If there was a clear message from second quarter markets, it’s that you never know. Even as we saw headlines that “At Least a Fourth of US Economy Goes Idle from Lockdown,” we saw others informing us that “US Stocks Close Out Best Quarter Since 1998.” What can we make of this? In short, Q2 offered a crash course in how critical it is to stay invested in both stocks and bonds,...

  WORKING DURING QUARANTINE Here at SAGEbroadview we continue to mostly work from our homes -- zooming, calling and emailing with our clients and each other on all kinds of financial planning and investment tasks as well as putting the finishing touches on tax season. Larry opted to work in quarantine in our brand-new office in Farmington, CT; once you see how nice it turned out you will understand why! You can...

You won’t be surprised to see all the red in returns for stocks this past quarter. But take heart at the green for bond returns. When stock markets are climbing upward, bond funds can seem so boring, but you see now how well they are doing their job of providing stability and ballast in your globally diversified portfolio that holds a mix of bond & stock funds (your asset allocation). At SAGEbroadview we continue...

A CARES Act Overview With much of the country in self-isolation, perhaps you’ve got time to read the entire H.R. 748 Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act, or CARES Act. If you’d prefer, here is a summary of many of the key provisions we expect to be discussing with you in person (virtually), depending on which ones apply to you. Questions? Please be in touch! In General Direct payments/recovery rebates: Most...

From our friends at Buckingham Wealth Partners -  AskBuckingham.com: "If the rate at which the news, the markets and life as we know it are changing these days has left you with more questions than answers, you’re not alone.  This video podcast series is designed to provide simple answers to your most pressing questions. No stage, no sound bites—just short, straight answers from the experienced thought leaders that guide Buckingham’s research, education, investment and financial planning efforts. From...

People really need our help now The Roman orator Cicero said and, later, the Jesuits adopted as their own unofficial motto: “Non nobis solum nati sumus,” which translates to “We are not born for ourselves alone.” If you are in a position to help during this uncertain time, here is a list of charities vetted by Fidelity Charitable: Direct Relief- Coronavirus Pandemic CDC Foundation Gates Philanthropy Partners Good360 National Association of Free & Charitable Clinics Partners in Health United Nations...

written by Gail Lalk, LPC, LCADC, Therapist at Young Adult Therapy Gail is a dear friend of mine. She originally posted this on LinkedIn but gave me permission to share this with you. In the United States, we are in the early weeks of managing the impact that the coronavirus pandemic will have on our lives. As I write this, the virus has cropped up in all 50 states and there are...

As we carry out 'physical distancing' (we'd rather not call it 'social distancing'), let's try to practice psychological closeness by creating - across physical distances - shared experiences with family and friends. (h/t Jamil Zaki) From the Broadsheet, a daily newsletter from Fortune: "Several of you mentioned the soothing effect of listening to podcasts. Audio news and storytelling has become a commuting fixture for many of us, so it makes sense to incorporate them into your WFH...

One of our important jobs is to keep informed about the news, the markets and the economy, and determine if any actions are warranted on your behalf. We also aim to keep you as informed as you wish to be. - Today we share perspective from Dimensional: Jake DeKinder, Head of Client Communications, and Mark Gochnour, Head of Global Client Services, discuss recent volatility in financial markets and provide perspective on these events in...

One benefit of aging is experience. Although Larry and I are technically y’old’s (young olds), we've seen our share of incredibly great times and incredibly difficult times. It has shaped our perspectives as parents, spouses, friends and as financial planners. Many of our clients have often heard us ask "Are you happy with your work, how you spend your time, the quality of your relationships? Is how you are living and spending your money...