In knots over next month's election? You aren't alone. In a recent survey, fifty-two percent of American adults ~ Democrats and Republicans ~ admitted that the 2016 election is a "very or somewhat significant source of stress." Contributing to that stress is the steady stream of opinions from pundits and prognosticators about how the election will impact the stock market. Fortunately for your portfolio, opinions are not facts. Click HERE to de-stress with DFA's latest brief, "Presidential … [Read more...] about Presidential Elections and the Stock Market
In the News: Minding the Income Gap
Extra! Extra! Read All About ... Income! Scottsdale Wealth Planning CEO Paul Ohanian, CFP®, with SWP Guest Contributor and investment strategist Anthony Tanner, CFA, discuss the challenges faced by savers in this era of low (and ever lower) interest rates and where smart solutions may be found. Pick up a copy of the July 2016 issue of the Arizona Journal of Real Estate & Business on local newsstands, or read the full article online HERE. How do you address the INCOME GAP? Leave a … [Read more...] about In the News: Minding the Income Gap
Ten Reasons to be Cheerful
Do you ever listen to the news and find yourself thinking that the world has gone to the dogs? The roll call of depressing headlines seems endless. But look beyond what the media calls news, and there also are a lot of things going right, including: The world's biggest economy, the US, has been recovering. Unemployment has halved in six years from 10% to 5%. (1) Over the last 25 years, 2 billion people globally have moved out of extreme poverty, according to the latest United Nations … [Read more...] about Ten Reasons to be Cheerful
Key Benefits of Independent Advisors
At Scottsdale Wealth Planning, we pride ourselves on being an independent registered financial advisor and fiduciary to our clients. But exactly what is an independent financial advisor, are what are some of the benefits to engaging this type of professional? Independent registered investment advisors (RIAs) are professional independent advisory firms that provide personalized financial advice to their clients, many of whom have complex financial needs. Because we are independent, we are not … [Read more...] about Key Benefits of Independent Advisors
When 9% CDs Roamed the Earth
By Anthony Tanner, CFA SWP Guest Contributor My first job on "the Street" was an unpaid internship at Dean Witter Reynolds during my senior year at St. Louis University. The year was 1983: The Dow had just crossed 1,200 points, the Prime Rate was 11.50%, and bank CD rates averaged 9%. Just let that sink in for a minute. 9% CDs! I remember it so well. It was my job to cold-call prospects for brokers with my script hawking 9% CDs: "Good evening, Mr. or Mrs. John Q. Public. I hope … [Read more...] about When 9% CDs Roamed the Earth
Out of the Matrix: Part 2
It's a great big world out there. At Scottsdale Wealth Planning, we build well diversified, global portfolios as the cornerstone of our long-term wealth plans. And each spring when the latest Dimensional Funds Matrix Book is released, our commitment to this approach is further confirmed. In today's video, DFA VP Joel Hefner uses Matrix Book data to illustrate the importance of global diversification and discipline by comparing the historical performance of US and emerging markets stocks over … [Read more...] about Out of the Matrix: Part 2