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FRANKLIN BACKSTAGE PASS

Whether it’s ideas from the investment world or financial planning concepts, you can read about it here. And once in a while, we may throw in a personal story or some other surprise. So keep checking in. We’re glad to have you reading along.

 

Monday, May 3, 2021

A look at how planning and portfolio composition compares to choosing championship players. To build a championship team, what players do we select first?

 

Wednesday, April 21, 2021

Earlier this month many of you read our April Fools fictionalized narrative detailing how the S&P credit rating agency had once again cut the credit rating of U.S. Treasuries due to concerns regarding the growing government debt.

 

Thursday, April 1, 2021

One of the world's leading credit rating agencies, Standard & Poor's, has downgraded the United States' credit rating for the first time in almost 10 years. The outlook on the new U.S. credit rating is “negative,” S&P said...

 

Tuesday, March 23, 2021

If the short term gain is stimulus for pocketbooks and progressive programs, what can we do to protect from the long term pain?

 

Thursday, February 11, 2021

Last year we wrote a piece entitled “The Current Income Investing Dillema” in which we explained how building a portfolio solely of Treasury bonds and CDs would likely provide inadequate returns over the next decade. We...

 

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Thursday, February 4, 2021

Many of today’s investors are too young to remember the speculative excesses of 1999 and early 2000. Tech IPOs, dot.com, media companies and the most popular and largest companies saw their valuations reach the stratosphere....

 

Thursday, January 28, 2021

At What Point Does Stimulus and Money Printing Stop Working? If the U.S. continues to grow her debt beyond her ability to pay, the country is likely to start seeing demands on the debt in the form of increased selling activity.

 

Friday, December 4, 2020

We typically map out strategies based upon the most likely outcome. But we also want to take precautions if a less likely outcome becomes reality. For this reason, we have been even more focused on end of year planning in 2020.

 

Thursday, November 26, 2020

Today was a great day to be outside. The fall color was evident with maple trees displaying vibrant colors. The sun was shining. The camelias were blooming. It was a beautiful Thanksgiving in Tennessee. My mother experienced her first...

 

Friday, October 9, 2020

Excerpt: As we have commented before, we do not believe the next President will be able to save or derail the country or his own. If someone is concerned that the U.S. markets are going to collapse after the election, why not ...

 

Tuesday, September 29, 2020

I remember a time when someone could own a portfolio of CDs and government bonds and reasonably expect to earn enough income to provide for all expenses. While these days are not...

 

Tuesday, September 15, 2020

For more commentary on the 2020 Election and stock market impacts, please visit and subscribe to our channel on YouTube by clicking here. With all the concerns about the coronavirus pandemic and social unrest, many have been unsure...

 

Tuesday, August 25, 2020

Our office celebrated one of our “Fun Fridays” this past week. Lately we have been trying to do things outdoors and stay safe in the current environment. It was raining this past Friday afternoon, so we improvised and...

 

Monday, August 17, 2020

Who doesn't love getting something about politics in their Facebook feed? I've unfortunately grown accustomed to texts and robo-calls from my "favorite" political candidates as well. Turning on the television these days, we are bombarded..

 

Monday, July 27, 2020

The daffodils started blooming early this year. It was unseasonably warm, and I rushed out to take pictures before the inevitable cold snap took out the blooms....

 

Monday, June 22, 2020

Being a sports fan, I like many others, have been starved for the excitement of watching champions at work: Watching a crushing hit, a spectacular goal or an amazing play that many others may not appreciate because they may not have played

 

Monday, June 15, 2020

Like many others, we are looking forward to being able to worship again with our Church family. We have learned to stream the services over the last few weeks. My family may not be paying as much attention at home, but Jennifer and I...

 

Friday, May 29, 2020

My oldest daughter, Sydney is now a teenager in high school. Jack and Walker both seem to be growing up too quickly as well. But they are not too old to still LOVE Ice Cream. We cannot keep ice cream, cookies or sweets of any kind in the

 

Monday, May 18, 2020

Last month many of us in Chattanooga experienced the worst of it as we were all hunkered down "safely" at home, keeping our distance from others who could possibly pass on the sickness that has infected the entire planet. Our family...

