by Ralph Bender, MBA, CFP® | Client Stories, Diversification, Financial Plan, Motivation, Videos
The white carriage pulled by a white horse took us down the gentle grade around the back of the lake in full view of the guests seated at the entrance to the peninsula, on which resided in the gazebo. I have no memory of what we discussed along the way, but it would...
by Ralph Bender, MBA, CFP® | Beneficiary, Diversification, Market Update, Volatility
“What’s happening to my portfolio? Should we move into more conservative investments?” That’s a common refrain since the beginning of the year, and it’s something we didn’t hear at all since the early days of Covid stimulus packages. That’s because following the...
by Ralph Bender, MBA, CFP® | Diversification, Economic Commentary, Market Update, Running Money ®, Volatility
Stock prices are down. Gas and Food prices are up. There’s a war in eastern Europe. The FED is raising rates. Another pandemic outbreak locks down much of China. On all this bad news is it any wonder that portfolio values are down? But wait a minute. We get bad news...
by Ralph Bender, MBA, CFP® | Diversification, Economic Commentary, Enduring Principles, Market Update
With five inbound lanes, including a state highway, a connector to an Interstate, and Main Street changing from two to one way, everyone passing through my hometown’s “five points” intersection needs to pay attention to the signals. Likewise, the stock market is in an...
by Ralph Bender, MBA, CFP® | Diversification, Economic Commentary, Enduring Principles, History, Running Money ®
When I turned off the bridge and onto the levee an owl startled into flight, chased up the Brodhead Creek by four crows. I watched intently for the next quarter mile of my run as the crows chased the owl through the skies. But then the owl entered a wooded area on the...
