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Blog

What’s on our mind? You can read about it in our blog. Whether it’s ideas from the industry or emerging trends, you can read about it here. And once in a while, we may throw in a movie review or some other surprise. So keep checking in. We’re glad to have you reading along.

Sunday, November 26, 2023

Why Investors Can Be Thankful After a Volatile Year November 22, 2023 Kit Lancaster, CFP®, AWMA | President While it may not feel like it, investors truly do have much to be thankful for this holiday season. Over the past year,...

Friday, November 24, 2023

How Inflation Impacts Taxes and Retirement Benefits body, p { margin-top: 8px; margin-bottom: 8px; } How Inflation Impacts Taxes and Retirement Benefits November 20, 2023 Kit Lancaster, CFP®, AWMA | President While the holiday...

Thursday, October 12, 2023

 Tax Planning - End of Year - Q4 Tax Planning

Tuesday, October 10, 2023

5 Insights for Long-Term Investors in Q4 2023 October 4, 2023 Kit Lancaster, CFP®, AWMA | President As the final quarter of the year begins, markets are grappling with rising interest rates and continued economic uncertainty....

Monday, October 9, 2023

The bottom line? The business cycle is what matters for long-term financial success. This directly impacts sector performance which can be difficult to predict. Disciplined investors should continue to stay diversified across sectors as the

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Monday, October 2, 2023

Are you ready to review your tax plan? Do you have a tax strategy or written tax advice from your tax advisor we should be aware of?  Either way, the fall brings in two major financial planning conversations to complete before the...

Tuesday, September 19, 2023

How do you define wealth? What is Financial Planning?

Tuesday, September 12, 2023

Back when I was in the Army, based in Oklahoma from 2006 - 2010 I enjoyed cycling.  There was great cycling on base around the artillery ranges and the nature preserve behind the base.  Within 150 miles of Fort Sill, OK I...

Monday, September 11, 2023

How the Highest Real Yields Since 2009 Affect Investors body, p { margin-top: 8px; margin-bottom: 8px; } How the Highest Real Yields Since 2009 Affect Investors September 5, 2023 Kit Lancaster, CFP®, AWMA | President Interest...

Wednesday, September 6, 2023

 Are you ready to start investing?  Do you have a strong cash position and cash strategy?  Do you have a benefits and insurance strategy to protect your cash strategy?  If so, you are ready to for the next step in...

Wednesday, September 6, 2023

What to do when can do when you cannot purchase life insurance Are you uninsurable? Have you applied for life insurance and been declined, or you are much older and purchasing a policy is outside of your means? If so, this article is...

Monday, August 28, 2023

Hello There, We are excited to share an opportunity that is close to our heart. You see, Sterling Edge isn't just about numbers and financial strategies. It's about people, their dreams, their journeys, and the stories that make us who...

Wednesday, August 23, 2023

Today, I wanted to talk about a topic that's been gaining some buzz in the world of personal finance and healthcare: health savings accounts, or HSAs for short. Now, I know what you might be thinking, "Oh great, another acronym to...

Monday, August 7, 2023

Not sure how to put together an investment strategy? How much should you invest in stocks, bonds, real estate and other asset classes?  When you start to build an investment strategy it is important to have a goal and purpose...

Tuesday, August 1, 2023

Loans, Debt Repayment Framework

Tuesday, July 18, 2023

You may recall these once-prominent banks, which have now vanished from the financial landscape. However, what you might not know is that they offered their employees the opportunity to purchase stock through their 401(k) plans and employee

Tuesday, July 18, 2023

Banking Ideas July 2023, Checking, Savings, Money Market Accounts, CD

Sunday, July 9, 2023

Welcome back, fellow finance enthusiasts! Today, let's dive into a topic that often leaves investors scratching their heads: tax savings. We'll compare two popular investment vehicles, Equity Traded Funds (ETFs) and Mutual Funds, and...

Thursday, June 15, 2023

This months newsletter is going to be a bit darker than usual.  There are a few items and events that have happened this year worth noting, even if they are scary or leave us in place still looking for an answer.  In general...

