Chart of the Month – July 2024
Category: Investing » Asset Allocation
International Stocks – Are they necessary?
Monte Carlo Analysis & Your Retirement
Category: Financial Planning » Cashflow
Let's look at the Monte Carlo analysis and what it has in common with your financial plan.
Whenever Possible, Don’t Do Dumb Things | Financial Perspectives
We believe that investors increase their chances of success by avoiding predictable mistakes -- those practices that sound like they should work but have been shown time and time again to have very low probabilities of success. This week, Kent Kramer examines different studies to help inform our fifth investment principle.
The Significance of an Emergency Fund
Category: Financial Planning » Cashflow
An emergency fund is not merely about setting money aside; it's about cultivating peace of mind and stability when life throws unexpected challenges your way.
The Magic of Writing a Letter
Category: Financial Planning » Behavioral Finance
How the magic of writing a letter could help convey your intentions to a beneficiary.
Webinar: Maximizing Physician Income
Category: Foster Group » Event
What’s Up (or Down) with the Bonds? | Financial Perspectives
Investors have been puzzled this year, maybe even disappointed, that the bond market broadly has seen negative returns. How can this be when many money markets and bonds have stated yields of more than 5%? This week, Kent Kramer explains why.
Chart of the Month – June 2024
No one can time the market and determine when those best months will occur. The best months are surprisingly random. More important than timing the market is time in the market.
Three Tips to Help Set Yourself up for Retirement
Category: Financial Planning » Cashflow
Retirement. It’s something everyone thinks about at some point in their lives. When I see or hear about the people who have retired most effectively, three themes stick out to me. Let’s dive into them.
Chart of the Month – May 2024
While cash may offer stability and security in the short term, the DFA Returns Web chart from 1926 through February 2024 suggests that the growth potential in stocks offers a higher rewarding investment opportunity in the long run.
Five Ideas for Charitable Tax Savings
Five ideas for integrating your finances and your philanthropy.
Rates, Prices and Inventory: The Entire Housing Market Explained in About Two Minutes
Category: Financial Planning
The unprecedented relationship between a breakneck rise in home prices, a tripling in interest rates and historically low inventory levels have painted a landscape in housing that’s never been seen before in history. It’s a cautionary tale for some, and a once-in-a-generation opportunity for others, depending on your perspective. Let’s dive in.
Embracing Uncertainty
Educated optimism is an antidote for anxious uncertainty, and it can be of great help in enabling investors to embrace the uncertainty that is with us all the time.
3 Reasons to Own Foreign Stocks … Now! | Financial Perspectives
You may find yourself asking, "Why should I be invested outside the US, when the US market is doing so well relative to foreign stocks?" This week, Kent Kramer explains how this question can be answered by understanding risk management, global opportunities, and the currency effect.
Leave the Gift of Giving as part of your Estate Plan
Category: Financial Planning » Charitable Giving
One of the best strategies for charitable giving is to open and fund a Donor Advised Fund (DAF).
Passing on the Spirit of Generosity in a Tax Smart Manner
Category: Financial Planning » Charitable Giving
If you are giving to charities now or plan to in the future, you may possess the “Spirit of Generosity.” How do you pass that “Spirit of Generosity” on to your children and/or grandchildren?
A Conversation with Award-Winning Portfolio Manager Mary Ellen Stanek | Financial Perspectives
In this week's special edition of Financial Perspectives, Kent Kramer has a conversation with 2022 Morningstar Outstanding Portfolio Manager award winner, Mary Ellen Stanek, who is managing director and co-chief investment officer of Baird. In this conversation, Kent and Mary Ellen cover everything from market history and trends to surprising interviews.
The Promise of Small Beginnings
Category: Financial Planning » Charitable Giving
Spring and it's emerging signs of life are great reminders of how many things in our lives start small. But with a little attention year after year, small things can grow to become meaningful and enjoyable contributions to our lives and the lives of others.
What I Learned On The Road To The House on the Lake
Category: Financial Planning » Behavioral Finance
In my life, I’ve always been a goal setter. You may be a goal setter, too. If you’re like me, you set goals on an annual basis. It may be hard to get going, but being purposeful about taking those first steps will produce results and help propel you from one success to the next. So where do you start?
Chart of the Month – April 2024
Trying to time the market and choosing to sell in reaction to headlines tends to be a predictable mistake. There always seems to be a reason to sell.
Tailoring Your Financial Plan to Match Your Goals
If you are a client of Foster Group and have met with your advisor recently, you may have discussed what’s important to you, what we are planning for as it relates to your goals, and what you hope to achieve.