Blog
The Most Unloved Bull Market in History?
What is a bull market, and more importantly, who determines if we are in one?Technically speaking, a bull market is defined as a 20% gain in a stock market index, such as the Standard & Poor's 500, from a closing low.So are we in one?...
Read MoreHappy Mother's Day
Mother’s Day is Sunday, May 14th. Wishing all you moms and mom-substitutes a very Happy Mother’s Day! I want to pay tribute to my mom, Marie Louise Sapp. She was born January 31, 1926, and passed away January 25, 2020
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Happy Thanksgiving! Black Friday and Crashes
Dear Client Family and Friends:Tomorrow is Thanksgiving – a time for gathering with loved ones and observing gratitude. I imagine that the warmth of a holiday meal probably beckons . . . As you gather around the table...
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October Is Breast Cancer Awareness Month
October Is Breast Cancer Awareness Month
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Ways to Prevent Elder Financial Fraud
If you’re like most people, you don’t spend much time worrying about whether you’ll become a victim of financial fraud. Unfortunately, this overconfidence can leave you vulnerable. While financial fraud is a...
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1% Moves in S&P 500
If you’ve felt like stock prices were a little more volatile in 2022 than in recent years, your “spidey senses” are right on the money.The S&P 500 has posted 81 daily moves of at least 1% through August. Of those...
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Happy Labor Day Weekend | Economic Update | The Behavior Gap and Your Financial Health
Dear Client Family and Friends:I try not to overwhelm you with a lot of stuff in your inbox, but because of the market volatility, I thought I would send the “Weekly Economic Update for August 29, 2022”. I’m...
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Could Seasonal Employment in Retirement be Right for You?
Many retirees who want to earn some extra income without committing to a regular part-time job explore seasonal employment. For a couple weeks or months out of the year, you could try something new, put your professional skills to good...
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Develop a Family Bucket List
Summer flies by fast, but if you're a parent, you probably feel like your kids are growing up even faster. The hustle and bustle of raising and supporting your family can make it tough to find time to get away. But if you don't start...
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Happy Independence Day! | How to Handle Market Declines | Behavior Gap and Your Financial Health
However you choose to celebrate the Fourth of July 2022, please, please, do it safely. I hope you wear your “red, white and blue” proudly, and remember that the “freedom” we cherish in this country is certainly not free.
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Space Mountain or Thunder Mountain
I never cared much for Space Mountain at Disney. My stomach lining was more agreeable with Thunder Mountain. The Whipsawing (like Space Mountain) we have experienced in the market of late is very uncomfortable. I get that. We all know t
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Year-End Financial Checklist
Your Year-End Financial Checklist Aspects of your financial life to review as the year draws to a close. The end of the year can help remind us of last-minute things we need to address and the goals we want to pursue. To that end, here...
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Happy Hanukkah
For my friends that celebrate Hanukkah, the Festival of Lights, I wish you a joyous time with family and friends – lots of Hanukkah songs, dreidels and traditional foods to make your celebration complete. Happy Hanukkah!
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Give yourself a gift
Annual Financial To-Do List Things you can do for your future as the year unfolds. What financial, business, or life priorities do you need to address for the coming year? Now is an excellent time to think about the investing, saving,...
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Happy Thanksgiving
This Thanksgiving I challenge you to look at the glass half full. Look at what you have and not what you don’t have. Tell the people you love, well, that you love them. Tell the people who support you with services how much you...
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Celebrating Life
October 16th I was very privileged to attend the birthday party for my client and friend, Sandi Van Buskirk. I was honored to make a toast highlighting her career accomplishments (retired founder of Software Synergy, Inc.) and her...
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Ending the Week with a Smile
Last Friday the Second Saturday Broward team was debriefing after our most recent Second Saturday Divorce Workshop. Our Web Master, Eric Sachs, is a new, first time Dad, and we were anxious to see more than just a picture of baby Jude....
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Social Security Administration Announces 5.9% COLA for 2022
On October 13, 2021, the Social Security Administration (SSA) officially announced that Social Security recipients will receive a 5.9 percent cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) for 2022, the largest increase in four decades. This...
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The Shred Party
The Shred Party What should you get rid of and hold on to? When and why? Provided by Luana Mobley Corral, CFP®, CFS™, CLTC™, BFA™ If a shred party happens to spring up in your area, you may want to mark your...
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Happy Passover! Happy Easter! IRS Extends Tax Deadlines; Inflation Boogeyman; Have a Plan
Happy Passover! Happy Easter! IRS Extends Tax Deadlines; Inflation Boogeyman; Have a Plan, Not Just a Stock Portfolio
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Meeting Life's Transitions: How to navigate change with confidence and resilience
Yesterday I had the great pleasure of participating in the 2021 Greater Fort Lauderdale Chamber of Commerce’s Conference "Excuse Me, That's My Seat". While the audience was primarily women, the content was relevant to just about everyone.
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NFLPA Fireside Chat with Magic Johnson
On Wednesday, February 3, 2021, I had the distinct pleasure of watching the NFLPA's Fireside Chat with Magic Johnson which kicked off the fifth annual NFLPA Pitch Day. He made things clear. Success on the field does not guarantee you...
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Happy New Year!
I WISH YOU ENOUGH! This story was adapted from one I received in an email long ago. The original source is unknown. Enjoy and Happy New Year!
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End of Year Money Moves and Year End Estate Strategies
December 22, 2020 Dear Client Family and Friends: If you celebrated the Festival of Lights, I hope it was a joyful time for you and your family. Belated Happy Hanukkah. Whether you celebrate the birth of Christ or just the magic of...
