Jessica Herrin, CEO & Founder of the Stella & Dot Family of Brands and author of Find Your Extraordinary, recently published an article after meeting with a new college graduate in search of landing her “dream job.” With two job offers in front of her, she was concerned that they weren’t all she had hoped they’d be after obtaining her degree; one could be too tedious, the other could be too challenging. Her goal was to begin her career in a position she was very passionate about without compromise. The words of wisdom Jessica shared are valuable not only to those entering the workforce but each one of us as we are reminded those that look for easy will never find extraordinary.

Thursday morning we held our monthly “Portfolios at Panera” event – an opportunity for clients and friends to hear about what is happening in the markets and how those happenings are impacting portfolios we manage. Today’s session consisted of three main topics: Brexit, market performance for the first half of 2016, and interesting observations when to politics and the presidential candidates.

Aside from picnics and parades, Independence Day is a time to reaffirm God’s vision for America while we reflect on the reason for celebration. As we honor our nation’s birthday this weekend, we remember with gratitude the many men and women who have served in the military so that all Americans can enjoy the freedoms we cherish.  Army Sergeant Bryan Anderson is one such veteran.  But it is not just his service that inspires us; it’s what he has done since then to encourage all who know him, or his story, to live lives with courage, passion, and greatness.

While polls and betting odds suggested the United Kingdom would remain part of the European Union, last night’s news came as a surprise, particularly to the financial markets. At The Joseph Group, our investment team is on the phone with money managers processing the impact of UK’s decision on markets and portfolios. As markets digest the news, here are some facts we are discussing as we separate the signal from the noise.

They say there is always a lesson to be learned from every experience and the NBA finals were no exception. LeBron James had been tasked with delivering a promise – a championship to his hometown. But even leaders need to learn to be led and in this week’s message we share words of wisdom that helped the Cavaliers bring the championship trophy home to Cleveland. 

Flat. Frustrated. While these two words describe the stock market and the mood of investors respectively, it is important to be smart in responding to what the market is doing. After all, Benjamin Franklin once said, “An investment in knowledge pays the best interest.” With that in mind we share with you two crucial concepts to consider in this range-bound environment.

Charles Plumb, a U.S. Naval Academy graduate, was a U.S. Navy jet pilot in Vietnam. After 75 combat missions, his plane was destroyed by a surface-to-air missile. Plumb ejected and parachuted into enemy hands. It was not until years later he realized the impact that experience would have on him and ultimately those he shared it with. 

Earlier today we held our monthly “Portfolios at Panera” event.  The last Thursday of each month we spend an hour talking with clients and friends about what is happening in the markets and how those happenings are impacting client portfolios. In addition to talking about “hot topics” such as the British referendum to potentially leave the European Union, and when the Fed might raise interest rates, we spent a good deal of time looking at forecasts of which asset classes are likely to have the best (and worst) performance over the next five years.

With the 2016 Memorial Golf Tournament around the corner, we share with you a golf enthusiast’s inspiring and thought-provoking story. His training reminds us that it takes more than physical ability alone to reach desired results, no matter your course of life. His secret?

While teaching a professional development class in Minnesota this week The Joseph Group’s Chief Investment Officer, Travis Upton, had the opportunity to visit with the portfolio management team at the Minneapolis-based investment firm, The Leuthold Group. Travis was able to talk with a number of the portfolio managers at the firm, including Leuthold Chief Investment Officer, Doug Ramsey. Here are two key takeaways from the meetings: