Blog

A Letter To Our Clients: Looking Ahead

Wes Barnett, CRPC®, AAMS®

Wednesday, November 2, 2022

Dear Valued Clients,October is now behind us and it has delivered on its track record as a historically favorable month for stocks, offering some respite for investors as major equity indices rose for the month. The downside pressure...

5 Expensive Long-Term Care Planning Mistakes to Avoid

Wes Barnett, CRPC®, AAMS®

Monday, October 31, 2022

The vast majority of Americans need long-term care. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 70% of people over age 65 may need some long-term care during their lives.1 Unfortunately, planning for long-term care...

Three Things to Know About Recessions

Wes Barnett, CRPC®, AAMS®

Monday, October 24, 2022

If the U.S. economy enters a recession, the causes and potential outcome will be hotly debated. At LPL Research, our starting point is always looking at history. This week’s commentary will remind us of three things we know about...

How Financial Planning Can Help Prepare for LTC Costs

Wes Barnett, CRPC®, AAMS®

Thursday, October 20, 2022

With the cost of long-term care (LTC) increasing year over year, considering how the costs of long-term LTC will impact your financial plan is essential. According to insurance company Genworth, the price of LTC services increased...

LOW BAR FOR EARNINGS SEASON

Wes Barnett, CRPC®, AAMS®

Monday, October 17, 2022

Expectations are very low for this earnings season. The challenges are many, with intense cost pressures and slowing economic growth at the top of the list. The chorus of analysts and strategists calling for big cuts to estimates has...

6 Important Components of Estate Planning

Wes Barnett, CRPC®, AAMS®

Thursday, October 13, 2022

Basic estate planning is something that everyone should do, regardless of your age, marital status, the value of your assets, and if you’re a parent or not.  According to a 2021 poll by Gallup, less than half of U.S. adults...

Ten Things You Must Know About Medicare

Wes Barnett, CRPC®, AAMS®

Wednesday, October 12, 2022

Heading into your retirement years brings a slew of new topics to grapple with, and one of the most maddening may be Medicare. Figuring out when to enroll, what to enroll in and what coverage will be best for you can be daunting. To...

POCKETS OF VULNERABILITIES

Wes Barnett, CRPC®, AAMS®

Wednesday, October 12, 2022

As Federal Reserve (Fed) officials continue to emphasize the Fed’s commitment towards restoring price stability, the dollar marches ever higher. Markets are currently pricing in another 75-basis point rate hike at the November 2...

Facing Your Financial Fears: 4 Ways to Avoid Budget Planning Scares

Wes Barnett, CRPC®, AAMS®

Monday, October 10, 2022

Nearly 75% of American adults report that they don't regularly follow a budget, while 10% have no budget at all.1 A lucky few may earn enough, or have low enough expenses, making budgeting unnecessary. But for the rest of us, the...

8 Things Financial Planning Can Help You Address

Wes Barnett, CRPC®, AAMS®

Friday, September 30, 2022

Financial planning is unique for each person; no two financial plans look the same because everyone's life and personal goals are different. Regardless of what your goals are, financial planning can help you work towards achieving them...

Everything You Need to Know About FAFSA

Wes Barnett, CRPC®, AAMS®

Wednesday, September 28, 2022

Each year, the U.S. Department of Education distributes more than $150 billion in grants, loans, and work-study awards to millions of college students. With these financial aid programs, tuition, room and board, books, and other...

Why It May Be Time to Take Advantage of Higher Yields

Wes Barnett, CRPC®, AAMS®

Monday, September 26, 2022

The LPL Research Strategic and Tactical Asset Allocation Committee is increasing its recommended interest rate exposure in its tactical allocation from underweight to neutral. Now that interest rates have moved substantially higher, we...

Planning Ahead for Life Insurance Proceeds

Wes Barnett, CRPC®, AAMS®

Friday, September 23, 2022

Why did you purchase life insurance? If you're like most people who buy life insurance, you're looking to provide a source of income for someone (e.g., a spouse, parent, or child) after you die. Buying the policy was the first step....

