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Whether your retirement is years away or right around the corner, your investment portfolio should be designed with your financial goals in mind. It needs to be forward-thinking enough to handle the whims of the market but flexible enough to make changes on the fly. One of the most important concepts for any investor to understand is asset allocation. Put simply, asset allocation describes the division of stocks, bonds, and cash that make up your investment portfolio. Although this concept is straightforward, it has one of the largest impacts on your financial future.

With inflation at highs we haven’t seen since the early 1980’s, government issued “I Bonds” have been a hot topic. We want to provide everyone with a general overview of how they work. An I Bond is a savings bond that earns interest based on combining a fixed rate and an inflation rate. The fixed rate (which is currently 0%) is fixed for however long you hold the bond and the inflation rate (currently 9.62%) can change twice a year based on when you purchased the bond. This means that I bonds are currently paying 9.62% annual interest through this October 2022. The interest is compounded and is added to the principal semiannually. The interest rate on the bond can never go below 0%. Individuals can purchase a maximum of $10,000 total in a calendar year. You can also buy an additional $10,000 through estates, businesses, and trusts per year.

Smart investors know that trying to time the market is often a losing game. Instead, you plan ahead and invest in such a way as to minimize risk and maximize your returns. Whether you’re a seasoned investor or just getting started, dollar-cost averaging could be beneficial.

If you have a balance on a credit card or an adjustable rate mortgage, you might be noticing changes in your payments. Higher interest rates are starting to ripple through the personal finance landscape, and it doesn’t look like that trend will change anytime soon. The Federal Reserve has indicated it plans to keep raising short-term interest rates to help manage inflation, which is at its highest level in 40 years. You’re likely seeing the effects of inflation when buying gas or groceries, and you’ll notice it if you are shopping for a new or used car. The Federal Reserve’s job is to control inflation. By raising interest rates, the Fed hopes to slow spending, bringing down consumer prices.

Earth Day is on Friday, April 22. Celebrate Mother Earth by taking the day to get outside, enjoy nature, and consider your role in your community. We all want to make small changes to make the world a better place, and some of these changes can take place through your investment portfolio! This article discusses Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) investing, how to get started, and the difference it can make for both your investments and the environment.

What is unfolding in Ukraine is extremely troubling. As Russia presses its military advantage, it is inspiring to see Ukrainians defending their country. And while the images of fleeing refugees and bombed out maternity wards create strong emotions, as your financial advisor, we’re here to help you keep those emotions in check as it relates to your financial planning. Markets were volatile prior to the invasion and have become even more so over the past few weeks. As we monitor the situation closely, nobody can predict market moves. We’ve seen broad selloffs followed by huge rallies – sometimes within the same trading session! Volatility will most likely continue, at least for the short term, as investors weigh the impact of rising inflation, energy prices, supply-chain disruptions, and interest rates. Signs of escalation or de-escalation in Ukraine will continue to move the indices.