Blog

Much has been written lately about the threats facing the reserve currency status enjoyed by the U.S. dollar. “De-dollarization” headlines appear on a near-daily basis, suggesting the dollar’s reign is in looming...

“Sell in May and go away” is probably the most widely cited stock market cliché in history. Every year a barrage of Wall Street commentaries and stories in the financial press floods in about this popular, but overused...

The Flow State: The Other Half of Mindfulness

Sathya Chey Patterson, CFP®, CDFA®, CSRIC®, AIF®, MBA

Monday, May 1, 2023

When you hear the word mindfulness, you might imagine sitting in meditation with your legs crossed, fully embracing the present moment. You probably also envision yourself going through the day with a serene spirit, aware of your...

4 Key Investments You Should Consider as a Small-Business Owner

Sathya Chey Patterson, CFP®, CDFA®, CSRIC®, AIF®, MBA

Monday, May 1, 2023

As a small-business owner, you may be looking for the next big thing—an investment that might double your profits within the next year or allow you to maintain your income while working just a few hours a week. However, business...

Social Security Survivor Benefits

Steve Carlsen, CSRIC®

Tuesday, April 25, 2023

When you think of Social Security, you probably think of retirement. However, Social Security can also provide much-needed income to your family members when you die, making their financial lives easier. Your family members may be...

Investors use various analogies to describe the importance of small businesses in the domestic economy. Some refer to the small business sector as the backbone or the lifeblood of the economy.  At this current stage of the cycle,...

Financial Insights for the LGBTQ+ Community

Sathya Chey Patterson, CFP®, CDFA®, CSRIC®, AIF®, MBA

Tuesday, April 18, 2023

Retirement is not easy for most couples and even harder for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBTQ) people. A modest amount of planning can go a long way to providing the financial support you need.Many LGBTQ seniors and those...

The commercial real estate (CRE) market has recently captured the spotlight after being flagged as the next potential shoe to drop following last month’s banking turmoil. While rising rates have weighed on financing costs and the...

5 Ways to Improve Your Financial Awareness

Steve Carlsen, CSRIC®

Tuesday, April 11, 2023

Regardless of what you do or how much you earn, you deal with money on a daily basis. The more you understand about finances, the more effectively you will be able to manage yours. Yet, many people lack financial literacy skills. One...

First quarter earnings season kicks off this week with some big banks reporting toward the end of the week. In some ways this quarter’s earnings season will probably be déjà vu all over again—earnings declines and...

The Best Deep Breathing Techniques to Beat Anxiety

Sathya Chey Patterson, CFP®, CDFA®, CSRIC®, AIF®, MBA

Tuesday, April 4, 2023

There are an infinite number of things that can trigger anxiety—public speaking, starting a new job, meeting new people. But for some people, anxiety can strike without warning, and for seemingly no reason.Common feelings of...

Financial markets and the Federal Reserve are reading from two different playbooks. Who is right? The markets are pricing in several rate cuts by the end of this year, while the Federal Reserve communicated more rate hikes with an...

A lot has changed in the past few weeks, both in terms of expectations for interest rates and lost confidence in the health of the banking system as a result of the sharp rise in interest rates that has led to some things...

Money Matters: Financial Literacy For The Whole Family

Steve Carlsen, CSRIC®

Tuesday, March 21, 2023

Financial literacy is crucial, not only for adults but for everyone in the family. When you have a good foundation of financial literacy, you will have a greater understanding of money and prepare yourself for a brighter financial...

The Federal Reserve (Fed) has a history of raising short-term interest rates until something “breaks.” Considering the Fed has raised rates from a near-zero level to 4.75% (upper bound) over the course of only one year, it...

Women’s History Month: Retirement Focus

Sathya Chey Patterson, CFP®, CDFA®, CSRIC®, AIF®, MBA

Tuesday, March 14, 2023

Ten strategies to help you take care of yourself and prepare for retirement Women’s History Month has its origins as a national celebration in 1981 when Congress passed and authorized a resolution and requested the President to...

Last week did not play out how we anticipated. Coming into the week, it was all about Federal Reserve (Fed) Chair Jerome Powell’s congressional testimony and the February jobs report. Instead, we got a shockingly fast collapse of...

Reducing Credit Card Debt Without Depriving Yourself

Steve Carlsen, CSRIC®

Wednesday, March 8, 2023

Credit card use can be beneficial to your finances if managed appropriately. Learning to balance credit card use with spending habits while also saving can positively impact your finances over time. Credit card use often helps increase...

Suggesting an economy makes “no landing” makes no sense. Analogies eventually break down, especially this one. Economic activity does not stop like an airplane eventually does, but rather the economy will settle into a...

Financial markets have experienced quite a bit of change this year in just two short months. We started the year hopeful that stocks would benefit from a better economic and monetary policy environment...

While concerns about the debt ceiling have been increasing, markets, businesses, and the economy are likely to see only minimal impact until we are days, or maybe a few weeks, from the “x date,” the date on which the...

A Helpful Insurance Guide for LGBTQ+

Sathya Chey Patterson, CFP®, CDFA®, CSRIC®, AIF®, MBA

Tuesday, February 21, 2023

The legal rights for the LGBTQ+ community continue to evolve and expand. Many people still face problems when it comes to finding medical providers and health insurance. Since navigating the health insurance world may be more...

Markets have adjusted to several changes this year. The pace at which inflation has cooled is slowing. The market has started to believe the Federal Reserve’s (Fed) “higher for longer” message. The bar for earnings...

