Intentional Wealth Insights

  • sunrise perspective in a financial crisis

    Gaining Perspective in a Financial Crisis

    “The three stages of a bull market: the first stage, when only a few unusually perceptive people believe things will get better, the second stage, when most investors realize that improvement is actually taking place, and the third stage, when everyone concludes things will get better forever.” The entire market cycle, in three months. Those feelings […]
    Read More
  • stargazing financial crisis

    Emerging From a Financial Crisis with No Regrets

    We all feel caught off guard. The financial professional, the Do-It-Yourself investor, and the 401(k) participant three years from retiring. You might feel like only a few weeks ago you “coulda, woulda, shoulda” done something different with your investments. There is never enough safety when fear takes hold. If we had 10% in stocks a […]
    Read More
  • football players becoming a

    How To Become a No-Conscience Investor

    I watched a lot of high school basketball as a kid. On Friday nights and Sunday afternoons, my father would take me to gyms throughout Baltimore to watch up-and-coming players. In one game, I remember seeing a point guard miss his first dozen shots before taking over and scoring 20 points. My father’s comment was: “He has […]
    Read More
  • hands writing: valuable professional habit

    Why Writing is The Most Valuable Professional Habit of an Advisor

    “I only write when inspiration strikes. Fortunately, it strikes at nine every morning.” -William Faulkner It is the one-year anniversary of my commitment to the most valuable professional habit benefitting clients: Writing. It took 15 years to figure out, but consistently writing and sharing may be the most important thing I do for our clients, […]
    Read More
  • knight armor and safe stocks

    Do safe stocks exist? Evaluating Value and Growth

    If you owned stocks or a stock mutual fund last year, you are probably pretty happy with the results, but you may also be breathing a sigh of relief.  If you are anything like the many we have spoken with over the last 18 months, there is a sense that this market has been and […]
    Read More
  • binoculars looking at future of the SECURE Act

    Looking Ahead: SECURE Act Update

    The closing weeks of 2019 gave us plenty to celebrate and plan for as investors.  In contrast to 2018, where it was nearly impossible to find growth in stocks, bonds, or any asset for that matter, 2019 provided plenty of opportunity for returns. There was volatility in the mix, however, as trade talks, domestic politics, and […]
    Read More
  • Setting New Year Financial Expectations

    We are at the start of a new decade. This means lists and reviews of the past year and ten years. Along with these retrospectives, we are treated to a healthy dose of predictions for what is to come (too often by financial gurus, unfortunately). This is click bait. An invitation to bog ourselves down in […]
    Read More
  • railroad switchback cost of trading

    Cost of Trading Changes

    The cost of trading changes at Charles Schwab and what it means for you and your financial advisor’s business. The Shifting Ground Under Our Feet The cost of trading has hit its lower limit: $0. In the last several weeks, after Charles Schwab announced that stock trades would be free, many major custodians and banks […]
    Read More
  • Philanthropy at Year End

    All you can take with you is that which you’ve given away The journey from Thanksgiving to New Year’s Day is a sprint this year. A dash from expressing gratitude over turkey in November, to giving generously in December, to new beginnings in January. I don’t know of another film that does as good of […]
    Read More
  • CEO thinking about finding identity in retirement

    Finding Identity in Retirement

    Do you know someone who has floundered when they walked away from work?  Think of that person you know whose identity was tied up in the ‘uniform’ that they wore for so many years. A suit and tie or the company colors. They identified closely with their role on a team or their status among […]
    Read More