Blog
Welcome to Kreke-Leaks!
The place for knowledge, clarity, and a little humor.
Will ESG Set You Free?
Kreke-leaks looks at ESG with an investor’s eye.
Read MoreThis is ugh . . . UNPRECEDENTED
Is everything really unprecedented?
Read MoreTomatoes Are In Season and Everything Is On Sale!
Jim Worfolk, guest author for Kreke-Leaks, explains why both the tomato season and supply glut will run its course.
Read MoreTo Time, or not to Time?
Kreke-Leaks takes a look at how inflation affects the Stock Market’s inflation.
Read MoreShow All
Financial Planning is like Golf
Financial Planning and Golf. Two perfectly imperfect endeavors. Kreke-Leaks explores the mystery!
Read MoreAre You Confused Yet?
Confused by current events causing inflation. Kreke-Leaks explains.
Read MoreYou Think Oil Is Expensive Now?
Kreke-Leaks explains why the current price of energy in the US is self-inflicted, and intentional.
Read MoreInflation? What Inflation?
Inflation is here and Kreke-Leaks explains why.
Read MoreNew Year's, AGAIN?
Kreke-Leaks’ un-resolution New Year’s resolution.
Read MoreHow is the Supply Chain like Thanksgiving Dinner?
Kreke-leaks discovers a new element! Stupidium explains supply chain reactions.
Read MoreIs This a Volatile Stock Market?
Kreke-Leaks explains the truth about market volatility.
Read MoreThe Cost of Rebuilding the 6 Million Dollar Man
Jim Worfolk, guest author for Kreke-Leaks provides a look at medical care inflation through the comparison of the cost to rebuild the TV Character “The 6 Million Dollar Man” in today’s dollars.
Read MoreMoney Makes the World Go Round
Kreke-Leaks believes managing money correctly is critical to your happiness!
Read MoreMedicare Testing Resource
Jim Worfolk, guest author for Kreke-Leaks, shares a new resource for you our friends and clients on our website by adding a link to the “Medicare Covered Testing” site…
Read MoreDream a Little Dream
Does everyone tell you to establish goals? Well, they are right, except that goals are not the...
Read MoreTiming Is Everything
The concept that “timing is everything” is a thought that is oft repeated but not often thought. Nevertheless, it is true. Think for a moment about how often timing has...
Read MoreMeasuring Inflation and the Fed’s Reaction to Higher Prices
Inflation is one of the primary risks to bondholders. Rising consumer prices erodes the “real” value of principal and interest payments making them worth less. However, the Federal Reserve’s (Fed) reaction to...
Read MoreHistory of Armed Forces Day
Celebrated on the third Saturday in May, Armed Forces Day is a day reserved for the celebration of the living members and ex-servicemen of the various armed forces divisions.[1] The day is marked by parades, military displays,...
Read MoreMaximizing Military Retirement Benefits
Retiring from the military is a profound accomplishment. For many, this retirement will provide you with positive things, including the time and geographic stability you need to start a new career or simply enjoy leisure activities...
Read MoreOut of the Shadows
As the calendar has turned to May, the popular “Sell in May and Go Away” stock market cliché is getting a lot of airtime. This is the idea that the stock market tends to be weakest between May and October (and...
Read MoreApril Market Insights – Economic Revival Signs Are At Hand
Index Performance View enlarged chart. U.S. and International Equities This month provided another set of positive results for the U.S. major market indexes. The top performer was the Nasdaq, rebounding from last month’s lagging...
Read MoreHow to Protect Your Wealth as You Get Older
As you get older and closer to retirement, your financial practices need to shift slightly as you transition from working and saving to relying on your nest egg. As you approach this stage of your life, you need to take steps to...
Read MoreEnd of Recession May Be Announced Soon
End of recession call may come soon Incredibly, the COVID-19 recession may have ended a year ago, but we still don’t have an end-of-recession call from the National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER). But we may be a step closer...
Read MoreValuations Matter in the Bond Market Too
“Price is what you pay; value is what you get.” – Legendary value investor Ben Graham. Valuations matter—at least in the long run. We believe it to be true in the equity markets and in the fixed income markets...
