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Market Blog The 10-year Treasury yield has stayed in a narrow range since April 2020, helped by a supportive Federal Reserve and ongoing concerns about the COVID-19 pandemic. As shown in LPL’s Chart of the Day, the 10-year...

Market Blog The third quarter was characterized by the carry-over of economic momentum from the second quarter, as states continued to lift restrictions to reopen their economies. Perhaps it was no surprise that some of the hardest hit...

Dear Valued Investor: Autumn has arrived, with students back in school, baseball playoffs beginning, and football in full swing. Life is trying to get back to as normal as possible despite the ongoing impact from COVID-19. While the...

An old Wall Street adage says bond markets are smarter than equity markets, so when stocks encounter volatility, investors often look to the bond market for clues about the potential severity of equity market weakness. The...

When was the last time you took steps to optimize your 401k? If it's been a while, you're not alone. Research indicates that only one in three Americans utilize employer-sponsored 401k retirement accounts; even those who are...

A few weeks ago we looked at how different bond sectors performed during rising rate periods during the last economic cycle (2009–2020). Today we look at falling rate periods—not the outcome we expect, but it can still be...

The US Federal Reserve (Fed) and Bank of Japan (BoJ) both meet this week, while the European Central Bank (ECB) met last week. When central bankers talk— markets listen. “The global economy has been steadying faster than...

It’s never too early to think about how and where you want to live when you’re older. How far in advance do you plan vacations? A month at the very least, right? You’ve booked the flights and hotels, taken time off of...

The coronavirus pandemic has created uncertainty in almost every aspect of daily life. This includes the upcoming professional football season. Professional football is one of the most widely watched sports and an industry that makes...

In the recent LPL Market Street View video, LPL Financial’s Chief Market Strategist Ryan Detrick discusses why the recession is likely over, making it one of the shortest recessions ever. Some reasons discussed include:...

Maybe your charitable donations should stay in your zip code? For many of us, buying locally matters. We’ve all heard the term and seen the signs: Shop Locally. Eat Locally. But let’s extend that thought for a minute: do...

Dear Valued Investor: Back to school this year will be different. On the one hand, like other years, it marks the end of summer, the arrival of cooler weather, kids hitting the books again, and Labor Day gatherings. But unlike other...

The S&P 500 Index just closed the door on its best August since 1986, making new all-time highs along the way, while also closing up five months in a row. First things first, make no mistake about it; this is a new bull market. That of...

As the economy begins to recover, with the early stage more robust than expected, we increasingly get asked when interest rates will move meaningfully higher. As shown in the LPL Chart of the Day, historically rates don’t start...

As the COVID-19-related economic weakness that characterized the first half of the year subsides, growth has begun to return as trillions in fiscal stimulus have helped to stabilize consumer spending. Against a backdrop of improving...

Life insurance can be an excellent tool for charitable giving. Not only does life insurance allow you to make a substantial gift to charity at relatively little cost to you, but you may also benefit from tax rules that apply to gifts...

The battle versus COVID-19 continues. The spread in some of the recent hotspots like California and Florida is slowing, while states in the Northeast and Midwest are now experiencing increases in cases. According to the World Health...

The time to begin planning for your financial future is now. So, when it comes to preparing for retirement, the earlier you start, the better. Here are some steps to help you achieve your overall objectives: Review your current...

This isn’t like any recession we’ve ever seen, as it was sparked by a horrible pandemic and happened because people were told to stay inside. The impact was the worst contraction in gross domestic product (GDP) last quarter...

You have to take steps to plan your retirement – Just Do It Whether you’re a millennial, baby boomer, Gen X or Gen Z, you face financial questions besides just getting through to next payday. Here’s a simple two-step...

While the 10-year Treasury yield has traded in a narrow range since early April, the equivalent real yield, represented by the yield on 10-year Treasury inflation-protected securities (TIPS), has continued to fall and could go lower....

