15 Jul 2016

Posted at 12:00h in The Friday Brief by
unnamed3 Our hearts and prayers go out to the families and friends of those murdered and maimed in Nice, France last night during their celebration of Bastille Day. Since BREXIT, US equity markets have come roaring back and then some. Increasing confidence that the Fed will pause their interest rate increases, a stronger-than-expected jobs report in the US on Friday, and the speedy transfer of power in Great Britain to Theresa May as Prime Minister have all added to the optimism driving stocks higher. The S&P 500 has had four record-high closes this week, yet other indexes have not, notably the Nasdaq, which remains almost 4% below last year's high. It means that most stocks, and significantly many that have driven our economy of late (technology) remain off their highs.

08 Jul 2016

Posted at 12:43h in The Friday Brief by
sunset-summer-golden-hour-paul-filitchkinOne of the major goals we often help clients plan for is financial independence.  Imagine the freedom of knowing you do not have to work.  You would be free to start the company you have always dreamed of, serve an organization you are passionate about regardless of pay or take an extended trip with your family or friends.  Maybe you would worry less about money and the minutia of your daily finances.

24 Jun 2016

Posted at 11:09h in The Friday Brief by
The latest reminder of how divided we are around the world and how poorly our political systems understand and have adapted comes this morning as British citizens voted yesterday 52% to 48% to leave the European Union. The referendum itself was the result of a risky campaign pledge Prime Minister David Cameron made in order to gain re-election. He calculated the referendum was the only way he could placate anti-EU Conservatives in his party, while holding off the growing threat that the U.K Independence Party might fracture his majority in Parliament.