Read MoreKey Considerations as You Start Receiving Social Security Benefits
As your retirement draws closer, you will probably start to have lots of questions such as: How much Social Security will I receive? When should I retire? How will I know when to retire? Do I have enough saved? What will I need to do...
Read MoreQuarterly Market Insights – Economic Recovery, Redux
Index Performance View enlarged chart. U.S. and International Equities This quarter provided positive results for all major market indexes. The top performer and standout was the US small cap Russell 2000, returning over 12% for the...
Read MoreRetirement Plans and Estate Planning
When you die, what will happen to your retirement plan benefits? In general, your retirement plan benefits pass to the beneficiaries you designate on the plan beneficiary designation form. Your benefits will generally be subject to...
Read More10 Tips for Tomatoes
One of the most enjoyable parts of summer for me is to grow a garden full of tomatoes. There is absolutely no comparison between the taste of a home-grown tomato and a store-bought tomato. I plant several different varieties and...
Read MoreRevisiting Our Treasury Yield Forecast
Coming into this year, we expected longer-maturity U.S. Treasury yields to rise, consistent with improving economic growth dynamics. That is indeed what we have seen, with the yield on the 10-year Treasury higher by 80 basis points (0...
Read MorePublic Health Week Is Coming: 4 Tips For a Healthier Financial Outlook
With Public Health Week on the way,[1] it is not only time to consider your physical and mental health but also your financial health. When your financial outlook is healthier, you will be less stressed and enjoy what all your hard...
Read MoreSpring Into A Positive Outlook
“The real key to making money in stocks is not to get scared out of them.” Peter LynchThey say April showers bring May flowers. Well, after a lot of showers and storms over the past year, flowers are starting to bloom and things are...
Read MoreStocks Love April
“History doesn’t repeat itself, but it often rhymes.” Mark Twain What more can we say other than few months have been kinder to stocks lately than the month of April. In fact, it was last year that saw the S&P 500...
Read MoreCorporate Credit Markets Have Sold Off This Year. A Harbinger of Things to Come?
While most market participants have been (rightly) focusing on the sell-off in the Treasury markets this year, U.S. corporate credit markets have sold off as well. Corporate credit markets, as defined by the Bloomberg Barclays U.S....
Read More6 Essential Tips for Retirement Planning
Retirement planning is all about the future, your future. Whether you are classified as a millennial, Gen Xers, women, or you are in your 40s-50s, retirement planning is a must. The key to successful retirement planning is starting...
Read MoreMarch Madness—Stock Market Edition
March Madness: Stock Market Edition LPL Research share their “Final Four Factors” for the stock market in 2021 in this week’s Weekly Market Commentary, available at 1 p.m. ET. Daily Insights U.S. stocks open little...
Read MoreHow Financial Asset Management May Help Investors Stay the Course
Most people who decide to purchase stocks, bonds, mutual funds, or other investment vehicles do so understanding that there are risks associated with investing, but believing that the potential growth they may realize over time...
Read MoreRising Interest Rates Are A Global Phenomenon
Today is the one-year anniversary of the low in the 10-year Treasury yield. While we’ve discussed the sharp rise in U.S. Treasury yields that have occurred this year, rising rates have been a global phenomenon. Similar to the...
Read MoreHow to Use March Madness to Improve Workplace Culture
As March Madness grips sports fans around the country, workers throughout all kinds of industries join betting pools, talk about their predictions, and spend hours watching the games. All these distractions can compromise workplace...
Read MoreThe Return of Normal is Approaching
It’s now been over a year since COVID-19 first hit American shores. While the pandemic has affected everyone to varying degrees, we can all agree that everyone’s life is different today than it was a year ago. It’s...
Read MoreEnergy and Financials Fuel February’s Markets
Index Performance View enlarged chart. US and International Equities This month provided positive results for the major market indexes. The top performer was the Russell 2000 small cap index, returning over 6% for the month. Small caps...