It’s never too early to think about how and where you want to live when you’re older. How far in advance do you plan vacations? A month at the very least, right? You’ve booked the flights and hotels, taken time off of...

When you invest in the stock market, you want to see growth, but unfortunately, in most cases, investments do not grow all the time. Inevitably, the market goes up and down, and to safeguard your potential for long-term growth, you...

We check in again today on some of the real-time economic data that LPL Research is monitoring to provide insight into how the latest increase in COVID-19 cases and the rollback of certain reopening measures are affecting the state of...

The Bloomberg Barclays US Aggregate Bond Index posted a solid total return of 2.9% in the second quarter of 2020, its eighth consecutive quarterly gain, and a relatively strong quarter for the broad investment-grade bond index...

When you invest in the stock market, you want to see growth, but unfortunately, in most cases, investments do not grow all the time. Inevitably, the market goes up and down, and to safeguard your potential for long-term growth, you...

At a time when your career is reaching a peak and you are looking ahead to your own retirement, you may find yourself in the position of having to help your children with college expenses while at the same time looking after the needs...

Dear Valued Investor: The July Fourth holiday will be very different this year. Although it’s a time to enjoy family and friends, and maybe even watch some fireworks, social distancing and a new wave of COVID-19 cases also may...

Emotions involved with caring for the elderly can seem almost as overwhelming as the finances. As your loved ones age, what topics must you be ready to discuss? Beyond money, you need to talk about independence and basic preferences...

The US economy has made impressive progress in recent weeks. As the economy re-opens, the way we assess the recovery has changed. In March and April, we were looking for evidence that growth in COVID-19 cases was...

What recent graduates (and their parents) need to think about Spring is here, summer weather has begun (in many places), and graduation time has arrived. Across the country, students are finishing their high school, college, and even...

The yield on the 10-year Treasury yield has been broadly declining since the early 1980s, when it peaked over 15%, but even over that long decline there have been intermittent periods of rising rates. In fact, after periods of...

In probably one of the least surprising economic calls of all time, the Nation Bureau of Economic Research (NBER) officially declared an end to the longest expansion ever and the start of a new recession. As shown in the LPL Chart of...

Is your growing business still a one-person operation? As your company continues to grow and the workload increases, it is easy to find yourself wearing too many hats and not having enough hours in the day to accomplish everything that...

Dear Valued Investor: As we look ahead to the summer months, we can’t help but think what a challenging year it’s been so far. At the same time, we’re encouraged by the resiliency and accelerated innovation among US...

2020 is only five months old, but in many ways it is one of the most historic years we’ve ever seen. “2020 went from moving along nicely, to seeing the worst recession in a generation and the fastest bear market ever...

The Federal Reserve (Fed) increased its bond exchange-traded funds (ETF) purchases in the week ending May 20 (the most recent data available), adding another $1.5 billion in bond ETFs to its balance sheet, bringing the total holding...

As the United States desperately tries to flatten the contagion curve for the coronavirus, many state governors have mandated the closure of an unprecedented number of businesses and issued stay-at-home orders to their citizens. The...

May 21, 2020 Dear Valued Investor: “Never confuse a single defeat with a final defeat.” — F. Scott Fitzgerald The economic struggles in our country are among the worst we’ve ever seen. In April, a record 20...

There’re plenty of people who think negative interest rates are a good policy. But we don’t really think so at the Federal Reserve. And I think it’s an area of real uncertainty in the central banking world. -Fed...

Gold has done quite well so far in 2020, up more than 12% year to date versus the S&P 500 Index which is down about 10%. We started to warm to the yellow metal late last year and continue to think it can serve as a potential hedge in...

Dear Valued Investor: Investors like labels for the economy and financial markets—many of them with the word “great” in them. The Great Depression. The Great Recession. The Great Lockdown. Well, we’ve moved into...

One of the most historic market crashes ever took place 10 years ago today, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average Index plunging more than 1,000 points, or 9%, within minutes, only to regain most of the losses by the end of the day....

