Tax Management in Bull Markets
How do we manage accounts when everything is up? With cooperative markets, many investors have accumulated substantial capital gains in their investment accounts. We analyze the trade-off between ideal allocation & paying tax to achieve it. In general, we advocate paying tax along the way to avoid over-concentration. When I was growing up, my granddad […]
Portfolio Rebalancing
Below are our key conclusions when considering rebalancing as part of an overall investment management: At the beginning of most of our relationships people rightfully ask “how do you manage our investments?” In response, we try to provide an in-depth discussion of our philosophies and our beliefs about best practices in portfolio management. While much […]
A Narrow Strait, A Wide Impact
With war now underway involving Iran, investors are understandably asking what matters most and what simply makes headlines. While attention naturally gravitates toward military developments, markets are focused on something far more practical: the Strait of Hormuz. This narrow passage connecting the Persian Gulf to global shipping routes carries roughly one-fifth of the world’s oil supply […]
Investing at Stock Market All-Time Highs: What to Do When the S&P 500 and Dow Hit Records
As the S&P 500 approaches 7,000 and the Dow Jones nears 50,000 in early 2026, many investors are wondering: Is now the time to sell? Stock market all-time highs often trigger anxiety, but historical data reveals a surprising truth about investing during record-breaking periods. This article explains why market peaks are a normal part of […]
Testing the Challenges of a Long Retirement
We often joke that our job was created because of increasing life expectancies and pensions seldom being offered. Obviously, finance and investing have become more complicated, and there are an ever-increasing number of investment vehicles and planning strategies we help our clients choose between. We also know there is great value placed in our ability […]
Market Update & April 16th Video Invitation with Ballast Advisors
As many have noticed, volatility has returned to the equity markets, largely due to the recent wave of global tariffs introduced by President Trump on Wednesday. While these tariffs are intended to strengthen the U.S. economy over the long term, their short- to mid-term impact is likely to bring increased volatility, uncertainty, and market speculation. This […]
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 […]
How Will A Bear Market Affect Your Plan?
In this week’s edition of the Ballast Atheneum, I am going to explore a subject no one wants to see but we all must prepare for; Will my portfolio survive a bear market? Fortunately, we can use some of our technology tools, specifically, Monte Carlo analysis to determine how prepared a client is for a […]
Testing the Challenges of a Long Retirement
We often joke that our job was created because of increasing life expectancies and pensions seldom being offered. Obviously, finance and investing has become more complicated and there are an ever-increasing number of investment vehicles and planning strategies we help our clients choose between. We also know there is great value placed in our ability […]
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 […]
Top 10 Personal Finance Best Practices
As more investors seek out and embrace personalized asset management and individualized financial advice, industry tycoons Vanguard and Russell Investments researched the value created by professional advice. Both companies measured the impact on investor returns when partnering with an advisor who provides skilled management and guidance. Russell Investments identified up to an additional annualized […]
How Will A Bear Market Affect Your Plan?
In this week’s edition of the Ballast Atheneum, I am going to explore a subject no one wants to see but we all must prepare for; Will my portfolio survive a bear market? Fortunately, we can use some of our technology tools, specifically, Monte Carlo analysis to determine how prepared a client is for a […]