Articles

State of Banking

The State of Banking: How Concerned Should We Be?

Three banks have made headlines in recent days, Silvergate Bank and its holding company Silvergate Capital Corp (NYSE: SI), Signature Bank (Nasdaq: SBNY), and most notably Silicon Valley Bank and its holding company SVB Financial Group (Nasdaq: SIVB).  Silvergate Bank is a major bank of the cryptocurrency community and announced on March 8, 2023 that it would be winding down operations with plans to liquidate voluntarily.[1]  On Friday, March 10, 2023 California banking regulators announced that the FDIC would take over the liquidation of Silicon Valley Bank holding company SVB Financial Group.[2]  On Sunday night, March 12, New York banking regulators announced that Signature Bank would be placed into receivership of the FDIC.[3]

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The Stockdale Paradox

The Stockdale Paradox

Admiral James Stockdale was the highest-ranking American taken prisoner during the Vietnam War after his A-4 Skyhawk fighter was shot down over North Vietnam. Stockdale ejected, breaking a bone in his back. Upon landing in a remote village, he badly dislocated his knee, which subsequently went untreated. Shortly thereafter, he was captured by North Vietnamese forces.

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Diving In Again: Roth 2.0

Diving In Again: Roth 2.0

It seems the only things discussed these days in financial publications are interest rates, inflation, and labor markets. It makes sense. The disconnect between the stories the Fed officials are telling and the one the market seems to be sketching makes for a mesmerizing experience akin to staring into a campfire. It is hard to look away. One of these parties will have to be wrong, but which one?

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A lot to unpack

A Lot to Unpack

Larry Summers, former Secretary of the Treasury, recently said, “It’s as difficult an economy to read as I can remember.” To cut to the chase: we would retweet that sentiment. Jerome Powell, Federal Reserve Chair, has practically all but said “READ MY LIPS: NO RATE CUTS.” And yet, investors seem to have a different vision for how the year ahead plays out. One could imagine that we’re all reading effectively the same economic data, but the data itself is a mixed bag, and interpretation of the data (and the importance of each piece) leaves a lot of room for divergence of opinion as well. You’ve probably heard many times by now that the Fed is aiming for a soft landing. What exactly does that mean? It means

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A Guide to Social Security

Social Security can feel complicated and intimidating. Here’s your complete guide to learning and understanding what it is, how it works, and when to claim it.

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On Predictions… and Being Wrong

Happy New Year! The end of the year is all about reflection and the beginning of the year is all about looking forward.  With that spirit in mind, today is a good day to think about looking ahead and what that means in finance.

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The Year is Almost Over.  Have You Funded Your HSA?

With the year swiftly coming to a close it’s time for taxpayers to think about those year-end financial housekeeping items. While there are many topics to consider such as year-end tax deadlines, portfolio allocation, and the cost of the holidays, what we’re thinking about today is Health Savings Accounts or “HSAs.” Today we’ll review HSA contribution limits and deadlines, the value of HSAs as a tax planning and retirement planning tool, and investing your HSA balance.

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Is the Market Telling Us the Worst is Behind Us?

Last Thursday was the largest single day gain (+5.54%) for the S&P 500 Index since 2020. The Nasdaq Composite (+7.35%) and Dow Jones Industrial Average (+3.69%) had similarly high-flying performance. So, what happened on Thursday, what should we take away from it, and what does that mean going forward?

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3 Financial Tips for the Holidays

With the most wonderful time of the year upon us, it is easy to get caught up in both the stress and excitement of holiday shopping. When searching for gifts, decorations, and other festive items, keep these helpful tips in mind to ensure that your spending doesn’t become more than you can handle. 1. Make a List, and Check it Twice (Budget) Visual tools can be immensely helpful when attempting to accomplish any task, but especially shopping. Getting an estimate of how many gifts you would like to buy, and what each of them will cost, will allow you to

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