Is Cash Back?
September 22, 2022
No, I’m not talking about your credit card rewards. When used in the context of investing, cash isn’t too exciting. It does provide some level of comfort in volatile markets, but over the long term, it is not your friend when you consider inflation. Therefore, its role in a portfolio for the long-term investor should […]
Don’t Fight the Fed, Round Two?
September 8, 2022
The Fed had its moment in Jackson Hole. While speculation grew that perhaps they would start to get a little softer with some signs of inflation easing, Chairman Jerome Powell went right at it, pinpointing inflation as enemy #1. He went so far as to say the Fed isn’t afraid to inflict some economic pain […]
The 3 P’s for Financial Professionals: Perspective
August 23, 2022
In our first blog The 3 P’s for Financial Professionals: Passion we identified your personal, professional and lifelong goals. Now, let’s look at Perspective. The purpose behind perspective is to have a healthy understanding of the investments driving those underlying passions and recognize the risk/return elements of each asset class on your balance sheet. It’s […]
Your Restricted Stock Just Vested: Should You Sell Now or Wait?
August 16, 2022
Restricted stock is a key part of many stock-based compensation plans. Unfortunately, you can’t control when it vests (i.e., becomes yours to keep). When it happens in a down market, it certainly doesn’t feel good. And depending on your industry, your stock may be down a lot more than the market, which feels even worse. […]
Financial Advisor Magazine Interviews Chad Carlson About Talk of Recession
August 15, 2022
Chad shared his thoughts with Financial Advisor magazine on what BDF is doing to position portfolios for the rest of the year. When clients worry, listen. “We all know the academic answer of what to do in downturns, but we need to have the patience to listen to the concerns of clients,” Carlson says. “We […]
Are We in a Recession? Should We Care?
August 11, 2022
According to the dictionary, the U.S. went into a technical recession two weeks ago when it was confirmed that the economy shrunk for the second quarter in a row. How did markets respond to the news? Both stocks and bonds rallied. In fact, July was the best month for the stock market since April 2020. […]
Are We on the Verge of a Housing Market Correction?
July 28, 2022
After two years of unprecedented growth in the housing market, we are beginning to see signs of cooling. Is this the beginning of a sharp correction? Recession talks are everywhere. The lost wealth effect from market turmoil, rising rates, inflation, and negative consumer sentiment are all bad signs, right? While it’s certainly possible, there is […]
A Lawyer’s Guide to Bonds and Interest Rates
July 26, 2022
What in the world is going on with bonds? That is one of the most common questions I hear these days. Interest rates have gone up considerably in a very short period of time. When that happens, bond prices go down considerably so halfway through 2022, the bond market is off to its worst start […]
3 Ways You Can Help a Widowed Loved One
July 19, 2022
Many of us know someone who has lost a spouse and are unsure how to act or what to say. There is a delicate balance between wanting to be there for them and giving them space to grieve. The truth is that everyone grieves differently. Here are three tips on what you can do (and […]
If Recession Comes, Why It May Be Different This Time
July 14, 2022
Headlines these days tend to focus on the stress the economy is facing and the potential for a recession (some even argue we may already be in a recession). People are rightfully worried about the state of the economy, as the continued impacts of supply chain disruptions stemming from the global pandemic, increased energy costs, […]
Powell’s Pickle
June 23, 2022
In January 2013, I was in the market for a new car. With gas at the time above $4 per gallon, I opted for a Ford Fusion Hybrid. Of course, as soon as I made the purchase, gas prices dropped and remained low for the next nine years. Why share this anecdote other than to […]
A Close Eye on I Bonds
May 26, 2022
With the stock and bond markets in turmoil and inflation topping 8%, it is only natural for investors to seek any investment that offers attractive returns. Enter I Bonds – the latest bright, shiny object to grace the investment scene. Much has been written about I Bonds in recent months especially given the 9.6% interest […]