 

Monday, April 13, 2020

Happy, Healthy & Financially Wise When it rains, it pours! Especially in Chattanooga this year. It seems we have had more flooding and tornado watches this year than I remember in quite a while. As we have been sequestering ourselves...

 

Monday, April 6, 2020

This overview outlines how the CARES Act affects workers and retirees when accessing funds from their retirement accounts.

 

Thursday, March 19, 2020

A few years back we took our kids to New York and wanted to impress upon them what we feel are the great qualities of our nation. We are a nation that embraces Faith and Freedom.

 

Saturday, March 14, 2020

With Hamilton County, Tennessee reporting its first case of the Corona Virus amid school closings, event cancellations and the like, it's hard to fathom how bad things could get for us here in the U.S. We've heard from many of you who...

 

Friday, February 28, 2020

Market's Got You Worried? - Look to Louis and Billy Ray. Many of you may remember the 1983 movie Trading Places. What you may not know is that the movie was inspired by a true story. In the 1970s, William Eckhardt and ...

 

Tuesday, December 3, 2019

When Prince originally wrote the song 1999, thoughts of a stock market top and two bear market selloffs in the following decade were probably furthest from his mind. Many have forgotten or never experienced the “lost decade”.

 

Friday, October 25, 2019

You’ve likely noticed all the ads for brokerage custodian firms rapidly slashing the cost of trades to zero on some of their most popular items, notably stocks and exchange-traded funds...

 

Monday, July 29, 2019

The Federal Reserve this week will most likely cut interest rates for the first time in over a decade as the central bank tries to keep an aging economic expansion from petering out. The expected change, while likely to be small, will ...

 

Thursday, July 18, 2019

WHAT HAPPENED TO OUR LOST LUGGAGE? & WHY I SPEND OVER $50K A YEAR ON COACHING. Last month we visited Germany to attend the Rotary International conference and spent a few extra days to enjoy the culture and the sights. We enjoyed...

 

Friday, June 21, 2019

This week we choose to honor our fathers after Father’s day. I choose to remember my father for the great things he taught me. He taught me to learn from my mistakes, to continually make improvements and to learn and grow ...

 

Wednesday, June 5, 2019

Imagine you are arriving in a new country where you do not know the language. You wander around the airport for nearly an hour trying to find the best way to the central train station. A nice person informs you there is a small train to

 

Monday, May 27, 2019

Growing up in the 1970s and 1980s, I remember the old commercials that promoted keeping up with family and other loved ones. The commercials were designed to inspire us to grow closer...

 

Monday, March 11, 2019

Over the years, I have been fortunate to work with some truly exceptional people. Over time it has become more and more evident that we need to closely guard who we invite into our Franklin Wealth family and make sure they fit our culture.

 

Monday, January 28, 2019

For those clients who attended our most recent Forecast event, Jeff Weniger, CFA and Market Strategist for Wisdom-tree was most entertaining. Our thinking continues to be very similar and I thought I’d share some of his recent...

 

Wednesday, January 23, 2019

Monday, I spent the day with a select group of top-notch entrepreneurs in Toronto Canada sharpening the saw, refining our purpose and improving our businesses. One of the key concepts we continued to focus on was "Who, not How!".

 

Monday, December 24, 2018

Christmas for our kids has changed a little bit over the years. It’s still time to decorate the house and the tree, eat lots of cookies & sweets and spend time with loved ones. We are enjoying seeing them grow up, but we...

 

Wednesday, December 19, 2018

Today our Federal Reserve Chair raised rates once again from 2.25% to 2.5% and noted expectations for "some further gradual increases" going forward. With the markets as weak as they have been lately, there was talk that he may walk...

 

Monday, December 3, 2018

With the end of the year rapidly approaching, there are many clients who are asking what they should be doing now to save taxes before time runs out and we enter 2019. Even with the markets...

 

Wednesday, November 21, 2018

I am continually impressed with how powerful Thanksgiving can be. Below are just a few things I am personally thankful for:

 

Monday, November 5, 2018

There are plenty of Sellers out there who are concerned about the upcoming election, trade wars, rising interest rates and the like. As one market commentator put it last week, "The perfect storm was caused...

 

Tuesday, October 16, 2018

The recent market selloff that started on September 20th has left many wondering what to do next. While this may leave you feeling concerned about your investments, market selloffs may provide an opportunity to reap potential tax...

