The SECURE Act and How it May Affect You
By Jon Aldrich It seems like every year, just days before the ball drops in Times Square, Congress passes and the President signs new legislation that affects taxpayers. This year was no different as the SECURE Act, which contains some significant changes in certain retirement accounts was passed on December 19th, and signed into law…
Read MoreNotes from The Schwab Impact Conference
Bullet Points from Greg Valliere’s presentation “An Inside View of Washington” By Jon Aldrich I attended the annual Schwab Impact conference in San Diego last week (I wish I was still out there after coming back to January in November here at home). Schwab Impact is the annual conference for financial advisors that Schwab puts…
Read MoreGoing Nowhere Fast
By Jon Aldrich If you had went to sleep at the end of September of last year and just woke up, you might think the markets have been pretty boring these last 12 months. Especially, if you just picked up a paper and saw that the S & P 500 was currently around 2900, which…
Read MoreHappy New Year 2019
(Good Riddance 2018) By Jon Aldrich Happy New Year 2019! Don’t let the door hit you in the behind 2018. Now I say that partially in jest, but also because 2018 seemed like a difficult year not only for me, but also for many of those that I know. I am also aware of many…
Read MoreLong December
By Jon Aldrich For investors this has sure been a long December. Thus, I couldn’t resist one of my favorite songs by the band, Counting Crows as the lead picture. As I write this, the S & P 500 is on track for its worst December since 1931 and is having another “off” day. You…
Read MoreWild World
by Jon Aldrich It was yet another wild week in the stock market. As Cat Stevens a.k.a. Yusuf Islam penned in his 1970 album “Tea for the Tillerman” it sure has been a Wild World in the stock market lately. On Tuesday the Dow dropped 799 points (Geez, couldn’t it have squeaked out another point to make…
Read MoreGobbled Up
By Jon Aldrich Just like the turkey at your Thanksgiving Dinner, any gains that the S & P 500 had for the year have been gobbled up by the ongoing market correction that has lingered throughout October and November. The volatility in the markets we have been expecting and are now experiencing after such a…
Read MoreWell, At Least October is Almost Over
By Jon Aldrich October can be a great month. Fall is in full swing, and the colors and smells of fall here in the Midwest make it a great time of year. It’s that time for the smell of burning leaves and cider donuts at the orchard. It’s the time for kids to jump in…
Read MoreTrick or Treat, October is here.
By Jon Aldrich I was working out at the gym today and while I was riding the stationary bike I had the privilege of watching the financial media on CNBS (a.k.a. CNBC) in full meltdown mode. (I took the above picture today while I was riding) Of course, they had the big alert in the…
Read MoreMario Mendoza and Financial “Experts”
By Jon Aldrich By all accounts, Mario Mendoza was a slick infielder who couldn’t hit a lick. His lifetime batting average was .215, which you don’t have to be a baseball aficionado to understand is not very good. He essentially recorded a successful base hit approximately 20% of the time, give or take. Heck, I…
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