Tim's Latest Insights

Wisdom comes from experience, and just like a toddler who grew into a confident preschool graduate, we've grown wiser from navigating the stock market's recurring cycles of trade war drama. Despite May's market volatility dropping returns over 6% for the month, year-to-date gains remain positive at 10.7%, and we're strategically positioned to take advantage of the pullback.

After a strong market rebound, a few key concerns remain on investors' radar, including the Fed's decision to hold interest rates steady, lingering China trade tensions, and growing 2020 election uncertainty. While "Medicare for All" proposals have weighed on healthcare stocks, analysts suggest the sweeping policy change faces significant financial and political hurdles that make its passage unlikely.

Tax season is in full swing, and we're sharing some exciting developments in the annuities world, as major insurance companies like Lincoln, Jackson, and Nationwide are finally addressing long-standing concerns around investment selection, surrender charges, and high fees. We're also updating our clients about an important K-1 tax form issue they may encounter this year with TD Ameritrade.

After a tough end to 2018, the stock market is off to its best January since 1987, making it the perfect time to review your financial plan. Read on for important tax updates under the new tax law, plus tips on charitable giving, risk tolerance, and estate planning to help you start the year on the right foot.

After a rough December that saw the S&P 500 drop 9%, the new year is off to an encouraging start with markets already recovering 3.4% in just six trading days. While it's too early to sound the all-clear, expert predictions suggest 2019 could still see positive equity returns, with political gridlock in Washington potentially working in the market's favor.

Despite alarming headlines proclaiming the worst market drops in decades, the recent 20% market pullback reflects normal business cycle activity rather than a true financial crisis. History shows that every significant downturn presents a buying opportunity, and we've been strategically adding strong positions to portfolios in anticipation of the inevitable recovery.

Despite recent market volatility, major financial institutions like JP Morgan Chase are predicting a 17% gain in the S&P 500 for 2019, with 14 other strategists echoing similar optimism. History shows that staying invested is crucial, as missing just the top 5 trading days over the last decade would have cost investors 32% of their total returns.

Despite alarming headlines about the Huawei CFO arrest and fresh trade war fears sending the stock market down 10% from recent highs, history shows us that staying the course is almost always the right move for long-term investors. Through wars, recessions, pandemics, and countless crises over the past 140 years, the market has still managed to increase 10,000-fold — and that's exactly why we're not selling.

After a rough October for the stock market, all eyes are now on two key dates — the November 6th midterm elections and the November 30th G-20 summit — which we believe will shape how 2018 ends and set the tone for 2019. We're also making strategic moves in our growth portfolio, trimming some positions and taking advantage of recent dips to invest in promising opportunities like Square.

Market volatility this week has rattled investors, with growth and tech stocks pulling back sharply due to concerns over rising interest rates, overvalued equities, and ongoing China trade tensions. Despite the turbulence, we recommend staying the course and viewing this downturn as a potential opportunity to invest, as history has shown that putting money to work during market dips has consistently proven to be a sound strategy.

Finding the right senior living facility for a loved one can be an overwhelming process, but resources like Jennifer Cook-Buman of Portland Senior Housing can help families navigate placement with confidence. We also break down the financial side of long-term care planning, including how to best position your money to cover costs when the time comes.

As the longest bull market in history approaches, we explore whether Presidents deserve credit (or blame) for stock market performance, and take a look at how current economic indicators, including housing markets, are shaping up.