 

Monday, September 17, 2018

When a loved one passes often those left behind are left wondering, “What do I do now?” or “How am I going to manage without him/her?” Sometimes the shock is so great that it takes days, weeks or months to come...

 

Monday, August 20, 2018

All too often the media and even medical professionals tell us that thinner and lighter is better. As can be seen from the pictures above, most would agree this is not always the case...

 

Tuesday, July 10, 2018

Just about every month I come across someone who claims that their investments don’t cost them anything or someone who doesn’t seem to understand all they are paying in internal expenses. Sometimes these individuals are...

 

Monday, June 18, 2018

Thinking more like a banker can provide us many benefits from a tax re-positioning perspective and a loaning vs borrowing / cash flow perspective. Not too long ago, I and a client were interviewed by a reporter at Forbes...

 

Sunday, June 3, 2018

Founder and former CEO of Netflix, Marc Randolph spoke at to a group of us last week about the power of ideas and entrepreneurism at the annual Excell meeting in Las Vegas. It was refreshing to hear which experiences have shaped his...

 

Tuesday, May 22, 2018

All of us are innately wired to react certain ways when it comes to making investment decisions. Some of us are spenders while others are savers. Some are thrill seekers while others prefer to play it safe. Each of these personalities...

 

Thursday, March 8, 2018

Whenever tax laws change, we typically host sessions to explain how new laws may impact our clients from multiple angles. The 2018 Tax Reform is the most recent topic of these sessions.

 

Tuesday, January 23, 2018

It won’t be long until we have another bad year in the markets. One or two bad years does not derail a well-crafted plan or process as-long-as clients are well educated, take time to stay in condition, review the plan over time and do not

 

Wednesday, January 3, 2018

I was recently talking with some friends of mine and all they wanted to talk about was Bitcoin. Normally, as an investor you tend to get wary when everyone knows a “good trade”, or all want to get into ...

 

Tuesday, November 28, 2017

It seems that every year in December we get a multitude of calls from clients regarding a pretty common occurrence for certain types of investments. Every year at this time and it seems it seems someone needs to learn how this happens.

 

Tuesday, November 21, 2017

A man had a habit of grumbling at the food his wife placed before him at family meals. Then he would ask the blessing. One day after his usual...

 

Wednesday, September 20, 2017

A few years back one of our California clients experienced a data breach at their local bank and became increasingly concerned about making sure their assets were protected from potential identity thieves. These particular clients...

 

Sunday, August 13, 2017

It’s long been our thought process that the current bullishness of the U.S. markets has been partially fueled by the expectation that taxes ...

 

Monday, August 7, 2017

Like many Tennessee residents, you may have found yourself doing a bit of shopping last weekend. Tennessee's annual "Sales Tax Holiday" is a great time to load up on clothes, school supplies, and other necessities for the kids and...

 

Tuesday, July 18, 2017

This past Fourth of July weekend, we enjoyed a dad's and daughter's camping trip at Fall Creek Falls. As Sydney is getting older it seems we have less opportunity for daddy, daughter time, so I jumped at the chance to spend the weekend...

 

Sunday, July 16, 2017

Last year around tax time I received a call from a concerned client regarding his projected tax bill. He was quite confused when he relayed to me that his tax-preparer explained the unexpected tax liability of close to $5,000 was due...

 

Friday, May 26, 2017

Investors started off last week with few worries. It seems the average U.S. investor is extremely comfortable and when this is the case, we tend to get a little concerned.

 

Monday, April 24, 2017

We are all, inexorably, marching toward old age. By 2030, 72 million Americans will be age 65 or older.1 The good news is longevity has been improving, and people are remaining healthy and vibrant at older ages. The bad news is...

 

Monday, April 10, 2017

While in Florida, I had the chance to hear Jack Nicklaus speak on what he felt was most important during his golf career and now that he is trying to mentor his children and younger golfers. Below are just a few of the nuggets that ...