Read MoreFinancial Planning for Veterans is Different
Every Veteran is unique and requires personalized financial advice According to the most recent data from the U.S. Census, there are over 17 million Veterans in the United States and more than nine million of these Veterans are served...
Read MoreTreasury Yields Are Rising. Now What?
Treasury yields started moving sharply higher this past month (remember that as yields go up, prices go down). And while the upward march began in earnest last August when the 10-Year Treasury yield bottomed at an all-time low rate of...
Read MoreManaging Caregivers Stress
With more and more seniors aging in place, the rise in caregivers who are not health professionals has begun to increase as well. Informal caregivers may find that their work is rewarding, since they ensure that their loved one is...
Read MoreGot Yield? Hold the Rate Risk, Please
In LPL Research’s Weekly Market Commentary this week, we looked at some stock and bond options that may be attractive income-producing ideas for suitable income-oriented investors. On the bond side, many income-oriented investors...
Read MoreInflation Expectations Highest Since 2014
The 10-year breakeven inflation rate, a market-based measure of inflation expectations, hit its highest level last Friday, February 5, since 2014. Still, at 2.21% expected annual inflation over the next 10 years, it remains a...
Read MoreOptimizing Required Minimum Distributions
Seventy-two is an important age milestone for those in or near retirement, as it marks the time when required minimum distributions (RMDs) begin to be withdrawn annually from IRAs and employer-sponsored retirement plans (previously,...
Read MoreStay the Course
“In the short-term, the market is a popularity contest. In the long-term, the market is a weighing machine.” Warren Buffett 2021 is under way, as our nation and the rest of the world look to begin to put the global pandemic...
Read MoreAs Goes January, So Goes The Year
Stocks got off to a nice start in 2021, until the late January selloff, as everyone got GameStop fever. Should bulls worry about what a down January might mean for the rest of 2021? There’s an old adage on Wall Street that...
Read MoreInterest Rate Reversals Revisited
In LPL Research Outlook 2021: Powering Forward, we noted that large interest rate declines historically have been followed by reversals. With the 10-year Treasury yield continuing to climb, now’s a good time for an update. As...
Read MoreTax Identity Theft Awareness - Protecting Yourself from Tax Identity Theft
Tax identity theft is when someone steals your Social Security Number, files a tax return with your number, and directs a refund to their own bank account. In other cases, this type of identity theft may involve a scam artist calling...
Read MoreCredit Spreads Limit Bond Performance Outlook
Investment-grade credit spreads, the extra yield you get from investment-grade corporate bonds compared to similarly dated US Treasuries, have already tightened to a level you usually only see during the middle of the economic...
Read MoreAre You Financially Fit?
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...
Read MoreTreasuries Hit Key Levels
Treasury yields hit two key levels the first week of 2021. As shown in the LPL Chart of the Day, the 10-year Treasury yield moved above 1% for the first time since March 2020, and the 10-year breakeven inflation rate, a measure of...
Read MoreNew Year's Resolutions to Get Your Finances in Order
New Year's is traditionally the time to review your life and make resolutions for change. In addition to thinking about working out, eating healthy, and meeting personal and professional goals, you should also think about your finances...
Read More2021 Brings a Fresh Start
Happy New Year! A new year offers a welcomed turn of the calendar and a fresh start. However, it’s difficult to put 2020 completely behind us just yet because the COVID-19 pandemic still presents a significant threat. Healthcare...
Read MoreDecember Market Insights
Market Blog View enlarged table. US and International Equities The S&P 500 Index, Dow Jones Industrial, and Nasdaq Composite indexes, continued their November run in December. As noted last month, November was a record-breaking month...
Read MoreThree Fed Takeaways from an Extraordinary Year
2020 was an extraordinary year for the Federal Reserve (Fed). The Fed responded swiftly and decisively to the rapidly accelerating financial and economic uncertainty brought on by efforts to contain the COVID-19 pandemic. The current...
Read MoreIs Brexit Fishing For A Deal?
Brexit, the United Kingdom’s (UK) withdrawal from the European Union (EU), is making news again as it stumbles toward its apparent conclusion on December 31, 2020. The major sticking point now: fish. The UK officially left the EU...
