These past couple of weeks have been treacherous for the markets. Between the media, coronavirus, the media, the primaries, the media, Saudi and Russia’s oil feud, and the media…market volatility came back with a vengeance. We don’t believe the markets are headed for doom and gloom. Two weeks ago, we wrote a piece on why…
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Will your family have good Christmases and Thanksgivings after you are gone? Most of us would like to think so. We never want to believe our kids would fight over money or possessions. We ask this very question as we go through our Legacy Planning Process. The answer is almost always the same. Yes. Our…
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There is a tiny amount of volatility back in the markets—well, maybe not so tiny. What does it mean? Is it just a pull-back that we will rebound from shortly? Will it just be another volatile year where nothing really happens? Or…are we headed for a recession? If you are familiar with the 24 Hours…
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Talking to people, there is already a general consensus of how the 2020 election is going to turn out. Whether from optimism or cynicism, most people currently believe Trump will be re-elected. Most likely this is true as most presidents, no matter which side of the aisle, get re-elected when Americans are reaping the rewards…
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Suppose you have always dreamed of climbing Mount Everest…and one day you come across an advertisement that stated, “Summit Everest – Guaranteed.” As you scroll through the page there is another advertisement that reads, “Return Alive – Guaranteed.” Recently, I learned a little fact about climbing Mount Everest. Are you aware that 80% of deaths…
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Life insurance may be the most complex financial product in existence – but why should this matter to you? Less than a year ago, we received a call that a good friend had just suffered a massive heart attack and was in open-heart surgery. By God’s grace this man is fully recovered and thriving. However,…
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Have you ever wondered why the doctor has your “Vitals” checked at the beginning of every visit? Well, let’s look at the definition of “Vitals.” Vital Signs are a group of four to six most important signs that indicate the status of the body’s vital (life-sustaining) functions.1. I want to highlight the phrase “life-sustaining.” If…
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Bruce Schneier wrote an article in March of 2007 titled Why the Human Brain is a Poor Judge of Risk. Looking back, the timing is fine irony. Had more investors read his article, perhaps they would have lowered their overall risk in the markets prior to the Financial Crisis – which began in August of…
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There is a good chance you can think back to a time in your life when you felt like you were “sold something.” Perhaps you were a little confused – and still are – as to why you bought it. Perhaps you had buyer’s remorse. Or, just plain and simple, you bought something purely out…
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Like most answers we give…it depends. The SECURE Act passed with flying colors at the end of 2019 and dictated several MAJOR changes to the rules around retirement plans. There were also some important tax planning notes. Some of these changes were much needed, some were unwanted, and some will require immediate attention. There also…
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Securities offered through Calton & Associates, Inc. member FINRA and SIPC, a Registered Investment Adviser. SEC registration does not imply a certain level of skill or ability. Investment advisory services offered through Smart Money Group, LLC, a Registered Investment Adviser. Smart Money Group, LLC and Kennedy Financial Services, Inc. are not owned or controlled by Calton & Associates, Inc.