Employee Stock Ownership & Options

Key Takeaways:   Company stock plans & stock options have many customizable details Employees should understand their stock plan’s features & tax consequences With correct utilization, employee stock can meaningfully increase compensation     When evaluating a job offer, it is best not to focus only on salary or an hourly wage.  We have the […]

October Market Update

This week, John Boardman (Founder and CEO) and Andy Reynolds (COO and Partner) sat down to discuss some of the factors at play in this market environment, how we address those as an advisory firm, and share some of the conversations they’ve been having with clients. Check out the video for the full discussion.  If you have any questions, please reach […]

After a Historic Boom in Venture Capital, the Well Appears to be Running Dry

By: Brian Burton, CFP® Cash-burning startups are being forced to take on increasing amounts of debt as VC funding dries up With funding slowing, fundamentals and profitability should return to the forefront of company evaluation The mantra of “growth at any price” that we’ve seen in recent years is likely gone for the foreseeable future […]

August 2022 Market Update

Listen as John Boardman (Founder and CEO) and Andy Reynolds (COO and Partner) and Cameron Hamilton (Director of Financial Planning and Partner) discuss the current economic environment and share the conversations they’ve been having with clients. Additionally, they consider a few common questions and share our thoughts on the market, inflation, consumer confidence, the word recession, and economic outlook.     If you have […]

Putting a Value on Your Social Security Benefits

Key Takeaways: Most retirees don’t think of Social Security as an asset and therefore exclude it from their balance sheet. The present value of Social Security payments over an average life expectancy can easily be several hundred thousand dollars. We can’t predict what will happen with Social Security down the road, so it is important […]

June Market Update

Ballast team

Listen as John Boardman (Founder and CEO) and Andy Reynolds (COO and Partner) discuss the current market environment. Additionally, John and Andy consider a few common questions and share their thoughts on the cyclical market, inflation, portfolio management, raised rates, and economic outlook. If you have any questions, please reach out to us: 859-226-0625 or […]

Markets Finally Believe Fed is Serious about Inflation

The Fed raised rates 0.75% last week, the biggest single move since 1994 Market participants imply that rates will move from 1.75% to 3.56% by year-end Perception of a hawkish Fed may help avoid a wage-price spiral & severe recession   Last week the Federal Reserve raised rates by 0.75% or 75 basis points (bps). […]

Fighting Inflation – Why This Time Feels Different and Could Actually Be Successful

Key Takeaways There were 11.4 million job openings in April equaling 1.92 job openings per unemployed person, a huge benefit to a Fed attempting to bring down inflation without cratering the job market. The Fed’s ideal labor market resolution is that companies fill current openings while maintaining their current workforce. Friday’s jobs report showed a […]

(With Perspective) There Is Good in This Selloff

  Yes, I said it; there are countless reasons to celebrate what we are and have been experiencing in the financial markets.  From a historical perspective, we believe the developments in this environment are constructive to a healthier economic and market environment in the future.  Let me count the ways:   1. The Market is […]

Market Volatility & Behavior Finance

  If you feel like the stock market has been all over the place recently, there is some merit behind the feeling. So far, during 2022 we have experienced 41 days where the S&P 500 has returned greater than a +/- 1% return. This represents approximately half of the trading days of the year so […]

The Inverted Yield Curve of April 2022

Key Takeaways: The 2-year/10-year yield curve inverted for the first time since 2019. This type of inversion has preceded the last eight recessions. Proper portfolio allocation can help insulate investors from the negative outcomes of recessions.        Three years ago today, on April 4, 2019, I wrote about the Inverted Yield Curve […]

Diworsification – Can You Take Diversification Too Far?

Key Takeaways: Diversification can be overdone – there is a point where adding another investment to your portfolio can be harmful to the risk/return profile The goal of portfolio diversification is to reduce volatility – owning assets that don’t always move in sync with one another. Naively attempting to diversify your portfolio by investing in […]