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Stay updated with insights, tips, and trends in finance and business strategy.
Curated by our experts to keep you informed and ahead.
April Investment Comments 01 Apr
Eric Wathen, CFA® | Apr 01, 2026

April Investment Comments

It has been a jarring few weeks for investors. The U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran that began on February 28th have reshaped the outlook for energy p...
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Play Ball…or Not! 01 Apr
Scott Horsburgh, CFA® | Apr 01, 2026

Play Ball…or Not!

Many Provident clients know that I am an avid baseball fan. A number of them have even accompanied me to Detroit Tiger games. If you are a client resi...
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IRMAA: Tools to Anticipate, Adjust, and Pay 01 Mar
Eric Wathen, CFA® | Mar 01, 2026

IRMAA: Tools to Anticipate, Adjust, and Pay

Medicare is not, as it’s often called, free healthcare starting at 65. It has a cost, and that cost rises with income in a way that catches many by ...
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March Investment Comments 01 Mar
Scott Horsburgh, CFA® | Mar 01, 2026

March Investment Comments

The U.S. economy continues to hum along despite all the headlines about “affordability,” tariffs, immigration, and actual or potential military ac...
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February Investment Comments 02 Feb
Dan Boyle, CFA® | Feb 02, 2026

February Investment Comments

The year has started nicely for both stock and bond investors. In the early part of January, stocks rallied, largely from a broadening of market parti...
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Unadmitted Gambles 02 Feb
Miles Putnam, CFA® | Feb 02, 2026

Unadmitted Gambles

Stocks are the only thing people want more of when their price goes up. Bull markets stoke confidence. People chase the winners. More participation ad...
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January Investment Comments 02 Jan
Eric Wathen, CFA® | Jan 02, 2026

January Investment Comments

The Year in Review: Resilience Amidst FogThe financial markets demonstrated remarkable resilience in 2025, climbing a wall of worry constructed of tar...
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The Process 02 Jan
James Skubik, CFA® | Jan 02, 2026

The Process

It probably comes as no surprise that the Provident office is well populated with sports fans, and college football is of particular interest to many ...
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Year-End Financial Planning Tasks 01 Dec
Dan Krstevski, CFP® | Dec 01, 2025

Year-End Financial Planning Tasks

As the calendar pages turn to December, many minds shift to the holidays, but the year-end is perhaps the most crucial time to reflect on your financi...
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December Investment Comments 01 Dec
James M. Skubik, CFA® | Dec 01, 2025

December Investment Comments

From its April tariff-related trough to its recent peak, the S&P 500 gained more than 35%, though in recent weeks the market has faced greater resista...
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Why are investors obsessed with interest rates? 01 Nov
Scott D Horsburgh, CFA® | Nov 01, 2025

Why are investors obsessed with interest rates?

When I began my career with NBD Bancorp, my colleagues would gather around the Quotron machine every afternoon to get the reading on the CRB (Commodit...
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November Investment Comments 01 Nov
Miles Putnam, CFA® | Nov 01, 2025

November Investment Comments

The U.S. government shut down for the first time in seven years on October 1st. Politicians hope voters will blame the other party. Voters may barely ...
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Artificial Intelligence Update: Skynet Fears, but Much More of the Same 01 Oct
Dan Boyle, CFA® | Oct 01, 2025

Artificial Intelligence Update: Skynet Fears, but Much More of the Same

I authored our Viewpoint column in September 2023 and discussed the history of Artificial Intelligence. A client recently told me he enjoyed the colum...
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October Investment Comments 01 Oct
James M. Skubik, CFA® | Oct 01, 2025

October Investment Comments

Markets have staged a strong recovery from the April lows, with the S&P 500 up more than 30% and hovering around all-time highs. Though there has been...
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September Investment Comments 02 Sep
Miles Putnam, CFA® | Sep 02, 2025

September Investment Comments

The S&P 500 reached an intraday high of 6,457 on July 28th, nearly triple its lowest point of 2020. The NASDAQ continued setting new highs into August...
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Bragging Rights and Red Flags 02 Sep
N/A | Sep 02, 2025

Bragging Rights and Red Flags

A friend recently sent me a video from Instagram promoting an “AI-powered day trading bot.” The pitch was clean, fast, and convincing. Fund a brok...
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Blurred Lines 01 Aug
James M. Skubik, CFA® | Aug 01, 2025

Blurred Lines

A few years ago, Hendrik Bessembinder, a finance professor at Arizona State, conducted a study of stock market returns over the past century that yiel...
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August Investment Comments 01 Aug
Eric Wathen, CFA® | Aug 01, 2025

August Investment Comments

The first half of 2025 has presented investors with a paradox. Equity markets have demonstrated remarkable resilience, staging a powerful recovery fro...
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July Investment Comments 01 Jul
James M. Skubik, CFA® | Jul 01, 2025

July Investment Comments

On the back of easing trade tensions, markets have staged an unusually rapid recovery from a tariff-induced near bear market about two months ago. The...
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The Cost of Driving and Thriving 01 Jul
Miles Putnam, CFA® | Jul 01, 2025

The Cost of Driving and Thriving

A recent press release from the Bureau of Labor Statistics tells me that the cost of living is rising at only a measured pace. The latest Consumer Pri...
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June Investment Comments 01 Jun
Dan Boyle, CFA® | Jun 01, 2025

June Investment Comments

Markets cheered on May 12th when the Trump Administration agreed to suspend most of the 145% tariff that it imposed on Chinese goods back on April 2nd...
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Social Security and Medicare 01 Jun
Dan Krstevski, CFP® | Jun 01, 2025

Social Security and Medicare

Retirement is a time to enjoy the fruits of your labor, but it also comes with important financial and healthcare decisions. Two of the most significa...
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Moving Markets and Asset Allocation 01 May
Dan Boyle, CFA® | May 01, 2025

