Category: Financial Planning

Artemis II & Navy SEALS

The Artemis II mission, even for those not interested in space travel, was exhilarating to follow. History was made on multiple levels. In addition, boundaries of AI-powered tools were expanded and tested with success. And yet, amidst all the AI, science and super-computing power, a very manual, while highly-skilled, aspect was necessary to retrieve the astronauts’ following their splashdown in the Pacific Ocean: US Navy SEALS and dive teams were called upon to recover and skillfully airlift — by hand — the four astronauts from the space capsule as it floated in the ocean.

An observant colleague of mine at Farther recently equated this scene to the financial planning relationship between clients and a highly-skilled financial adviser. Before dismissing this comparison, consider a few insights: Continue reading “Artemis II & Navy SEALS”

Gut Check in Rocky Markets

From the Archives of TGIF 2 Minutes comes one of the “Top 5 most read of all time” editions – updated for 2026.

Have you asked yourself lately…

    • “Is this the market downturn everyone has been cautioning about?”
    • “Is now the time to sell my stocks?”
    • “Should I be unloading my bonds?”

Continue reading “Gut Check in Rocky Markets”

Speeding Up & Slowing Down in Financial Decision Making

It is still close enough to the start of the year to step back and be intentional about how to approach:

    1. a new year — and beyond — of sound financial decision-making
    2. portfolio management
    3. broader financial and investment strategy.

It starts with slowing down. There are a handful of truly wise books written on the topic. Two come to mind: Continue reading “Speeding Up & Slowing Down in Financial Decision Making”

Spooktacular Investing Times

It is Halloween, so with an intended pun it must be said: spooktacular times in markets and the economy continue. 

AI (Artificial Intelligence) is simultaneously spooky and spectacular. Nvidia, this week, reached a new milestone surpassing all other US companies with a $5 trillion market valuation. Nvidia’s market cap is now larger than the largest semiconductor companies AMD, Arm Holdings, ASML, Broadcom, Intel, Lam Research, Micron Technology, Qualcomm and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing combined.*

Continue reading “Spooktacular Investing Times”

Recession or Head Fake?

With the Federal Reserve’s action this week in cutting interests rates by one quarter of one percent, the word “recession” is back in the news as a possibility. There must be literally nothing else financially speaking to talk about. In the meantime, check out two really good slides.

The first slide (above) outlines the vast difference of:

  • when a recession really occurs in the economy
  • when markets anticipate the recession and react
  • versus when the government (the NBER, National Bureau of Economic Research) “declares” a recession.

Continue reading “Recession or Head Fake?”

Year-End Tax Planning 2025

The countdown to year-end will begin soon. With nearly four (4) months remaining in 2025, consider the following Year-End Tax Planning Checklist.*  Several of these items, if addressed now, could make a meaningful difference come tax filing season AND add to savings.

  1. How are you doing on maxing out your 401k? Many people do not know they can temporarily increase their 401k contributions through December 31st to reach the $23,500 maximum contribution (higher max for those age 50, and even higher for those age 60-63).
        • Lots of 401k or 403b plans allow participants to contribute 25-30% of pay – or even 100% of pay (100% can be a temporary measure in order to max out for 2025).
        • These 401k contributions can be tax-deductible, unless you are contributing to a Roth 401k. It is not too late!

Continue reading “Year-End Tax Planning 2025”

Concierge Medical Services

This will be a short TGIF 2 Minutes …on a topic that could take much, much, much longer and can be very, very, very expensive. The topic is healthcare and doctor selection and coverage.

The word, “selection”, is used for a reason. Selecting a Medical Doctor used to be fairly easy. Now, there are less Medical Doctors to go around, they are more expensive, and it seems all the best Medical Doctors have closed their practices. There is a myriad of reasons – beyond the scope of this discussion. Perhaps one of the reasons is outlined below under “concierge medical services”.

Continue reading “Concierge Medical Services”

Shrinkflation & Jackson Hole

Today is a day that has become quietly (or not so quietly) famous in market and global economic circles. Today is the Friday of the annual Jackson Hole Economic Symposium held in the city of same name in Wyoming since 1978. The “summit” is organized by the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City and gathers central bankers, economists and policy makers from around the world. Friday at Jackson Hole has evolved to become an occasion when the US Federal Reserve Chairman serves up his or her keynote speech.

One key topic of the speech will be inflation: is inflation still around and how to contain it. Fed Chair Jerome Powell will probably not mention shrinkflation but he will mention inflation.

Continue reading “Shrinkflation & Jackson Hole”