 

Monday, March 13, 2017

In most things, whether you believe you can or cannot, you are correct. If you believe in yourself or in the eventual attainment of a goal, it may take some time, but you can make it happen. Then why is a generation of economists and

 

Tuesday, February 21, 2017

It’s interesting how people tend to extrapolate into the future. The erroneously assume that what has happened recently will continue at the same pace for the forsee-able future. It is a behavioral trait that many

 

Monday, January 9, 2017

Where was "the beef" to be found last year? Updates on Volatility, Valuations and New Developments for 2017

 

Friday, December 23, 2016

For our kids Christmas is a time to eat lots of sweets, decorate the tree and eagerly await the day when they can receive the presents they most dearly desire. Each year brings new joys and different experiences. Last year, Sydney...

 

Wednesday, November 30, 2016

It seems that every year in December we get a multitude of calls from clients regarding a pretty common occurrence for mutual funds, but nonetheless an often misunderstood one. December is the time of year when most mutual funds pay...

 

Monday, November 21, 2016

Just prior to the election we postulated that a Trump surprise win would spark a reaction similar to "Brexit" with an immediate selloff when the unexpected happened and the less predictiable candidate won. The "Brexit" selloff was ...

 

Thursday, November 3, 2016

Good News: It will all be over next week. In general a market trending upwards favors the current party for President and a market trailing downwards favors the competing party. With less than a week to go before the election...

 

Wednesday, November 2, 2016

Sometimes the government gets things right. Recently, federal legislation has created a new investment vehicle called ‘ABLE Accounts’ (Achieving a Better Life Experience) to help families save for future expenses related...

 

Monday, September 19, 2016

Eight years ago this weekend my father passed away in a horrible car crash. My brother Tim and I worked diligently to settle items in the estate, closing down a plastic surgery practice, dealing with fallout from various business...

 

Monday, September 12, 2016

Then join hand in hand, brave Americans all, By uniting we stand, by dividing we fall; In so righteous a cause let us hope to succeed, For heaven approves of each generous deed.

 

Wednesday, August 10, 2016

To get the best answers you need to start with great questions. Here are some good questions, along with what I consider to be even better questions:

 

Monday, July 18, 2016

“Ben Graham, made an observation to me that it really stuck in my mind, ‘You can get in a whole lot more trouble in investing with a sound premise than with a false premise.’“ - Warren Buffett

 

Monday, July 18, 2016

Not only did we suffer a punch to the gut from the market collapse, but we were caught unawares by a deadly uppercut that could have put us down for the count when our father passed away. We had to work with the probate courts...

 

Tuesday, July 12, 2016

Owning stock in the company you work for, can give you a feeling of ownership and “skin in the game” when it comes to delivering results to the bottom line. For some, it has also been an effective way to accumulate personal...

 

Friday, July 1, 2016

Last month, Jennifer and I took the family to New York and Philadelphia, the birthplace of our nation's independence. We always like to take them places to see first-hand what they have been studying in school. Being a part of the ...

 

Friday, June 24, 2016

Last night Britain voted to re-establish its own independence from the European Union. The majority felt they did not have enough representation as part of the European Union and did not like having to follow the dictates of an

 

Monday, June 20, 2016

Warren Buffett is widely acknowledged as the greatest investor alive today. Last year he was ranked the third wealthiest person in the world, down from number one a few years back. Despite his roots...

 

Monday, June 13, 2016

Many times clients come to us to find a better rate than what their bank is offering when a CD is coming due. Sometimes they are looking for the best short term rate because they fear interest rates are going up and want to have the...

 

Tuesday, May 31, 2016

Memorial Day is a time to recognize those who have paid the ultimate price for our freedom. It’s one of the few federal holidays that everyone is in agreement on: a day set aside to honor the military men and women who died...

 

Monday, May 9, 2016

It is an election year and many clients have been asking which candidate would be better for the market. The past has told us that the markets do relatively well regardless of the party in power. Since the second world war, the...

 

Tuesday, April 19, 2016

It’s interesting how people tend to extrapolate into the future. The erroneously assume that what has happened recently will continue at the same pace for the foresee-able future. It is a behavioral trait that many exhibit that can be ...

 

Tuesday, April 5, 2016

Have you ever known something was right for you and been told you couldn’t have it? It can be pretty frustrating. Many high-income earners, who would like to contribute directly to Roth accounts, cannot do so because of IRS income...

 

Monday, March 28, 2016

It’s almost tax time. During April, many people take advantage of the opportunity to reduce taxes by funding a Traditional IRA. While that makes sense for some Americans, others may benefit by contributing to a Roth IRA that...

