Category: Investing

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”

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”

Knock, Knock (No Joke)

Compliments to one of my colleagues for highlighting this disturbing trend – under the heading, “this could never happen to me”:

Apparently, there is a new trend emerging in the ever-evolving landscape of fraud. In this case, fraudsters are showing up at victims’ homes or arranging in-person meetings with the aim of collecting physical cash, gold bars or other valuables. This in-person, “show up at the door” version of fraud is a significant shift from digital scams – where the victim’s financial and other assets and data are at risk – to a scenario in which the victims could end up in imminent danger of physical harm.

Continue reading “Knock, Knock (No Joke)”

TGIF Meets OBBBA (One Big Beautiful Bill Act) Inbox

The One Big Beautiful Bill, now OBBB Act, was…. big. TGIF 2 Minutes is all about giving as complete and concise a message as possible. There will be follow-ups to the OBBBA, and as one analyst concluded, the “2026 Surprise” will come with “patches” to various wordings and actual applications of parts of the OBBBA, similar to the Secure Act – in particular referencing “patches” that came over time to the Secure Act for required minimum distributions from Inherited IRAs.

The OBBBA is far too BIG to be summarized by any one person. Although several nuggets can be highlighted, followed up by more highlights and so on. Here are a handful of major topics, with brief explanations. These are meant to spur questions and conversations that are relevant and unique to each client and each person.* Also, important – please keep in mind that due to the relatively higher wealth and income of most folks reading today, income phase-outs of lots of these provisions make a number of them less impactful (perhaps a “quality problem” to have?).

Continue reading “TGIF Meets OBBBA (One Big Beautiful Bill Act) Inbox”

Critical Mid-Year Tax-Related Ideas

Mid-Year is an important time to review several significant saving and spending decisions, possibly affecting taxes too. With just under 6 months remaining in the tax year – there’s still time to make a meaningful difference. Consider:

  • Confirming amounts being deferred pre- or post-tax into 401k and other retirement accounts (and whether to max out?)
  • Evaluating savings goals versus reality
  • If not begun yet, giving savings goals a jump start
  • Quantifying college savings account contributions
  • Creating and funding Trusts

These and other important decisions can be evaluated or adjusted – think of the process as forming goals or “mini-goals”.

Continue reading “Critical Mid-Year Tax-Related Ideas”

Crypto Quarterly is Back!

Keeping up with developments in Bitcoin and the world of cryptocurrency is challenging, but not impossible. Especially with AI assistants (like Grok or Chat GPT) answers can be attained – literally instantly – to basic and complex questions. Having dedicated crypto experts and research teams on hand is helpful as well!* “Keeping up with crypto” is a relative term. Merely dipping a toe into the water to learn more is a form of keeping up with this evolving space, so go for it.

Here is a term that helps define how different the various cryptocurrencies are from one another: ecosystems. Cryptocurrency is not a single, big chunk of one “thing”. Rather, there are multiple ecosystems and thousands of interconnected cryptocurrencies. Bitcoin is the best-known cryptocurrency, most dominant and most widely accepted for making purchases at this time. Ethereum is another well-known cryptocurrency. Solana is another. Each operates in its own ecosystem and has extremely different qualities.

Continue reading “Crypto Quarterly is Back!”

Father’s Day & World News

Recent LA and world events – and staying glued to TV & social media news broadcasts – could potentially add a downbeat mood to what is otherwise one of the best-meaning holidays and weekends of the year. Even if Father’s Day does not bring personal good vibes, this mid-June time of the year can be awesome. Consider:

  • It is almost the longest day of the year in the northern hemisphere! Sunrise to sunset, lots of daylight. First day of summer and longest day is coming up on June 20th.
  • The men’s US Open golf championship will be decided this Sunday, Father’s Day! The top 5 players so far do not include the usual famous names…so it could be an exciting finish with a lesser-known golfer making US history!
  • The stock markets, despite volatility, are hanging in there with modest gains year-to-date – and more so if a portfolio was thoughtful enough to have a healthy allocation to non-US equities. Do they report that on the news? Considering previous world events that rocked markets in 2020, 2022 and earlier in 2025, US and global markets recognize the immense advances in artificial intelligence (AI) and the chips and technology that are driving this unstoppable force.
  • What is your favorite food? Might it be peaches? Tomatoes? Blueberries? Watermelon? These items are in season! Even if chocolate or cake is your favorite food, try adding peaches or blueberries. Even the price of eggs is down massively. The news does not report these positive data points in the headlines.

Enjoy the almost start to summer, try to unplug and enjoy the weekend and Father’s Day. Happy Father’s Day to all the great Dads and father figures!

This material has been prepared for informational purposes only and is not intended to provide, and should not be relied upon for, tax, legal or accounting advice

Tariffs, Car Payments & Cell Phones

Tariffs. Car payments. Cell phones. What do these three things have in common? All three are currently on most people’s minds, and two are expensive considerations for every person’s or family’s financial plan.

As for tariffs, the uncertainty around where tariffs, and now also tax legislation, will settle in is on most people’s minds. Tariff “policy” is still in the throes of global negotiation and lack of clarity. Will the US consumer benefit in any way? Will tariffs lead to continued painful inflation in the US? What about future economic relationships between the US and the rest of the world? Much is up in the air. Certain companies and business owners are in flux regarding future investment and decision-making. Meanwhile, overall, employers and consumers seem to be plodding along in a net-net positive direction.

Continue reading “Tariffs, Car Payments & Cell Phones”