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Image for Retiring with Employer Stock in your 401(k)? Consider this…

Mar 11, 2024

Retiring with Employer Stock in your 401(k)? Consider this…

As hiring and retaining talented employees becomes increasingly competitive, it is not uncommon to see employers issue stock to their employees as an incentive. Due to this growing trend, it is also common to see individuals with a high concentration of employer stock within their sponsored retirement accounts.

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Nov 27, 2023

Are You at Risk of Concentrated Returns?

The Magnificent Seven is a collection of the largest and best-performing stocks in the U.S. These stocks have all skyrocketed in 2023 and contributed a big chunk of the return in the S&P 500 Index.

Image for Eli Lilly’s Tremendous Year Leaves Investors with Big Decisions

Sep 18, 2023

Eli Lilly’s Tremendous Year Leaves Investors with Big Decisions

While the meteoric rise of Lilly stock has been a boon to many investors, managing the new risks associated with the stock is an important consideration to preserve gains and minimize risks for the total portfolio.

Image for Market Jitters - Don’t Panic!

Jun 6, 2022

Market Jitters - Don’t Panic!

As equity and fixed income assets across the globe decline in unison, it is imperative to tune out the noise of day-to-day headlines and remain committed to the strategy of a personalized financial plan.

Image for Are Stocks Expensive?

May 10, 2021

Are Stocks Expensive?

Investors need to consider the current environment when managing their return expectations in the coming years. If you are becoming concerned about higher valuations and fear a downturn, a strategy to consider is becoming more defensive with your equity allocations.

Image for Are you a Gambler or Investor?

Feb 15, 2021

Are you a Gambler or Investor?

Investing in certain parts of the market without a plan can result in the same dynamic as gambling. Are you ready to make a bet?

Image for GameStop Mania

Jan 28, 2021

GameStop Mania

While many view the Gamestop "short squeeze" as a victory for the 'little guy,' the story remains unfinished. Many individual investors stand to lose out considerably if the share price falls back to realistic valuations.

Image for Tesla Joins the S&P 500 Index – The Impact

Nov 23, 2020

Tesla Joins the S&P 500 Index – The Impact

The addition of Tesla into the S&P 500 Index has been S&P's most controversial decision in recent history. What are the pros and cons of adding the highly valued car company to the Index?

Image for Dow Jones: 30,000 Points?

Nov 16, 2020

Dow Jones: 30,000 Points?

Investing will always be met with uncertainty, whether the Dow is 20,000 points, 30,000 points, or 40,000 points. It is rarely a smooth ride to that next milestone.

Image for How to Build a Post-COVID Portfolio

Sep 8, 2020

How to Build a Post-COVID Portfolio

Bond yields are at historically low levels, and the Fed has indicated no interest in creating negative yields. How do you rethink what bonds mean for your portfolio? What's the best way to avoid disappointment in a post-COVID portfolio?

Image for What’s Restrictive about Restricted Stock?

Aug 31, 2020

What’s Restrictive about Restricted Stock?

Restricted stock awards deserve just as much attention as other aspects of your portfolio, but understanding how they work hasn't been easy. Lack of knowledge can cause you to miss an opportunity to maximize your benefits.

Image for Let’s Split the Apple!

Aug 24, 2020

Let’s Split the Apple!

Apple (APPL) is one of the largest publicly traded companies and has a market cap that recently surpassed $2 trillion! So why are they splitting their stock, and how will it impact your portfolio?

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Aug 20, 2019

Understanding Equity Compensation

Equity compensation can be a confusing topic for many workers, but it’s becoming a more common and accepted method of payment to workers, especially in the tech sector. We explore the types of equity compensation and what a payout might look like for you.

Image for Customize Your Approach to Asset Allocations

May 15, 2019

Customize Your Approach to Asset Allocations

When it comes to asset allocation, there’s no solution that’s one-size-fits-all. As you near retirement, it’s increasingly important to be sure that your balance of stocks to bonds is appropriate. We’ve detailed two methods to help determine what your asset allocation should look like.

Image for Spin-Offs: A Rude Surprise or Fantastic Opportunity?

Apr 15, 2019

Spin-Offs: A Rude Surprise or Fantastic Opportunity?

Yesterday you had stock worth $100 per share. Today it’s worth 25% less! What happened? Spin-offs might not be a common stock market term for you, but it can be a common practice amongst companies. We’ve defined what a spin-off is, along with how you might expect it to affect your portfolio. Read on for the details…

Image for Dominance in the Stock Market

Aug 13, 2018

Dominance in the Stock Market

“Growth” stocks are dominating the stock market right now – think FANG (Facebook, Amazon, Netflix, and Google). So have we seen the heyday of “value” stocks, never to be repeated again? Not so fast – both “growth” and “value” stocks have their place in your portfolio. Read on for the details on both types of stock and what they mean for your portfolio…plus the one thing you might want to do right now to ensure you’re on the right track.

Image for How Company Cash Decisions Impact the Market

May 21, 2018

How Company Cash Decisions Impact the Market

A company’s annual performance can affect the stock market – but you might not have considered that how companies spend cash to benefit their shareholders can do just the same. We explore the ways companies routinely spend their cash to benefit shareholders, and what effect each of those ways has on the stock market.

Image for Stock Market Volatility: How to Survive

Feb 19, 2018

Stock Market Volatility: How to Survive

It’s been just over a year since the Dow Jones reached 20,000 points. Since then, we’ve had a pretty easy ride without too much market volatility…until February. While it’s nearly impossible to predict the Dow Jones future, you can educate yourself on why there’s volatility in the market, as well as the best course of action to take when volatility strikes.

Image for Is Your Money Safe? Can the FDIC & SIPC Protect You?

Nov 27, 2017

Is Your Money Safe? Can the FDIC & SIPC Protect You?

If your bank or brokerage firm failed, do you know what would happen to your money and investments? Thankfully, FDIC and SIPC insurance is there to protect you and your savings, but only up to a specified amount. Find out just how much you’re covered!

Image for Ball Cap, Bottle Cap….Market Cap?

Sep 25, 2017

Ball Cap, Bottle Cap….Market Cap?

What size is your market cap? Prudent investors know that company size is an important factor when building a portfolio.

Image for Stock Market: Stay In or Get Out?

Jul 17, 2017

Stock Market: Stay In or Get Out?

Recently we’ve enjoyed a bull market with stocks nearing an all-time high. The Standard & Poor 500 Index is up more than 300 percent from ...

Image for International Stocks: Is Now the Time?

Jun 26, 2017

International Stocks: Is Now the Time?

After years of underperformance compared to U.S. stocks, international stocks have sprung to life over the past 12 months. This is welcomed news for ...

Image for Directly Held Stock Versus a Brokerage Account: Questions & Answers

May 6, 2017

Directly Held Stock Versus a Brokerage Account: Questions & Answers

Do you receive mail from a company that holds shares of only one specific stock on your behalf and don’t know what to do with it? Most likely ...

Image for International Stocks:  Is it Time to Buy, Sell or Hold?

Aug 1, 2016

International Stocks: Is it Time to Buy, Sell or Hold?

What’s going on with the international stock market? Prudent investors use international stocks to diversify their portfolios.

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Apr 11, 2016

When Good Funds Go Bad

We all know what to do when good pets go bad – make a bad reality TV series! But what should an investor do when a good mutual fund “goes bad?”

Image for Is Alibaba a Good Investment?

Sep 29, 2014

Is Alibaba a Good Investment?

Alibaba is the Chinese version of Amazon and eBay. However, it is already larger than both of them combined! It just went public and investors can now buy its stock on the New York Stock Exchange.

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