This year, Teacher's Appreciation Week runs from May 4 to May 8, but rather than being in the classroom, most teachers will be at home, navigating their calling outside the classroom. When the coronavirus hit the United States,...

The Conference Board’s Consumer Confidence Index (CCI) for April came in 86.9, falling more than 30 points from the prior month. The monthly drop was the biggest for the index since 1973, reflecting the severity of the economic...

Many parts of the country are still under shelter-in-place orders, allowing only essential businesses like hospitals, grocery stores, and auto repair shops to continue serving customers. Businesses that have been closed to the public...

Dear Valued Investor: “Life is 10% what happens to you and 90% how you respond to it.” — Lou Holtz, Hall of Fame football coach As the battle against the COVID-19 pandemic continues, how we respond to it will...

“What goes up must come down, Spinnin’ wheel got to go ‘round”

Adron Krekeler, AIF®, ChFC®

Tuesday, April 21, 2020

- Blood, Sweat & Tears Again, we learn the truth about the stock market. Again, we find ourselves wondering why we were not prescient. There will be any number of folks who will tell you they saw this coming. There is always someone...

As the country comes together to try to slow the spread of the coronavirus, many businesses have been forced to suspend operations, while many others have experienced a sharp decline in revenue. To encourage businesses to continue...

What a ride 2020 has been for investors. The fastest bear market ever, now one of the steepest recoveries ever. After being down more than 30% for the year on March 23, this recovery is extremely impressive. In fact, before yesterday,...

Dear Valued Investor: These are challenging times, and this week may be the toughest as we wait for COVID-19 to reach its peak in the United States. As the war against COVID-19 wages on, we continue to be inspired by the tremendous...

Stocks have rallied nicely off the March 23 lows on the back of a bold policy response from the Federal Reserve (Fed) and lawmakers in Washington, DC, which was followed by signs that a peak in growth of COVID-19 cases may come soon....

How Are YOU Coping?

Adron Krekeler, AIF®, ChFC®

Thursday, April 2, 2020

Okay, we made it through the first fifteen-day shutdown, social distancing, and economy-killing guidelines. Now those guidelines are in place until April 30. Hopefully April 30, 2020, not 2021. I do not know if the guidelines are...

What are you Hearing from Your Advisor? The 5 Things You Should be Doing

Adron Krekeler, AIF®, ChFC®

Tuesday, March 31, 2020

Communication between client and advisor is important during the best of times. It is imperative when there is a crisis. We here at Thrive Wealth Advisors believe the current market conditions rate as a crisis. We are not surprised the...

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused unprecedented volatility in recent weeks that has investors and traders scrambling to assess the economic and market impact of the aggressive containment measures. This past week the CBOE Volatility...

Dear Valued Investor: Our everyday lives have changed dramatically over the last few weeks as we work together to minimize the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. We know these efforts are necessary, but they also have come at a cost....

The market volatility continues, as the S&P 500 Index has closed either up or down 4% or more for a record 7 consecutive days. With the S&P 500 Index down 30% from the highs, it has officially moved into a bear market. Yesterday, we...

Wow, What a Month!

Adron Krekeler, AIF®, ChFC®

Wednesday, March 18, 2020

The year of the RAT has certainly gotten off to an ironic start. The Corona Virus hit the world and the stock market reacted in spectacular and unprecedented ways. The eleven-year bull market is over. Long live the next bull market! We...

Refinancing

Jim Worfolk, CRPC®

Tuesday, March 17, 2020

Today’s drop in mortgage rates are leaving many with the question “should I refinance my loan”. There are several rules of thumb that can help you make a more informed decision: The first question that should be...

Market Blog The S&P 500 Index’s historic slide continued yesterday, culminating in nearly a 10% loss for the day, and leaving the benchmark index officially in bear market territory, just 16 trading days after setting a record...

Despite all of the other advances made in our society in recent generations, women continue to face unique challenges when it comes to preparing for their financial futures. Recognizing the Shortfalls For starters, women on average...