Tuesday, June 13, 2023

Once upon a time in the bustling city of Stockville, there lived a shrewd investor named Ethan. Known for his keen sense of opportunity, Ethan had amassed a considerable fortune over the years by carefully studying market trends and...

Monday, June 12, 2023

Today, we'll be diving into a recent lawsuit that has caught the attention of federal employees and retirees. The Thrift Savings Plan (TSP), a retirement savings plan for federal employees, is facing legal action due to problems...

Thursday, June 1, 2023

An Investment Policy Statement is used to define and inform a formal Investing Process.  It is the operations order, guidelines, rules and expectations used to technically and tactically implement an investment strategy...

Wednesday, May 24, 2023

Time to review your strategy for Crypto Assets in a new legal environment. The last 8+ years has been an interesting time in Crypto currency.  For the most part the government has reminded quiet.  They didn’t say much....

Tuesday, May 16, 2023

 Change to I-Bond Recommendations and Holdings May 2023 New I-Bond Interest Rates have posted for May.  With inflation continuing to fall, the amount of interest paid to I-bond holders will fall to 3.4%.  New I-bonds...

Tuesday, May 9, 2023

Front Running, Fees, Costs, Value, Investment Services, Read the prospectus Tracking Number 5530734.1

Tuesday, May 2, 2023

Financial Feelings, Fear, Anxiety, Bad Feelings, Financial Sadness, Financial Coaching, Financial Shame, Be Human Tracking Number 5530590.1

Tuesday, April 25, 2023

Taxes, Fear and Cash Positions, Ordinary Income Taxes, CDs, Savings Accounts, Treasury Bills, Fixed Annuities, Tax Drag, Muni Bonds Tracking Number 5530640.1

Tuesday, April 4, 2023

Job Change, Career Change, Getting Laid Off, Financial Planning, Cash Flows, Benefits

Monday, April 3, 2023

More is not better. What direction are you headed? What are you solving for? What is your desired end state? What human element is important to you? Tracking Number 5530680.1

Tuesday, November 1, 2022

Financial Planning and Life Insurance Reviews Have you ever made a $400,000 mistake?  How about a $3 million dollar mistake? In my time as a financial planner I have witnessed more than one life insurance mistake happen...

Monday, September 19, 2022

How to prepare your financial plan for rising interest rates.  In the last year the mainstreet economy has come roaring back. Along with travel and sectors of the economy impacted by COVID.  Consumers are starting to dip...

Wednesday, September 7, 2022

Heading into fall 2022 you might have student loan questions, concerns or confusion. Below you will find a few key points about the recent changes made to the federal student loan program and federal student loan forgiveness.  We...

Tuesday, May 24, 2022

Welcome to the Bear Market of 2022 Napoleon’s definition of military genius. (It works for investors too) “The man who can do the average thing when everyone else around him is losing his mind...

Tuesday, May 10, 2022

Friday, April 8, 2022

Monday, March 21, 2022

Tuesday, February 22, 2022

“A black swan is an unpredictable event that is beyond what is normally expected of a situation and has potentially severe consequences."

Thursday, February 17, 2022

Tuesday, January 18, 2022

"Discipline Equals Freedom" - Jocko Willink   Winter is a great time to review and update our Cash Strategy.  The foundation of your financial plan is built on an understanding of cash flows. Without it, other financial advice simply can

Monday, January 17, 2022

Wednesday, January 12, 2022

Friday, November 19, 2021

Friday, November 19, 2021

Monday, October 11, 2021

As federal student loan forbearance reaches the end of its extension come Jan 31, 2022, there is a world of unknowns in the industry of servicing the $1.59 trillion of federal student loan debt. More specifically, Navient announced on...

Tuesday, September 28, 2021

There’s a famous saying about a hurricane starting from a butterfly flapping its wings on the other side of the world. That “butterfly effect” is certainly happening in terms of the Chinese property market’s...