Planning for Business Expansion

Steve Carlsen, CSRIC®

Tuesday, February 14, 2023

What is planning for business expansion?A growing firm often finds it necessary to expand the level of its operations. To accomplish this, the firm might acquire additional fixed assets, such as property, a plant, and equipment. Often,...

Soft landing or no soft landing, that is the question, with all due respect to William Shakespeare. But while this may be the most commonly asked question these days, it may not be the most important or the toughest. That honor goes to...

Investors got more excited about international investing late last year. Some of that was chasing better returns, as developed international equities solidly beat the U.S. over the last three months of 2022. Some was the increased...

Whether you’re one to set ambitious New Year’s resolutions or simply use the beginning of the year to reset on a few habits, there’s almost always some value in reflecting on the past year before looking ahead. The...

Why do investors usually favor hard money loans over traditional loans? The name “hard money” references the loan being collateralized by a “hard asset,” typically real estate but also lends to why an...

The script has been flipped in 2023. Last year’s underperformers have turned into outperformers this year, driving the S&P 500 Index up over 5% this month. The pace and composition of the rally have left many investors skeptical...

What To Know About The SECURE ACT 2

Steve Carlsen, CSRIC®

Thursday, January 26, 2023

With the signing of the Omnibus Appropriations package into law, both employees and employers can take advantage of more than 90 new provisions aimed at creating opportunities to create or modify workplace retirement plans and...

Things to Know About House Down Payments

Sathya Chey Patterson, CFP®, CDFA®, CSRIC®, AIF®, MBA

Tuesday, January 24, 2023

How much is needed for a down payment on a house?You can purchase a home with 0% down through the U.S. Dept of Veterans Affairs, which means you can purchase a home with no down payment if you are a veteran. There are also some...

The latest episode of the debate between stock market bulls and bears has gotten more interesting. For every valid point from one side, there’s an equally compelling argument on the other side. Perhaps the best reason for the...

The LGBTQ+ Community and Financial Wellness

Steve Carlsen, CSRIC®

Tuesday, January 17, 2023

An Experian survey recently revealed that 62 percent of LGBTQ+ individuals have experienced financial challenges due to their sexual orientation or gender identity.1 Another third of survey respondents stated that they had some bad...

Fourth quarter earnings season is underway and probably won’t bring much good news. Lackluster global growth, ongoing profit margin pressures from inflation, and negative currency impacts are likely to translate into a...

Five Things to Consider When Choosing a Tax Preparer

Sathya Chey Patterson, CFP®, CDFA®, CSRIC®, AIF®, MBA

Tuesday, January 10, 2023

When choosing someone to help you prepare and file your taxes, you may be wondering exactly what criteria you should consider. How do you find someone to forge a professional relationship with for your needs? What questions should you...

We believe accountability and modesty are among the keys to success in this business. In striving for those qualities, LPL Research has a tradition of starting off a new year with a lessons learned commentary. We got some things wrong...

Eco-friendly Upgrades That Pay for Themselves

Steve Carlsen, CSRIC®

Friday, January 6, 2023

Reducing your home’s carbon footprint has a host of benefits, from savings on the operation of your home’s systems to reducing their impact on the environment. However, many environmentally responsible choices are expensive...

Designing Your Personal Meditation Station

Sathya Chey Patterson, CFP®, CDFA®, CSRIC®, AIF®, MBA

Tuesday, January 3, 2023

With the introduction of mindfulness meditation in western culture, there’s a chance you already know about some of its health benefits. Those who have studied the science behind meditation consider the practice a helpful tool...

2022 was a dizzying year as markets and the global economy continued to find itself out of balance due to the still present aftereffects of the COVID-19 pandemic and the policy response to it. If 2022 was about recognizing imbalances...

Understanding Capital Gains Tax as an Investor

Steve Carlsen, CSRIC®

Tuesday, December 27, 2022

As an investor, you may be impacted by capital gains if you sell your investment – whether at a gain or loss. Understanding capital gains may help with your overall investment strategy and the potential to preserve your wealth....

The Federal Reserve (Fed) wrapped up its last Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) meeting of the year last week, where it hiked short-term interest rates for the seventh time in as many meetings, taking the fed funds rate to 4.5%...

Financial Myth Busting with Sathya

Sathya Chey Patterson, CFP®, CDFA®, CSRIC®, AIF®, MBA

Tuesday, December 13, 2022

The stock market will quickly make you rich. Why is this a myth? This is a myth because wealth in the stock market is largely caused by the benefits of compounding. Compounding is the process of an investment’s...

Despite the S&P 500 Index starting December with five consecutive days of losses, we think December is down but not out. December often starts slow but historically has been a strong month. There are also some potentially supportive...

Using SRI and ESG to Balance Investment and Ideals

Steve Carlsen, CSRIC®

Tuesday, December 6, 2022

When you invest funds, you are preparing for your retirement and your future. But at the same time, you may also want to consider the impact your money has on the world. Ethical investment strategies seek to balance these two concepts....

Economic and corporate data support the initial strong reads on holiday retail sales despite the macro headwinds, reinforcing the idea that today’s consumer is in a better position than usual at this point in the business cycle....

Mistakes to Avoid in Managing Your 401(k)

Sathya Chey Patterson, CFP®, CDFA®, CSRIC®, AIF®, MBA

Tuesday, November 29, 2022

1) What are some of these top 401(k) mistakes?Not contributing at all. 401(k) plans are such an easy, tax beneficial and typically low fee way of investing.Not contributing at least enough to meet the employer match. Many 401(k)s have...