You should pick investments (and teams) so you win most of your games Sports metaphors and investing are natural pairs. A good way to look at portfolio management is the NCAA March Madness tournament. As with basketball, you should...

Dear Valued Investor: The tough times that global markets were experiencing due to the spread of COVID-19 (coronavirus) worsened this past weekend as a price war between Saudi Arabia and Russia resulted in sharply declining oil prices....

March 5, 2020 Dear Valued Investor: It’s been a tough week. The number of coronavirus cases have continued to increase globally, and new cases have been confirmed in the United States. Countries are making progress with...

How To Use SEPS to Attract New Talent

Adron Krekeler, AIF®, ChFC®

Thursday, March 5, 2020

As a small business owner, you need great talent to stay competitive in your industry, but attracting talent can be challenging. While wages are important, you also need an inspiring work environment, the potential for advancement, and...

These days, having a credit card is practically a necessity, even when you are retired. It's hard to do things like buy airline tickets, rent a car, or place an order online without one. And, while monitoring your credit card use is...

Suppose you arrive at your company one morning and discover that a key employee died unexpectedly the night before. Have you ever considered how such a turn of events may affect your company? Along with losing a valued member of your...

February 28, 2020 Dear Valued Investor: “The stock market takes an escalator up, and an elevator down,” is a classic Wall Street saying. The last week has sure felt like taking an express elevator down, as the end of...

Dear Valued Investor: Monday was a tough day in the stock market, with the S&P 500 Index down more than 3% as the number of coronavirus cases reported outside of China jumped. Monday’s losses reversed all of this year’s...

First the car broke down, then the dishwasher stopped working, and now the dog is sick. Sometimes the old proverb, "It never rains but it pours," seems to ring a little too true. When you need money to pay large, unexpected bills,...

Stock markets modestly lower after renewed coronavirus concern. Apple’s announcement that the coronavirus would impact sales had international markets striking a cautious tone overnight, with the technology sector getting much...

Many adults are finding that their aging parents are in need of health care assistance. Luckily, there are many options available today to help your parents grow old gracefully, either in their own home or in a facility, and several...

When you're a small business owner, you need to pay extra careful attention to both your business and personal finances. Your financial planning strategies should simultaneously encourage the success of your business while also working...

The financial media returned to a favorite topic in the last week, yield curve inversion, but we caution against getting caught up in the building frenzy. The Treasury yield curve inverts when short-term interest rates move above...

Thinking about the need and the costs of long-term care is enough to make anyone uncomfortable. But while it's a difficult subject to talk about, it's also a topic that often generates lots of questions and misunderstanding. Consider...

Economic Blog The 10-year U.S. Treasury yield moved to within .05% of its recent low on Friday, January 31, approaching the 1.47% mark set back in August 2019. Prospects of stabilizing global growth and progress on trade encouraged...

In 1958, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) created 403(b) plans to encourage employees of certain organizations to begin saving for retirement. Organizations eligible for participation in these plans are those “organized and...

Market Blog Fears that the deadly coronavirus would spread further around the globe intensified Monday and led to the biggest one-day drop in the S&P 500 Index since October 8, 2019. In fact, it was the first time the index moved 1%...

If you’re a small business owner, you’ve invested a great deal of time and effort into building your company. With day-to-day demands, it may be difficult to imagine your eventual transition into retirement. Yet, if you...

ECONOMIC BLOG As the economic expansion caps its first decade, we thought it’d be a good time to check on LPL Research’s leading indicators in our Recession Watch Dashboard. As you can see in our latest update and in the...

Members of the Military: Planning for Retirement Planning for retirement is an important and sometimes difficult endeavor. As a member of the military, you may have some special opportunities and challenges when preparing financially...

Are You Seeing Your True Reflection?

Adron Krekeler, AIF®, ChFC®

Thursday, January 16, 2020

At this time of year many people stop to reflect. To reflect on their place in this world, in their families, in their community. Reflection can be good if you are honest with yourself. And it can be scary, too! What have you not done...