Moving Markets and Asset Allocation

On the evening of Wednesday, April 2nd President Trump announced reciprocal tariffs for about 90 countries, with many of the tariffs far higher than p...
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May Investment Comments 01 May
Eric Wathen, CFA® | May 01, 2025

May Investment Comments

The Trump administration's sudden imposition of aggressive reciprocal tariffs on April 2nd triggered significant selling pressure, causing the S&P 500...
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Thoughts on Estate Planning 01 Apr
Scott D. Horsburgh, CFA® | Apr 01, 2025

Thoughts on Estate Planning

We aren’t estate attorneys, but we have decades of experience observing how clients and their heirs have handled estate matters. One aspect of our w...
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April Investment Comments 01 Apr
Miles Putnam, CFA® | Apr 01, 2025

April Investment Comments

We warned about froth in equities last month, and the S&P 500 responded with a sharp correction. The index experienced a steady slide from its peak of...
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March Investment Comments 03 Mar
Dan Boyle, CFA® | Mar 03, 2025

March Investment Comments

After two great years in the equity market, 2025 got off to another strong start with the S&P 500 making record highs driven by earnings growth and no...
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Old Tricks, New Tech: How to Stay Safe 03 Mar
Eric Wathen, CFA® | Mar 03, 2025

Old Tricks, New Tech: How to Stay Safe

Every day, we're inundated with spam calls, fraudulent mailers, and deceptive emails. Cybercriminals continually refine their methods to trap unsuspec...
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Buyer Beware 31 Jan
Miles Putnam, CFA® | Jan 31, 2025

Buyer Beware

The founder of Hindenburg Research, Nate Anderson, is closing his shop. The stock market is losing a valuable, and singular, contributor. While most r...
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February Investment Comments 31 Jan
Scott D. Horsburgh, CFA® | Jan 31, 2025

February Investment Comments

Market volatility has picked up in early 2025, a continuation of December’s fluctuations. This shouldn’t come as a surprise as several factors are...
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Understanding the Game 02 Jan
James M. Skubik, CFA® | Jan 02, 2025

Understanding the Game

In high school I took a class introducing the basics of investing. Our teacher, a nice man who vaguely resembled Auric Goldfinger from the James Bond ...
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January Investment Comments 02 Jan
Eric Wathen, CFA® | Jan 02, 2025

January Investment Comments

The Year In Review: A Reflection on Markets and the EconomyEquity investors have much to celebrate this year as indices continue to rise to all-time h...
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December Investment Comments 02 Dec
James M. Skubik, CFA® | Dec 02, 2024

December Investment Comments

Stocks were already trading near all-time highs prior to the election, after which markets took another leg higher. Overall, equities have been suppor...
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2024 Year-End Financial Checklist 02 Dec
Dan Krstevski, CFP® | Dec 02, 2024

2024 Year-End Financial Checklist

As 2024 draws to a close, it’s time to conduct a comprehensive review of your financial situation and set the stage for a prosperous new year. Here...
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November Investment Comments 31 Oct
Scott D. Horsburgh, CFA® | Oct 31, 2024

November Investment Comments

Judging solely by the U.S. stock market, economic conditions could hardly be any better. Year to date, the S&P 500 is up more than 22%. Investors may ...
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Introducing Eric Wathen, Our Newest Full-time Employee of Provident 31 Oct
Eric Wathen, CFA® | Oct 31, 2024

Introducing Eric Wathen, Our Newest Full-time Employee of Provident

After working part-time at Provident for a year and a half, I am thrilled to announce that I will now be transitioning to a full-time role with the te...
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October Investment Comments 30 Sep
James M. Skubik, CFA | Sep 30, 2024

October Investment Comments

While the S&P 500 remains near all-time highs, markets have been choppy as sentiment has vacillated between belief in the Federal Reserve’s ability ...
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The Taxman Cometh? 30 Sep
Dan Boyle, CFA | Sep 30, 2024

The Taxman Cometh?

Google searches are often entertaining. As I was thinking about a title for this column I typed “The Taxman Cometh?” into my browser, looking for ...
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Behind the Scenes at Provident 03 Sep
Scott Horsburgh, CFA | Sep 03, 2024

Behind the Scenes at Provident

From time to time, I like to provide a behind-the-scenes update from Provident. The focus this time will be on the steps we take to keep your data and...
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September Investment Comments 03 Sep
Dan Boyle, CFA | Sep 03, 2024

September Investment Comments

For much of 2023 and into 2024, markets experienced a low level of volatility in the face of the fastest interest rate tightening cycle in U.S. histor...
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August Investment Comments 01 Aug
Dan Boyle, CFA | Aug 01, 2024

August Investment Comments

After spending much of the year lagging behind the Magnificent 7, a broader array of stocks joined the party and pushed the market to all-time highs. ...
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An Update on Inherited IRAs 01 Aug
James Skubik, CFA | Aug 01, 2024

An Update on Inherited IRAs

The SECURE Act and SECURE 2.0 Act introduced a number of changes related to IRAs, some favorable and some unfavorable. One of the unfavorable changes ...
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A Feast you can Eat 02 Jul
Miles Putnam, CFA | Jul 02, 2024

A Feast you can Eat

Almost all people value the utility which their children will get from consumption higher than they value their own. –Milton FriedmanSome people wan...
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July Investment Comments 02 Jul
Scott D. Horsburgh, CFA | Jul 02, 2024

July Investment Comments

Economic growth has been steady, unemployment is relatively low, and the stock market is flirting with all-time highs. Yet, 68% of Americans rated eco...
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The Importance of a Durable Power of Attorney and Healthcare Advance Directive 03 Jun
Dan Krstevski, CFP® | Jun 03, 2024

The Importance of a Durable Power of Attorney and Healthcare Advance Directive

A durable power of attorney (DPOA) along with a healthcare advance directive are important components of a comprehen­sive estate plan. These legal do...
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June Investment Comments 03 Jun
Eric Wathen, CFA | Jun 03, 2024

June Investment Comments

The S&P 500 has rebounded to all-time highs, up over 10% year-to-date after recovering from a dip of over 5% in April. Earnings season is upon us, wit...
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Can the Fed Stick the Landing? 01 May
Dan Boyle, CFA | May 01, 2024

Can the Fed Stick the Landing?

