On July 4th this year, new legislation known as the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) was officially signed into law. Since our focus here is on providing financial information rather than politics, we will spend some time looking at the various components of the Bill and how they might effect some of the readers. When looking at this Bill, there are …
The Monday Minute: Market Cycles
Market cycles are the natural rise and fall of markets over time. They reflect how investor emotions, economic activity, and businesses interact. Although no cycle is identical, they generally follow four phases: Bottoming – The beginning of a new cycle. This is when markets have hit a low typically following a contraction (last phase of cycle). Valuations are cheap and investor sentiment …
The Monday Minute: Artificial Intelligence (AI)
Artificial Intelligence (AI) isn’t just science fiction anymore — it’s in your phone, your car, and even your office. But what is AI, really? AI refers to machines or software that mimic human intelligence. That means it can learn, problem solve, recognize patterns, and even make decisions often faster and more accurately than humans. Think of voice assistants like Siri, …
The Power Strain
The explosive rise of artificial intelligence has made semiconductors the new oil, but electricity may become the new constraint. As demand for data centers surges, driven by large language models and the companies that are building them, America’s power grid is being pushed to its limits. The U.S. is beginning to face a growing energy crisis, compounded by geopolitical tensions …
The Monday Minute: Comparing and Contrasting IRAs and 401ks
Two of the most common retirement savings tools are IRAs (Individual Retirement Accounts) and 401(k)s. While they both offer tax advantages, their legal structures and rules differ in key ways. Sponsorship and Setup Legally, 401(k)s are employer-sponsored retirement plans governed by the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA). Employers set them up and often include matching contributions. In contrast, IRAs …
How Times Change
It all seems very bizarre. I was born in 1973, so three ubiquitous kid fears were subconsciously ingrained into my adolescent and adult subconscious. One is an irrational feeling of alarm at the sight of nuclear power plant cooling towers (Three Mile Island accident in 1979). Another is the omnipresent threat that the world will be spontaneously obliterated by global …
The Monday Minute: Retirement vs. Non-Qualified Accounts: Key Differences in Naming Beneficiaries
When it comes to estate planning, naming beneficiaries on your investment accounts is a powerful tool because it helps assets pass directly to your heirs, avoiding probate. But how you name beneficiaries can vary depending on whether the account is a retirement account or a non-qualified (non-retirement) account. For retirement accounts such as IRAs and 401ks, beneficiary designation is essential. These …
Jaws
“That’s some bad hat, Harry” – Chief Martin Brody, Jaws, 1975 It is the golden anniversary for the summer blockbuster. The movie that began the wave of packing theaters during the summer was Jaws, which is still the seventh highest grossing movie of all time on an inflation adjusted basis. The genius of the film that captivated audiences during the …
Water
“The water understands Civilization well; It wets my foot, but prettily, It chills my life, but wittily, It is not disconcerted It is not broken-hearted: Well used, it decketh joy, Adorneth, doubleth joy:” – Water | Ralph Waldo Emerson (1867) It’s been an outcome that has been vexing many market analysts and investment pundits for much of the spring. The …
The Monday Minute: Managing Inherited Assets
Inheriting assets whether money, real estate, or investments can feel both like a blessing and a burden. It’s an opportunity to build wealth, but it also comes with emotional, financial, and legal responsibilities. Here’s some quick thoughts to help you manage inherited assets wisely. First, I recommend that you pause before taking action. Resist the urge to make immediate financial decisions. …