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Another War
Markets sold off this week as war in Iran continued into its sixth day and Iran threatened to close the straight of Hormuz, sending oil prices higher. As we have said in the past, war is not necessarily a major issue in stock markets. When Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022 major stock markets basically shrugged off the attack. Similarly, the markets were surprisingly resilient during the last Israel – Iran conflict. Global markets are diverse and robust, and while all wars clea
Steve Coker, CFP
12 minutes ago2 min read
Diversification strikes again – Why we stay globally diversified
The concept of diversification is one of the hallmarks of modern investment theory. Diversification offers many benefits, most notably the ability to achieve better returns with lower volatility (something every investor wants), and we have said many times that asset allocation diversification, typically between stocks and bonds, is one of the most important decisions that an investor can make. But what of international diversification? Many fear investing in international
Steve Coker, CFP
7 days ago3 min read
Supreme Courts Strikes Down Trump Tariffs – Now what?
On Friday February 20 th , the Supreme court ruled against the Trump Administration’s use of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), which has formed the legal foundation of the vast majority of the tariffs announced during the past year. The ruling invalidates the tariffs issued under the IEEPA, resulting in widespread confusion and the potential refund of more than $160 billion in tariffs that have already been collected. While the ruling strikes down the I
Steve Coker, CFP
Feb 201 min read
Social Security Survivors Benefit
When the unthinkable happens and one spouse dies, Social Security provides a benefit, commonly referred to as the widow’s benefit, to the survivor. Why is the survivor benefit referred to as ‘widow’s’ benefit? Simply put, approximately 80% of the individuals receiving survivor benefits are women. Decisions about how long to work and when to claim Social Security Survivor benefits can have a significant impact on the life of the survivor. If you find yourself in this situa
Steve Coker, CFP
Feb 133 min read
What is a Trump Account
I am frequently asked about easy, tax advantaged ways to help children and grandchildren get a start. College savings plans, like 529 plans, are an excellent tool, but are primarily intended as a college savings tool. What if you want to help your child who is not college bound, or what if you want to help your children buy a home? Up until now there have been few tools without complicated rules or annoying tax reporting. To fill this gap congress created a new type of tax-a
Steve Coker, CFP
Feb 83 min read