With the decline of traditional pensions, most of us are now responsible for squirrelling away money for our own retirement. In today's do-it-yourself retirement savings world, we rely largely on 401(k) plans and IRAs. However, there...

Consumer inflationary pressures grew at a healthy, but manageable rate in December 2019. The core Consumer Price Index (CPI), which excludes food and energy, rose 2.3% year over year last month, around the fastest pace of the economic...

There are no great secrets where tax planning and tax cutting are concerned. The principles around which all tax-cutting strategies revolve can be reduced to six basics:1.Income splitting. Taxes are reduced for the total family unit by...

Diet books. Fitness apps. Live-streamed exercise classes. They all tell you the same thing: Maintaining good physical health requires discipline and adherence to a few simple habits, such as eating wisely, getting enough sleep, and...

The U.S. airstrike that killed the top Iranian military commander last week was a major escalation in Mideast tensions. In fact, it would be difficult to overstate the geopolitical significance of this action. Iran likely will...

Dear Valued Investor: Happy New Year! What a difference a year makes. One year ago the stock market was plunging and came perilously close to ending what has become the longest bull market ever recorded. In December 2018, dropping...

The inverted yield curve was the biggest story of 2019 in the bond market. Historically, when long-term bond yields fall below short-term yields, as the 2- and 10-year Treasury yields did in August, recessions have tended to follow,...

If you don't have a financial plan, that question may be hard to answer. To achieve financial wellness, you need to define your goals and set a time frame for reaching them. The following steps can help you take control of your...

Economic Blog December 17, 2019 December has been widely viewed as a strong month for stocks, with this year following suit so far. What many probably don’t realize, however, is the majority of the gains have taken place late in...

The Federal Reserve’s (Fed) final policy meeting of 2019 starts today and will conclude tomorrow with the release of the Fed’s policy statement, updated economic projections, and a press conference by Fed Chair Jerome...

A well-crafted business plan can be a blueprint for success. This multifaceted tool is as important to established business owners looking to grow their companies as it is to budding entrepreneurs. A business plan defines your business...

Hindsight is 20/20, but finding clarity in future uncertainty can be fuzzy. AT LPL RESEARCH, as we look forward to the year 2020 and a new decade, some key trends and market signals will be important to watch, including progress on U...

If you don't have a financial plan, that question may be hard to answer. To achieve financial wellness, you need to define your goals and set a time frame for reaching them. The following steps can help you take control of your...

The average donor household in the United States gives around $2,000 a year, with small donations making up the bulk of charitable gifts, according to a report prepared by the Center on Philanthropy for Indiana University. The study...

A well-crafted business plan can be a blueprint for success. This multifaceted tool is as important to established business owners looking to grow their companies as it is to budding entrepreneurs. A business plan defines your business...

Good for Your Heart and Your 1040! It may be better to give than to receive, but it may be even better to give and see your generosity rewarded. Charitable giving can play a valuable role in your financial and tax strategies. A...

Three Amazing Streaks

Adron Krekeler, AIF®, ChFC®

Tuesday, November 19, 2019

“We’re going streaking!” Frank The Tank in Old School As the bull market continues to make new highs, the past few weeks have seen some amazing market streaks. Here are three that have caught our attention. The S&P...

Help Your Favorite Charity

Adron Krekeler, AIF®, ChFC®

Tuesday, August 20, 2019

Help your Favorite Charity: Making Gifts of Impact Through Your IRA You may give up to $100,000 from your individual retirement accounts to your favorite charity without tax consequences! Is this true? YES! Read more . .

Happy Holidays

Adron Krekeler, AIF®, ChFC®

Thursday, December 20, 2018

Happy Holidays The holidays are lovely, the holidays are fine Holiday shopping—every year—same time Some procrastinate and delay, tho last year they swore To get ahead of the herd, stampeding the stores Those who shop early...