Since the Pandemic, the Federal Reserve reminds me of a gymnast that utterly failed his Floor exercise but is trying desperately to stick the landing ...
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May Investment Comments 01 May
James M. Skubik, CFA | May 01, 2024

May Investment Comments

The first quarter of 2024 was largely a continuation of the strength the stock market exhibited in 2023. The S&P 500 advanced nearly 11% in Q1, follow...
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The Transatlantic 10% 01 Apr
Miles Putnam, CFA | Apr 01, 2024

The Transatlantic 10%

It never dawned on me how uniquely American my job is until I came to the United Kingdom. I am working remotely from the middle of England for most of...
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April Investment Comments 01 Apr
James Skubik, CFA | Apr 01, 2024

April Investment Comments

Expectations for rate cuts in 2024 have moderated since the beginning of the year. Based on the CME FedWatch Tool, the current expectation is for thre...
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Donor-Advised Funds 04 Mar
Eric Wathen, CFA® | Mar 04, 2024

Donor-Advised Funds

According to the National Philanthropic Trust, the first donor-advised funds (DAFs) were created in the 1930s, though only recognized formally in the ...
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March Investment Comments 04 Mar
Miles Putnam, CFA® | Mar 04, 2024

March Investment Comments

The S&P 500 closed above 5,000 for the first time in history on February 9. The index has risen more than 50% since the end of 2019. The Russell 2000 ...
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The Freshman Fifty Thousand 01 Feb
N/A | Feb 01, 2024

The Freshman Fifty Thousand

“When I was 17 I went to get a Limp Bizkit tattoo and when they wouldn’t let me because I didn’t have a guardian’s approval, I cried and punch...
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February Investment Comments 01 Feb
James Skubik, CFA | Feb 01, 2024

February Investment Comments

Last year the market rebounded from what was a challenging 2022. Investor sentiment going into 2023 was decidedly negative, as the Federal Reserve’s...
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It's That Time Again: New Year's Resolutions 02 Jan
Dan Boyle, CFA | Jan 02, 2024

It's That Time Again: New Year's Resolutions

I like this time of year. While I’m not a fan of the start of winter in Michigan, I do enjoy celebrating Thanksgiving and Christmas. Plus, it gives ...
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January Investment Comments 02 Jan
James M. Skubik, CFA | Jan 02, 2024

January Investment Comments

Markets have rallied since late October on the increasing belief the Federal Reserve has completed its rate hiking campaign intended to quell inflatio...
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December Investment Comments 04 Dec
Eric Wathen, CFA | Dec 04, 2023

December Investment Comments

Since late October, the stock market has rallied off multi-month lows and is now back near its 2023 highs, giving something extra for investors to che...
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Pitfalls of Annuities 04 Dec
Dan Krstevski, CFP ® | Dec 04, 2023

Pitfalls of Annuities

Buyer beware! Annuity salespeople are out in droves. They are conscious that volatility in the stock market over the last couple of years has made som...
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November Investment Comments 02 Nov
Daniel J. Boyle, CFA | Nov 02, 2023

November Investment Comments

Investors in long-term bonds feel like they are repeating a bad song while investors in stocks are likely not doing as well as the media headlines ass...
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Re-introducing the Provident Team 02 Nov
Scott D. Horsburgh, CFA President | Nov 02, 2023

Re-introducing the Provident Team

We have a great team here at Provident, and I’m proud of the work each of them does. Our clients see the trades we make in their portfolios, and the...
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Earnings and the Market 02 Oct
N/A | Oct 02, 2023

Earnings and the Market

I recall a television advertisement years ago featuring legendary investor Peter Lynch. Lynch helped popularize the “growth at a reasonable price”...
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October Investment Comments 02 Oct
Daniel J. Boyle, CFA | Oct 02, 2023

October Investment Comments

As we head into the fall, 2023 has left egg on the face of most forecasters. The seemingly inevitable recession on the heels of a turbulent 2022 hasn...
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September Investment Comments 01 Sep
Miles Putnam, CFA | Sep 01, 2023

September Investment Comments

Long-term interest rates were choppy with no clear trend in 2023 through the end of July but broke to the upside in August. The 30-year Treasury’s y...
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Artificial Intelligence: Skynet or More of the Same? 01 Sep
Dan Boyle, CFA | Sep 01, 2023

Artificial Intelligence: Skynet or More of the Same?

