The first, albeit holiday shortened, week of the year started off on a nice note with equity markets posting gains and interest rates falling slightly on the long end of the curve while commodities and the U.S. dollar moved sideways. Earn [...]

Wow. What a year. If you’re like us, you probably spent New Year’s Eve shaking your head in a mix of shock, awe and bewilderment. Let’s do a quick recap on what shaped markets (and the world) this year: January: It was a rough start to th [...]

Regular meetings with your financial advisor are instrumental to reaching the goals you have for your investment portfolio. Catching up annually to get a quick report on the “bottom line” is not enough to ensure your advisor understands y [...]

That’s a wrap for 2016! Equity markets limped to the finish line, breaking a seven week winning streak, while interest rates declined across the curve. Last week was a light economic calendar and very thin holiday trading volume. There is [...]

Last week saw the Fed deliver the expected 25bps rate hike but with a somewhat hawkish communique. After posting five consecutive record highs the prior week for the first time since April 2009, equity markets finished somewhat mixed last [...]

Wealth is very personal. If you’re like me and grew up in a stoic rural Iowa town, you know people there don’t talk about their wealth. They don’t brag and they certainly don’t want their neighbor to know just how good – or bad – they hav [...]

The Trump market rally in stocks continued last week, adding another 3%+ to some already impressive gains since the election.  Since November 8th, the U.S. dollar has surged to all-time highs, the S&P 500 is up 6%, and the DJIA is up [...]