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Breaking Down the Banking Headlines: Part One | Financial Perspectives

Category: Investing
By Matt Abels
03/21/2023

With the banking industry and markets continuing to be leading topics in the news, many investors are asking, “What is going on? Is this something to be worried about? Should I be taking action?” In this special edition of Financial Perspectives, Matt Abels and Michael Westphal provide context and insights to those questions. Tune in next week for part two, where we’ll be joined by Jim Plagge, President and CEO of Bank Iowa.

Poker Lessons. Expect to Be Surprised. | Financial Perspectives

Category: Investing
By Kent Kramer
11/07/2022
Poker is great training ground for evaluating circumstances where you may have enough information to know the odds of success or failure, but not enough information to guarantee the outcome -- a lot like investing. This week, Kent Kramer looks at how understanding odds and probability can help make sense of elections and investment markets.

Roadtrips & Recessions | Financial Perspectives

Category: Investing
By Kent Kramer
06/27/2022

The economy and markets are a bit like summer car travel/construction. There's a recession and/or a bear market in the rearview mirror, you're in one, or there is one right around the corner.

Making the Best of It | Financial Perspectives

Category: Investing
By Matt Moklestad
05/23/2022
It continues to be a volatile period for investors in stock and bond markets around the world. And while the news, like the weather, has seemed a little gloomy this spring, summer is around the corner and maybe it’s time to make the best of it! In today’s edition, Matt Moklestad, Lead Advisor – Institutional, discusses tax loss harvesting.

Knowing What Not To Do | Financial Perspectives

Category: Investing
By Kent Kramer
05/09/2022

Stocks are down. Bonds are down. Inflation is up. There is a war in Europe. When nothing feels certain, what should investors do? One of the things we can do is pay attention to something else.

How Can Investors Benefit from Higher Rates? | Financial Perspectives

Category: Investing
By Kent Kramer
04/25/2022
With inflation and interest rates rising, are there any silver linings for investors? One DIY US government bond investment you may not have heard about will soon be yielding over 9%. This week, Kent Kramer takes a look at I Bonds, what is happening in markets and the global economy, and what investors may want to know.

Q1 Wrap Up: Ukraine, Inflation, Interest Rates | Financial Perspectives

Category: Investing
By Kent Kramer
04/11/2022
The first quarter of 2022 is in the books and once again, surprising events dominated the news. Russia invading Ukraine and the continued climb in inflation were the focus of attention and for good reason. In this week's Financial Perspectives, we'll take a look at what is happening in markets and the global economy and what investors may want to know.

Webinar: Uncertainty in Ukraine (and Beyond)

Category: Investing » Foster Group Investment Principles » Accept Uncertainty
By Kent Kramer
04/07/2022

How do we deal with uncertainty in a globally connected world? Uncertainty is nothing new. It's an ongoing factor in global markets that can be embraced and often managed in investment portfolios. In this webinar, we will cover: potential impacts of Russia and Ukraine on your portfolio, the ripple effects of the war on inflation, interest rates, oil, and continuing market volatility, thoughts on what you could consider doing now, and updates regarding ongoing developments.

Inflation – How High & How Long? | Financial Perspectives

Category: Investing
By Kent Kramer
03/21/2022
While the war in Ukraine is in day 25, leaders around the world are looking to not only stem that two-nation conflict, but also to tame the higher-than-expected global inflation which threatens to slow or derail the post-pandemic economic recovery that had been underway.