Make a Positive Impact This Giving Tuesday With Impact Investing

Sathya Chey Patterson, CFP®, CDFA®, CSRIC®, AIF®, MBA

Monday, November 21, 2022

While Black Friday and Cyber Monday center on consumer deals, Giving Tuesday—the Tuesday after Thanksgiving—has a different focus. Each year, individuals and corporations are encouraged to use the day to support charities...

Recent inflation data has tempered expectations for future Federal Reserve tightening, including a potential peak in the terminal rate near 5.0% in May or June of 2023. While the market has welcomed this news, history suggests the path...

End of Year Financial Planning

Steve Carlsen, CSRIC®

Tuesday, November 15, 2022

For some, it’s easy to put personal finances on the back burner during the last few months of the year. However, before the year comes to an end, it’s essential to review your finances. By doing so now, you can make the...

The growth vs. value debate has been pretty one-sided in 2022, with value outperforming growth for a sustained period for the first time in almost 15 years. However, the debate is heating up as investors begin to consider whether the...

Does The 4% Rule Determine Safe Spending In Retirement?

Sathya Chey Patterson, CFP®, CDFA®, CSRIC®, AIF®, MBA

Tuesday, November 8, 2022

What is the 4% rule when it comes to safe spending in retirement? The 4% rule is considered a guideline retirees should use to estimate a safe withdrawal rate from retirement portfolios to avoid depleting funds before their death....

Midterm elections are upon us, with Election Day on Tuesday. Republicans are strongly favored to win the House, and the Senate is roughly a tossup. We believe either outcome would be market-friendly, although the bigger market driver...

Multiple Uses of Annuities

Steve Carlsen, CSRIC®

Tuesday, November 1, 2022

IntroductionAnnuities can be powerful financial planning tools. Most often used as an insurance product, an annuity can also be used as an investment vehicle, as a way to turn lump-sum income into a stream of payments, and as a way to...

With a series of important economic indicators suggesting the economy is declining and inflation is finally decelerating, albeit very slowly, markets are beginning to factor in that the Fed may soon transition to a less aggressive...

Types of IRAs

Sathya Chey Patterson, CFP®, CDFA®, CSRIC®, AIF®, MBA

Tuesday, October 25, 2022

The world of finance loves its acronyms! IRAs or Individual Retirement Accounts are great vehicles to give you the biggest bang for your buck and have been described as the “biggest tax break in history.” This is because in...

If the U.S. economy enters a recession, the causes and potential outcome will be hotly debated. At LPL Research, our starting point is always looking at history. This week’s commentary will remind us of three things we know about...

How Workplace Diversity Can Improve Your Business

Steve Carlsen, CSRIC®

Tuesday, October 18, 2022

The focus on diversity in the workplace has continued for the past few decades as businesses are realizing the importance of a diverse workforce, not only to potentially improve the overall growth of the company but also the culture....

Expectations are very low for this earnings season. The challenges are many, with intense cost pressures and slowing economic growth at the top of the list. The chorus of analysts and strategists calling for big cuts to estimates has...

Achieving the American Dream Begins with Representation

Sathya Chey Patterson, CFP®, CDFA®, CSRIC®, AIF®, MBA

Tuesday, October 11, 2022

I am evidence achieving the American dream is possible. My family came to this country as refugees from war-torn Cambodia with little education, fluency of the language and financial resources. Today, I am a home and business owner...

As Federal Reserve (Fed) officials continue to emphasize the Fed’s commitment towards restoring price stability, the dollar marches ever higher. Markets are currently pricing in another 75-basis point rate hike at the November 2...

Cybersecurity Awareness: What You Need to Know

Steve Carlsen, CSRIC®

Tuesday, October 4, 2022

October 2022 marks the 19th Cybersecurity Awareness Month—and cybercrime continues to evolve.1 Though you may not get as many emails promising bodily enhancements or asking you to keep some overseas funds in your checking...

On October 16, China will begin its 20th National Congress of the Chinese Communist Party in Beijing. This plenum is especially significant because it is expected that President Xi Jinping will be granted an unprecedented third term,...

Tips And Strategies Regarding Lessons For Long-Term Saving Strategies

Sathya Chey, CFP®, CDFA®, CSRIC®, AIF®, MBA

Tuesday, September 27, 2022

Saving is a Lifestyle not a StrategyI like to say saving is not a strategy but a lifestyle! At the core of being wealthy are healthy habits around spending that allow you to save what is not spent. To begin you really need to have a...

The LPL Research Strategic and Tactical Asset Allocation Committee is increasing its recommended interest rate exposure in its tactical allocation from underweight to neutral. Now that interest rates have moved substantially higher, we...

The Great Resignation: What to Know About Recent Retirement Trends

Steve Carlsen, CSRIC®

Tuesday, September 20, 2022

By the end of 2021, the ‘Great Resignation’ had already led to more than 3 million American workers announcing their retirements. While this trend has recently shown some signs of slowing, such a massive wave of retirements...

Inflationary dynamics continue to surprise to the upside, and markets now expect the Fed to pursue one of its most aggressive rate hiking campaign in years. U.S. Treasury yields continue to move higher as well. We think we’ve...

What to know about the Inherited IRA 10 Year Rule

Sathya Chey, CFP®, CDFA®, CSRIC®, AIF®, MBA

Tuesday, September 13, 2022

What the rule isThe Inherited IRA 10 Year Rule requires inheritors of individual retirement accounts (IRAs) to distribute the balance of the account within 10 years of the IRA owner’s date of death. For example, you can choose to...

The Best and Worst of Times

Steve Carlsen, CSRIC®

Tuesday, September 13, 2022

When it comes to stock market performance, August was “the best of times, and the worst of times.” The strong market rally that peaked in mid-August was viewed by many analysts as a transition from a bear to bull market,...

