By Kevin Theissen More than just an end to the summer season, Labor Day is a celebration of workers’ contributions to the well-being of our country and the economy. Labor Day was first celebrated on Sept. 5, 1882, in New York City, in accordance with the Central Labor Union. On June 28, 1894, President Grover…

By Kevin Theissen It’s becoming more difficult to ignore news about digital currencies. Two of the more recent topics being discussed are: Should the Federal Reserve issue a central bank digital currency (CBDC)? Should digital currencies be better regulated? Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell confirmed in July that he is undecided about whether the U.S.…

By Kevin Theissen Social Security is a critical component of many Americans’ retirement financial strategy. Before you begin taking it, consider ways to maximize this retirement income source for yourself. When to start? You have the choice of 1) starting benefits at age 62, 2) claiming them at your full retirement age, or 3) delaying…

By Kevin Theissen Risk is a factor in every investment decision that you make, and your tolerance for risk is an important consideration, when making decisions alongside your trusted financial professional. Risk tolerance is balanced against your time horizon: the time between now and when you anticipate needing your money. But is it possible to…

By Kevin Theissen Information vs. instinct: When it comes to investing, many people believe they have a “gift” for choosing good investments. But what exactly is that “gift” based on? The truth is, the choices we make with our assets can be strongly influenced by factors (many of them emotional) that we may not even be…

By Kevin Theissen Nearly 40 million American households have children ages 18 or younger, and last week, they received their first Advance Child Tax credit payment. These families account for more than 30% of the U.S. population. The amount each of these households receives depends on the children’s ages and the parents’ income. Eligible households…

By Kevin Theissen As a young investor, you have a powerful ally on your side: time. When you start investing in your 20s or 30s for retirement, you can put it to work for you. Many people underestimate the power of compounding, so it is worth illustrating. How does it work? A simplified example goes…

By Kevin Theissen Over the past year, scientists raced to develop effective Covid vaccines, and governments and companies worked to make vaccines available. There are now multiple vaccines approved in most countries around the world. More than 2 billion doses have been administered, and over 10% of the world’s population has been vaccinated. It’s a…

By Kevin Theissen Investment firms have a client service feature that may be a benefit to certain investors. They will ask you whether you would like to provide the name and information of a trusted contact. You do not have to supply this information, but it may offer some advantages. The request is made with your…

By Kevin Theissen Pundits say a lot of things about the markets. Here is a small handful: Buy the rumor and sell high, because there’s no such thing as a free lunch. Prediction is difficult, but never catch a falling knife. Cut your losses, no one ever went broke taking profits. As Mark Twain said,…

By Kevin Theissen Dan Taylor faced a difficult situation after his father suffered a stroke at age 72 and couldn’t live alone. He was responsible for looking after him and had no idea how to proceed. He was overwhelmed by the plethora of options and was determined to find a place where his father “would…

By Kevin Theissen Inflation sometimes seems like one of those afflictions of an era long since passed into the history books. While it’s true that double-digit inflation has been absent for the last 30 years or more, you may remember the high inflation years of the 1970s. Will the levels of U.S. public debt, loose…

By Kevin Theissen A Roth IRA can help you save for the future – with some flexibility. Roth contributions are made after taxes have been paid and offer the potential for tax-free growth and tax-free withdrawals in retirement. But that’s not all – if you need money before retirement, you can withdraw the money you…

By Kevin Theissen Some big news recently was the announcement from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) that fully vaccinated Americans can resume normal activities without wearing masks or social distancing, except where required by law. People are more than ready to return to normal. Results from the latest Axios-Ipsos Coronavirus survey, conducted in early…

By Kevin Theissen Have you ever considered buying a property in your favorite vacation spot?  If you are practical, maybe you’re tired of paying high rental prices. Or your family needs more room than you can get in a hotel or reasonably priced vacation rental. Or maybe you just want a place for your family…