News, Insight and Opinions

From the Desk: Will the Santa Claus Rally Continue?

  • 122023
  • 2 minutes

At the time of this post, the S&P 500 is up 3.85% this month alone. The Cleveland Browns are 2-1 over the same period. Clearly, the Santa Claus rally is benefiting both investors and Browns fans alike. The question is, will it continue?…

Against a vivid purple and red sky, a dark metal humanoid robot carries a large bright-red haired robotic black bull with a white face over its left shoulder, holding the bull's front hooves in its hands and the bull's back legs dangle in the air behind.

When Bulls Win—And Other Tales of Monopoly

  • 112023
  • 4 minutes

Just seven tech stocks drove 70% of the S&P 500’s gains in the first two quarters of this year. Now, the US Dept of Justice is fighting a landmark case against one of those seven. What might this portend for Google, other big-tech players, the market, and you?…

Close up of a man's cupped hands holding a small pile of rich dirt, atop which sits what looks like a spherical circuit board as though having recently sprouted from it

The AI Cooperative

  • 080723
  • 5 minutes

The possibilities for artificial intelligence in the financial sector are thrilling—and concerning. What can history teach us about the dangers of letting the latest tech innovations loose on the stock market?…

A somewhat abstract image suggestive of a human eye, the pupil represented by Earth, with what appears to be a tear falling from the globe and a piece of masking tape over the whole eye.

ESG Investing and the Politics of Compassion

  • 062223
  • 4 minutes

The concept of ESG investing arose as a means for investors to support and benefit from companies that share their ethical concerns. Let’s explore why we need to know more than what we think we know about this growing trend.…

A nerdy-looking man with coke-bottle glasses wails like a spoiled child, holding an empty coin purse

The Economy of Indulgence

  • 051223
  • 3 minutes

Drastic measures taken during the 2008 financial crisis were largely successful—but we’re still grappling with unforeseen repercussions. How did we get here? And how do we protect ourselves as investors?…

Photograph of Jimmy Stewart’s wax figure as George Bailey in It’s a Wonderful Life at Madame Tussaud’s in Hollywood.

Is It a Wonderful Life?

  • 120922
  • 4 minutes

As investors, maintaining perspective can be tough when life hits us with a daily poop emoji. With a bit of consideration, these three topics can help turn our internal frown upside-down: Trust, relativity and tolerance—in brief.…

A Bitcoin rolls across the foreground, eventually eaten by a dark, geeky-looking monster whose image glitches in and out.

Nixon, Crypto and the Goblins of Newness

  • 033022
  • 4 minutes

In practice, does Bitcoin portend economic freedom or anarchy? Is it a viable currency? And what is its present investment potential? Let’s take a stab at the latter two questions. Though it might be helpful to first talk about currency itself.…

Old photo of a young person next to a storey-tall pile of bombs, overlaid with graphs suggesting changing market data.

War—What is it Good For?

  • 022322
  • 3 minutes

The U.S. market is indelibly tied to the country's involvement in global affairs—so as things threaten to boil over in Ukraine, should we prepare our wallets for the worst?…

Young woman lounges lazily in the sun, her eyes gazing through retro-trendy sunglasses past the ominous volcanic heat nearby.

I Like My Market Corrections Sunny Side Up. You?

  • 100821
  • 3 minutes

Is an impending market correction the interstellar monster we might imagine it to be? It all depends on how you serve it. Order up!…

Close-up of a woman staring purposefully at the camera, a colorful circle outlining the so-called

The Zen Investor's Bliss

  • 081721
  • 3 minutes

Two paths diverged in a wood, and I, as an investor, logically took the one with the sign that read: "Toll-Free Road to Zen-Like Investing."…

Those D@#% Yankees

  • 070121
  • 3 minutes

The story of the 1941 New York Yankees provides a lesson on how to keep yourself in check when the stakes are high and the ship appears to be sinking. Part II of our series underscores the value of taming emotion when there's volatility about.…

Becoming Khan

  • 040721
  • 3 minutes

It’s nothing new—the market runs on emotion. But how can we avoid doing the same? Spoiler alert: It IS all in your head.…

Bear Markets Come and Go

  • 032420
  • 1 minute

Don't lose sleep over market volatility. There have been 10 bear markets since 1950, and the market has eventually recovered every time.…

Taxation of Investments

  • 021919
  • 5 minutes

Filling out your federal income tax return may leave you scratching your head. Just how do you report your investments and how are they taxed?…

Does Inversion = Recession? Does it Matter?