Federal Reserve Chairman Jay Powell reiterated his warning that getting inflation under control will require some pain. Powell is likely making these warnings based on the arcane, clunky relationship between inflation and unemployment....

8 Things Financial Planning Can Help You Address

Steve Carlsen, CSRIC®

Tuesday, September 6, 2022

Financial planning is unique for each person; no two financial plans look the same because everyone's life and personal goals are different. Regardless of what your goals are, financial planning can help you work towards achieving them...

The difficult 2022 for stocks may not get much easier because as we now wait for better news on the inflation front, we have to contend with a seasonally weak month of September. While we got some welcome news in Friday’s jobs...

A Recession Is Looming – What Does This Mean For You?

Sathya Chey, CFP®, CDFA®, CSRIC®, AIF®, MBA

Tuesday, August 30, 2022

You may have heard the expression that “a recession is when you have two consecutive quarters of falling gross domestic product (GDP),” but labeling a recession is much more nuanced than that. First, despite all the noise...

Earnings growth of 6-7% doesn’t sound very exciting, but given the challenges corporate America has faced, we consider the nearly-complete second quarter earnings season a resounding success. The numerous challenges last quarter...

Career Spotlight: Wealth Management

Sathya Chey, CFP®, CDFA®, CSRIC®, AIF®, MBA

Tuesday, August 23, 2022

Are you trying to decide on a career path? Whether you are entering college, have a few years of schooling under your belt, or are wanting to change careers – consider a role in investment management.  What are the pros of...

Existing home sales fell 5.9% in July, the sixth consecutive month of declines as higher interest rates weigh on housing affordability and prospective buyers. As the housing market slowed, so did prices. The median price for a single...

Investing in Humanity: Humanitarian and Resilience Investing

Steve Carlsen, CSRIC®

Tuesday, August 16, 2022

Stimulated by the World Economic Forum's 2019 launch of an initiative to strengthen the resilience of the most vulnerable communities and economies, humanitarian and resilience investing (HRI) has become increasingly popular over the...

Investors cheered the two better-than-expected inflation reports last week, pushing the S&P 500 to 16% above its June 16 low and only 11% below its all-time high. After this rebound, the key question investors are asking is whether...

Back-to-School Budgeting 101 for College Students

Steve Carlsen, CSRIC®

Tuesday, August 9, 2022

Establishing and sticking to a budget is an important life skill to learn, even for college students who are focused on keeping up their grades and getting a good job when they graduate. Budgeting may help them understand how much...

The market pundits remain intensely focused on the question of whether the U.S. economy is in or about to enter recession, so we thought a piece on what a recession might mean for the stock market would be of interest. While...

Becoming a Financially Savvy Single Parent

Sathya Chey, CFP®, CDFA®, CSRIC®, AIF®, MBA

Tuesday, August 2, 2022

Raising children without a partner can be challenging—emotionally, physically, and financially. Challenged by the work involved in earning a living and caring for children, single parents can sometimes feel that they may never...

That was quite a week. These days a Federal Reserve (Fed) policy meeting alone gets a lot of headlines and has market participants on the edge of their seats. Add to that the second straight quarter of negative gross domestic product...

Alex Escobedo is a Financial Services Intern for Arise Private Wealth. As a first-generation Mexican American student, Alex is entering his senior year at California State University, Long Beach where he is pursuing a degree in...

For the past year, supply-related problems contributed more to inflation than demand-related imbalances, but that may be changing soon. There are at least three factors that could change the course of inflation. First, the improvement...

Markets rarely give us clear skies, and there are always threats to watch for on the horizon. But the right preparation, context, and support can help us navigate what lies ahead. So far, this year hasn’t seen a full-blown crisis...

Retirement Planning Does Not Stop in Retirement

Steve Carlsen, CSRIC®

Tuesday, July 19, 2022

Five easy pointers to help you plan during all of your retirement yearsIf you’re retired, there’s good news in that you’ll probably live longer and perhaps better than your parents and grandparents did. The bad news:...

Markets rarely give us clear skies, and there are always threats to watch for on the horizon, but the right preparation, context, and support can help us navigate anything that may lie ahead. So far, this year hasn’t seen a...

Five Divorce Settlement Pitfalls to Watch Out for, No Matter How Big the Estate

Sathya Chey, CFP®, CDFA®, CSRIC®, AIF®, MBA

Tuesday, July 12, 2022

Attorneys say that if both you and your ex-spouse feel like you came out of your divorce thinking you gave up a lot, your settlement was probably fair. Maybe, but often your settlement’s results appear only after you live with...

As the calendar has turned to July, investors would certainly like to forget the first six months of 2022. However, the Fourth of July Independence Day holiday does bring with it reason for celebration. Not only is it the 246th...

Why is ESG Investing So Appealing?

Steve Carlsen, CSRIC®

Wednesday, July 6, 2022

For more than 200 years, long before the advent of modern stock markets and electronic trading, some investors have been committed to socially-responsible (SRI) investing.1 This involves choosing companies and products that...

Stocks have been unable to make up much ground since the June 16 lows, with a bear market rally amounting to only around a 4.3% gain in the S&P 500 Index since then (as of July 1). After the more than 6% rally the week of June 24 and...

The Path to Parenthood: A Financial Guide for LGBTQ+ Parents-to-Be

Sathya Chey, CFP®, CDFA®, CSRIC®, AIF®, MBA

Tuesday, June 28, 2022

For LGBTQ+ families, the path to financial health may be complex. In 2020, the Supreme Court issued a landmark decision prohibiting the discrimination of individuals for employment based on gender identity or sexual orientation.1 That...