 

Thursday, March 24, 2016

Last month I had a client ask me about a social security strategy that is going away on April 30th of this year. They wanted to explore the possibility of using the file and suspend strategy. In this case both spouses were 63 years of...

 

Monday, March 14, 2016

It is almost certain. The majority of the American public are going to be disappointed with our new President come November. According to a recent poll Gallop poll over 60% of Americans view Trump negatively with only 33% of the...

 

Monday, February 22, 2016

Last week we hosted our first session of Brain Games in which we found as many ways as we could to trick the audience. We unveiled to them their own biases and ways their own instincts work against them, especially when it concerns ...

 

Tuesday, February 16, 2016

In our 2016 Forecast Event a few weeks back, we detailed reasons why investors might want to stay away from equities. Most of these reasons were ...

 

Monday, February 8, 2016

Last week, ABC took top ratings in the 10pm time slot over the other networks with their mini-series “Madoff”. On the surface, Madoff seemed like a guy you could trust. An experienced stockbroker, he once served as chairman of NASDAQ.

 

Monday, February 1, 2016

Less than two weeks ago we hosted our 2016 Forecast Event sharing a lot of data and best thinking on what investors seem to be most concerned about today compared to what causes concern to institutions, insiders and ourselves.

 

Monday, January 11, 2016

It’s our behavior in the face of these pullbacks that will determine how we do in the long run. Unfortunately, sometimes the harder we try the more trouble we get ourselves into. I know many who on the baseball field or the golf course wh

 

Tuesday, January 5, 2016

Once upon a time in the country there worked a dairy farmer who was having trouble getting his cows to produce milk. They seemed well fed but as the cows grew fatter and fatter, the milk they produced did not ever see

 

Friday, December 11, 2015

December 11th, 2015 - The old adage goes, "the early bird gets the worm." The same rings true of financial independence. Those that start young are more likely to build substantial wealth over the course their lifetime. Those that wait...

 

Monday, November 30, 2015

November 30, 2015 - They are one of the worst aspects of owning mutual funds. Capital gains taxes on funds are charged typically in December, regardless of how long you've owned the fund or how much you've made over time. Funds might ...

 

Tuesday, November 24, 2015

November 24th, 2015 - The turkey shot out of the oven and rocketed into the air, it knocked every plate off the table and partly demolished a chair.

 

Monday, November 16, 2015

November 17th, 2015 - Yoda in the Star Wars movies cannot predict the future with great certainty, but he is incredibly attuned to the present. Likewise, we can read when things have already improved to the point where we...

 

Wednesday, November 11, 2015

November 11, 2015 - Every year, Americans come together today to honor our nations service members and heroes, but this year the sacrifices that these brave men and women make on a daily basis is more real than ever before. In the wake...

 

Tuesday, November 3, 2015

November 3, 2015 - If you have already turned 62 or will be turning 62 this year you still have a shot to maximize your social security benefits. If you are younger than 62 and are married, Congress has decided to reduce your potential...

 

Monday, October 12, 2015

October 12th, 2015 - More often than not over my years advising clients, September and October are times of the year when we proactively do everything in our power to calm investors frayed nerves and help them maintain a level head.

 

Monday, September 21, 2015

September 21st, 2015 - Despite grabbing most of the headlines and leading in many of the polls prior to the last debate, Donald Trump is not expected to win the Republican nomination. But many believe that Trump has done the electorate...

 

Monday, September 14, 2015

September 15, 2015 - It seems all of us experience the strange need to watch car wrecks, disasters and the misfortunes of others from time to time. Bad news always seems to get better ratings than good news. Occasionally stopping to...

 

Wednesday, August 26, 2015

August 26th, 2015 - Monday gave us a chance to put some cash to work. As always when we see heavy volatility and panic, if we can take advantage of Mr. Market’s mood swings, we tend to be much better off. We were able to put some...

 

Friday, August 21, 2015

August 21st, 2015 - The health of the market has gotten considerably worse the last few weeks. In the US, both the Dow and smaller companies have turned sharply lower, moving below key averages that we follow.

 

Monday, August 17, 2015

August 17th, 2015 - U.S. companies have been on a stock buyback spree. A stock or share buyback occurs when a company buys shares of its own stock in the marketplace. Repurchased shares may be absorbed or held by the company. A share...

