July Performance Dashboard
After a record June, U.S. equities continued to post gains, thanks to strong earnings and economic growth. Dovish sentiment from the Fed was short-circuited on the final trading day of the month. Despite a well-telegraphed 25 bps reduction in the target federal funds rate, the trajectory for future rate cuts remains uncertain. Large, mid and small-caps gained, with the S&P 500®, S&P MidCap 400® and S&P SmallCap 600® all up 1%. Enhanced Value was the top performing [...]
Retirement Insights Tip #6 – Changes in Spending
Spending habits change over time. Typically, spending peaks at the age of 45 and starts a slow decline. This is an important piece of the retirement planning puzzle. We often talk about distribution strategies at retirement age. A solid estimate of spending is necessary to strategize for your future. This chart illustrates what college-educated households spend on major expenditures at specific ages. Most Americans’ peak spending years are between ages 45 and 54, and thereafter [...]
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Video series: Why Should I Invest?
In this first short video, Nobel laureate Eugene Fama explains two key steps to investing: knowing why you want to invest and understanding your tolerance for risk. Everyone has different reasons for investing and different risk aversions. Stay tuned for our 3 part series on risk, rewards and markets.
Retirement Insights Tip #5: The Power of Tax Deferred Compounding
Deferring the tax on investment earnings, such as dividends, interest or capital gains, may help accumulate more after-tax wealth over time than earning the same return in a taxable account. This is known as tax-deferred compounding. This chart shows an initial $100,000 after-tax investment in either a taxable or tax-deferred account that earns a 6% return (assumed to be subject to ordinary income taxes). Assuming an income tax rate of 24%, the value of the [...]
Retirement Insights Tip #4 – Retirement Savings Checkpoints!
Achieving a financially successful retirement requires consistent savings, disciplined investing and a plan, yet too few Americans have calculated what it will take to be able to retire at their current lifestyle. This chart from JP Morgan Asset Management ( for household incomes of $100,000 or more) helps investors to quickly gauge whether they are "on track" to afford their current lifestyle for 30 years in retirement based on their current age and annual [...]
Retirement Insights Tip #3: Social Security Timing
Deciding when to claim benefits will have a permanent impact on the benefit you receive. Claiming before your full retirement age can significantly reduce your benefit, while delaying increases it. In 2017, full retirement age began transitioning from 66-67 by adding 2 months each year for 6 years. This makes claiming early even more of a benefit reduction. Surprisingly few Americans understand the benefits and trade-offs related to claiming Social Security at various ages. The [...]
