Recent Content

SORT BY
OLDEST

Breaking Down the Banking Headlines: Part One | Financial Perspectives

Category: Investing » Market History
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.

Bad News

Category: Investing » Market History
By Ryan Lamoureux
03/31/2023

Is the title to this blog supposed to be clickbait? Of course it is. That is the point of this blog. Bad news sells.

Chart of the Month – May 2023

Category: Investing » Market History
By Michael Westphal
05/04/2023

In investing, a key consideration is the time horizon. There is a general perception that investing is a risky proposition, but this risk can be mitigated by holding investments for longer periods. 

Debt Ceiling Politics & Markets | Financial Perspectives

Category: Investing » Market History
By Kent Kramer
05/08/2023

Politics are always in the news. Right now, we're hearing a lot about the debt ceiling and the need to increase the US debt ceiling so the government can pay their bills ... or maybe not. This week, Kent Kramer provides an overview of debt ceiling history and what we are seeing today.

ChatGPT & The Big 8 | Financial Perspectives

Category: Investing » Market History
By Kent Kramer
06/12/2023

With the biggest tech companies regaining stock market leadership, it’s understandable why investors and the media are attracted to these stocks. However, it’s tempting to forget how these same companies’ stock prices performed in 2022. This week, Kent Kramer shares some investment lessons to be learned from this AI/big tech story.

Chart of the Month – June 2024

Category: Investing » Market History
By Michael Westphal
06/06/2024

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. 

ROMO: Regret Over Missing Out | Financial Perspectives

Category: Investing » Market History
By Kent Kramer
07/08/2024

In the first six months of 2024, NVIDIA has seen its stock price appreciate by just under 150%, which represented about 1/3 of the total gain of the S&P 500 in the same period. For those investors who did not own NVIDIA, they are likely experiencing ROMO. This week, Kent Kramer analyzes concentration of value and performance of the global stock market.

Wrong Thinking on Election & Markets

Category: Investing » Market History
By Kent Kramer
09/19/2024

Kent Kramer examines the effects of an election season on investors. Drawing on historical data and behavioral economics, he emphasizes the importance of recognizing cognitive biases and staying optimistic.

What Are You Waiting For? | Financial Perspectives

Category: Investing » Market History
By Kent Kramer
10/07/2024

This week, Kent Kramer discusses how the upcoming election is influencing financial decisions, with 63% of Americans deferring choices until after the results. Despite political uncertainty, markets have shown resilience, highlighting the importance of optimism and staying informed for navigating uncertain times.

“My Portfolio is Doing Well / Poor Compared to What?”

Category: Investing » Market History
By Kent Kramer
10/29/2024

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?

Chart of the Month – November 2024

Category: Investing » Market History
By Michael Westphal
11/07/2024

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.