David Crossman, CFA

Tax season can be a stressful time for many of us. Spending extra time on preparation can make the whole process run more smoothly and avoid the kind of errors that a slapdash approach can engender.

Chairman Powell, for the first time, discussed the possibility of lowering interest rates in 2024 to avoid harming the economy. This was a substantial change from the Fed's previous stance, which was effectively "it's too soon to talk about lowering rates.

Is the 60/40 investment strategy dead? 2022 was a brutal year for this strategy. While the stock market's short term decline was unpleasant, it’s important to have an understanding of your goals and objectives before making emotional decisions.

Certificates of Deposit became something of an afterthought in a zero-interest rate world. The days of earning 0% yield on bank accounts and not much more on conservative bonds are behind us for the moment. So what does that mean for investors?

You are probably already aware of the perils of credit card debt. Credit cards are relatively easy to obtain and super easy to use. But they come with a big catch - credit card debt is usually very expensive. It should therefore be avoided whenever possible.

While the switch from a 75-basis point to a 50-basis point hike may not seem like a huge deal, it is an important shift. The problem with interest rate policy is that while rate hikes go into effect immediately, their impact on the economy as a whole takes a lot longer to work through the system.

So, with the odds of positive returns stacked in your favor, do you want to risk missing out to save yourself a bit of downside? Look at the list of risks – do you think you can accurately predict how even one of them will play out?

While we know you get tired of hearing it, the best advice we can give is to stay the course and ensure that your portfolio is aligned with your financial goals. This is not just an empty platitude; we encourage it because it works.

Like everything in life, the issue of stock buybacks is not necessarily clear-cut. If done correctly, they can be a helpful tool for management teams, benefiting companies and shareholders alike.

Markets will not always go up, but they have rewarded the long-term investor over time. We know you get tired of hearing it, the best advice we can give is to stay the course and ensure that your portfolio is aligned with your financial goals.

Responsibly managing your finances requires ongoing diligence. It isn’t enough to select good investments and then forget about them. Take time to review your portfolio, both as individual components and as a whole.

The most important thing about college savings was to begin. I do not know about other parents, but for me, one of my first thoughts after regaining my senses was about the cost of college.