Praising our spouses in public is one of the most important investmetns we can make in our marriage, our family, and our role as a leader. Here’s why…

The biggest question on clients’ minds – Does the rough start for the market this year foreshadow the coming of a bigger bear market? Looking at a graph showing some of the worst 10-day starts to a year remind us positive returns could be in store for 2016.

We can all think of times when we failed to make it to an event of some sort, whether it be a wedding, business party, or community gathering. But wouldn’t it be nice to be remembered as someone who habitually “showed up”, offering a smile, a hand, a high-five?

In the first four trading days of 2016, U.S. stock market indexes have declined approximately -5%, the worst four day start to a year for the Dow and S&P 500 in history, according to FactSet data going back to 1897.  The catalysts for the decline seem like an almost exact replay of last August’s correction – news of slowing economic growth in China, China devaluing their currency, and the Chinese government interfering with free operation of their stock market. Let’s look at each piece to discuss what is happening:

In order to become the best version of yourself in 2016 you will need to identify clear goals and strategies for the important areas of your life – spiritual, physical, emotional, relational. You also must avoid the key pitfalls that those who live great lives have learned to overcome. Renowned phychologist Dr. Heny Cloud identifies those in his book, Never Go Back: 10 Things You’ll Never Do Again. Those who live great lives strive to never again…

As this note is being written on the last day of the year, the Dow is down over 100 points, capping off a year of flat to negative returns for major stock indexes in 2015. Looking at how things stand in December, here are a few observations:

In this issue of WealthNotes we share the final teachings of Doug Smith’s series, Living and Leading in the Second Half of Life. It is with the principals of leading in the second half of life that you are now able to fully reflect on Doug’s message to ultimately live with greater joy and lead with greater effectiveness for the benefit of ourselves and everyone with whom we come in contact.

Yesterday the Federal Reserve increased the Fed Funds rate by 0.25%, effectively ending a 7 year period of zero interest rates. The move in rates was widely expected, but the main event was what Fed Chair Janet Yellen said about the future…

You will recall in our previous issue of Wealth Notes Doug believes in order to have a profoundly successful life, there is a transition between the “two halves of life.” Throughout the transition, the soul becomes our primary focus and our lives and our leadership take on a very different character. In terms of living, those who transition most successfully…

This week, three charts particularly caught the attention of The Joseph Group’s investment committee as we discussed what is happening with markets and what is likely to happen going forward.