3/13/2024
It is natural for investors to want more exposure to last year’s top-performing market segment. The challenge is determining what portion of that return was a one-off windfall and not something to expect going forward. Viewing expected returns through the lens of cost of capital may help benchmark what constitutes a reasonable expected return from the market.
3/4/2024
Credit cards can be a powerful tool in your financial toolkit. Using them properly can help build credit and provide exciting rewards. As is the case with most powerful tools, improperly using it can cause significant harm. This article will discuss some do's and don'ts of credit card use.
2/26/2024
Trade executions prioritize among three key parameters: price, quantity, and timing. Dimensional’s top trading priority is price. It is the focal point throughout our investment process, given that prices incorporate the aggregate views of market participants, and that differences in prices have significant explanatory power for differences in expected returns. In fixed income, we use current market prices to calculate expected returns, to determine the most attractive term, credit, and currency positioning, and to monitor credit quality in real time. Our fixed income trading process has also been designed with the goal of realizing competitive pricing to help lower transaction costs and to potentially capture the targeted return premiums.
2/26/2024
Throughout 2023 and 2024, Saltmarsh Financial Advisors will host a 4-part women-focused series centered on building confidence and community around the unique financial situations individuals may face in their lives. Featured segments will focus on the central themes of navigating loss, divorce, caregiving and philanthropic giving.
2/19/2024
The Magnificent 7 stocks continue to capture the focus of investors as these large growth names have outpaced the bulk of global equities. Their outperformance is notable because eye-popping returns for top stocks tend to occur before they reach the top of the market. Once there, subsequent returns tend to lag the market.
1/26/2024
This past year had its share of financial uncertainty, from inflation and rising interest rates to volatile stock and bond markets. Headlines added to the unease, from the growth of artificial intelligence (AI) to the collapse of Silicon Valley Bank and other lenders to the threat of government shutdowns. So it’s no surprise some people feel anxious right now. When it comes to investing during trying times, it can be easy to lose track of how well markets function. Spoiler alert: They’ve been working just the way we’d expect.
1/12/2024
As investors rang in the New Year of 2023, there was a lot to be apprehensive about. Inflation was still high as the Fed was aggressively raising rates, leading to a historically bad year for combined stock and bond investors. Though 2022 had ended with a late-year rally, almost every economist gave some probability that the US was headed for a recession in 2023. It seems the markets did not get the memo. The S&P 500 (large companies) finished up 24%, The Russell 2000 (small companies) was up 15%, and the Nasdaq 100 (technology companies) finished up 43% on the year. Leading the charge were 7 household names affectionately known as…
12/28/2023
I’ve been in the financial industry for nearly 20 years and have worked for many different firms. In those roles, I had different types of clients. When I came to Saltmarsh over three years ago, most of my prior experience was servicing large institutional clients. Now that I’ve been here a few years, I can reflect on my career and my various experiences. The most prominent difference between my role at Saltmarsh and roles at other firms is my current fiduciary responsibility versus my previous suitability duty.
12/15/2023
Professional money managers have offered their services for centuries, but until the 1960s, there was no empirical way to hold them accountable for their results. When computers became powerful enough to analyze immense amounts of data, researchers could start gathering and learning from historical stock returns. Now economists could measure the success of different investment strategies compared with the performance of the broader market. The science of finance took off.
11/20/2023
A financial advisor can provide the perspective investors need to tune out the daily noise and stay focused on a long-term plan.
11/15/2023
Webinar On Demand! In 2022, 2.4 million consumers reported losing money to fraud – totaling nearly $8.8 billion in lost wealth. The most prevalent was imposter fraud. Watch this webinar for a short storytelling of imposter fraud stories and learn the best practices to protect you and your family’s wealth.
10/31/2023
Many investors see yield curve inversions—when short-term bond yields exceed long-term yields—as foreboding. Do they signal a stock market downturn? Data from the US and other major economies show yield curve inversions have not historically predicted equity market downturns. As markets incorporate news and events around the world, bond yields change, which causes yield curves to change. Historically, the US Treasury yield curve has generally been upward-sloping; however, during several periods, the curve inverted. What can we learn from these examples?
10/26/2023
While most individuals understand the importance of good credit and having a high credit score, they are often unsure of how this is measured. The difference between a good and bad score could potentially equate to thousands of dollars in interest savings over the long term. Let’s take a closer look at credit and discuss some ways to improve your credit score.
9/14/2023
Investing offers individuals the opportunity to achieve their goals, whether they seek short-term gains or long-term wealth accumulation. Over the past decade, the landscape of investing has witnessed significant shifts, presenting unique challenges to investors. Comparing the challenges faced by investors today to those of the period between 2009 and 2019 reveals a dynamic and evolving environment.
9/12/2023
Join Saltmarsh Financial Advisors in Pensacola or Tampa for an unplugged conversation offering a look into the current investment climate with Apollo Lupescu, PhD, Vice President at Dimensional Fund Advisors!
7/25/2023
Facing our own mortality can be a tough topic to tackle, which is why estate planning is so crucial. Taking the time to plan ahead can provide peace of mind and assure that our wishes will be honored. We can decide who gets what, who takes care of the kids, and even how we want our healthcare handled. Estate planning is all about making things easier for us and our loved ones down the road.
6/23/2023
Saltmarsh Financial Advisors, LLC, is honored to be recognized by Accounting Today as a top firm by total assets under management (AUM) for the third year in a row.
6/22/2023
Saltmarsh Financial Advisors hosted a virtual panel called Taking Care While Giving Care to provide information and resources for people caring for loved ones. The panel featured experts in financial planning, emotional wellness, physical wellness and elder care. Here are some of the important messages that came from this heartfelt event.
6/8/2023
Dimensional Fund Advisors was recently honored at the 2023 ETF.com Awards, winning ETF Issuer of the Year and more.
5/24/2023
Sometime around June 1, 2023, the United States is expected to reach its debt ceiling. In recent years this topic has caused turmoil in the financial market and impacted thousands in both the public and private sectors. So, what exactly is the debt ceiling?
5/10/2023
The collapse of First Republic Bank is a harsh reminder that any stock can go to zero, no matter how established a company is, or how loyal and wealthy its customers are.
5/3/2023
Value stocks have gone through periods of both extreme over- and underperformance in recent years — a reminder that even reliable premiums can be volatile over shorter periods.
4/24/2023
These topics center around the broader category of financial literacy, which is generally not taught in the public school system. And if you feel unsure about your financial knowledge, you’re not alone.
4/12/2023
Saving money is a critical component of a successful financial plan. If you don’t know how to begin managing your money, setting up a savings plan is a great way to start. Here are eight tips to kickstart your saving strategy!
4/7/2023
Our Saltmarsh Financial Advisors hosted a discussion on Navigating Loss and the spectrum of challenges heirs can encounter. The panel included professionals in financial planning, estate planning, tax, hospice and mental health, all offering a different perspective on the topic. A few central themes emerged during the conversation that we wanted to share for those who were unable to attend.