An Essential Guide to Estate Planning Preparedness

Wes Barnett, CRPC®, AAMS®

Wednesday, September 21, 2022

A recent survey by Caring.com found that a whopping two in three American adults do not have an estate plan1—an alarming statistic, considering that an estate plan can protect your assets and ensure that they go to the right...

The Ultimate Home Financing Guide

Wes Barnett, CRPC®, AAMS®

Thursday, September 15, 2022

Congratulations! You’re ready to buy a home. But before you start scouring the Multiple Listing Service (MLS), you need to secure a home loan. Use this guide to learn about some of the most common types of mortgages and which one...

5 Tips for Navigating Medicare in Retirement

Wes Barnett, CRPC®, AAMS®

Tuesday, September 13, 2022

One of the main concerns about retirement is health care. As healthcare costs continue to rise, medical bills may quickly derail your retirement plan. The good news is when you turn 65, you will be able to apply for Medicare, which...

Estimating College Costs

Wes Barnett, CRPC®, AAMS®

Friday, September 9, 2022

What is the forecast for college cost increases?A college education is expensive. All those benefits of personal growth, expanded horizons, and increased lifetime earning power come at a price, a price that increases every year....

The Basics of the 401(k)

Wes Barnett, CRPC®, AAMS®

Wednesday, September 7, 2022

Thoughts from a financial professionalMost often, the first question a prospective employee will ask is about your company’s benefit program. And in my experience, the two most often-asked questions are about...

September’s Calendar Cruelty for Stocks

Wes Barnett, CRPC®, AAMS®

Tuesday, September 6, 2022

The difficult 2022 for stocks may not get much easier because as we now wait for better news on the inflation front, we have to contend with a seasonally weak month of September. While we got some welcome news in Friday’s jobs...

Here’s Why Your Credit Score Matters and How to Improve It

Wes Barnett, CRPC®, AAMS®

Tuesday, August 30, 2022

Credit can be a scary subject to approach, whether or not you want to jump into it isn’t an option in most cases; credit determines a lot, but it can also be a great financial tool when used properly. When your credit score is...

Five Keys to Investing for Retirement

Wes Barnett, CRPC®, AAMS®

Thursday, August 25, 2022

Making decisions about your retirement account can seem overwhelming, especially if you feel unsure about your knowledge of investments. However, the following basic rules can help you make smarter choices regardless of whether you...

4 Tips and Resources to Help Seniors During Periods of High Inflation and Market Volatility

Wes Barnett, CRPC®, AAMS®

Thursday, August 18, 2022

In 2022, U.S. inflation hit a 40-year high, with prices for food, housing, gasoline, and other key staples increasing by nearly 10% over the previous year.1 During these uncertain times, stocks have continued a roller-coaster ride...

Basic Strategies for Stocks

Wes Barnett, CRPC®, AAMS®

Friday, July 29, 2022

Equities have a history of producing higher returns than most other types of investment over time, though past performance is no guarantee of future results and there also have been extended periods in which they have not outperformed....

3 Factors That Could Change the Inflation Course

Wes Barnett, CRPC®, AAMS®

Monday, July 25, 2022

For the past year, supply-related problems contributed more to inflation than demand-related imbalances, but that may be changing soon. There are at least three factors that could change the course of inflation. First, the improvement...

The sandwich generation is a term commonly used to describe those between the ages of 40 and 59 who are responsible for raising their family and are also often helping their aging parents manage their ongoing needs. Those members of...

Social isolation makes people more susceptible to illness and death.1 While retirement is a time for relaxation and enjoyment from a lifetime of work, it may lead to a lack of purpose if you have depended on work for...

Markets rarely give us clear skies, and there are always threats to watch for on the horizon, but the right preparation, context, and support can help us navigate anything that may lie ahead. So far, this year hasn’t seen a...

