stability, equities tend to outperform over time. For long-term investors, remember that your plan should influence the portfolio and that reacting to market conditions is not a wise reason to change your plan.
What’s Next?
Category: Foster Group
Recently, I came across a TedX talk that featured Dr. Riley Moynes. After retiring from the financial industry, he wrote a book called,” The Four Phases of Retirement”.* Because the talk was helpful for me, I wanted to share the four phases with you.
“My Portfolio is Doing Well / Poor Compared to What?”
Merriam Webster defines a benchmark as “something that serves as a standard by which others may be measured or judged”. For investors, the question to ask is what should be my standard, my benchmark, in determining the success or failure of my overall investment portfolio?
How Deep Is Your Bullpen?
Category: Financial Planning » Charitable Giving
You can’t have a championship team without a deep bench at your disposal. Foster Group takes the same approach, while we have a dedicated advisory team for every client we also have advisors with various skill sets that we can pull out of the bullpen and into a meeting at the right time.
You Can Be Crazy, Just Don’t Be Stupid
Category: Foster Group
Are you restless with your current career? Here are some steps to help you plan for a “crazy” career change and set some smart guardrails.
A Rude Awakening — You Need an Estate Plan Today!
Just as the McCallisters left Kevin behind in their rush to the airport, without a Will, Trust, or Powers of Attorney in place, you risk leaving your loved ones unprotected and unprepared when you don't have an estate plan. Don’t delay—make your estate plan today!
Chart of the Month – October 2024
Is stock market growth a thing of the past? Headlines making predictions about this have come and gone, some turning out to be spectacularly wrong. Let’s take a look.