The BAM ALLIANCE, 3/13/2020 Given the volatility in the financial markets beginning the week of February 20, 2020, it’s helpful to review the state of the U.S. economy entering into this stressful period, what’s happened since, and some of the potential economic impacts. Here is our take on those topics. 1. At the beginning of 2020,…
February 2020 The novel coronavirus seems to be on everyone’s minds. As the number of infected people continues to grow, so might some of our anxiety about the spread and potential impact of the virus. While we don’t know how many people the virus will infect and the length of this viral cycle, we do…
Kurt Wunderlich, CFA, CFP®, 1/29/2020 Congratulations! You landed a new job. Whether you’ll be stepping into a similar role just at another company or embarking on a completely new career, understanding some beyond-the-salary financial implications of your new gig can make the switch a lot easier. From keeping track of the savings in your old…
Becca Craig, ABA, 2/4/2020 Much of the discussion surrounding the recently passed SECURE Act focuses on employer-sponsored retirement plans, IRAs and inherited IRAs. Yet, tucked away in the new law – which aims to expand access to retirement savings vehicles, preserve retirement savings, and encourage better savings habits – is the expansion of what counts as…
The BAM ALLIANCE, 2/4/2020 Another spin on New Year’s resolutions? Now? Well, it turns out the topic is more appropriate than it initially might seem, given that most people have already abandoned the commitments they made to themselves when the calendar turned. One frequently cited figure is that some 80% of such promises to eat better, hit the gym, or write…
By David Booth Executive Chairman and Founder at Dimensional Fund Advisors I have worked in finance for over 50 years, and it seems that every January the same thing happens. Lots of folks look back at last year’s performance to draw conclusions they can use to predict what markets will do in the year to…
Larry Swedroe, 1/14/2020 Since 2002, S&P Dow Jones Indices has published its biannual Indices Versus Active (SPIVA) reports, which compare the performance of actively managed equity funds to their appropriate index benchmarks. It also puts out a pair of scorecards each year that focus on persistence of performance. This is an important issue because if…
Bethany Ketron, CFP®, 12/31/2019 Budget. It’s a term that strikes fear in almost everyone at one time or another. But, while many people view investing as the key to financial success, it’s really budgeting that unlocks the door. After all, you need assets in order to invest them. Because budgeting is so often negatively associated…
Kurt Wunderlich, Associate Wealth Advisor, 9/25/2019 Today’s young professionals often begin their careers staring at a mountain of debt: student loans, car notes, credit card balances and not infrequently a mortgage. When constructing your personalized financial plan, a review of your debts and investment assets is the first step in answering the question: Should I…
The impact of missing just a few of the market’s best days can be profound, as this look at a hypothetical investment in the stocks that make up the S&P 500 Index shows. A hypothetical $1,000 turns into $138,908 from 1970 through the end of August 2019. Miss the S&P 500’s five best days and…
By Doug Buchan, CFP® Here’s a quick tutorial for nongolfers; the rest of you skip to the next paragraph. The term “scratch” golfer refers to someone who shoots even par on average. A typical golf course has 18 holes. Each hole is either a par 3, par 4 or par 5. If a hole is…
Jarrett Simpson, Wealth Advisor When the subject of Social Security comes up during retirement planning conversations, both younger and older investors often greet it with a healthy dose of cynicism. Such discussions tend to include comments like, “Oh yeah, sure. If there’s even anything left for me” or “Isn’t Social Security going bankrupt?” Sometimes I…
It was hard to miss the headlines about escalating trade tensions between the U.S. and China this week—and hard not to notice the up-and-down market activity that went along with it. But what, if any, long-term impact does trade policy have on the economy and, by extension, our portfolios? The BAM ALLIANCE’S Director of Investment…
May 2019 “I have found that the importance of having an investment philosophy—one that is robust and that you can stick with— cannot be overstated.” — David Booth The US stock market has delivered an average annual return of around 10% since 1926.[1] But short-term results may vary, and in any given period stock returns…
Prior to joining Buckingham Strategic Wealth, I worked with institutional clients educating them and supporting their use of indexes within their global equity portfolios. At the time, I was working with MSCI – the index giant – out of their Chicago and San Francisco offices. My clients included some of the largest public pensions in…
