Posts by FFG Team
Tech Trends
Tech Trends There are different formulas for launching highly successful companies. First, create a product that solves a problem that no one knew they had — for instance, how online search engines replaced encyclopedias. Then, there are ideas that help solve problems that plague millions of people. Back pain, for example. Not only do approximately…
Read MoreRetirement: Savings and Financial Health
Retirement: Savings and Financial Health As many baby boomers near retirement, some new facts are coming into focus. According to the latest Government Accountability Office (GAO) report on retirement security, 29 percent of households aged 55 and older have no savings set aside for retirement and no pension. If that doesn’t change, they’ll be relying…
Read MoreReal Estate Investing
Real Estate Investing Investing in real estate can be an option to help diversify a portfolio because the market isn’t directly correlated with stock and bond markets. You don’t have to buy properties and become a landlord to participate, and there are a number of different financial vehicles available based on an investor’s key objectives,…
Read MoreWe Had a Strong Q1 2019; What’s the Outlook for the Rest of the Year?
We Had a Strong Q1 2019; What’s the Outlook for the Rest of the Year? The first quarter of 2019 proved to be a strong one. The S&P 500 posted a 13.1% gain (the highest quarterly gain since 2009), the Dow Jones Industrial Average rose by 11.15% and the Nasdaq increased by 16.5%. Bond…
Read MoreCompanies Creating Vertical Investing Opportunities, Others Investing in Communities
Companies Creating Vertical Investing Opportunities, Others Investing in Communities There is a new trend toward investing in American initiatives that aligns with the president’s focus on making the country great. Initiatives are cropping up to help create the potential for novel investment opportunities. Some of these investments are being created by companies that themselves…
Read MoreBull Market Turns 10
Bull Market Turns 10 March 9, 2019, marked the 10th anniversary of the current bull market, the longest-running in U.S. history. In that decade, the market more than quadrupled, and when you factor in dividends, it’s up fivefold.1 The short-term spikes over the past few years coupled with corporate share buybacks have served…
Read MoreRetirement Planning Tools
Retirement Planning Tools Here’s an interesting tidbit from the investment industry: In 2014, Merrill Lynch hired a gerontologist on staff – the first financial gerontologist of all time.1 Why? Because their financial advisors needed to learn how to plan for older people who are living longer than ever. The problems associated with this new era of…
Read MoreIRA Refresher
IRA Refresher In 2019, the IRS increased the limit on annual individual retirement account contributions to $6,000 from $5,500. The catch-up contribution for people ages 50 and up remained the same at $1,000.1 If you’re thinking about investing in an IRA or increasing your contribution, here’s some information to help you make your decision. A traditional…
Read MoreInsights from the “Oracle of Omaha”
Insights from the “Oracle of Omaha” In his 2018 Berkshire Hathaway annual report, published in February, renowned investor Warren Buffett reiterated the holding company’s objective to purchase well-managed businesses with positive and sustainable economic characteristics – and to buy them at sensible prices.1 Berkshire Hathaway joined many other companies in buying back its own shares…
Read MoreTax Tips: Look ahead while looking back at 2018
Tax Tips: Look ahead while looking back at 2018 If you didn’t adjust your tax withholding in early 2018, you might be in for a surprise when completing your tax return this year. A lot of people opted for the “wait-and-see” approach to determine if the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act would impact their return.…
Read More