2022 has been rough all-around for the American consumer. Not only are we battling decades-high inflation, but investors’ portfolios are off to one of the worst starts to a year in history as we near the halfway point. Our...

Financial Considerations During a Divorce

Steve Carlsen, CSRIC®

Tuesday, June 21, 2022

No matter whether your divorce is amicable or contentious, it can have a profound impact on your finances. There are myriad rules and regulations to consider; we outline some of the most significant and how they could impact your...

The bear market that started on June 13 has left the S&P 500 Index 23.5% below its January 3 high. After the initial positive reaction to the Federal Reserve’s first 0.75% rate hike since 1994 and tough talk on inflation,...

Estate and Financial Planning Considerations for LGBTQ+ Couples

Sathya Chey, CFP®, CDFA®, CSRIC®, AIF®, MBA

Tuesday, June 14, 2022

Even though same-sex marriage has been legal in the U.S. for about seven years, LGBTQ+ couples still face a few extra hurdles regarding estate planning. From family squabbles to establishing legal parenthood, here are a few...

A bear market is officially here thanks largely to stubbornly high inflation. For many of us, it has probably felt like a bear market for a while now, but the S&P 500 Index didn’t close more than 20% below its January 3 record...

This year has been tough for investors, not just because stocks have fallen but also because bonds have not helped mitigate those losses as they have historically done. Below we discuss the outlook for diversified portfolios of stocks...

Use Your Annuity to Pay for Long-Term Care Insurance

Steve Carlsen, CSRIC®

Tuesday, June 7, 2022

The cost of long-term care can quickly deplete your savings and affect the quality of life for you and your family. Long-term care insurance allows you to share that cost with an insurance company. But premiums for long-term care...

Many pundits are issuing recession warnings and saying the economy is heading for a hard landing. Amid the cacophony of voices, we think the economy is slowing just like central bankers want but not shrinking. Further, we argue that a...

The bull market that began in March of 2020 came dangerously close to an end. From March 23, 2020 through January 3, 2022, the S&P 500 Index gained 114% (excluding dividends). From that January 3 closing high through the recent low on...

Creative Solutions for College Sticker Shock

Steve Carlsen, CSRIC®

Tuesday, May 24, 2022

Imagine your reaction to the following scene: You return home from work one night to find your teenage daughter running gleefully about with a letter in her hand. When you calm her down, she tells you that she has just been accepted to...

Core bond investors have experienced the worst start to the year ever. However tough this year has been so far though (and it has been tough), the potential for future returns has improved meaningfully, in our view. Starting yields...

Eight Mistakes That Can Upend Your Retirement

Sathya Chey, CFP®, CDFA®, CSRIC®, AIF®, MBA

Tuesday, May 17, 2022

Pursuing your retirement dreams is challenging enough without making some common, and very avoidable, mistakes. Here are eight big mistakes to steer clear of, if possible. No Strategy: Yes, the biggest mistake is having no strategy at...

First quarter earnings season was solid by just about any measure, but based on recent market behavior it’s obvious that in general market participants paid little attention. This is a macro-driven market, so it will likely take...

10 Tips for Your $ Future

Steve Carlsen, CSRIC®

Tuesday, May 10, 2022

However much you make or save now doesn’t promise you a bright financial future. Life is unpredictable. Follow these 10 tips to prevent you and your family from money troubles. See a lawyer and make a will. If you have a will,...

It’s been a very tough start to the year with both stocks and bonds down sharply. Adding to the “wall of worry” for investors are the highest levels of U.S. inflation in decades, an aggressive Federal Reserve (Fed),...

The History and Significance of Cinco de Mayo

Sathya Chey, CFP®, CDFA®, CSRIC®, AIF®, MBA

Tuesday, May 3, 2022

Celebrated on the fifth day of May, Cinco de Mayo is an increasingly popular holiday that honors the Mexican Army's victory in the Franco-Mexican War. The date is sometimes referred to as the Battle of Puebla Day, which the...

“Sell in May and go away” is probably the most widely cited stock market cliché in history. Every year a barrage of Wall Street commentaries, media stories, and investor questions flood in about the popular stock...

5 Ways a Financial Professional Can Be Your Financial Planning Superhero

Steve Carlsen, CSRIC®

Tuesday, April 26, 2022

If you find yourself wavering back and forth on whether it's worth involving a financial professional for tax, retirement, or investment advice, consider this: A financial professional may be able to help defend you against crime and...

Not all recessions are created equal. Previous downturns in the U.S. were prompted by various shocks, with the most recent recession started by health and government-induced shutdowns. Other recessions started in the corporate sector,...

Socially Responsible Investing

Sathya Chey, CFP®, CDFA®, CSRIC®, AIF®, MBA

Tuesday, April 19, 2022

Investing with an eye toward promoting social, political, or environmental concerns (or at least not supporting activities you feel are harmful) doesn't mean you have to forgo pursuing a return on your money. Socially responsible...

First quarter earnings season is rolling. BlackRock, Delta Airlines, Goldman Sachs, JPMorgan Chase, and Morgan Stanley were among the first 16 S&P 500 companies to report March quarter results, following 20 index constituents with...

4 Tips for Teaching Children the ABCs of Money Management

Steve Carlsen, CSRIC®

Tuesday, April 12, 2022

Teaching your children about finances may seem like a weighty topic; however, it does not have to be challenging. By opening the lines of communication early and demonstrating good financial decisions of your own, you may set your...

LPL Research reduced U.S. and global GDP forecasts due to Russian commodity disruptions, elevated inflation dynamics, and higher borrowing costs. Still, we expect the U.S. economy to grow 2.7-3.2% in 2022, supported by business...

