Interest Rates

THE INTEREST RATE DILEMMA

Interest rates are an important part of everyone’s lives! Following the 2008 financial crisis, the Federal Reserve (“the Fed”) began to gradually increase key interest rates in December 2015 from a record low of near zero.  The expectation is that the Fed will continue raising rates in 2018 and 2019 (See Fed Chart.) On the…

bond investments

WBIR: Bond Investments

The recent spike in market volatility has left many investors concerned about their portfolios and uncertain as to how a rise in interest rates impacts their bond investments.   LET’S START WITH BONDS 101, HOW DO BONDS WORK AND WHY DO WE BUY THEM?   Bonds are generally conservative investments and they produce income –…

Sunday Money: Women Make Great Investors

The findings are in!  The conclusion from a recent Wells Fargo Investment Institute report? Women make great investors. WBIR-TV recently interviewed Paul Fain, president of Asset Planning Corporation to talk about what makes women investors great investors.   PAUL, WHAT MAKES WOMEN GREAT INVESTORS? Women investors simply tend to follow recommended investment principles! As a…

Sunday Money: Second Quarter Investment Performance

Q2 2017 Investment Performance With six months gone in 2017, how are your investments doing?  Did the stock market’s rising tide lift your boat?  Or have poorly performing investments left you beached on dry land?   HOW DID STOCK MARKETS PERFORM IN THE 2nd QUARTER? Strong global markets 3.02%              US Stock Market 5.63%              International…