Blog
“Small Steps, Big Gains: A Practical Guide to Building and Maintaining Your Credit Score”
This week’s insight lends a different perspective on building and maintaining your credit score.The new year is of course fraught with attempts (some full-bore, some half-hearted) to improve one’s life. “Quitter’s Day” has come and gone, the day in which most people on average give up on their New Year’s resolutions, but we all know that improvements are not about making radical life changes. Rather, small and consistent tweaks for the better are what lead to long-term positive results; that goes for your health, wealth, and happiness.
Where’s Santa? Stocks End 2024 on a Whimper. Looking Forward to a Strong 2025
December was a tough month for most areas of the market amid returning inflation jittersThe S&P 500 dipped to close out the year, but strength in the Mag 7 kept the decline in checkGoing forward, we see bullish factors outweighing bearish risks, and we detail our 2025 outlookThe S&P 500 fell 2% in December, ending the year on a down note, but it was a second straight year of 20%-plus gains for US large caps. Returns away from mega-cap growth (namely the Mag 7 stocks) were less impressive.
January Tax Tips: Setting Your Small Business Up for Success in 2025
This week’s insight rings in the new year with a glass full of tax talk. We’ll try not to party too hard.Small business owners aren’t so much concerned about post-New Year’s hangovers as they are with the headaches that come with taxes in January. It seems like every year there is some new requirement that demands your time and energy. Fear not. Let’s outline how to avoid tax follies in 2025.
Navigating Employee Stock Ownership Plans (ESOPs): A Guide for Small Business Owners
An ESOP is a retirement plan that puts ownership in the hands of workers, offering tax advantages and a succession opportunity for the ownerWhile the initial costs are high and plan maintenance is required, established small businesses may find ESOPs to be ideal for promoting long-term growthCompanies with 30-100 workers may be best suited for an ESOPRewarding and motivating employees with a stake in your company can be an effective strategy.
Chasing Efficiency: Can the DOGE Bros Fix America’s Fiscal Woes?
This week’s insight is all about the DOGE Bros.The average US federal budget deficit (as a percent of GDP) has grown under the first term of each president so far this century. Recessions can obviously drive increased spending to stimulate the economy and wars are expensive, but during tranquil financial and geopolitics periods, the federal government should be able to at least break even. That hasn’t been the case recently, and it’s hard to see it changing any time soon.
Joy to the Investment World: Stocks Hit New Highs Ahead of Christmas
The S&P 500 and Nasdaq closed at record levels last weekInterest rates have dipped as Trump’s cabinet takes shapeHuge retail sales numbers and strong corporate earnings are positives with the Fed poised to issue one more rate cut in 2024Markets consolidated post-election gains through the middle of November, but have since come rip-roaring back. Last week, following a decent November jobs report, both the S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite closed at fresh peaks.
Bitcoin’s Meteoric Rise
This week’s insight zooms in on one of 2024’s most popular investments: bitcoin.The world’s largest crypto asset has been in the news for years on end, but its fanfare reached new heights following the reelection of Donald Trump. The soon-to-be 47th POTUS has been outspoken in favor of a so-called bitcoin reserve, though the details of how that might look are not yet known.
Insurance Strategies for Small Business Owners: Protecting a Company’s Future
Learn about the right mix of insurance policies for your business, including safeguarding against emerging risksSufficient insurance can be a cornerstone of growth, instilling confidence across stakeholder groupsFind out how to save money when shopping around for plans and why a risk management strategy is critical in today’s economyDo you know about that thing called the “success” tax? No, it’s not some new law struck on Capitol Hill or a would-be estate planning nightmare.
Confidence in Tax Rates: New Retirement Plan Contributions Limits for 2025
This week’s insight looks at the new retirement plan contribution limits for 2025 and why you should have a bit more confidence about where tax rates may go.
Stocks Soar Post-Election, Fed Rate Cuts Continue
Investors were relieved by a decisive election outcome and the prospects of lower taxes and regulation under Trump 2.0The Federal Reserve also cut interest rates last week while allaying concerns about potential inflation risksWith the bull market ongoing, more gains are likely into year-end if historical trends are a guideMarkets breathed a collective sigh of relief after last Tuesday’s election.
Inflation’s Hidden Tax Trap: How Unindexed Limits Increase Your 2024 Tax Burden
This week’s insight takes aim at how lawmakers sometimes use inflation against taxpayers (imagine that!).The end of 2024 is in sight. It’s been a great last two years for investors, and the economy has proven to be resilient despite so many calls for an imminent recession. November-December is also a natural time to consider tax planning for both the current year and next.
October 26, 2024: Save on Insurance or Sacrifice Privacy? The Pros and Cons of Letting Insurers Track Your Every Move
This week’s insight is about saving money by allowing insurance companies to spy on you and your family. A scary thought…on the surface.
Your 2024 Tax Checklist: 8 Moves Small Business Owners Can Make Before Year-End
Proactive tax planning is essential for small business owners looking to reduce their long-term tax obligations Big changes could be on the way at the end of 2025, so getting ready today is prudent From maximizing retirement contributions to adjusting your business structure, many strategies are available to manage your tax situation Don’t wait until the last minute to do your Christmas shopping.
Don’t Leave Your Legacy to Chance: Essential Estate Planning
This week’s insight is a little morbid, but it is that spooky time of year after all…I came across a recent Wall Street Journal article detailing how many people without children leave unexpected inheritances to charities, distant relatives, friends, or even pets. It’s a growing issue since more adults, particularly millennials and Gen Z, either delay family formation due to the rising cost of living, or just see kids as a burden on the YOLO lifestyle.
Stocks Delivered the Best Rally Through Q3 Since 1997, On Watch for October Volatility
The S&P 500 posted a positive September for the first time since 2019 Utilities lead on the year as the bull market celebrates its second birthday later this week The macro is mixed with unease in the Middle East exciting the bears and monster China stimulus luring the bulls Companies, meanwhile, are producing record profits and big shareholder returns in 2024 Stocks got over their “September scaries” (as we dubbed it last time) despite a slew of concerning macro happeni
After Hurricane Helene: 5 Essential Steps for Small Businesses to Prepare for Natural Disasters
This week’s insight urges all of us to count our blessings and prepare for the next potential natural disaster.Last week, Hurricane Helene gave us in the Florida panhandle a scare. Destin was spared the brunt of the category 4 monster, but our friends to the east were not so lucky. Devastation was the worst in upstate North Carolina and the surrounding areas. It will take months, if not longer, for Ashville to recover from deadly flash floods, and we continue to pray for those affected.
Securing Your Legacy: Essential Planning for Small Business Owners
Legacy planning is crucial to a company’s long-term success and your financial futureDocumenting your values, a business succession strategy, and regular check-ups helps mitigate risksA well-crafted legacy plan weaves together your business life and personal financial goals Small business owners I work with are often nose-to-the-grindstone and focused on daily operations. Long-term growth is the name of the game. What’s sometimes overlooked, however, is the end strategy.
Reflections on the Great Financial Crisis: 16 Years Later, Lessons Still Relevant Today
This week’s insight reflects on the events of September 2008 and what we can still learn about the Great Financial Crisis (GFC) today.It was 16 years ago this week when investors went from navigating through a garden-variety market decline to fearing the worst. On September 15, 2008, Lehman Brothers, the famed Wall Street investment bank, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. It sent shockwaves through the global financial system, leading to extreme daily stock market declines and a furthering of the bear market that began in October of 2007.