A Ways To Go

Sathya Chey, CFP®, CDFA®, CSRIC®, AIF®, MBA

Thursday, April 7, 2022

“Bull markets are born on pessimism, grown on skepticism, mature on optimism, and die on euphoria.” - Sir John Templeton According to the guidance of revered investor Sir John Templeton, it appears to us that this market...

As the Final Four NCAA Basketball Tournament rolls on in New Orleans, we continue our tradition of picking a stock market final four. We have identified our four key factors for the stock market outlook: 1) Consumer spending, 2)...

Go Green

Steve Carlsen, CSRIC®

Tuesday, March 29, 2022

Help sustain the environment with these practical money-saving tips Here are some easy ways to protect the environment and improve your budget at the same time. Wash your clothes in cold water. They get just as clean, but without the...

As the stock market recovered from the 2020 pandemic lows, valuations reached levels not seen since the dotcom bubble more than 20 years ago. The reopening economy and massive fiscal stimulus helped fuel one of the strongest starts to...

The effect that COVID-19 has had on the real estate market has been truly astronomical. With working from home becoming the new ‘norm’, people are moving to find spaces that better accommodate their needs. According to...

Charitable Donations and the ACE Act: Impacts to DAFs and Private Foundations

Sathya Chey, CFP®, CDFA®, CSRIC®, AIF®, MBA

Thursday, March 24, 2022

There may be changes coming in 2022 that will impact both donors and charities by how quickly gifts are received and when donors can take the tax deduction. The Accelerating Charitable Efforts Act (ACE Act) is a proposed legislation...

Money Mantras

Sathya Chey, CFP®, CDFA®, CSRIC®, AIF®, MBA

Tuesday, March 22, 2022

Market swings causing you some anxiety? These four money mantras can help you overcome it. Whether it’s the continuing presence of the COVID-19 pandemic, a sudden boost in prices related to gas, food, housing and other essentials...

Core bond investors have experienced one of the worst starts to the year ever, potentially calling into question the validity of bonds in a portfolio. Despite the poor start, we don’t think the value proposition for bonds has...

Investing for the Future

Steve Carlsen, CSRIC®

Tuesday, March 15, 2022

For years, you’ve diligently invested in your retirement portfolio, accumulating wealth that you hope will sustain you throughout your Golden Years. To help see that your assets are sufficient to help you support your lifestyle...

The Federal Reserve (Fed) meets this week and in all likelihood will raise short-term interest rates for the first time since emergency levels of monetary accommodation were provided to markets after the COVID-19 shutdowns....

Find Your Happy Place

Sathya Chey, CFP®, CDFA®, CSRIC®, AIF®, MBA

Wednesday, March 9, 2022

Follow these three tips to help reach a state of happiness on a daily basis. Do you find that happiness is hard to come by on some days? With all the challenges of the past year, it’s sometimes just easier to find imperfections...

We currently expect the U.S. economy to grow 3.7% in 2022. The risks are to the downside since the Fed may err on tightening too fast, the recent commodity spike may trickle down to the U.S. consumer, and supply and demand imbalances...

Navigating Geopolitical Tensions

Sathya Chey, CFP®, CDFA®, CSRIC®, AIF®, MBA

Thursday, March 3, 2022

The green shoots are hard to see right now as spring approaches, clouded by war in Ukraine. Democracy is under attack and innocent lives are tragically being lost. But while we keep one eye on overseas developments, the other remains...

Hank the Tank: A Precursor to What’s Coming?

Steve Carlsen, CSRIC®

Tuesday, March 1, 2022

No matter the short-term noise, stick to your financial plan and stay calm The average weight of a black bear in the western U.S. ranges from 100 to 300 pounds, according to the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife. But in...

With inflationary pressures running higher than many central bankers are comfortable with, calls for interest rate hikes have become louder. A number of important central bank meetings are set to take place in March including the...

Stocks have gotten off to a very rocky start in 2022, with the potential for Federal Reserve rate hikes coming and the geopolitical worries over Russia and Ukraine only adding to the uncertainty. We don’t want to minimize the...

Does Your Child Need to File an Income Tax Return?

Sathya Chey, CFP®, CDFA®, CSRIC®, MBA

Wednesday, February 23, 2022

As parents, we encourage our children to work, so they can learn important values about work and independence. At what point, if at all, do children need to file an income tax return for the money they earn? The IRS does not exempt...

Corporate America has capped off an outstanding 2021 with an excellent fourth-quarter earnings season so far. Entering 2021, the consensus estimate for S&P 500 Index earnings per share (EPS) was less than $170. Now with fourth-quarter...

The Average Wedding Takes 528 Hours to Plan

Steve Carlsen, CSRIC®

Friday, February 18, 2022

How much time do you spend annually planning your financial future? Minted released a study that said that the average wedding takes an unbelievable 528 hours to plan – that’s 22 full days or 66 eight-hour workdays. In the...

Active vs. Passive Asset Management: What's the Difference?

Sathya Chey, CFP®, CDFA®, CSRIC®, MBA

Friday, February 18, 2022

Now more than ever investors have an overwhelming amount of information and access to investment markets. Never mind decisions about investing in cryptocurrency, fine works of art, or direct real estate investments, one of the core...

 I always get a chuckle when I hear or see a post that says it's “Global Drink Wine Day.” Let me be very very clear….every day is Global Drink Wine Day in our house. We don’t say we drink wine every day...

High inflation continues to cloud the economic outlook while its impact on the potential path of rate hikes has left markets unsettled. Inflation is a serious topic, but occasionally it’s useful to revisit it from a lighter...