 

Wednesday, July 22, 2015

July 22nd, 2015 - The last few weeks have definitely been volatile and full of market moving news. Greece defaulted on its loan to the International Monetary Fund and may be exiting the Euro zone. China has seen its stock market drop...

 

Monday, July 20, 2015

July 20th, 2015 - Our city has garnered national and international attention as tragedy has befallen many of our citizens in Thursday's shootings. Unfortunately, much of this attention is directed toward the shooter and not toward our...

 

Wednesday, July 15, 2015

July 15th, 2015 - As one of the original “veterans” here at Franklin Wealth Management, I’d like to be the first to wish Joe and the rest of the team a Happy Anniversary. I was not on the team 20 years ago when Joe...

 

Wednesday, July 1, 2015

July 1st, 2015 - With all of the recent news surrounding use of flags and the upcoming anniversary of our country, we thought it would be instructive to review the history...

 

Tuesday, June 30, 2015

June 30th, 2015 - On Friday, a “referendum” was called by Greece’s Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras and will be voted on by the Greek population … accept the bailout package offered by Europe’s creditors, or...

 

Monday, June 22, 2015

June 22nd, 2015 - What is the best way to insure that personal assets like, jewelry, automobiles, furniture and the like are inherited they way you wish them to? Typically these items are not included in a will because listing...

 

Wednesday, June 3, 2015

June 3rd, 2015 - Lots of Americans are passionate about taxes. Many would like to pay fewer taxes, so they fervently embrace tax-free opportunities. You know you’re a tax-free fan if you: • Always shop in the duty-free store...

 

Friday, May 29, 2015

May 29, 2015 - Earlier this year, President Barrack Obama in his State of the Union address proposed eliminating some of the tax benefits associated with 529 Plans, a popular college savings plan used by millions of American families....

 

Tuesday, May 19, 2015

May 25, 2015 - Last year when visiting Pearl Harbor, my wife, Jennifer and I were impressed with all that transpired during the war in the Pacific. The visit instilled us with a sense of patriotism that is sometimes hard to come by in...

 

Monday, May 11, 2015

May 11th, 2015 - As we enter the "Worst Six Months" (May-October), it is important not to get hung up on the infamous phrase: “Sell in May and go away.” We do not suggest purely going away in May. Doing this with 100% of...

 

Friday, May 8, 2015

May 8th, 2015 - When you think “Mom,” it’s likely your brain conjures up a scent or a story or a song that feels like home.For me it reminds me of the early summer scents that my mother and wife love so much. Every...

 

Thursday, April 30, 2015

April, 30th, 2015 - If you are like many of our clients, you may spend your summers here in Tennessee and winters in Florida, Gulf Shores or other warmer climates. Thanks to the Baby Boom generation, pre-retirees and retirees have a...

 

Wednesday, April 22, 2015

April 22, 2015 - I was recently quoted in an article that was published in Forbes on how we have worked with one of our clients to reduce Social Security taxes and eliminate his need to take required minimum distributions.

 

Wednesday, April 15, 2015

April 15th, 2015 - It's interesting to see how things go in and out of style. It happens with cars, hairstyles, fashion and investments. Many things that were popular many years ago become popular again, but things rarely repeat in...

 

Wednesday, March 11, 2015

March 11th, 2015 - A couple of weeks ago we had another "Tomorrow's Blue Chips Today" session. We have sent video recordings of the luncheon to many who had wanted to attend but were unable. We covered the three primary dimensions of...

 

Monday, March 2, 2015

March 3rd, 2015 - Just the other day, the daughter of a client of mine told me that she did not expect her father to last much longer. I had known that her father’s health had deteriorated somewhat, but he still seemed relatively...

 

Wednesday, February 25, 2015

February 25th, 2015 - In reading through Trusts and Estates Magazine online, I came across two sets of opinions regarding what parents should tell their adult children with regards to family finances and estate plans.

 

Friday, February 20, 2015

February 20th, 2015 - You have probably heard the term ‘planned obsolescence.’ It’s also known as ‘shortening the replacement cycle.’ No matter what you call it, the strategy was developed by manufacturers...