Read MoreIRS Makes Annual Inflation Adjustments for 2021
Adjustments for deductions, tax rate schedules and 60 other tax provisions The Internal Revenue Service announced annual inflation adjustments for the 2021 tax year for more than 60 tax provisions, including standard deductions and the...
Read MoreThe Financial Fitness Challenge: Tips for Strengthening Your Financial Health
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...
Read More4 More Years of Dollar Weakness?
Back in July, we wrote in our July 23 LPL Research blog that dollar weakness may continue, highlighting a short-term bearish technical case for the US dollar. Since then, the Bloomberg US Dollar Index and the US Dollar Index (DXY) are...
Read MoreA Business Plan Can Be Your Guide to Growth
Whether you're a current business owner or a budding entrepreneur burning with the next great idea, one of the most important steps you can take on your road to success is creating a business plan. Why? A well-thought-out and...
Read MoreHighlights of Outlook 2021: Powering Forward
2020 has been a tumultuous year, and as we near its close, we are pleased to present Outlook 2021: Powering Forward, which outlines our views on markets, the economy, and policy into 2021 and beyond. Policy changes should be relatively...
Read MoreOutlook 2021: Powering Forward
2020 has been a tumultuous year, and as we near its close, we are pleased to present Outlook 2021: Powering Forward, which outlines our views on markets, the economy, and policy into 2021 and beyond. Click Here to Download the PDF
Read MoreCharitable Giving and Donating Toys
As the holidays approach, many children start to make wish lists, but unfortunately, not all children have someone to give them gifts. Luckily, there are many charities that help get holiday gifts and joy to children. If you're...
Read MoreOutlook for 2021
Dear Valued Investor: As 2020 comes to a close, we are already looking forward to a new year—and to a world very different from the one we’re leaving behind. Areas of the economy have been damaged and may never fully...
Read MoreCorporate Bonds Tilting Toward Expensive
Not surprisingly, corporate credit spreads widened dramatically back in March 2020, making corporate bonds cheap relative to historical averages. (Credit spreads are the extra yield corporate bonds offer versus similarly dated...
Read MoreTreasury Yields After Recessions End
It may be a year or more before the end of the recession is officially called, but gauging from the growth we’ve seen since April, it may already be over. If that’s true, it’s a good time to take a look at what US...
Read MoreAppropriate Checklists for Year-End Tax Planning
What are appropriate checklists for year-end tax planning? Tax planners often develop checklists to guide taxpayers toward year-end strategies that might help reduce taxes. Typically, suggestions are grouped into several different...
Read More2 Reasons Long-Term Rates Could Continue to Rise
Fixed income investors aren’t used to having to deal with the volatility of stocks, but in the year that is 2020, that is exactly what has happened thus far. Unfortunately, while we don’t see the volatility of Q1 2020...
Read MorePlan Ahead for the Holiday Budget Crunch
This article encourages readers to avoid a holiday tradition that can undermine their long-term financial security — spending more than they can afford. Body: Every year, millions of Americans celebrate the holidays with...
Read MoreYear-End Planning to Help You Lower Your Tax Bill
As the end of the year draws near, the last thing anyone wants to think about is taxes. But if you are looking for ways to minimize your tax bill, there's no better time for tax planning than before year-end. That's because there are a...
Read MoreEarnings Rebound Picking up Speed
Third quarter earnings season has been outstanding relative to expectations by many measures. Some of the highlights: S&P 500 Index earnings are tracking to a 7.5% year-over-year decline, as shown in the LPL Chart of the Day, more than...
Read MoreElection Clarity for the Markets
November 9, 2020 Dear Valued Investor: Former Vice President Joe Biden has been elected the 46th President of the United States, defeating President Donald Trump in a tight race and bringing an end to the highly contested 2020 election...
Read MoreElection 2020 is Undecided
November 4, 2020 Dear Valued Investor: The American people have voted, casting a record number of ballots under extraordinary circumstances, which is a testament to the enduring resilience of our democracy. Determining the outcome of...