Artificial Intelligence has burst on the scene in 2023, paced by OpenAI, L.P.’s release of ChatGPT (Chat Generative Pre-trained Transformer) last No...
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August Investment Comments 01 Aug
Daniel J. Boyle, CFA | Aug 01, 2023

August Investment Comments

Since early 2020 the economy has undergone a series of shocks. First came the Covid-19 pandemic, which continues to impact the economy more than three...
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A New Service for Employer Retirement Plans 01 Aug
Miles Putnam, CFA | Aug 01, 2023

A New Service for Employer Retirement Plans

Clients often ask whether Provident can manage the assets in their 401(k) or 403(b) employer-sponsored retirement plans. Until recently, our answer wa...
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Reflections of a Long-Time Provident Employee 03 Jul
Doreen Phelps | Jul 03, 2023

Reflections of a Long-Time Provident Employee

Most of you do not know me, but I have been behind the scenes at Provident for almost 25 years. Scott Horsburgh asked me to share my observations with...
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July Investment Comments 03 Jul
N/A | Jul 03, 2023

July Investment Comments

A Tale of Two Economies...
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Rebalancing for Life 01 Jun
Eric Pozolo, CFP® | Jun 01, 2023

Rebalancing for Life

I recently became an uncle. Meeting my nephew was a great experience. After I held the little guy for as long as he would let me, his parents put him ...
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June Investment Comments 01 Jun
Scott D. Horsburgh, CFA | Jun 01, 2023

June Investment Comments

The chattering class in the media and in Washington D.C. is wailing about the debt ceiling, but stock and bond market behavior suggests little concern...
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May Investment Comments 02 May
Miles Putnam, CFA | May 02, 2023

May Investment Comments

The Economist, a British news magazine, put a cowboy on the cover of its April 15 issue and sang the praises of America’s resilient economy. They wr...
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What is Going on with our Banking System??? 02 May
Scott D. Horsburgh, CFA | May 02, 2023

What is Going on with our Banking System???

A new chapter in the history of American bank regulation began the night of Wednesday, March 8. That’s when Silicon Valley Bank revealed that the ne...
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Secure Act 2.0 03 Apr
Dan Krstevski, CFP® | Apr 03, 2023

Secure Act 2.0

The original “Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement Act” (SECURE Act) was signed into law on December 20, 2019. A new bill dubbed ...
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April Investment Comments 03 Apr
James M. Skubik, CFA | Apr 03, 2023

April Investment Comments

The bill has seemingly come due for the Federal Reserve’s mistaken belief inflation was “transitory.” A late start in tightening policy to comba...
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The Detroit Bankruptcy in Review 01 Mar
Miles Putnam, CFA | Mar 01, 2023

The Detroit Bankruptcy in Review

We are approaching the ten-year anniver­sary of Detroit’s 2013 bankruptcy filing. In light of 2022’s market downswing, as well as recent high inf...
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March Investment Comments 01 Mar
James M. Skubik, CFA | Mar 01, 2023

March Investment Comments

The year is off to a better start for equities than many expected following a difficult 2022 when aggressive rate hikes to counter inflation weighed o...
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Labels and the Importance of Earnings 01 Feb
James M. Skubik, CFA | Feb 01, 2023

Labels and the Importance of Earnings

In a reversal of a long, consistent trend, we just experienced a year where “value” stocks outperformed “growth.” In 2022 the Russell 1000 Pur...
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February Investment Comments 01 Feb
Scott D. Horsburgh, CFA | Feb 01, 2023

February Investment Comments

Last summer, there was a brief wave of optimism among investors that the Federal Reserve’s pattern of interest rate hikes would be short-lived. It w...
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January Investment Comments 03 Jan
Miles Putnam, CFA | Jan 03, 2023

January Investment Comments

No year is without surprises. As we look back at 2022, probably the two most disruptive surprises were Russia’s war in Ukraine and the persistence o...
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Working to Serve You Better 03 Jan
Dan Boyle, CFA | Jan 03, 2023

Working to Serve You Better

I don’t know about you, but I’d like to put 2022 firmly in the rear-view mirror. The war in Ukraine, inflation, the Federal Reserve’s interest r...
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December Investment Comments 01 Dec
Scott D. Horsburgh, CFA | Dec 01, 2022

December Investment Comments

The stock market continues to be driven on a daily basis by the outlook for interest rates. Data suggesting inflation is easing or the economy is slow...
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2022 Year End Financial Checklist 01 Dec
Dan Krstevski, CFP® | Dec 01, 2022

2022 Year End Financial Checklist

2022 is shaping up to be tough for investors. However, as the year draws to a close, focusing on short term market performance is not productive. Now ...
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The Latest on Data Security 01 Nov
Scott D. Horsburgh, CFA | Nov 01, 2022

The Latest on Data Security

Every couple of years we provide clients with an update on cybersecurity and overall data security. This update comes with two goals: to inform client...
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November Investment Comments 01 Nov
James M. Skubik, CFA | Nov 01, 2022

November Investment Comments

Despite the Federal Reserve enacting the most aggressive interest rate hikes since the 1980s, inflation continues to run near 40-year highs. In Septem...
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October Investment Comments 03 Oct
Miles Putnam, CFA | Oct 03, 2022

October Investment Comments

In the wake of lockdowns and restrictions that throttled the services sector, the U.S. economy in 2022 needs to return to form without aid from the fi...
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A Walk Down NAIC/BetterInvesting Lane 03 Oct
Dan Boyle, CFA | Oct 03, 2022

A Walk Down NAIC/BetterInvesting Lane

I recently presented at the 70th BetterInvesting National Convention (BINC) held in Dallas from June 23rd to 26th. Provident has been a long-time supp...
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Keeping up with Inflation 01 Sep
James M. Skubik, CFA | Sep 01, 2022

Keeping up with Inflation

After languishing as a somewhat obscure instrument since its introduction in 1998, U.S. Series I savings bonds (“I Bonds”) started drawing meaning...
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September Investment Comments 01 Sep
Scott D. Horsburgh, CFA | Sep 01, 2022

September Investment Comments

Timing the market is futile. Recall March 9, 2009. Unemployment was skyrocketing, large banks like National City and Washington Mutual had been shut d...
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August Investment Comments 01 Aug
Daniel J Boyle, CFA | Aug 01, 2022

August Investment Comments

These days being an investor takes fortitude. Since the start of 2022 stocks and bonds have each generated double-digit losses, upending the conventio...
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The Buck and the Bungalow 01 Aug
Miles Putnam, CFA | Aug 01, 2022