 

Tuesday, February 10, 2015

February 10th, 2015 - After winning their fourth Super Bowl, Patriots coach Bill Belichick and quarterback Tom Brady reminisced on the 2014 championship season and pointed to the loss against the Kansas City Chiefs as the turning point ...

 

Wednesday, January 21, 2015

January 21st, 2015 - Each year when our anniversary rolls around, I’m typically looking for something new to surprise Jennifer with. We both love to travel, so this usually involves a trip of some type. We usually go somewhere...

 

Monday, January 19, 2015

January 19, 2015. - If you were to create a list of Americans who’ve had great influence on our country during the past 100 years, it would not be complete without the name Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. While he’s best...

 

Thursday, January 8, 2015

January 8th, 2015. - When will the Federal Reserve begin to raise the federal funds rate? It’s a question that may affect U.S. markets more than any other during 2015. Last fall, Chicago Fed President Charles Evans...

 

Wednesday, January 7, 2015

January 7th, 2015 - Diversification is supposed to reduce risk and potentially increase returns. This was not the case in 2014. Last year anyone who invested globally underperformed those who invested solely in the US. REITs performed...

 

Wednesday, December 31, 2014

December 31st, 2014 - A few years ago, meeting with new potential clients who were considering retirement, it became clear that the biggest hurdle that stood in the way of a successful future was the continued dependency of their adult...

 

Friday, December 26, 2014

December 26th, 2014 - Congress has passed the “extenders bill” for 2014 (the Tax Increase Prevention Act of 2014). President Barack Obama just recently signed this into law. This bill revived qualified charitable...

 

Wednesday, December 24, 2014

Christmas Eve, 2014 - Every year with the kids, the night before Christmas brings new joys, challenges and memories. This is the one night of the year when we do not have trouble getting the kids to bed. We watch Santa delivering...

 

Thursday, December 18, 2014

December 18th, 2014 - What do you get when you combine the worst week for the Dow in 3 years with mutual funds paying large capital gains distributions that do not show in the accounts for a couple of days? "P-A-N-I-C"

 

Tuesday, December 9, 2014

December 9th, 2014 - 401(k) and 403(b) Plans. At the start of 2015, participants in 401(k) and 403(b) plans will have contribution limits. A participant will be eligible to contribute up to $18,000, a $500 increase over 2014....

 

Wednesday, December 3, 2014

December 3rd, 2014 - Mutual fund capital gains distributions. They hit us out of the blue, usually in early or mid-December. And they're one of the worst parts of owning mutual funds. Funds might sell appreciated securities for a...

 

Wednesday, November 26, 2014

November 26th, 2014 - Thanksgiving is one of my favorite times of the year. Not just because I'm surrounded by spectacular cooks who create some of my favorite dishes or round the clock football games. It is also the time of the year...

 

Thursday, November 20, 2014

November 20th, 2014 - It's interesting how history seems to repeat itself. 1997 was a year when the dollar climbed in value for most of the year. U.S. large companies with relatively rich valuations performed well but most stocks did...

 

Friday, November 14, 2014

November 14, 2014 - While it’s true that philanthropy suffered some setbacks following the financial crisis and Great Recession, Americans have given tens of billions of dollars to support charitable organizations. Between 2006...

 

Wednesday, November 5, 2014

November 5th, 2014 - Every October we have come to expect some sort of market selloff. This last month was not an exception. Much like riding a roller coaster, many people prefer the thrill of the markets with the highs and the lows...

 

Thursday, October 23, 2014

October 23rd, 2014 - If the mismatch between economic news and market performance felt familiar this Fall, it’s probably because we experienced almost the same thing during 2013 as pundits and analysts tried to discern when the...

 

Monday, October 13, 2014

October 13, 2014 - As many of you may have already heard, Arlene passed away early Saturday morning. We shall definitely miss her warm personality, her loyalty, her humor, her attention to detail, and her care for all the things that...

 

Thursday, September 25, 2014

September 25th, 2014 - If you play fantasy football, you probably understand the economic principle of scarcity. Generally, there are a limited number of draft picks participants can use to maximize the talent on their teams. ..

 

Thursday, September 11, 2014

September 11th, 2014 - As we celebrate "Patriots Day", or the anniversary of the bombing on September 11th thirteen years ago, we like to think about how we as a nation can also embrace the "Rise Up" mantra. We have rebuilt and are...