Read MoreInvesting in an Election Year
The world's events always affect the markets, and making smart investment choices requires you to look at what's happening around the world. But what about during an election year? How should you invest while the country is deciding...
Read MoreThe Best Day Of The Year Is This Week
Market Blog With the election only eight days away and earnings season in full swing, stocks have bucked the usual October weakness during election years so far in 2020 (Monday’s losses notwithstanding). The good news is this...
Read MoreEstate Planning Checklist
Because you've worked hard to create a secure and comfortable lifestyle for your family and loved ones, you'll want to ensure that you have a sound financial plan that includes trust and estate planning. With some forethought, you may...
Read MoreTreasury Return Expectations Historically Low
The 10-year US Treasury yield, at 0.77% as of October 19, is still near historical lows set earlier this year. Historically, 10-year Treasury performance for the next 10 years has tended to track the Treasury yield at the start of the...
Read More12 Estate Planning Must-Dos
Many of you already have estate documents, probably executed many years ago. You need an estate attorney to look over your documents every 10 years or so. Here are a dozen points to review. Do you have a will and powers of attorney for...
Read MoreUnder-the-Radar Signal That Rates May Head Higher
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...
Read MoreFixed Income Excels in the Third Quarter
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...
Read MoreSigns of Strength in the Economy
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...
Read MoreHow Corporate Bond Spreads Respond to Equity Market Volatility
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...
Read More401k Planning: 5 Questions to Ask
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...
Read MoreHow Bonds May Perform When Rates and Stocks Fall
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...
Read MoreCentral Banks Speak
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...
Read MoreAll You Need To Know About Eldercare Arrangements
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...
Read MoreThe New Look of Professional Football During the Pandemic
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...
Read MoreThe Recession Is Likely Over
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:...
Read MoreBuying Locally and Giving Locally
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...
Read MoreBack to School in a New Way
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...
Read More3 Charts To Watch If You Are Bullish
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...
Read MoreWhen Do Rates Start Rising After a Recession?
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...
Read MoreLow Treasury Yields Present a Challenge as Inflation Expectations Rise
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...
Read MoreLife Insurance and Charitable Giving
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...
Read MorePositive Territory
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...
Read MoreA Checklist for Your Retirement Planning
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...
Read MoreAre Recessions Good For Stocks?
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...
Read MoreA Nike-Inspired Checklist to Help You Plan
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...
Read MoreLet’s Get Real About Yields
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....
Read MoreAll You Need To Know About Eldercare Arrangements
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...
Read MoreMarket Volatility and the Importance of Staying the Course at Different Ages
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...
Read MoreReal-Time Data Recovery Stalled Amid COVID-19 Resurgence
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...
Read MoreEconomically Sensitive Fixed Income Sectors Lead in Second Quarter
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...
Read MoreMarket Volatility and the Importance of Staying the Course at Different Ages
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...
Read MoreThe Sandwich Generation: Juggling Family Responsibilities
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...
Read MoreA Letter to Clients: July 2020
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...
Read MoreElder Care Discussions
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...
Read MoreMoving to the Next Phase on the Road to Recovery
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...
Read MoreCongratulations, Graduates! What are your next steps, financially?
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...
Read MoreWhat Happens After Historic Rate Declines?
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...
Read MoreIt’s Official, We’re In A Recession
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...
Read MoreFamily Business—Laying the Groundwork for Potential Success
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...
Read MoreLooking Forward
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...
Read More2020 In Charts
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...
Read MoreCorporate Bond Spreads Decline as Fed Increases ETF Purchases
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...
Read MoreCoping With Market Volatility in Uncertain Times
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...
Read MoreBetter Times Are Coming
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...
Read MoreFed Says No to Negative Rates
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...
Read MoreWhy Gold Will Continue To Shine
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...
Read MoreNowhere To Go But Up
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...
Read MoreRemembering the Flash Crash
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....
Read MoreHappy Teacher's Appreciation Day to Teachers Navigating Their Calling Outside the Classroom
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,...
Read MoreSilver Lining in Consumer Confidence Data
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...
Read MoreHow the CARES Act Can Help Businesses Survive the Shutdown
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...