The Buck and the Bungalow

In Monopoly, another $200 enters the game whenever a player passes ‘Go’. Over time, the increasing money supply finds its way into property develo...
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What to look for in a Financial Advisor 01 Jul
Dan Krstevski, CFP® | Jul 01, 2022

What to look for in a Financial Advisor

It’s important to have a financial advisor who fits your circumstances. Selecting the right person or organization is a major life decision that can...
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July Investment Comments 01 Jul
Scott D. Horsburgh, CFA | Jul 01, 2022

July Investment Comments

There are mixed signals as to whether or not the economy will soon enter recessionary territory, but the odds appear to be rising with every week that...
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Baby Talk 01 Jun
Eric Pozolo, CFP® | Jun 01, 2022

Baby Talk

As a new parent, I’ve spent a lot of time thinking about how to prepare and provide for the newest addition to my family. A child is truly an extrao...
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June Investment Comments 01 Jun
Miles Putnam, CFA | Jun 01, 2022

June Investment Comments

The S&P 500 barely avoided a 20% drawdown, the recognized threshold for entering into a bear market. After a recent bounce, it is currently down 15% o...
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Urgent Action Needed to Protect Your IRA 02 May
N/A | May 02, 2022

Urgent Action Needed to Protect Your IRA

Once upon a time, IRA distributions were relatively straightforward. Retirees would take distributions based on their life expectancy and that of thei...
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May Investment Comments 02 May
James Skubik, CFA | May 02, 2022

May Investment Comments

After taking extraordinary measures to counter the impact of the pandemic, the Fed can reasonably claim “mission accomplished” as it relates to th...
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Traditional vs. Roth IRA 01 Apr
Dan Krstevski, CFP® | Apr 01, 2022

Traditional vs. Roth IRA

In 1974, the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) created the individual retirement account (IRA). The IRA has become one of the most widel...
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April Investment Comments 01 Apr
Miles G. Putnam, CFA | Apr 01, 2022

April Investment Comments

Vladimir Putin’s attack on Ukraine jarred global financial markets. Western democracies have responded with financial sanctions against Russia and i...
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March Investment Comments 01 Mar
James Skubik, CFA | Mar 01, 2022

March Investment Comments

The evidence continues to grow that the Federal Reserve was caught wrong-footed by how rapidly the economy has recovered. Unemployment has fallen more...
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Bubble Begone 01 Mar
Miles Putnam, CFA | Mar 01, 2022

Bubble Begone

Two years ago I wrote a Viewpoint entitled A Bad Idea Bubble in which I warned that prices for speculative stocks were coming unglued from reality. I ...
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February Investment Comments 02 Feb
Scott D. Horsburgh, CFA | Feb 02, 2022

February Investment Comments

While Covid and politics still dominate the general news cycle, the financial news is focused on inflation concerns. Economic growth appears solid, bu...
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Unchanging Truths 02 Feb
James M. Skubik, CFA | Feb 02, 2022

Unchanging Truths

Many of us have seen some variation of the following advertisement for an online brokerage: A well-dressed businessperson stands on a busy metropolita...
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New Year’s Resolutions: Maybe This Year? 03 Jan
Dan Boyle, CFA | Jan 03, 2022

New Year’s Resolutions: Maybe This Year?

I make my New Year’s resolutions during December. When I was younger, I’d keep a note pad on my desk so I could jot down candidates, but now I use...
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January Investment Comments 03 Jan
James Skubik, CFA | Jan 03, 2022

January Investment Comments

The Federal Reserve operates under a dual mandate with the goal of fostering conditions that achieve both stable prices and maximum employment. Recent...
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December Investment Comments 02 Dec
Miles Putnam, CFA | Dec 02, 2021

December Investment Comments

Democrats are making a late-year push on tax and spending increases but have struggled to find a strategy that unites the party. Some of the more ambi...
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The Importance of a Diversified Retirement Plan 02 Dec
Dan Krstevski, CFP® | Dec 02, 2021

The Importance of a Diversified Retirement Plan

Historically, financial professionals have used the analogy of a person sitting on a 3-legged stool to give their client a visual aid for retirement p...
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November Investment Comments 01 Nov
Miles Putnam, CFA | Nov 01, 2021

November Investment Comments

Covid-19 statistics have improved recently for our country as a whole, although trends differ by region. About 65% of U.S. adults have been vaccinated...
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An Update on Provident 01 Nov
Scott D. Horsburgh, CFA | Nov 01, 2021

An Update on Provident

First of all, I would like to welcome James Skubik as a shareholder in Provident. James came to Provident almost five years ago after many years of ex...
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Buy “Quality” 01 Oct
James M. Skubik, CFA | Oct 01, 2021

Buy “Quality”

Wall Street’s machinery has been calibrated to encourage activity from investors, often to their detriment. To prod action, there are Wall Street an...
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October Investment Comments 01 Oct
Miles Putnam, CFA | Oct 01, 2021

October Investment Comments

U.S. Covid statistics have lately shown a frustrating rebound. Total infections are running at about two-thirds the previous peak, with total deaths a...
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September Investment Comments 01 Sep
Scott D. Horsburgh, CFA | Sep 01, 2021

September Investment Comments

The economy is at a stage when comparisons to year-ago quarters frequently produce ridiculously high numbers because last spring and early summer were...
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Inflation's Winners and Losers 01 Sep
Miles Putnam, CFA | Sep 01, 2021

Inflation's Winners and Losers

I got together with a few other neighborhood dads recently to play a board game called Q.E. The name is short for “Quantitative Easing,” a term th...
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Don’t Let Inflation Scare You Out of Stocks 02 Aug
Dan Boyle, CFA | Aug 02, 2021

