Posts by Scott Voigt, CFA, CFP®, CPA
20 Second Advisor: Inflation could mean bigger SS benefits
If inflation remains hot, retirees may get a bigger bump to their Social Security benefits than previously estimated. Last week, the annual report from the trustees of the Social Security and Medicare programs projected a 3.8% increase in the cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) for beneficiaries’ monthly checks next year. But since the report data was gathered in mid-February,…
Read More20 Second Advisor: Get the most bang for your buck travelling overseas
The strong American dollar is the upside of a volatile economy. For U.S. travelers headed abroad, that may help make up for the rising cost of travel. For example, the exchange rate with the euro is about $1.04, meaning each 100 euros will cost about $104. One euro was worth about $1.22 this time last year. The…
Read More20 Second Advisor: Where there is a beginning, there is always an end
When it comes to bear markets, investors can take comfort from history, which suggests that where there’s a beginning, there’s always an end. We don’t know exactly when the bear market will end, but history says we have a few months left to endure after the S&P 500 tumbled into bear market territory last week. And…
Read More20 Second Advisor: Summer travel tips
Summer is in full swing. Are you thinking of taking a summer trip? Here are some travel tips to help you navigate the soaring gas prices, airfare, and hotel fares. Consider going to Europe; the dollar is strong relative to the Euro One place to search for the best room rates is Hotels.com’s new Hot Price…
Read More20 Second Advisor: Should I stay in bonds?
You may be asking: Why have my fixed income funds lost money? The short answer: The Effective Federal Funds rate has increased year to date; buyers and sellers have incorporated that information, as well as their expectations about future changes in interest rates, into prices. Just remember that when the yield of a bond increases,…
Read More20 Second Advisor: Who is your guide?
Yesterday, team Verisail went fly fishing with a guide. It was a great day to be outdoors and on the water. None of us are experts in the world of fly fishing, but we had a great experience. Much of our experience could be attributed to our guide. As I went to bed last night,…
Read More20 Second Advisor: Fed Rate Hike- What it means for you
Inflation is at a 40-year high. Just last week, the Fed raised its benchmark rate .25%. In theory, the rate hike increases a number of borrowing costs, which slows demand for goods and taps the brakes on inflation. The Fed has indicated that further rate hikes are in store. If we continue to see further…
Read More20 Second Advisor: How much exposure to Russia do you own?
As an investor, you may be wondering how much exposure to Russia do you own. We do have exposure to an emerging markets fund, specifically DFA Emerging Markets Core Equity Portfolio (DFCEX). Here are a couple bullet points related to this fund: As of 1/31/22, DFCEX held Russia at a weight of 0.92% while the…
Read More20 Second Advisor: Mortgage Rates hit a 2 year high
The rate on the 30-year fixed mortgage rose to 3.69%, up from 3.55% last week, according to Freddie Mac. That’s the highest point since the first week of January 2020 and well below the 2.73% it averaged a year ago. Just like the stock market, it is difficult to predict the future of rates. However,…
Read More20 Second Advisor: Dog Grooming and Market Efficiency
Just last week, I decided to get my dog groomed. Dog grooming is new to me….something that I am not familiar with. My first task was to do a google search, call several groomers in town, comparison shop, and then decide which one to go to. Side note: one of the groomers is super convenient…
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