This fall, we took my oldest son to college and dropped him off. As I’ve told everyone who asks, it was the hardest thing that I’ve ever had to do as a parent. He may be 18 years old, but leaving him somewhere to fend for himself feels…unnatural. On the outside, I told people how excited I was for him to be starting this new adventure in his life…
Read MoreThe Autumn Equinox will be observed on September 22nd this year. Of course, this marks the first day of fall. September is a month when temperatures and leaves begin falling. Coincidentally, the month of September has also been the worst month for the U.S. stock market with an average loss of 1% going back to 1928.
Read MoreWhy do we enjoy being miserable so much? I’m not asking in a tongue-in-cheek sort of way but in a more serious, psychological way.
You can’t go a day without hearing a news story, reading a headline, or even engaging in casual conversation about how “we’ve never been more divided…
Read MoreThe city of Denver is on top of the world, and the mountain of euphoria is 5,280 feet high. For the first time in fifty years, both the Stanley Cup Champion (Colorado Avalanche) and the NCAA Men's Hockey Champion (Denver Pioneers) reside in the same city. As Denver celebrates historic victories during the Colorado Avalanche Stanley Cup Parade…
Read MoreI’m going to let you in on a little secret: nobody knows what’s going to happen with the stock market or the economy in the future because nobody can predict the future, as much as we would like them to. The only state we operate in is one of perpetual uncertainty. Tomorrow is always uncertain and believing that someone out…
Read MoreFirst and foremost, we are impressed by your composure. Stocks and bonds are falling, the economy contracted in the first quarter, mortgage rates surpassed 5%, and the Nasdaq posted the worst monthly performance since 2008. Even with the negative headlines, we have yet to hear from almost all of our clients. Perhaps the market turmoil…
Read MoreWhere do I begin this month?! Geopolitical conflicts, the stock market, an economic contraction in the first quarter, and what about the pesky bond market? Unlike most commodities, topics for our newsletter are not in short supply this month. Will the adage, “Sell in May, go away,” hold this year? The month of May is named after the Roman goddess Maia, who was considered an earth goddess and a nurturer that oversaw the growth of plants.
Read MoreSo many things on my mind…where do we even start? War in Ukraine? Will Smith and Chris Rock? Whatever anyone on either end of the political spectrum is upset about today? So many things and so little time! And to top it off, it’s April Fool’s Day, which gives me the option of writing something that doesn’t even have to be true.
Instead, I’m going to hit on a few things I think I think in this month’s newsletter…
Read MoreThe world is watching the news like a hawk as Russia embarks on a quest to subjugate its western neighbor. Russian troops march into Ukraine, Russian protesters march all over the country to denounce the incursion of Ukraine. Russia’s seemingly pointless invasion faces global condemnation as leaders worldwide unify to chastise…
Read MoreThe word RISK, defined by the American Heritage Dictionary…
The possibility of suffering harm or loss; danger.
A factor, thing, element, or course involving uncertain danger; a hazard
The danger or probability of loss (to an insurance company).
Perhaps you define RISK differently in your head, even if you don’t know you’re doing it. How do you picture someone in your head that you consider a “risk-taker”? Do find them brave? Crazy? Out of control?
Read MoreHappy New Year to our dear readers and clients. It’s a very sad time here in Colorado…tragically sad. The area near Boulder, specifically the towns of Superior/Louisville/Lafayette to the east of Boulder, is devastated. As of this writing, over 500 homes have burned to the ground and 35,000 people had to be evacuated from their homes at a moment’s notice as a grass fire swept across a very densely populated part of our home state. The fire was allegedly started by a downed power line onto an extraordinarily dry field of grass on Thursday, December 30th.
Read MoreLast month I had the opportunity to reflect upon all the things in my life I should be grateful for. This year, topping the list is all the loving, kind-hearted people around me that make life special. If you live in Denver and don’t like shoveling snow, celebrate the wonderful weather. In November, the average temperature in Denver is around 44…
Read MoreFor many of our clients, friends, and family, it’s no surprise that retirement is on their minds. Our conversations on retirement run the gamut- from the young clients that want to retire as early as possible because they’re stressed out and hate their jobs, to the older clients that love their jobs and don’t ever want to leave. Truth is, retirement and financial independence are your own journey, and there is little chance it will happen for you right at the tender age of 65.
Read MoreFoliage is here, and it's magnificent in Colorado. If you're in Colorado, head to Kenosha Pass and spend a day experiencing the season change with spectacular long-range views and a section of the Colorado Trail. Take breathtaking pictures while you immerse yourself in one of the top four seasons in Colorado…
Read MoreFall also marks Back to School Mania for us parents. As I embark on my 14th consecutive year of sending at least one of my children to school in the fall (my oldest is a senior in high school), it never ceases to amaze me how August and September calendars are absolutely LOADED with extracurricular meetings and events. Homecoming is right around the corner for my two high schoolers, and it’s yet another reminder of this wonderful time of year, busy as it may be.
Read MoreOnce again, COVID is front and center as we watch the delta variant moves through the country with daily new cases approaching one hundred thousand, a level not seen since the winter. Economists and investors are trying to parse through the data and cogitate the repercussions. The headlines are unnerving, but the daily deaths remain at the lowest levels since March of last year. If you’re interested, Public Health England…
Read MoreAt its very basic core, inflation is an increase in the prices of goods services. Very typically, this happens when an increasing supply of money is chasing a shrinking (or not growing) supply of those goods and services.
The fundamental force behind economics and pricing power is supply and demand. When supply goes down…
Read MoreIt feels good to wrap up a long holiday weekend as we honor those that lost their lives serving our country. We have been living in a period some refer to as the “Long Peace,” which began in 1945. Though wars have occurred during this time, they have been minor relative to some of the wars in our short history. Many site technology…
Read MoreIn our line of work, we spend a lot of time discussing the concept of risk. Personal finance and risk are almost synonymous with each other. Risk tolerance assessment questionnaires, risk mitigation with insurance coverages, the risk that you’re not saving enough…you get the picture.
Read MoreApril Fools! Oh my, what a tradition. It’s the one day a year we all have a weak excuse to orchestrate simple-minded jokes without facing the full recourse of our actions. But why do we celebrate this shallow holiday? Maybe it’s human nature, and we were always searching for justification for our distasteful actions. The exact origins of April Fools’ Day…
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