America’s Founding Fathers created the foundation of a nation like no other. Each had goals and dreams, many with high expectations of what the United States of America could become. For today’s citizens, it may be possible...

Today, younger adults face a variety of challenges in their pursuit of financial independence. Some of these challenges are similar to those faced by previous generations, while others are unique to the times. Here are five financial...

Relief at the Pump and for Portfolios?

Wes Barnett, CRPC®, AAMS®

Monday, June 27, 2022

2022 has been rough all-around for the American consumer. Not only are we battling decades-high inflation, but investors’ portfolios are off to one of the worst starts to a year in history as we near the halfway point. Our...

Bear Market Q and A

Wes Barnett, CRPC®, AAMS®

Wednesday, June 22, 2022

The bear market that started on June 13 has left the S&P 500 Index 23.5% below its January 3 high. After the initial positive reaction to the Federal Reserve’s first 0.75% rate hike since 1994 and tough talk on inflation,...

6 Tennis Tips To Help Make Your Retirement a Grand Slam

Wes Barnett, CRPC®, AAMS®

Monday, June 20, 2022

6 Tennis Tips To Help Make Your Retirement a Grand Slam Whether you make tennis one of your leisure activities during retirement or just enjoy watching the sport, you may not realize that the same strategies used in a tennis match may...

Sun, Fun, and Summer Savings: 5 Thrifty Tips for Summer Traveling

Wes Barnett, CRPC®, AAMS®

Thursday, June 16, 2022

Summer is here, and it could be time to hit the road on a new adventure. If you’re on a tight budget, you don’t have to give up your summer vacation dreams. Here are a few tips you may be able to use to create the perfect...

Is the 60/40 Portfolio Dead?

Wes Barnett, CRPC®, AAMS®

Tuesday, June 14, 2022

This year has been tough for investors, not just because stocks have fallen but also because bonds have not helped mitigate those losses as they have historically done. Below we discuss the outlook for diversified portfolios of stocks...

Tips to Shape Up Your Fiscal Fitness this Summer

Wes Barnett, CRPC®, AAMS®

Tuesday, June 14, 2022

A regular program of disciplined financial practices can help you in the long-run Many people realize that the best way to stay in shape is to develop an appropriate fitness regimen and then stick with it. If you start a fitness...

The Economy Is Slowing But Not Shrinking

Wes Barnett, CRPC®, AAMS®

Monday, June 6, 2022

Many pundits are issuing recession warnings and saying the economy is heading for a hard landing. Amid the cacophony of voices, we think the economy is slowing just like central bankers want but not shrinking. Further, we argue that a...

Fixed vs. Variable Annuities

Wes Barnett, CRPC®, AAMS®

Monday, June 6, 2022

Annuity products have grown more sophisticated over the years to meet the demands of today's more sophisticated investors. Just as mutual funds grew in popularity as an alternative to certificates of deposit, the variable annuity was...

Financial Aid Resources for Your Incoming Freshman

Wes Barnett, CRPC®, AAMS®

Thursday, June 2, 2022

College is expensive for many people. The average tuition and fees at a college or university for the 2019 to 2020 academic year at a four-year institution was $9,4001. This may include the cost of tuition, books, and housing. For some...

Looking through the Clouds

Wes Barnett, CRPC®, AAMS®

Wednesday, June 1, 2022

At the risk of sounding cliché, making the case for stocks to stage a second half rally back to the prior highs requires investors to see through some heavy cloud cover. If you prefer another market cliché, it’s times...

Understanding Your Homeowners Policy

Wes Barnett, CRPC®, AAMS®

Tuesday, May 31, 2022

Reading a homeowners insurance policy for the first time can be intimidating. With all the jargon, exclusions, and conditions you'll encounter, you may start thinking that Mom was right--you should have gone to law school after all....

What recent graduates (and their parents) need to think aboutSpring is here, summer weather has begun (in many places), and graduation time has arrived.  Across the country, students are finishing their high school, college, and...