When it comes to investing, performance is not just about high returns—it’s also about how much of your return you get to keep. Exchange-traded funds (ETFs) have emerged as a highly efficient investment vehicle, especially when compared to traditional mutual
Market Update: Year-to-Date Performance Review (February 2025)
As we complete the first two months of 2025, it’s time to take a look at how the markets have performed. February proved to be a challenging month for US equities, contributing to a mixed start to the year. Let’s
Market Update: January 2025 Performance Review
A New Year, A New Market: How Did Investment Classes Fare in January? Following a strong 2024, investors are eager to see how different asset classes performed in the first month of 2025. To gain a practical understanding of market
Year-End 2024 Market Update: How Investment Classes Performed
2024 was a dynamic year for financial markets, characterized by impressive gains in some sectors and modest performance in others. With large-cap U.S. stocks leading the charge, bonds seeing steady if unspectacular returns, and alternative investments offering mixed results, this
November 2024 Market Update
It continues to be a great year for the stock market with large company stocks up 27.3% through the end of November. A broad bond portfolio was up about 2.7% year to date. Real estate is up 14.9%. Commodities have
Unlocking Your Retirement Potential: A Comprehensive Guide to IRAs
Retirement planning is a cornerstone of financial well-being, and Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs) are indispensable tools for achieving your retirement goals. IRAs offer a range of tax advantages and investment options to help you accumulate wealth and secure your financial
September 2024 Market Update
It has been a very good year for stocks with large company stocks up 22% through September 30. A broad bond portfolio was up about 4.6% year to date. Real estate did very well this quarter resulting in a year-to-date
Embracing Professionalism in Business
When we think of “professions,” law and medicine often come to mind first. In the business world, public accounting is also recognized as a profession. But what truly defines a profession? And can business be considered a professional pursuit? The
Mind the Gap: Why Your Investment Returns Might Not Match Your Fund’s and What You Can Do About It
The latest “Mind the Gap” study by Morningstar has once again highlighted a frustrating reality for many investors: the returns they actually earn often fall short of the returns their funds generate. The study found that over the past decade,
The Value vs. The Cost of a Financial Advisor
In the world of personal finance, the debate between the cost of hiring a traditional financial advisor and the value they bring to the table is ongoing. With various options available, from robo-advisors to traditional advisors, understanding the benefits and
