Taking control of your financial future requires the same tenacity and determination that women give to other areas of their lives. For 28 years, I have been advising clients about financial planning decisions. I was trained and worked on a team with our founder, Bill Few, a pioneer in the Pittsburgh financial planning community. During […]
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Feeling All Right – Financial Market Update
In the NewsFeeling All Right – Financial Market Update Last September, everything felt fine. Led by technology stocks, the stock market was up over 10%. The Federal Reserve raised the fed funds rate 0.75% at this point in 2018, causing bond performance to be basically flat, but at least savers were earning something in their savings accounts […]
Interest Rates – How Low Can They Go?
Investment ManagementInterest Rates – How Low Can They Go? According to Bloomberg data, the world’s stockpile of negative-yielding debt nearly tripled in size from just a year ago. This phenomenon was born of unorthodox monetary policy carried out by central banks – namely, those in Europe first and then Japan – in the hope of boosting […]
Superstition – Stock Market and Investing
Investment ManagementStock Market and Investing Superstition The opening lyrics to the Stevie Wonder song “Superstition” from 1973 are: Very superstitious, writing’s on the wall Very superstitious, ladders bout’ to fall Thirteen-month-old baby, broke the lookin’ glass Seven years of bad luck, the good things in your past When you believe in things that you don’t understand […]
Are You Making Excuses For Not Speaking With A Financial Advisor?
Financial PlanningMia A. McFadden, CFP® When I tell people I am a financial planner I can feel their anxiety. You would have thought I had put them under a hot lamp and started demanding they remunerate all their financial shortcomings. Meanwhile I’m just making chit chat at the local neighborhood BBQ. Yet a lot of people […]
How to Save for College Education
Education PlanningMia A. McFadden, CFP® With college costs soaring many parents are left scratching their heads over how to save for their child’s college education. We know that obtaining a college degree can result in higher pay and a wider array of career opportunities. But what we really hope a college degree translates to is a […]
Time is Relative – Market Update, 1st Quarter 2019
Market UpdateMost of those reading this update are of a generation that was born and raised well before the Internet. We can remember buying something from a catalog or cereal box and having to wait six weeks for our special purchase to arrive. Let’s imagine that you mailed your order, marked the wall calendar for six […]
Year in Review and Looking Forward
Market UpdateIn our January write-up, we typically begin by reviewing the previous year. Last year proved to be one of the most difficult years in a while. At Bill Few Associates, we preach diversification. Our belief is that when you hold a diversified portfolio, at least some portion of your portfolio is working at all times. […]
Financial Market Commentary – 3rd Quarter of 2018
Market UpdateIt’s All a Matter of Perspective! As US equities enter into the longest bull market for stocks in modern history, the question I have been asked most frequently is, what happens next? Is a stock market crash imminent, or is this bull market different and capable of running even longer? If my crystal ball […]
Important Dates for Investors
In the NewsReShelle Barrett, CFP® Important Dates for Investors Remember the excitement of turning 16 so you can get your driver’s license? And 21 to be a legal adult? Important birthdates don’t end there. As you head toward retirement, consider the following dates as they may be critical in ensuring your financial plan’s success: Age 55 Possible […]