Don’t Let Inflation Scare You Out of Stocks

As Miles discussed in this month’s Investment Comments, inflation has reared its ugly head for the first time in many years. For those of us that re...
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August Investment Comments 02 Aug
Miles Putnam, CFA | Aug 02, 2021

August Investment Comments

The economic recovery continues, but the pace of the recovery is slowing. First quarter GDP was estimated at $22.1 trillion annualized, surpassing its...
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How to Make the Most of an Inheritance 01 Jul
Dan Krstevski, CFP® | Jul 01, 2021

How to Make the Most of an Inheritance

It is estimated that over the next two decades, Baby Boomers will pass down a whopping $68 trillion worth of assets to younger generations. Receiving ...
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July Investment Comments 01 Jul
James M. Skubik, CFA | Jul 01, 2021

July Investment Comments

The economy continues to improve, helped by the rollout of vaccines as well as fiscal and monetary support. Unlike typical recessions, this one was no...
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June Investment Comments 01 Jun
Miles G. Putnam, CFA | Jun 01, 2021

June Investment Comments

President Biden is negotiating for a $2+ trillion spending bill centered around infrastructure. It is hard to argue with infrastructure, which explain...
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Schwab Transition: A Look Behind the Scenes 01 Jun
Eric Pozolo, CFP® | Jun 01, 2021

Schwab Transition: A Look Behind the Scenes

Work continues in earnest on the transition to Schwab. There is a lot of preparation that goes into changing custodians. This is often referred to as ...
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Celebrating Our 40th Anniversary 03 May
Scott D. Horsburgh, CFA | May 03, 2021

Celebrating Our 40th Anniversary

It is said that 70%-90% of new businesses fail within a decade. Imagine our pride that the little investment business founded by Ralph Seger and Maury...
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May Investment Comments 03 May
James M. Skubik, CFA | May 03, 2021

May Investment Comments

In the first quarter the S&P 500 returned more than 6%, a respectable start building on last year’s impressive gains. All eyes remain focused on the...
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Bubble Fatigue 01 Apr
Miles G. Putnam, CFA | Apr 01, 2021

Bubble Fatigue

“People say that life is short, but it isn’t short. It’s very long.”-Frank AbagnaleThe battle cry of the modern speculator is “YOLO” meani...
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April Investment Comments 01 Apr
Scott D. Horsburgh, CFA | Apr 01, 2021

April Investment Comments

Government intervention has made it more difficult to read and predict economic tea leaves. Record low interest rates not only allowed homeowners to r...
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March Investment Comments 01 Mar
Daniel J. Boyle, CFA | Mar 01, 2021

March Investment Comments

It is quite clear that as COVID-19 goes, so goes economic activity, which leads political response and tests the remarkable ability of people to adapt...
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Stick to the Plan 01 Feb
James M. Skubik, CFA | Feb 01, 2021

Stick to the Plan

2020 was a very strange year for markets. Over the past year we likely set a record for the use of the word “unprecedented” on earnings calls. I s...
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February Investment Comments 01 Feb
Miles Putnam, CFA | Feb 01, 2021

February Investment Comments

In 2020 governments around the world responded to COVID-induced economic shock with fiscal rescue policies that injected trillions of dollars into the...
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Trends Accelerating the Appeal of Roth Savings 04 Jan
Daniel J. Boyle, CFA | Jan 04, 2021

Trends Accelerating the Appeal of Roth Savings

Happy New Year! If you are like me, I bet you are glad to wave the year 2020 goodbye as it has been one of the saddest and strangest of times for our ...
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January Investment Comments 04 Jan
James M. Skubik, CFA | Jan 04, 2021

January Investment Comments

As we wrap up 2020 it is worth highlighting what a roller coaster year it was for the market. Midway through December the S&P 500 has advanced more th...
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December Investment Comments 01 Dec
Scott D. Horsburgh, CFA | Dec 01, 2020

December Investment Comments

The election season is almost over, with a few disputes remaining to be resolved along with several incomplete congressional elections. Control of the...
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Year-end Checklist 01 Dec
Dan Krstevski, CFP® | Dec 01, 2020

Year-end Checklist

2020 will be remembered as a year like no other. A year that started out with a global pandemic and ended with a presidential election. A year that sa...
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Provident Technology 02 Nov
Scott D. Horsburgh, CFA | Nov 02, 2020

Provident Technology

From time to time, I like to update clients as to what is happening behind the scenes here at Provident. We’ve made a number of technology changes o...
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November Investment Comments 02 Nov
Miles G. Putnam, CFA | Nov 02, 2020

November Investment Comments

We have a long way to go, but so far the post-COVID economy looks surprisingly robust. If colder weather does not bring a resurgence of the virus, the...
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October Investment Comments 01 Oct
Daniel J. Boyle, CFA | Oct 01, 2020

October Investment Comments

While the economy had a rough time in the first half of 2020, the recovery since stay-at-home orders began lifting has been much swifter than expected...
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Instrument Flying 01 Oct
James M. Skubik, CFA | Oct 01, 2020

Instrument Flying

To say this has been an interesting year for the market would be an understatement. After the swoon in March due to the pandemic, we recovered the ent...
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Deflation and Modern Monetary Theory 01 Sep
Miles Putnam, CFA | Sep 01, 2020

Deflation and Modern Monetary Theory

As an investment advisor I worry about inflation a lot. Besides political revolution, no other force turns rich people into poor people as quickly and...
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September Investment Comments 01 Sep
Scott D. Horsburgh, CFA | Sep 01, 2020

September Investment Comments

Uncertainty makes people uncomfortable, and there is plenty of uncertainty to go around. The virus continues to stubbornly stick around; we don’t kn...
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August Investment Comments 03 Aug
Daniel J. Boyle, CFA | Aug 03, 2020