Sunday, September 26, 2021

The economic impact of COVID-19 has been felt from coast to coast. And, unfortunately for many pre-retirees, it could potentially impact Social Security benefits as well.A new report indicates that if Congress doesn’t take...

Tuesday, September 14, 2021

This month is life insurance awareness month. Markets are trading at very expensive multiples. Open enrollment is right around the corner. September 2021 Newsletter

Tuesday, September 14, 2021

If you have a secret, don’t tell anyone at the Federal Reserve Bank. They may leak the story before you’d like.In early August, multiple regional Federal Reserve Bank presidents hit the speaking tour. They made headlines...

Sunday, September 12, 2021

Feeling a little distracted this past year? Over the last year, many have seen their lives impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The ways in which we work, live, and communicate have drastically changed, to say the least. It’s...

Thursday, September 9, 2021

In this week’s recap: Stocks mixed as U.S. copes with economic data and Delta variant. Weekly Economic Update Presented by Kit Lancaster CFP September 9, 2021 THE WEEK ON WALL STREET Stocks were mixed last week amid conflicting...

Tuesday, September 7, 2021

Monthly Economic Update Presented by Kit Lancaster CFP, AWMA, September 2021 U.S. Markets Signs of an improving labor market, strong corporate earnings, and more clarity from the Fed on its tapering plans propelled stocks to multiple...

Tuesday, July 20, 2021

July 2021 Market Moves What has our attention this week? S&P 500 and Nasdaq are coming off of all-time highs Russell 2000 (Small Cap Index) is down over 6% in the last 30 days Stock market valuations are at highs last seen around the...

Sunday, May 9, 2021

Have you ever wondered what a stock is worth? How stocks grow, evolve and change over time? Check out my short video on the story of Yahoo. How it went from a valuation of $125 billion to less than $5 billion in 16 years. Check out...

Friday, April 23, 2021

Previously, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) announced that the federal income tax filing due date for individuals for the 2020 tax year had been automatically extended from April 15, 2021, to May 17, 2021.1More time for allHowever,...

Thursday, April 22, 2021

Second Quarter Updates - Tax Planning There is still time to make contributions toward your 2020 IRA and ROTH IRA contribution limits. Contact us if you have questions or would like to make a last minute contribution. How do tax...

Tuesday, April 13, 2021

Second Quarter Updates - Tax Planning There is still time to make contributions toward your 2020 IRA and ROTH IRA contribution limits. Contact us if you have questions or would like to make a last minute contribution. Last year was a...

Tuesday, March 30, 2021

What is Private Equity? You may have heard of Private Equity or work at a firm owned b Private Equity and have questions. How private equity has influenced the marketplace is an important story to understand. It can help us set more...

Monday, March 29, 2021

Money Managers Fear a Lost Decade Looking forward into the 2020s there is a lot fear. JP Morgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon, Bridgewater Founder Ray Dalio, and others have expressed concerns on the prospects of a lost decade in US equity...

Thursday, March 18, 2021

Investing vs Speculating The year is off to a strong start in the stock market. The best performing equity stocks ended February 28th where value stocks. With large cap value stocks finishing up 5.1% year to date and small cap value...

Monday, March 15, 2021

The acronym “SPAC” is showing up more often these days because there is some big money behind the revitalized investment approach.SPAC stands for Special Purpose Acquisition Company, and they are sometimes referred to as...

Sunday, March 14, 2021

I’m sure you’ve heard that the House recently passed the Senate another round of stimulus to try and counteract the economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. The new stimulus package could narrow income eligibility to...

Friday, March 12, 2021

The House of Representatives passed a $1.9 trillion relief package focused on economic relief following the COVID-19 pandemic. The bill was signed into law at the White House on Thursday.1Beyond the much-discussed $1,400 stimulus...

Wednesday, March 3, 2021

Investing vs Speculating The year is off to a strong start in the stock market. The best performing equity stocks ended February 28th where value stocks. With large cap value stocks finishing up 5.1% year to date and small cap value...

