Resource HubPosts By Category
Feeling Generous? Secure Your Own Financial Well-Being First!
11/20/2024
Just as airline safety instructions advise securing your own oxygen mask first, clients should prioritize their financial stability before focusing on giving. With the right guidance, clients can build a personalized plan that aligns with their life goals—including charitable giving—while reducing tax impacts and ensuring they have enough funds for their lifetime.
Election Years & Their Impact on the Market: A Data-Driven Perspective
10/22/2024
As the November election approaches, it's normal for investors to become anxious about how the outcome may impact their investments. The president wields tremendous power, so it’s reasonable to assume that the election of a particular party or candidate will have a direct and significant effect on the stock market. While this is an understandable conclusion, it is not correct. In this article, we'll explore election year market trends from 1928 to 2023, to illustrate why sticking to your investment strategy is the best approach, regardless of election results.
The Unwinding of the Yen "Carry" Trade
9/9/2024
At the start of August, the U.S. stock market experienced an unexpectedly sharp decline, losing over 7% in just the first three trading days. While those losses were eventually recovered, many investors were left wondering what caused such a dramatic sell-off. The answer lies in something known as the "carry trade," specifically, the Yen carry trade. But what exactly is the Yen carry trade, and why did it have such a significant impact on equity markets?
Preventing Identity Theft: Tips to Protect Yourself & Your Family
8/30/2024
The recent data breach at the Social Security Administration has raised concerns about identity theft and the potential compromise of personal information. Here are some steps you can take to protect yourself and your loved ones in an increasingly digital world.
Saltmarsh Financial Advisors Recognized as Top Wealth Advisory Firm by Accounting Today
6/20/2024
Saltmarsh Financial Advisors, LLC, has been recognized by Accounting Today as a top firm by total assets under management (AUM) for the fourth year in a row!
Father's Day: Money Lessons Learned From Dad
6/12/2024
Fathers play an important role in teaching us many things when we are children. A few common lessons include how to hold a flashlight steady, how to arrive at the airport early, and that “it’s not the heat that gets you, it’s the humidity.” Another common topic fathers teach us about is money. This is an area I learned a lot about from my dad. Having spent most of his career as a regional business developer for Firehouse Subs, he helped franchisees succeed by guiding them on smart money and business decisions. The money lessons I learned while sitting in his office as a kid inspired me to pursue a career in finance. For this Father’s Day, I’d like to share some of these lessons and how they can be applied in practical terms.
What is Dollar Cost Averaging?
5/29/2024
The S&P 500 hit a new all-time high 22 times during the first quarter of 2024. Since 1957, the index has reached a new high every 14.3 days. These higher prices are great for investors in the market, but present a hurdle for investors on the sidelines. Let’s look at how investors should approach this hurdle to get their funds invested for the future.
Cost of Capital: A Gut Check on High-Flying Stock Returns
5/10/2024
Nearly every year, a handful of securities generate headlines for delivering eye-popping returns. A challenge for investors is determining what portion of that return is 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.
A Closer Look at Today's Inflation (2024 Edition): Not Out of the Woods Yet
4/8/2024
It’s March 2024 and it’s been almost 2 years since our last inflation deep dive, when inflation was at decades-long highs. Since then, the Fed aggressively raised rates to combat inflation but has recently paused as inflation slowed. Current inflation data look good in recent context, so many are hopeful the Fed will lower interest rates. However, inflation is rising at concerning rates in a few key categories, which may force the Fed to delay cuts. Let’s review the current state of inflation and areas of concern, and discuss what can be done to help reduce its impact.
Saltmarsh Hosts 'Building Confidence': A Women-Focused Event Series
4/4/2024
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.
The Power of Compounding in Health and Wealth
3/27/2024
Compounding is one of the most powerful forces in the world. Just ask Albert Einstein, who’s said to have called it the “eighth wonder.” The seemingly small decisions we make every day gain power over time. That’s why it’s important to take the long view and come up with a plan—in both wellness and investing—that creates momentum in the direction of our goals. Don’t squander the power of time when you can recruit it to work in your favor.
Exciting Returns May Not Be Expected Returns
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.
The Dos and Don'ts of Credit Cards: How to Use Them Wisely
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.
Dimensional Fixed Income Trading: Price Is Our Priority
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.
Magnificent 7 Outperformance May Not Continue
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.
Many Happy Returns
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.
2023: A Year In Review
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…
Fiduciary vs. Suitability Standards: A Personal Reflection
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.
Investing is a Science, an Art, and a Practice
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.
The Difference the Right Financial Advisor Makes
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.
Scary Stories: Imposter Fraud (Webinar On Demand)
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.
Is a Yield Curve Inversion Bad for Stock Returns?
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?
How to Build and Improve Your Credit Score
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.
Navigating a Turbulent Stock Market: A Look at 2009-2019 versus Today
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.
Register Now: Navigating Turbulent Financial Markets
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!
Past Posts By Category
- Feeling Generous? Secure Your Own Financial Well-Being First!
- Election Years & Their Impact on the Market: A Data-Driven Perspective
- The Unwinding of the Yen "Carry" Trade
- Preventing Identity Theft: Tips to Protect Yourself & Your Family
- Saltmarsh Financial Advisors Recognized as Top Wealth Advisory Firm by Accounting Today
- Father's Day: Money Lessons Learned From Dad
- What is Dollar Cost Averaging?
- Cost of Capital: A Gut Check on High-Flying Stock Returns
- A Closer Look at Today's Inflation (2024 Edition): Not Out of the Woods Yet
- Saltmarsh Hosts 'Building Confidence': A Women-Focused Event Series
- The Power of Compounding in Health and Wealth
- Exciting Returns May Not Be Expected Returns
- The Dos and Don'ts of Credit Cards: How to Use Them Wisely
- Dimensional Fixed Income Trading: Price Is Our Priority
- Magnificent 7 Outperformance May Not Continue
- Many Happy Returns
- 2023: A Year In Review
- Fiduciary vs. Suitability Standards: A Personal Reflection
- Investing is a Science, an Art, and a Practice
- The Difference the Right Financial Advisor Makes
- Scary Stories: Imposter Fraud (Webinar On Demand)
- Is a Yield Curve Inversion Bad for Stock Returns?
- How to Build and Improve Your Credit Score
- Navigating a Turbulent Stock Market: A Look at 2009-2019 versus Today
- Register Now: Navigating Turbulent Financial Markets
- View All Posts
