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May 22, 2017 in Family Money, Investing, Young Adult Series
If there’s an investment instrument that has withstood the test of time, it’s the good, old U.S. savings bond. Since their 1935 debut under “New Deal” President Franklin D. Roosevelt, they’ve never been known for their get-rich glamour. But to this day, investors still turn to them when appropriate. When do savings bonds still make sense, and what are best practices for managing them these days? The Enduring U.S. Savings Bond As...

May 15, 2017 in Budgets, Expenses, Family Money, Young Adult Series
Okay, I know budgeting is rarely fun for anyone, but it can be especially hard on young adults. You’ve just wrapped up your formal education and received your first decent paycheck – way more than you’ve been earning between classes. What’s a common reaction? “I deserve a shopping spree!” Meantime, the necessary expenses add up too: food, clothing and shelter for today and tomorrow. You get to the end of...

May 2, 2017 in Gratitude, Mindful living
Last week, I talked up Headspace. I try to get my Zen on every day, but for a Type A type like me, sometimes one resource just doesn’t cut it. Is it ironic that even when it comes to my meditation I tend to be an over-achiever? Hey, I’m in good company. Consider this interesting article about the late, great Steve Jobs and the one question he asked himself every...

April 24, 2017 in Gratitude, Mindful living
Remember Ray and the late Tom Magliozzi of Car Talk? I miss their weekly advice, and so does my car. I’ve even been known to have browsed their “shameless commerce” division. Today, I’m going to engage in some shameless commerce of my own … but not for myself. As I reflect on some of the things that make me happy, I want to share that onward by pointing you to...

April 18, 2017 in Evidence-Based Investing, Investing
We all have our symbolic security blankets, right? Mine is Madeleine L’Engle’s “Wrinkle in Time.” I first read it when I was a young adult, shortly after it became a Newbery Medal winner and I was still the book’s target audience. It was such a bull’s eye that I continue to revisit it every few years, wrapping myself up in its satisfying triumph of good over evil. For investors, one of...

March 29, 2017 in 1MinChart Series, Economics
Today we share a series of charts on trade deficits.   Reminder: These charts come to us compliments of independent economist Fritz Meyer, a seasoned economic and markets analyst whose insights appear regularly on CNBC, Bloomberg TV and the Fox Business Network.  Here is what Fritz has to say about trade deficits: … A trade deficit isn’t a debt that must be repaid. It is often a sign of economic prosperity. … It means...

March 15, 2017 in SAGE Reads
A curated list for your reading pleasure -- some light-hearted articles, some that are thought-provoking, and some of a more practical nature: This Bull Market Isn't as Old as Some Seem to Think (BloombergView) “Why is this important? Understanding how old a bull market is may very likely affect your expectations of future returns, your risk appetite, even your investment allocations. Misunderstanding when a bull market began is potentially a...

March 7, 2017 in Dimensional, Evidence-Based Investing, Investing
Here’s a trick question: When does 5,000 = 3,600? The answer is: when you’re counting how many companies the Wilshire 5000 Total Market Index is actually tracking these days. The name suggests there are at least 5,000 publicly traded, U.S.-listed companies in the total market, but that number has been shrinking for a couple decades. That’s one of several fascinating insights shared in a recent report from our friends at Dimensional...

February 21, 2017 in Dimensional, Investing
FEBRUARY 17, 2017 Investment Shock Absorbers JIM PARKER, VICE PRESIDENT Ever ridden in a car with worn-out shock absorbers? Every bump is jarring, every corner stomach-churning, and every red light an excuse to assume the brace position. Owning an undiversified portfolio can trigger similar reactions. TO READ MORE: OPEN PDF ARTICLE ...

February 8, 2017 in SageBroadview News
Whenever the world rings in a new year, we are privileged to reach another milestone that, in our opinion, seems almost as worthy of global celebration. Happy third birthday to us! On January 1, 2014, SAGE Advisory Group of Morristown, NJ and Broadview Financial Planning of Farmington, CT merged and became (drumroll from Devon please …) SAGEbroadview Financial Planning. Combining two seasoned teams scattered across multiple states into one cohesive group...