 

Wednesday, September 3, 2014

September 3rd, 2014 - Last Thursday in our Inherited IRA Workshop we discussed how the Supreme Court has determined that some retirement accounts should no longer be considered retirement accounts. In June, a ruling written by Judge...

 

Wednesday, August 27, 2014

August 27, 2014 - If you’re not a technology guru, you may not realize the Internet and the Worldwide Web are actually two different things. The Internet is a global system of interconnected computer networks. The Worldwide Web...

 

Monday, August 18, 2014

August 18th, 2014 - When asking our clients what they truly value from us via feedback forms and our latest advisory council in July, we uncovered ...

 

Wednesday, August 13, 2014

August 11th, 2014 - Brokerage firms are finding many stealthy ways to market proprietary products and strategies these days. We wrote about some of these conflicts of interest in our blog a few weeks back entitled Wall...

 

Wednesday, August 6, 2014

August 6th, 2014 - Last year everyone wanted to own the Dow and the S&P 500. Owning a diversified portfolio with REITS, commodities, MLPs and other inflation hedges was not very popular. This year, many portfolios would be flat or down...

 

Friday, August 1, 2014

August 1st, 2014 - This week we have seen the markets take a tumble and many are concerned about a correction around the corner. Yesterday declining stocks swamped advancing issues by a 9 to 1 margin on the NYSE and 5 to 1 on the...

 

Thursday, July 17, 2014

July 17, 2014 - Tonight Jeff Kim, portfolio manager for Good Harbor Tactical Equity Income and I are speaking at the Chattanoogan regarding what has happened over the first six months of 2014 and where we see opportunities going forward.

 

Wednesday, July 9, 2014

July 9th, 2014 - The lessons of the book Getting Naked provide a completely different recipe for servicing clientele and building a strong business than the type we saw in Times Square.

 

Thursday, July 3, 2014

July 3rd, 2014 - Our country over the past century has enjoyed the “Roaring Twenties”, “The Swinging Sixties” and the “Technological Boom of the Nineties”. These boom

 

Wednesday, June 25, 2014

June 25th, 2014 - What do we do if we are stuck in a rut and cannot seem to make any progress toward our goals? Change the goal to one we can make progress on! In life, we make our own rules for how we define success, what we are...

 

Monday, June 16, 2014

June 16th, 2014 - It seems that we as sons become more like our dad's over time. This can be a considered both good and not necessarily optimal. As I grow older I find more people telling me that I remind them of my father. The...

 

Wednesday, June 11, 2014

June 11, 2014 - There are many instances where making the correct election can generate two to three hundred thousand extra dollars over a couple's life expectancy. Who would not want to receive an extra hundred thousand or two back...

 

Monday, June 2, 2014

June 2, 2014 - “It’s the lens through which your brain views the world that shapes your reality. And if we can change the lens, not only can we change your happiness, we can change every single educational and business...

 

Monday, May 26, 2014

May 27, 2014 - This past years stock market surge and resurgence of IPO actvity takes me back a few years to when we were all still working for a parent company that was significantly involved in underwriting and pushing out IPOs as...

 

Wednesday, May 21, 2014

May 21st, 2014 - Last night reminded me of our off site team retreat at Chateau Élan just outside of Atlanta last year. We took a private tour of the winery and our guide was a very well-spoken gentleman in his thirties who was...

 

Tuesday, May 13, 2014

May 13, 2014 - As the lyrics suggest to the classic song “Let it Be” written by Paul McCartney, in times of trouble people turn to...

 

Tuesday, April 15, 2014

April 15, 2014 - Last year was a “Cinderella at the Ball” year for those investors who were fully committed to US Stocks and took a 100% U.S. equity exposure. For those who diversified into anything else, the party was not...

 

Thursday, March 21, 2013

As baseball season arrives and my umpiring schedule is already starting to be booked with games, I thought it would be fun to illustrate how the game of baseball can be used in relation to investing. For example, when I’m behind...

 

Thursday, March 15, 2012

March 15th, 2012 - Stocks continue to perform well with all of the key indices making good progress. The S&P 500, Dow, NASDAQ and Wilshire 5000 recorded bull market highs this week, although we are still below the all time market highs...