One of your first steps in planning your wedding should be budget planning so, today, we're chatting about wedding budget 101. Let's get real. Everyone has a budget, and whether you want to spend $20,000 or $120,000, you should have a...

How to Celebrate Valentine’s Day Without Breaking the Bank

Sathya Chey, CFP®, CDFA®, CSRIC®, MBA

Thursday, February 10, 2022

Valentine’s Day…the tradition of showing those you love them by showering them with gifts, flowers and candy. Around this time of year, you notice more TV ads for expensive jewelry or “romantic” dinner specials...

Achieving Life’s Goals with Cash Flow Alternatives

Steve Carlsen, CSRIC®

Wednesday, February 9, 2022

Developing effective strategies for pursuing your goals within the limits of your particular financial circumstances can be difficult. Each stage of your life may create new financial challenges. Sending your child to college,...

The near-10% correction in the S&P 500 Index and even larger drawdown in the Nasdaq have gotten a lot of attention this year. What hasn’t gotten as much attention—and maybe surprising to some—is the relative...

Getting Married in 2022 Means New Roth Rules

Sathya Chey, CFP®, CDFA®, CSRIC®, MBA

Tuesday, February 1, 2022

Know the rules so you don’t get hit with an excess contribution penaltySo you’re getting married in 2022? Congratulations. And when you add up all your income (yours and your spouse’s), you’ll earn more than the...

Sustainable investing hit several milestones in 2021, but continued to attract its critics. Below we look at how sustainable investing fits within the broader concept of sustainability, its growth during 2021, and an implementation...

Healthy at 75 Should Be Your Retirement Mantra

Steve Carlsen, CSRIC®

Monday, January 24, 2022

Good health means you can both pursue wealth and enjoy it Too many people don’t realize that taking care of themselves physically can lead to more confident financial tomorrows. Planning for retirement should start in your early...

After a tough start for stocks in 2022, investors are looking for reasons to expect a rebound. After more than doubling off the pandemic lows in March 2020, without anything more than a 5% pullback in 2021, stocks probably needed a...

The Federal Reserve (Fed) has engineered a massive hawkish shift, causing a bit more stock market volatility recently. But how worried should investors be? Here we take a look back at historical performance for stocks before, after,...

Tips for Talking to Your Kids About Your Finances

Sathya Chey, CFP®, CDFA®, CSRIC®, MBA

Monday, January 17, 2022

Communicating openly can help everyone prepare and plan for the futureMany parents may find it uncomfortable, or even believe it is unnecessary, to inform their children about personal finance matters. Yet, communicating openly with...

With the New Year comes new beginnings, new goals, new challenges, new friendships, and new opportunities. 2021 was an incredible year for the economy and investors, but to us the future remains bright for 2022 and beyond. Let’s...

How to Relieve Stress in a Stressful World

Steve Carlsen, CSRIC®

Monday, January 10, 2022

Feeling overwhelmed and stressed lately? You’re not alone. Here are some helpful tips to keep in mind to add some much-needed positivity to your life. Use the guided imagery strategy Something that works almost instantaneously is...

Corporate America has been on quite a run. Coming into 2021, S&P 500 Index companies were expected to generate less than $170 in earnings per share. As 2022 begins, it looks like that number may end up higher than the latest LPL...

Plan Your Financial Future as You Do Your Health

Sathya Chey, CFP®, CDFA®, CSRIC®, MBA

Monday, January 3, 2022

Just as your health changes over time, markets change even faster Ever hear the phrase, “your financial health?” A good way to appreciate planning your financial future is to see it as akin to maintaining your physical...

In many ways, 2021 was a typical year for markets, but it also reinforced some basic market lessons that are hard to learn, even if they are not new. As we launch into the New Year, we’re highlighting three 2021 market lessons...

Healthy Mind, Healthy Life

Steve Carlsen, CSRIC®

Monday, December 27, 2021

There are many things you can do to keep your brain active: going outside more, listening to classical music, or learning a new skill. As you get older, it’s imperative to take care of your mental and physical health. Both...

We expect interest rates to move modestly higher in 2022 based on near-term inflation expectations above historical trends and improving growth expectations once the impact of COVID-19 variants recedes. Our year-end 2022 forecast for...

We expect solid economic and earnings growth in 2022 to help U.S. stocks deliver additional gains next year. If we are approaching—or are already in—the middle of an economic cycle with at least a few more years left (our...

Charitable Ideas for What to Do With Your Money

Steve Carlsen, CSRIC®

Tuesday, December 14, 2021

Learn from the great givers and let your financial professional be your sounding board Giving away some of your money is a great way to support the people and organizations you love. But there are smart ways to do it, minimizing your...

We believe pent-up demand, gradual improvement in supply chain challenges, solid labor force growth, and productivity gains will all contribute to another year of above-trend economic growth in 2022. COVID-19-related risks remain and...

LPL Research Outlook 2022: Passing the Baton is designed to help you navigate the risks and opportunities over the rest of 2021 and beyond. While the economy continues to move forward, we’re still feeling some aftershocks of COVID-19.

A Season of Giving: 5 Different Ways To Give During the Holidays

Sathya Chey

Tuesday, December 7, 2021

With the holidays here, now is the time to get into the giving spirit and help to change others' lives for the better. Whether you are looking to make a difference in a specific person's life or the life of many, there are many ways to...

End of Year Financial Planning

Steve Carlsen, CSRIC®

Tuesday, November 30, 2021

For some, it’s easy to put personal finances on the back burner during the last few months of the year. However, before the year comes to an end, it’s essential to review your finances. By doing so now, you can make the...

