Blog

We are writing to inform you that the Investment Committee has approved a change to the construct of our target portfolios.  Please note as follows:

After an extended period of low volatility, markets have been more challenging to navigate over the last several weeks. The S&P 500 has retreated since its last high on March 1, and long-term interest rates have declined over the same period, pushing bond prices higher.

The digital world has transformed professional industries in unique ways that prior to internet access would have been impossible. Doctors can monitor patients remotely, lawyers can offer counsel online, software can complete your taxes for you, and even financial investments and advising can be made without any face-to-face contact.

When people warn you that having kids is expensive, it’s no joke. From diapers to food, braces to sports activities the costs add up quick. For a middle-income family in the U.S. raising a child up until age 18, it costs an estimated average of $245,340 (or $304,480, adjusted for projected inflation), according to the 2013 “Cost of Raising a Child” report from the U.S.

After the ball dropped on New Year’s Eve, we all dug up our hopes and dreams and made some resolutions. Here are a few tips to keep you on track and help you reach your goals.

Turn Dreams into Goals

It is no secret that the typical American is working long hours with little respite compared to other countries with large economies. Full-time employees report an average work week of 47 hours and four out of 10 American workers say they work over 50 hours a week.

Do you love the holidays, spending thousands of dollars on holiday gifts, lights, entertaining, food and decorations each year? If so, you’re not alone. Many Americans feel the sting of holiday spending well into the New Year.

We feel that the following letter from LPL’s Chief Investment Officer Burt White appropriately captures our thoughts on last night’s election result.  

Burt White Election letter

For much of this year many of you have offered to us in meetings your thoughts on the upcoming election, and on many occasions we have shared laughs about the riotous nature of this cycle’s electoral process.

Life is full of risks and people make decisions every day that require weighing those risks against their ability to protect themselves using their own resources or by transferring the risk to an insurance company. Most people realize that they couldn’t afford to rebuild a damaged home or buy a new car without insurance.