Monday, February 8, 2021

Welcome to the Tax Cente2020 Tax Form Availability DatesAll dates are based on the 2021 calendar year—some dates may vary and are subject to change. Form AssetMark Trust Pershing TD Ameritrade Fidelity RMD Letter January 12 N/A...

Monday, February 8, 2021

Upcoming Events Ideas, strategies, perspectives and courses of action to inform your financial mindset in 2021. Sign up for our next Webinar on Financial Planning or Environmental and Socially Responsible Investing. Read more First...

Saturday, January 9, 2021

Equity Traded Funds or ETFs and for the sake of this article, ETNs and index funds, have become very popular in the last 15 years. (I will refer to Index Funds, ETNs and ETFs as ETFs for the rest of the article) How far you might ask?...

Sunday, December 20, 2020

Life Insurance Imagine if something happened to you while training, on a deployment or driving across town to get the groceries. What would those that depend on your income do to make ends meet? How would they pay the rent or mortgage?...

Monday, November 23, 2020

Do you need long-term care? Have you had the experience of taking care of a family member as they age? I meet people regularly looking for strategies, solutions and ideas to attack their financial problems, concerns or accomplish...

Tuesday, November 17, 2020

Have you ever made a bet that you were almost certain you would win only to be wrong? If you had to go back and make the same bet again would you do it? How we make decisions and the information we choose to inform our decision making...

Monday, November 16, 2020

Keeping track of our financial information, accounts and information with SEI Private Trust can be handled by way of their online login and portal. Information available in your online portal with SEI - Tax Documents, Account Documents...

Thursday, November 12, 2020

The election is over. How do you feel? How did the experience inform or change the way you made financial decisions this year? Will it affect the way you make decisions next year? A few thoughts, questions and observations before you...

Tuesday, October 27, 2020

Check out this video: https://share.vidyard.com/watch/omg2CdCxY219Pn9Gh4d9dy? There are a lot of different professionals who provide financial services. They have titles like financial advisor, wealth management advisor, financial...

Monday, October 26, 2020

When I meet with prospective clients they ask me all kinds of great questions. One question I get often is "Are you fee only". Below is my response. Check out this video: https://share.vidyard.com/watch/VQzjJWhJMbDkmxZwrJrn2y?

Saturday, October 24, 2020

Are you nearing retirement? If you are, take time to setup an account on SSA.gov. Doing so will help you access important information about your social security benefits. This information will help you and your financial planner...

Sunday, October 18, 2020

Check out this video: https://share.vidyard.com/watch/NTDv3c4ac1uW5rL83BCPWe? Seeking out advice, receiving advice and actioning advice are three separate actions.

Sunday, October 11, 2020

Wednesday, March 13, 2019

I was watching a segment of Mad Money on CNBC with Jim Cramer the other day and it reminded me there are a lot of retail investors who do not work with a professional advisor. While you may not need an advisor to do everything for you,...

Wednesday, March 13, 2019

How would you feel if that asset lost value or became worthless tomorrow? Would it change your life style? Would it change the lives of your kids, parents and other family members? How would it impact your financial goals and your...

Wednesday, March 13, 2019

I recently took the plunge and checked out several so called “Robo Advisor” services. I also reached out to a banking institution that primarily provides banking, financial and insurance services to military veterans. I...

Wednesday, March 13, 2019

You ever have that feeling you could be doing something better? You pay all your bills on time, but you have a lot of bills. Do you find a large portion of your paycheck is already earmarked for: student loans, car payment, your living...

Wednesday, March 13, 2019

This is a common question I get from prospective clients in regards to investment selection. We might be at a social event, having an initial consultation or meeting after one of my educational events. They are interested in the...

Wednesday, March 13, 2019

As the spring buying season gets underway I frequently receive the following question from a first time home buyer or two. I get asked if IRA assets can be used to make a down payment for a home purchase. The short answer is yes, for...

Monday, August 6, 2018

The first time I observed such a loss was in 2010. I was deployed to Iraq serving as an Operations Officer for a HIMARS Battalion (i.e. rocket artillery). We had soldiers all over the country ready to meet the indirect fire support...