To Inform:  One of the biggest tailwinds to the strong stock market returns in the US over the past decade is the expanding profit margins in publicly traded US companies. Expanding margins, the result of lower interest rates, steady input costs (materials and labor) and modest price increases have contributed to this rise in profit […]

To Inspire: Most of us recognize Milana Vayntrub as the quirky lovable Lily from those fun AT&T commercials. But it’s her work helping refugees that’s really making a difference. In this issue of WealthNotes we share that part of her great life – via excerpts below from an article by Jessica Toomer and posted back […]

To Inform: We’ve seen a few personalities in the financial media call this month “The September to Remember” because there is a lot going on in the world. Let’s take a look at a non-exhaustive list: The Federal Reserve is meeting next week and talk is they will preview a “tapering plan” to reduce bond […]

To Inspire:   You may already know the story of Gander, Newfoundland and its role in 9/11. After all, the story was turned into a Tony Award-winning Broadway musical and that musical has now been made into a movie, just released on streaming service Apple TV+. I was fortunate to originally hear this story from […]

To Inspire: This weekend is a time to remember the many lives lost twenty years ago on 9/11 as well as their family members and the many first responders. We recall with gratitude the great sacrifices made and the sacrifices that continue to be made to help ensure that such an event never happens again. […]

Last year we talked about Health Savings Accounts Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) as a tax saving and wealth building tool (read that article here). Now let’s explore how folks can utilize their HSA account, especially in their retirement years, if they have been using it as a wealth savings vehicle. If you have been fortunate […]

To Inspire: I’m a reader, I love books – real books, not eBooks – and I tend to want to buy and keep them. But when I do clear some out, I make sure they go to a good home – a friend, the local library, etc. I can’t imagine throwing a book in the […]

To Inform: Last week, Alex Durbin and I were privileged to facilitate a lively discussion at our Portfolios at Panera event. We covered a multitude of topics and in this issue of WealthNotes, we review the two key issues that generated the most discussion. Inflation Inflation is clearly a hot topic and something we as […]

  A 401(k) plan has three key providers. The first is the recordkeeper, who’s primary responsibility is to track the assets in the plan so that employees and plan sponsors know what they have in the plan. Recordkeepers typically provide websites for participants and sponsors to view balance information, provide account statements and process distribution […]

To Inform: When talking to people about stocks, the topic of dividends usually comes up. “What’s the dividend?” is usually the question being asked, and it is a reasonable one. Dividends are tangible ways for investors to understand that owning stocks is a claim on the cash flows of a business. That being said, paying […]