Read MoreHappy Thanksgiving
Dear Client Family and Friends, 2020 has been a tough year all around. Our physical, mental, and spiritual health has been challenged by the coronavirus pandemic. If you are like me, you are ready for COVID-19 to be put in its place....
Read MoreHow elections move markets in 5 charts
Despite COVID-19 – life moves on. The election is about 2 weeks away - I’m attaching a piece from American Funds about how elections move the markets.
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NFL Players Lose a Major Retirement Plan Benefit
The NFL is dealing with uncertainties heading into Week 4. The Tennessee Titans played the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday. On Tuesday, the Titan’s COVID-19 testing results revealed three new player positives and five new personnel...
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August 31, 2020 Deadline for Returning Unwanted RMDs Approaching Fast
In June, I let you know that you can return unwanted 2020 Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs) before August 31, 2020. This applies to RMDs taken from your IRA accounts and your Employer Sponsored Retirement Plan accounts. As a review...
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A Cup of Coffee with Associated: Employee Benefits Go Virtual
I am pleased to share the latest video in the series "A Cup of Coffee with Associated" in which Benefits Practice Leader Logan Mondshein discusses how businesses can take their employee benefits virtual.
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Are Your Group Health Renewal Rates Sky High? Consider this alternative: Level-Funding.
If you are like most small employers, you are always looking for ways to control your group health insurance costs. Employers with at least ten full-time employees are exploring other funding options in the insurance market that will...
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Happy Independence Day!
Our office will be closed on July 3rd in commemoration of Independence Day. Have a safe holiday as you celebrate with just the right amount of social connectedness and physical distancing. Happy Independence Day!
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Unwanted 2020 RMD can be returned before August 31, 2020
June 23, 2020, IRS released IRS Notice 2020-51. It allows unwanted 2020 Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs) to be returned before August 31, 2020. Previously, only RMD’s taken between 2/1 and 5/15 could be returned by 7/15/2020...
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NFL Rookies Are Now Being Enrolled in 401(k) Savings Plan. Here’s Our Advice.
Last week, the AIS Sports team participated in the NFLPA 2020 Virtual Conference Series’ Boot Camp for Financial Advisors and Agents. We attended in-person in San Diego last year, but due to Covid-19, the 2020 annual NFLPA event...
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Logan Mondshein Rejoins Associated to Lead Employee Benefits Division
While Associated is still saddened by the sudden passing of longtime partner and friend, Marc Weiss, the firm announced Logan Mondshein would rejoin the team as Employee Benefit Practice Leader. “No one will ever replace Marc...
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What is Your Return to Work Action Plan?
The coronavirus pandemic has interrupted many businesses across the country. While it's unclear how long COVID-19 will continue to affect organizations, many employers are looking to the future of employees returning to work. It was...
Read MoreIn Memory of Marc Weiss
Last month, Associated Financial Consultants and Investor Services unexpectedly lost a close team member. Marc Weiss passed away on Saturday, April 4, 2020 from a health issue, unrelated to the coronavirus. Marc was a beloved,...
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A financial crisis, divorce, and irrational decision-making
A financial crisis causes stress like any other crisis – divorce, a health crisis, or anything else that disrupts your life. We feel this financial crisis and what is happening in the economy is not a structural or cyclical event...
Read MoreInvesting against the tide
I ran across this piece from Capital Group|American Funds that provides some historical perspective about the markets. It is an article written in 1974 by Jim Fullerton, Former Capital Group Chairman. While the circumstances we face...
Read MoreHow to Handle Market Declines, RMD's Waived
Dear Client Family and Friends: First, I want to wish you all a Happy Passover or Happy Easter, as applies to you. I love this season because the Christian and Jewish traditions intersect. I pray that as you gather your families...
Read MoreThe CARES Act: Should I Take a Penalty Free Withdrawal or Loan from my 401K?
While many are focusing on The CARES Act’s one-time relief payment of $1,200 or $2,400 (plus $500 for each qualified child), 401K/403B/457 participants and IRA owners may wish to focus on the provisions which loosen access to...
Read MoreSmall Business Owner's Guide to The Cares Act
I am sure you are aware that the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act was passed by the President on March 27, 2020. It included many provisions for individuals and businesses alike. Attached you will find...
Read MoreChecking in
How are you doing in your quest to keep the appropriate social distance to fight Covid-19? I received an email from our Nationwide representative. He wanted to share a few resources for me, my loved ones and my clients during these...
Read MoreA message from Associated Financial Consultants & Investor Services
To our valued clients, friends and family, In light of recent worldwide events which have had significant impact on the markets, all of us at Associated Financial Consultants & Investor Services wanted to reach out to remind you that...
Read MoreUpdate on the Markets
Wednesday, March 18, 2020 Dear Client Family and Friends, I never cared much for Space Mountain at Disney. My stomach lining was more agreeable with Thunder Mountain. The Whipsawing (similar to Space Mountain) we have experienced in...
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New NFL CBA Approved
On Sunday, March 15, 2020, the new NFL CBA was approved through 2030. The vote was certainly a close margin (1,019 to 959). While some players may still be debating the contents of the deal (and it may contain some decisions that are...
Read MoreContext Regarding Market Volatility
Attached you will find a chart titled "Annual returns and intra-year declines". It shows that despite average intra-year declines of 13.8%, annual returns are positive in 30 of 40 years. This demonstrates that because the market is...
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