August Investment Comments

“If you see that kind of disconnect, it doesn’t go on indefinitely. Those normally will get reconciled, and this will too.”These were the words ...
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Overcoming a Job Loss 03 Aug
Dan Krstevski, CFP® | Aug 03, 2020

Overcoming a Job Loss

In these unprecedented times, nearly 40 million Americans have lost their jobs in a span of eight weeks. That is more job losses than the last recessi...
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The Challenge of Predicting the Short Term 01 Jul
James M. Skubik, CFA | Jul 01, 2020

The Challenge of Predicting the Short Term

Large swings in the market this year have led to an increasing focus on near-term market calls. Correctly call the next meaningful move in the market ...
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July Investment Comments 01 Jul
Miles Putnam, CFA | Jul 01, 2020

July Investment Comments

The U.S. has officially tipped into recession, defined as two straight quarters of negative economic growth. Q1 GDP contracted at a 5% annualized rate...
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Charitable Giving in the Time of COVID-19 01 Jun
Scott D. Horsburgh, CFA | Jun 01, 2020

Charitable Giving in the Time of COVID-19

We have all been stunned and saddened by the sheer number of our fellow Americans suddenly in need. In the Great Recession of 2008-2009, the number of...
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June Investment Comments 01 Jun
Daniel J. Boyle, CFA | Jun 01, 2020

June Investment Comments

After a dizzying late February and March that saw the stock market fall into bear market territory (down 20% or more) at the fastest pace in history, ...
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Expanding My Horizons 01 May
Eric S. Pozolo, CFP® | May 01, 2020

Expanding My Horizons

I spent the last year preparing for the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNERTM exam. Rather than exploring new music or checking off books from a growing readi...
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May Investment Comments 01 May
James M. Skubik, CFA | May 01, 2020

May Investment Comments

The S&P 500 followed up its more than 30% total return in 2019 with a decline of 20% in the first quarter of 2020. That understates the severity of th...
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April Investment Comments 02 Apr
Scott D. Horsburgh, CFA | Apr 02, 2020

April Investment Comments

We are all concerned about the potential impact of the coronavirus outbreak on our families and friends, particularly those who are elderly or who are...
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Legacy 401(k) Plans 02 Apr
Dan Krstevski, CFP® | Apr 02, 2020

Legacy 401(k) Plans

As tax season winds down and you start digging yourself out from underneath piles of tax documents and financial statements, this makes an ideal time ...
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March Investment Comments 02 Mar
Daniel J. Boyle, CFA | Mar 02, 2020

March Investment Comments

In January, after spending much of two years wrestling with trade issues, the U.S. signed two important pieces of legislation. The first, and likely m...
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A Bad Idea Bubble 02 Mar
Miles Putnam, CFA | Mar 02, 2020

A Bad Idea Bubble

Eleven years into this bull market, it’s déjà vu all over again. It is starting to feel like we are back in the bubble conditions of the 1990’s,...
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February Investment Comments 03 Feb
N/A | Feb 03, 2020

February Investment Comments

...
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The SECURE Act Becomes Law 03 Feb
Daniel J. Boyle, CFA | Feb 03, 2020

The SECURE Act Becomes Law

Last August I wrote about bipartisan legislation, the SECURE Act, that had passed the House in May but was stalled in the Senate as a few politicians ...
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Health Savings Accounts (HSAs): The Best Tax-Advantaged Investment 02 Jan
Daniel J. Boyle, CFA | Jan 02, 2020

Health Savings Accounts (HSAs): The Best Tax-Advantaged Investment

Americans are generally pleased with the quality of the healthcare they receive, but not its cost. Healthcare inflation, while moderating during the p...
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January Investment Comments 02 Jan
James M. Skubik, CFA | Jan 02, 2020

January Investment Comments

This has been a very good year for investors, with the S&P 500 on pace for its strongest year since 2013. Total returns including dividends through No...
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2019 Year-End Financial Planning Checklist 02 Dec
Dan Krstevski, CFP® | Dec 02, 2019

2019 Year-End Financial Planning Checklist

As 2019 draws to a close, it’s time to review your finances and look forward to the upcoming year. The last few weeks of the year tend to be a mad r...
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December Investment Comments 02 Dec
Scott D. Horsburgh, CFA | Dec 02, 2019

December Investment Comments

As we look toward year-end, global stock markets have had a remarkable year despite tepid growth outside the U.S.Stock markets in the U.S., Japan, and...
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Zero-Commission Stock Trading: How We Got Here 01 Nov
Scott D. Horsburgh, CFA | Nov 01, 2019

Zero-Commission Stock Trading: How We Got Here

Old-fashioned stockbrokers called it May Day: May 1st, 1975. That’s the day the Securities and Exchange Commission allowed brokers to deviate from t...
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Just Scale, Baby 01 Oct
James M. Skubik, CFA | Oct 01, 2019

Just Scale, Baby

Our neighbors recently engaged in a longtime summer tradition, the lemonade stand! It was well done with homemade signs and cheerful service. The pric...
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October Investment Comments 01 Oct
Daniel J. Boyle, CFA | Oct 01, 2019

October Investment Comments

From listening to the media, it is hard to believe the market is again flirting with all-time highs. An “inverted” yield curve, trade policy uncer...
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Rich Kid Redux 30 Aug
Miles Putnam, CFA | Aug 30, 2019

Rich Kid Redux

In my March Viewpoint I asked readers to please share ideas and anecdotes about how money has affected their families. My goal is to turn that feedbac...
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September Investment Comments 30 Aug
N/A | Aug 30, 2019

September Investment Comments

Cautionary Signs or False Signals?...
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August Investment Comments 02 Aug
James M. Skubik, CFA | Aug 02, 2019