  • 122718
  • 2 minutes

Are we in a recession? Are we heading for a recession? Should we go to cash because of the recession? Let's clear this up.…

Will the Holiday Shopping Season be Enough to Stop the Markets from Falling and Turn the Momentum?

  • 112818
  • 1 minute

Will this holiday shopping season be enough to beat the bear? Early data suggests that may very well be the case.…

Can Tax-loss Harvesting Help You Save on Taxes?

  • 112118
  • 1 minute

How do you harvest losses, and could it save you money? Here are a few things to consider.…

What Do These Big Drops in the Market Mean for You?

  • 102618
  • 1 minute

The last few weeks or so have been a little unsettling for many investors. How worried should you be?…

Will This Win Streak be SNAPped?

  • 032117
  • 2 minutes

Just how unusual have the last few months in the market really been? We dug up some statistics to give perspective.…

From the Archives

Brexit Backwash

  • 062416
  • 1 minute

The UK has voted to remove itself from the European Union. How we react to events like this are what differentiate traders from investors.…

From the Archives

Buying Back Honesty: New Fiduciary Guidelines are a Game-changer

  • 051916
  • 2 minutes

2016 brought legislative changes in fiduciary standards for financial advisors, among others. So, what do they mean for investors?…

From the Archives

Complexity, Simplified: Inter-sowing Seeds of Financial Wisdom

  • 102815
  • 5 minutes

Wisdom can be universal--from farming to financial investments. So when working for growth in fluctuating markets, amend your soil with expert advice.…

From the Archives

Anticipating the Fed

  • 102715
  • 2 minutes

Will the Fed raise rates? Should they? And what happens to the market if they do or don’t?…

From the Archives

Memo

  • 082615
  • 1 minute

As we continue to live through the increased volatility in the financial markets, it’s a natural reaction to question how this may impact our own individual wealth.…

From the Archives

Across the Decades: Financial Advice that Spans the Divide

  • 080515
  • 5 minutes

Whether we want to admit it or not, we all need sound advice. But when it comes to finding reliable financial advice, the source plays a key role.…

From the Archives

Risk vs Reward

  • 021515
  • 3 minutes

The S&P 500 saw huge returns in 2014, but most portfolios didn t echo those gains. Would the investment risk have been worth the reward?…

From the Archives

Retirement Essentials

  • 111214
  • 6 minutes

Your retirement planning Holy Grail: To determine an ideal withdrawal rate. But with inflation and myriad variables, you may need a guiding light.…

From the Archives

Balancing Act

  • 102114
  • 6 minutes

Mortgage prepayment vs. investing is a serious financial decision. Interest rates and retirement plans factor in. Don’t stress: Expert advice is here.…

From the Archives

Recent Equity Market Volatility

  • 101614
  • 2 minutes

Here at FNA, we have been anticipating a pullback in the markets for the last two quarters. Now that we are living it, I would like to answer a pair of questions that are likely on many of your minds.…

From the Archives

Riding the Bull

  • 082714
  • 1 minute

Three FNA financial advisors gained rare economic insights at a recent invitation-only investment forum. Now, put their know-how to work for you.…

From the Archives

Juggling Act

  • 082714
  • 4 minutes

Prioritize your savings goals with help from an FNA advisor. Whether its retirement or college—or perhaps both—find financial direction you can trust.…

From the Archives

Retirement 101

  • 040114
  • 2 minutes

Retirement investing can be daunting. Incorporating personal circumstances into personal finance is a clear path toward a solid financial future.…