FINANCIaL
FIELd NOTES
Popular Fraud Tactics in 2025
Every year, scams get more sophisticated. It seems like just when people figure out how to avoid one trick, scammers come up with another. And increasingly, we’re seeing scams that are disturbingly convincing.
Here are some of the major scams we’ve been seeing so far in 2025—and what you can do to avoid falling victim…
Historical Declines in a Balanced Portfolio
I was recently meeting with a new client discussing the investment implementation part of their financial plan. They were financially secure but understandably anxious about market volatility. We had run the numbers and determined that a balanced portfolio, consisting of roughly 70% stocks and 30% bonds, was an appropriate mix for their retirement spending goals.
But identifying the correct allocation also should include your risk tolerance, or how much risk you’re emotionally and mentally prepared to take on…
Planning For Unused 529 Funds
I recently met with a client whose grandchild has gotten a full ride for the first year of college and will may graduate without ever having spent a dollar or tuition, room, and board! While she was thrilled, she was also concerned that the 529 may go to waste.
Thankfully, there are several options with unused 529’s that provide incredible flexibility…
Why Most Investors Lose at Stock Picking (Even the Pros)
I’ve met with many clients over the years who own individual stocks – some have been huge winners and others not so much. Sometimes it makes up a meaningful portion of their net worth, other times it’s a tiny fraction. I can understand the allure of stock picking.
Check out the return of $10,000 over the past 20 years (2005-2024) in the following stocks. Nvidia turns $10k into $7.5mm, Netflix into $5mm, and Apple into $2.5mm. The stock market index (S&P 500), just $71,000…
How Retirees Can Turn Money Into Lasting Memories
If you’ve ever hesitated to spend your hard-earned savings on something fun, you’re not alone. Many retirees struggle to shift from saving to spending mode. I’ve seen this first hand many times. I’ve told many clients some version of “If we assume you spend at this level, you will likely die with significantly more than you have today.”
But there is a common mental barrier to spending that is incredibly difficult for prudent savers. For the clients that do make the shift successfully, I’ve found that they start spending one two things…
The Trouble With a Single Data Point
A single headline can move the market, but sometimes, the numbers behind those headlines are more complicated than they appear. The first quarter of 2025 offers a perfect case study. U.S. GDP declined by .3% in Q1, sparking fears of a looming recession. While that may certainly materialize, a closer look at the data shows a different story.
The decline was not due to changes in consumer spending or investments, it was due almost entirely by “net exports.” When the US imports more than we export to other countries, it is a drag of growth. We imported significantly more in the Q1 than we exported…