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Category: Weekly Economic Update

What we need today is economic & financial perspective

by Dave Conley on May 6, 2023.

As a financial planner with 25 years of experience, I understand that investing can be daunting, especially in uncertain times. With recent news of bank financial distress, it's natural for many clients to feel anxious about the safety of their investments. However, I'm here to assure you that the US economy, markets, and financial system are resilient, and there's no need to panic.

Budgeting equals $$ Awareness

by Dave Conley on April 28, 2023.

“Awareness is like the sun. When it shines on things, they are transformed.” Thich Nhan Hanh Becoming aware of our spending is one of the most powerful tools we have. Why? In examining our spending we become aware of ourselves. Budgeting is simply being aware of our spending. Why is this keeping track of how...

Are you watching Financial Pornography?

by Dave Conley on April 21, 2023.

Cable and online financial news (for the average investor) can also be overwhelming and cause investors to make mistakes. The term I use for this news is “Financial Pornography”. I can think of many bad decisions made by viewers of financial porn but narrowed it down to four mistakes the average investor is likely to...

We have been here before.

by Dave Conley on April 7, 2023.

As a professional investor for almost 30 years, I rely on my own experiences to help guide my investment approach.  Every crisis is different, but they often have things in common. The financial crisis of 2007-2008 was a difficult time for many investors, with stocks and bonds experiencing significant losses. While it’s impossible to predict...

Making sense of the banking turmoil?

by Dave Conley on March 24, 2023.

How widespread is the current banking turmoil? Should we be concerned about our bank deposits? Are the current challenges unique or similar to other banking turmoil in the past? Are there investment opportunities in this economic environment?

Good (successful) investor vs Poor (unsuccessful)

by Dave Conley on March 17, 2023.

Although there is no foolproof formula for investing success or failure there are traits that those who do well over the long term possess. As a financial planner with 25 years of experience, I have seen many investors succeed and others struggle. Through my experience, I have identified three primary characteristics or habits of a good investor and three characteristics or habits of poor investors.

‘Tis the Season

by Randy Chalmers on March 10, 2023.

As tax season is upon us, let’s talk about them! We know they are an essential part of our society, but nobody wants to pay more taxes than necessary. Fortunately, there are numerous ways to reduce your tax liability. Tax deductions are expenses that reduce your taxable income. There are several tax deductions available, such...

It’s not just about the money.

by Dave Conley on February 24, 2023.

I ask potential clients to describe their version of financial freedom (or financial peace) and how we can help them achieve this goal. It’s extremely common for the answers to center on some sort of financial/investment success metric. Stuff like:• Increase my investment returns to 10% a year consistently with minimal risk.• Pay off all...

Are You Struggling to Save?

by Randy Chalmers on February 9, 2023.

If you are like….everyone else in the world, saving is not at the top of your “fun things to do” list, nor is it an easy task. So, here are some ways that you can ensure you pay yourself with a little less stress about the topic. Pay Yourself First You’ve probably heard the phrase...

Financing or Paying Cash for Cars

by Randy Chalmers on January 27, 2023.

Like Dave Ramsey says, a lot of people state they will always have a car payment, which is something I personally have said most of my adult life. This is because we’ve learned to budget our lives around paying our necessities like the mortgage, groceries, water, electricity, and…car payments? According to 2022 data from Experian,...