August Investment Comments

A famous investor once said, “Most of the time the Fed is not that important; occasionally it’s the only game in town.” While the Fed is not the...
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What the Proposed SECURE Act Might Mean for You 02 Aug
Daniel J. Boyle, CFA | Aug 02, 2019

What the Proposed SECURE Act Might Mean for You

In last month’s Viewpoint, Dan Krstevski outlined Individual Retirement Account (IRA) distribution rules and alluded to legislation making its way t...
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Individual Retirement Account Distribution Rules and Requirements 03 Jul
Dan Krstevski, CFP® | Jul 03, 2019

Individual Retirement Account Distribution Rules and Requirements

With an effort to increase the American retirement savings rate, Congress established Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs) through the Employee Retir...
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July Investment Comments 03 Jul
Miles Putnam, CFA | Jul 03, 2019

July Investment Comments

After ten years of mostly steady expansion, the industrial economy currently looks tired. Transportation, energy, and basic materials stocks have been...
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The Boys of Summer 04 Jun
James M. Skubik, CFA | Jun 04, 2019

The Boys of Summer

My five-year-old recently started t-ball and the games have been even more fun to watch than I imagined. The kids are young enough that they don’t b...
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June Investment Comments 04 Jun
Dan Boyle, CFA | Jun 04, 2019

June Investment Comments

After the market hit all-time highs in late April, May marked the return of volatility as trade negotiations with China broke down.It all started on S...
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May Investment Comments 06 May
James M. Skubik, CFA | May 06, 2019

May Investment Comments

After a strong start to 2019, markets have recovered from the significant declines experienced in last year’s fourth quarter. Much of the rebound ca...
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A Frank Discussion About Aging 06 May
Scott D. Horsburgh, CFA | May 06, 2019

A Frank Discussion About Aging

Two recent developments have placed the financial status of older Americans in sharper focus. One development was a report from trustees for Social Se...
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April Investment Comments 04 Apr
Scott D. Horsburgh, CFA | Apr 04, 2019

April Investment Comments

“With our policy rate in the range of neutral, with muted inflation pressures and with some of the downside risks we’ve talked about, this is a go...
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Charitable Giving 04 Apr
N/A | Apr 04, 2019

Charitable Giving

In December 2017, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act became law. This new law created sweeping changes to the tax code that has impacted the landscape for char...
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Rich Kid Poor Kid 05 Mar
Miles Putnam, CFA | Mar 05, 2019

Rich Kid Poor Kid

Dear Clients,I have a favor to ask. If you have a minute and the inspiration strikes, would you please reach out to me with any anecdotes or observati...
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March Investment Comments 04 Mar
Dan Boyle, CFA | Mar 04, 2019

March Investment Comments

So far, 2019 has been kinder to investors than was the finish to 2018. A combination of stronger-than-expected earnings, a more accommodative Federal ...
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04 Feb
James M. Skubik, CFA | Feb 04, 2019

"Sell, Mortimer! Sell!"

The line, “Sell, Mortimer! Sell!” comes from the iconic 1980s movie, “Trading Places,” where the film’s heroes, played by Eddie Murphy and D...
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February Investment Comments 03 Feb
Miles G. Putnam, CFA | Feb 03, 2019

February Investment Comments

Volatility returned to the stock market in 2018, ending the gentle melt up that investors had enjoyed. The S&P 500 dropped at least 10% in three separ...
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Investors Need More Information, Not Less 07 Jan
N/A | Jan 07, 2019

Investors Need More Information, Not Less

President Trump often announces his policy interests through twitter. Last August 17th he tweeted this:...
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January Investment Comments 07 Jan
James M. Skubik, CFA | Jan 07, 2019

January Investment Comments

Investors hoping for a year-end rally have instead been treated to increased market volatility. A near 5% decline in its first week was the market’s...
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Year End Financial Planning Tips 07 Dec
Dan Krstevski, CFP® | Dec 07, 2018

Year End Financial Planning Tips

The end of the year is a great time to review your finances. Whether you’re still working or retired, there are changes you can make to ensure that ...
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December Investment Comments 06 Dec
Scott D. Horsburgh, CFA | Dec 06, 2018

December Investment Comments

Despite October’s market drama, anxiety over the recent election, and hand-wringing over the durability of the economic expansion, the stock market ...
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Getting Your Financial House in Order 12 Nov
Scott D. Horsburgh, CFA | Nov 12, 2018

Getting Your Financial House in Order

No one likes to think about their demise. However, like Ben Franklin’s ubiquitous saying goes, nothing in this world is certain except death and tax...
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November Investment Comments 05 Nov
Miles Putnam, CFA | Nov 05, 2018

November Investment Comments

November’s midterm elections are likely to result in a divided congress. Forecasting website FiveThirtyEight.com currently predicts an 85% chance th...
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Free Credit Freezes Available Soon 05 Oct
N/A | Oct 05, 2018

Free Credit Freezes Available Soon

The massive Equifax data breach occurred approximately one year ago, resulting in the theft of Social Security numbers, birthdates, names, addresses, ...
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October Investment Comments 04 Oct
Dan J. Boyle, CFA | Oct 04, 2018

October Investment Comments

Against a backdrop of tariffs, Federal Reserve interest rate increases, and emerging market struggles, the S&P 500 steadily advanced to a new all-time...
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Donor-Advised Funds 03 Sep
Miles Putnam, CFA | Sep 03, 2018

Donor-Advised Funds

Although we consider ourselves money managers, not experts on taxes or charitable giving, we think our clients should be aware of a potential tool for...
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September Investment Comments 03 Sep
Scott D. Horsburgh, CFA | Sep 03, 2018

September Investment Comments

U.S. economic indicators appear quite strong and supported an impressive 4.1% annualized growth rate in second quarter Gross Domestic Product. Underly...
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