Thanks and Giving: How You Make a Difference on Giving Tuesday

Sathya Chey

Sunday, November 28, 2021

Giving Tuesday is a day to extend the goodwill that the holiday season may bring to help others. With so many in need, the holiday season is a reminder to help those less fortunate. Whether you want to donate your time or contribute...

There are only six weeks to go in 2021 and it has been an incredible year for the stock market bulls. In fact, in many ways it could go down as one of the best years ever. This week, in honor of Thanksgiving, we wanted to take a...

The Role of Caregiver Affects Women Differently

Steve Carlsen, CSRIC®

Saturday, November 20, 2021

Tips to meet the needs of your loved ones, employer, and yourself Today, like so many other women, you may be facing a new challenge while you’re still working full time. Your children are growing up just as your parents are...

What's In the New Infrastructure Bill?

Sathya Chey

Tuesday, November 16, 2021

America's infrastructure was dealt a win in late October 2021 when Congress passed a $1.2 trillion bipartisan infrastructure bill as part of the President's Build Back Better plan. This is the first of two proposed bills—one...

Writing a Business Plan for a Small Business

Steve Carlsen, CSRIC®

Sunday, November 14, 2021

Running a business without a written business plan is like heading out on a cross-country trip without a map or GPS. Although you may be able to make it to your destination, you may spend far more time and money navigating through...

Children and Wealth: Important Lessons Start Early in Life

Sathya Chey

Sunday, November 7, 2021

Wealth can be a mixed blessing -- one that creates great opportunity as well as weighty responsibility -- especially for children. As a parent, grandparent, or concerned relative, you hope to pass on what you have learned about...

Five Things You Need To Know About Long-Term Care Insurance

Steve Carlsen, CSRIC®

Friday, October 29, 2021

Long-term care insurance is a type of insurance that covers the costs related to long-term, chronic health concerns. It may cover things that traditional health insurance does not cover, such as personal care services. If you have a...

What is Social Impact Investing?

Sathya Chey

Monday, October 11, 2021

Sustainable investing is on the rise, accounting for about $1 in every $3 in actively managed assets. There are several ways to begin impact investing, whether you are just interested in sustainable stocks or considering putting your...

Street View: Market Volatility Is Perfectly Normal

Sathya Chey

Friday, October 8, 2021

There is no reason to panic with all the big news about the bull market—October is known for volatility. As LPL Financial Chief Market Strategist Ryan Detrick discusses in the latest LPL Street View, when you look back at the...

The Most Important Chart In The World

Steve Carlsen, CSRIC®

Thursday, October 7, 2021

And just like that, the calendar turned to October and volatility picked up in a big way, with three consecutive 1% moves for the S&P 500 Index to start the month. As we noted in our October preview, this month gets a bad rap for being...

Consider This Before Opening a Store Credit Card

Sathya Chey

Monday, October 4, 2021

There’s a common dilemma amongst shoppers. Should you take the discount and open a store card or potentially save your credit score and pay full price? You’ve likely heard opening too many store credit cards can be bad for...

The Financial Planning Process

Steve Carlsen, CSRIC®

Monday, September 27, 2021

Your financial professional will start where you are, guiding you through an organized and methodical financial planning process. Over and above your personal situation, you should feel free to discuss with your financial professional any..

5 Ways to Build a Strong Financial Foundation

Steve Carlsen, CSRIC®

Monday, September 20, 2021

Today, many people are concerned about saving for retirement or paying for a large ticket item, such as a child’s college education. If you belong to this group, now may be the time to building a solid financial foundation.

Tax Benefits of Creating a Trust

Steve Carlsen, CSRIC®

Monday, September 13, 2021

Should you set up a trust? Maybe you've been to a seminar where they scare the life out of you, convincing you to start one. Let’s demystify this murky but very important area by discussing the tax benefits and other reasons to consider...

2020 was one of the most disruptive years ever for the U.S. job market, almost as significant as the unemployment during the Great Depression in 1933 and surpassing joblessness during the Great Recession from 2006 to 2008. Many...

Is Saving for Education Worth it?

Steve Carlsen, CSRIC®

Monday, August 30, 2021

Education: One of the Best Investments You Can Make It wasn’t long ago when an individual went to college, got an education, and embarked on one career that usually lasted a lifetime. Many companies provided on-the-job training,...

Treating Yourself Can Be Beneficial to Pursuing Your Financial Goals

Steve Carlsen, CSRIC®

Monday, August 23, 2021

Have you ever made a purchase that has thrown your monthly budget off-kilter? Or maybe you’ve put financial restrictions on yourself that push you away from spending on things that bring you happiness. Financial self-care is important!

5 Divorce Settlement Pitfalls to Avoid

Sathya Chey

Monday, August 9, 2021

Five Divorce Settlement Pitfalls to Watch Out for, No Matter How Big the Estate Bill and Melinda Gates and Settling $140 Billion estate Attorneys say that if both you and your ex-spouse feel like you came out of your divorce thinking...

Conducting a financial fire drill with your financial professional is a great idea. The pictures are heartbreaking as destructive wildfires continue to sweep across much of the western United States. In fact, as of mid-July, there were...

Mid-year Financial Plan Check-up Amid the heat of mid-summer, do you remember your New Year’s resolutions regarding your personal financial planning? How are you coming with your to-do list? It seems like only yesterday that, in...

Retirement isn’t easy for most couples, and it’s even harder for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people. A modest amount of planning can go a long way to providing the financial support you need. Many LGBTQ seniors...

While making money off investments is often a major goal, the new generation of investors is also focusing on where they put their money in the hopes that their investments will do more for the greater good. The move toward socially...