Two Ways to Combat Household Inflation
Inflation is not a one-size-fits-all all phenomenon Inflation is the increase in prices over time Increasing prices means decreasing purchasing power How we choose to spend our money dictates how we experience inflation Inflation has been top of mind for every participant in our economy for three years straight: households, businesses, and policymakers. Inflation […]
Ballast Business Owner Forum
Join us! Business Owner Forum Wednesday, March 27 6:00-7:30 PM We invite you to Ballast for a discussion on topics important to business owners. Connect with other local business owners, hear from industry experts, and learn about how to optimize your business. Topics Include: + What makes businesses attractive to buyers? + What is the […]
The End of an Era – What We are Watching For in ‘24
For many years until the last, investors had been living under the same mantra of “There Is No Alternative” (TINA) to owning equities, helping prop up stock prices as yields on fixed income were too paltry to bother with. Times have changed; TINA ushered out and TARA welcomed in. Positive real rates are achievable, meaning […]
US Markets and Elections – It may matter less than you think.
With the primary season among us, attention is being increasingly paid to the 2024 Presidential election. Like most historical Presidential elections, emotions and fears of potential political outcomes tend to run high and increase as we approach November. Political views aside, it is our job to understand the political environment, both historic and current, and […]
End of Year Planning with Cameron and Frank
We’ve entered the 4th quarter! To make the most of your end-of-year, Cameron Hamilton (Director of Financial Planning) and Frank Yozwiak (Director of Estate Planning and Tax) share a few financial best practices and strategies to consider. Topics discussed include: + Cash review and income planning + Roth conversions and tax harvesting + Retirement contributions […]
The Latest on Inflation/Rates and Where We Go from Here
Without question, over the past year, the most common topic we have discussed with clients is inflation and rates. Whether you are in retirement, peak accumulation years, or just starting out, inflation has impacted everyone… from raised costs at the grocery store, to travel, to even attending a sporting event. Fortunately, there are increasing signs […]
Mid-Year Market Update with John, Andy, and Brian
John Boardman (CEO/Founder), Andy Reynolds (COO/Partner), and Brian Burton (Director of Portfolio Strategy) sat down to discuss the current market environment, conversations they’ve been having with clients, and trends they’re seeing.
Year-End Financial Planning & Investments Among Market Volatility
By: Andy Reynolds, CFP®, MBA COO/Partner – Ballast, Inc. With the recent stock market volatility, many investors have, and understandably so, buried their heads in the sand, shredding investment statements without looking and focusing outside of their financial life. While many choose to simply not look, the volatility provides significant opportunities for financial improvement, several of […]
Inflation Concerns: Are Higher Prices Here to Stay?
Higher prices are here – I learned this last month when booking a rental car for our summer vacation, a 6-day rental for which I had typically budgeted $400-$500 was now going to cost over $1,000. Although an unpleasant surprise, the reasoning is quite simple, the travel demand has skyrocketed, in conjunction with a major […]
Toilet Paper… and Pork?
A little over a year ago, in March 2020, life as we then knew it was drastically changed. Many of those who were fortunate enough to remain employed found themselves working at home for the first time. March Madness was canceled, Disney World closed its gates, and toilet paper seemed to rank highly among the […]
The Housing Market is on Fire!
Key Takeaways: Housing inventory has declined by 52% from last year and is 15.6% more expensive. Millennials are finally participating in home purchases in a more prevalent way. Low inventory and increased construction costs have made home purchase decisions difficult for buyers. To put it bluntly, the housing market is on fire! Over the past […]
Thoughts on NFTs
We believe it is our responsibility to give our thoughts on current investment trends, even if it involves an asset that we do not currently invest in for our clients. Of all the “assets” we have detailed in previous commentaries, none are as esoteric as NFTs, or Non-fungible Tokens. I use quotation marks around the […]
