Here we are again: That time of year we ramp up to make some real changes in our life. Fresh start, new year-new you, lose weight, quit smoking, get organized, eat healthier, get out of debt, save more money, stop singing ‘I Feel Pretty’ in your underwear on top of your mailbox every morning…we’ve heard […]
Stock Market Performance and the Weather – Winter 2016
Belling-hamsters know what it is like to wait out a long winter. A down market can be like that; gloomy, day after day. It’s not pleasant, and there is nothing we can do about it. (Well, OK…I like rain and down markets, because both are necessary for growth, but I’m odd that way). Our dislike […]
Negative Interest Rates: Coming to a Bank Near You?
In recent months, several of the world’s central banks have conducted a highly risky experiment with negative interest rates. For example, the Bank of Japan has a rate of minus 0.1%, the European Central Bank has a deposit rate of minus 0.4%, and Switzerland’s bank rate is a minus 0.75%. German government bonds with maturities as long […]
Understanding Actual Returns vs. Average Returns
No financial planner can know what the future will bring, and none should pretend to. Markets, stock prices and ultimately return are all beyond anyone’s calculation or control. Any plan that reacts to market events is a plan that is doomed to fail, so a successful investor must appreciate that markets are unpredictable and accept […]
The Financial Crisis in Greece
Dimensional Fund Advisors’ Weston Wellington offers useful perspective regarding the financial crisis in Greece. Click the link below to view the video. DFA on the crisis in Greece
10 Steps For a Better Investment Experience
Click on any of the following steps for a closer look. Additional exhibit information and important disclosures.
Reconstitution Effect
Interesting article from Bloomberg “The Hugely Profitable, Wholly Legal Way to Game the Stock Market” Our clients know this as the Reconstitution Effect and that we have been using patient strategies to avoid/prosper from this effect for over a decade!
Financial Plan, Inc. Moves to Barkley Village
After 17 years in our downtown office, Financial Plan is moving to a new office location. Beginning October 1st, 2014 our office will be on Barkley Blvd. Our new address is: [schema type=”organization” orgtype=”Organization” url=”http://financialplaninc.com/” name=”Financial Plan, Inc” street=”2115 Barkley Blvd, Suite 101″ city=”Bellingham” state=”Washington” postalcode=”98226″ country=”US” email=”Info@FinancialPlanInc.com” phone=”360-714-1234″ ] Our telephone and fax numbers […]
The Smart Money is Catching on to DFA (Dimensional Fund Advisors)
For the last ten years Financial Plan, Inc. has incorporated funds from DFA (Dimensional Fund Advisors) into our diversified investment portfolios. Barron’s recent article “Where the Smart Money is Headed” has DFA as the #1 place the “smart money” will invest, and discusses their approach. We use DFA as one of our investment partners because their investment […]
Gold ETF Tax Surprise
My dad told me recently that he just celebrated his “Heavy Metal” Birthday. He said it means that he has gold in his teeth, silver in his hair and lead in his butt. This is a good reminder article of another reality of investing in gold or precious metals. I’ve talked with a lot of people […]