The Tax Man

Adron Krekeler, AIF®, ChFC®

Thursday, March 22, 2018

That Time of Year, AGAIN! “Let me tell you how it will be. There’s one for you, nineteen for me. Cause I’m the Taxman” The Beatles – 1966 Revolver Album It is coming. You can see it in your email inbox or...

HAPPY NEW YEAR?

Adron Krekeler, AIF®, ChFC®

Thursday, January 18, 2018

“Should auld acquaintance be forgot and ne’er brought to mind?” “Auld Lang Syne” from the Robert Burns poem means “for old times’ sake.” We look back over the year and romanticize the...

Amazon is Eating the World

Adron Krekeler, AIF®, ChFC®

Thursday, December 14, 2017

What is that crunching sound? Is it a hungry ferret, a starving bear? No, it is Amazon eating the world. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q0JhaVSEcd4 Ever since this “fulfillment” company came on the scene, the retail world...

Lions and Tigers, Bulls and Bears, Oh My!

Adron Krekeler, AIF®, ChFC®

Thursday, November 30, 2017

The stock market presents opportunity For gains and losses and anxiety Soaring to heights ne’er seen before Is there a ceiling, oh how much more? If only we could predict the summit Mayhaps we could avoid the plummet —Adron...

SELF-DRIVING VEHICLES

Adron Krekeler, AIF®, ChFC®

Thursday, November 16, 2017

“Gonna write me up for 125. Post my face, wanted dead or alive. Take my license, all that jive. I can’t drive 55.” Sammy Hagar - 1984 I am a huge fan of the self-driving car concept. It will be the most disruptive...

On this Veteran’s day, I want to reflect on Vietnam. No, I did not serve in Vietnam but I might have. I enlisted in the U.S. Navy at age 17 so I was never subject to the draft. At 18 my Draft Number was 39, which had I been...

BOO!!

Adron Krekeler, AIF®, ChFC®

Tuesday, October 24, 2017

Halloween is coming, Oh, the horrors! Ghosts and goblins cavorting outdoors Scary creatures uttering eerie sounds Skeletons, spiders, and witches abound Never have we witnessed such frightful sights Tricksters and treaters afoot...

Art on Tap

Adron Krekeler, AIF®, ChFC®

Thursday, October 19, 2017

The Art League presents “Art on Tap” November 3, 2017 7:00 to 10:00 p.m. Krekeler Brower Wealth Advisors is proud to be the Lead Sponsor! https://www.eventbrite.com/e/art-on-tap-2017-tickets-36213069265 “Double,...

“The robots are coming! The robots are coming!” We do not need the “one if by land, two if by sea” to warn us. Robots are in plain sight; they are not a secret. They are everywhere. I remember early science...

Forget K-K-K-Katy, it is all about IRMAA!

Adron Krekeler, AIF®, ChFC®

Wednesday, September 20, 2017

K-K-K-Katy was a WWI song about a special gal that regained popularity in WWII and was sung by barbershop quartets and even Mel Blanc as Porky the Pig. It was supposed to be a stuttering lovesick soldier singing on his way to war....

Raise the Roof, or at Least the Debt Ceiling or Going back to Houston

Adron Krekeler, AIF®, ChFC®

Wednesday, September 6, 2017

“You load 16 tons, and what do you get. Another day older and deeper in debt!” Tennessee Ernie Ford – 1956 During September, our fearless leaders in Congress are set to address the debt ceiling. In simple terms, the...

"So you say it's your birthday"

Adron Krekeler, AIF®, ChFC®

Tuesday, August 29, 2017

“So You Say it’s Your Birthday” In 1968 the Beatles released their White album, which included the song “Birthday.” I’m sure you’ve sung it a time or two. My birthday is at the end of August....

"We've only just begun"

Adron Krekeler, AIF®, ChFC®

Tuesday, August 15, 2017

“We’ve only just begun” – The Carpenters, 1970 Welcome to Kreke-Leaks. I hope you enjoy this blog and follow it when a topic interests you, and maybe even pass it along to others who might find it beneficial....