
Looming Recession?
May 12, 2022
Downward markets have been drawing a lot of attention as of late. Among the many potential reasons for a decline is a slowing economy. Market pundits have been busy vocalizing their predictions on whether a recession is on the horizon and, if so when it might occur. Recessions have been loosely defined as two consecutive […]

Factoring in Inflation
April 28, 2022
In March, inflation reached heights not seen since December of 1981 as supply chain disruptions stemming from the ongoing global pandemic and open conflict in Eastern Europe continued to put upward pressure on prices. While many pundits believe we have seen the worst of it, higher than normal inflation appears to be here for a […]

Plan For Your Death…So Your Loved Ones Don’t Have To
April 26, 2022
Death is topic that no one wants to think about. However, the loss of a spouse can be devastating from both an emotional and financial perspective, especially if the deceased spouse was primarily responsible for managing the couple’s finances. The good news is that doing some planning now will ease the burden your grieving loved […]

The Dreaded Inverted Yield Curve
April 14, 2022
Many pundits have viewed an inverted yield curve as a signal for a recession. An inverted yield curve is defined as when short-term interest rates are higher than long-term rates. Although there has been previous correlation between this inversion occurring and a recession, it’s not as clear-cut an indicator as one may think. The Yield […]

Busted Bonds
March 24, 2022
With all the turmoil in the world, no wonder we have seen stock market declines. Stock markets had done so well for so long, and now you add a war on top of it, so it’s easy for our minds to justify the recent volatility. But bonds aren’t so intuitive. Bonds are supposed to help […]

From Russia with Tanks Part II – What’s Next?
March 10, 2022
Two weeks ago, Russian forces invaded Ukraine, launching the largest military campaign in Europe since World War II. While the geopolitical ramifications of the invasion may not be known for years, the implications for the global economy and the financial markets will be felt much sooner. As one might expect, the market dropped immediately the […]

Impact Investing – How to Assess Performance
February 24, 2022
In the summer of 2021, BDF introduced our Impact Investing platform. We designed a portfolio that stayed true to BDF’s philosophy on investing while also emphasizing companies that score favorably in terms of their environmental, social, and governance (ESG) factors. Since this introduction, we’ve been fortunate enough to have many great conversations with clients who […]

An Introduction to Phantom Stock and Stock Appreciation Rights
February 22, 2022
Providing equity is one of the best ways for companies to attract, retain and motivate top talent. Equity-based compensation can align the goals of key employees with the organization, ultimately increasing motivation, retention and results. However, it’s not always easy to give actual ownership, especially if the shares are illiquid, cash is tight, or existing […]

From Russia With…Tanks?
February 10, 2022
“Russia is a riddle, wrapped in a mystery, inside an enigma.” – Winston Churchill After a phenomenal 2021, stocks are off to a bumpy start in the new year. Much of the volatility can be attributed to shifting expectations around Federal Reserve policy as the Fed is expected to be more aggressive than previously anticipated […]

Is International Due in 2022?
January 27, 2022
“The Cubs are due in ’62.” —Ernie Banks Growing up in the area as a lifelong Chicago Cubs fan, I heard the same thing every year. At the beginning of the season, all the die-hard fans would say, “This is our year.” Then at the end, it always morphed into “Wait until next year.” By […]

New Year’s Financial Resolutions for Lawyers
January 25, 2022
It’s hard to believe that we’re at the beginning of another new year. Since ‘tis the season for making resolutions, I thought I would provide some ideas for helpful New Year’s financial resolutions for attorneys. Putting these tips into practice should help you get 2022 off to a strong start from a financial perspective. 1. […]

Protect Yourself Financially After the Loss of a Spouse
January 18, 2022
Losing a spouse comes with deep emotional grief and an overwhelming amount of complex financial and legal decisions. Many widows are in a state of shock where memory is uncertain, attention span is short, and decision-making seems nearly impossible. Here are three tips on how to protect yourself financially after loss: 1. Don’t rush into […]