Read MoreHow We Respond Matters
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...
Read More“What goes up must come down, Spinnin’ wheel got to go ‘round”
- 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...
Read MoreWhat You Need to Know About the Paycheck Protection Program
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...
Read MoreCan Stocks Close Higher In 2020?
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,...
Read MoreA Letter to Our Clients: April 2020
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...
Read MoreBig Annual Declines are Rare
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....
Read MoreHow Are YOU Coping?
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...
Read MoreWhat are you Hearing from Your Advisor? The 5 Things You Should be Doing
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...
Read MoreMarket Volatility Stresses Liquidity
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...
Read MoreA Clear Vision of Financial Goals
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....
Read MoreHow Quickly Can Stocks Recover From COVID-19?
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...
Read MoreWow, What a Month!
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...
Read MoreRefinancing
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...
Read MoreSigns Of A Washout?
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...
Read MoreWomen, Money, and Today's Retirement
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...
Read MoreMarch Madness, Cinderella & Your Portfolio
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...
Read MoreCoronavirus Market Update: March 2020
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....
Read MoreA Letter to Clients: March 2020
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...
Read MoreHow To Use SEPS to Attract New Talent
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...
Read MoreDebt Should Retire When You Do
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...
Read MoreKey Employees: Protecting Your Most Valuable Assets
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...
Read MoreCoronavirus Impact on Markets Continues
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...
Read MoreA Letter to Clients: The Coronavirus
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...
Read MoreFinancial Wellness: Establishing an Emergency Fund
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,...
Read MoreDAILY INSIGHTS
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...
Read MoreHelping to Care for Aging Parents
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...
Read MoreFinancial Planning Tips for Small Business Owners
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...
Read MoreYield Curve Back in the News
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...
Read MoreThe Basics of Long-Term Care Insurance
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...
Read MoreAre Yields Near a Bottom?
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...
Read MoreWhat Is a 403(b) plan?
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...
Read MoreViral Outbreak Ends Period of Market Calm
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%...
Read MoreRetiring Business Owners - Plan for Succession
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...
Read MoreRecession Watch Update
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...
Read MoreMembers of the Military: Planning for Retirement
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...
Read MoreAre You Seeing Your True Reflection?
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...
Read More10 Ways the Secure Act Will Impact Your Retirement Savings
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...
Read MoreHealthy But Manageable Consumer Inflation
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...
Read MoreSix Basic Tax Planning Techniques
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...
Read MoreThe Financial Fitness Challenge: Tips for Strengthening Your Financial Health
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...
Read MoreWhat Mideast Escalation Means for Markets
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...
Read MoreA Letter to Clients: January 2020
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...
Read MoreYield Curve’s the Biggest Fixed Income Story of 2019
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,...
Read MoreAre You Financially Fit?
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...
Read MoreIs It Time For Santa?
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...
Read MoreFour Fed Hikes, One Year Later
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...
Read MoreDeveloping a Successful Business Plan
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...
Read MoreOutlook 2020: Bringing Markets Into Focus
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...
Read MoreAre You Financially Fit?
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...
Read MoreMost Donors Make Small Charitable Gifts
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...
Read MoreDeveloping a Successful Business Plan
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...
Read MoreCharitable Giving
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...
Read MoreThree Amazing Streaks
“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...
Read MoreHelp Your Favorite Charity
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 . .
Read MoreHappy Holidays
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...
Read MoreThe Tax Man
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...
Read MoreHAPPY NEW YEAR?
“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...
Read MoreAmazon is Eating the World
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...
Read MoreLions and Tigers, Bulls and Bears, Oh My!
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...
Read MoreSELF-DRIVING VEHICLES
“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...
Read MoreVeteran's Day
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...
Read MoreArt on Tap
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,...
Read More“The robots are coming! The robots are coming!”
“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...
Read MoreForget K-K-K-Katy, it is all about IRMAA!
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....
Read MoreRaise the Roof, or at Least the Debt Ceiling or Going back to Houston
“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...
Read More"So you say it's your birthday"
“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....
Read More"We've only just begun"
“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....
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