Tiffany B. Ballard, MSPFP, CFP®, AIF®

Investing is inherently uncertain. Global economies and financial markets are shaped by countless variables—many of them unpredictable and beyond our control. Meanwhile, the media floods us with attention-grabbing headlines, and impulsive investors can sway markets dramatically in short bursts. In such an environment, how should investors respond? How can anyone succeed amid so much noise […]

Imagine working for years, deferring a portion of your paycheck with the promise of a bigger payout down the road. Suddenly, you find out it’s gone, not because of market losses or bad investment decisions, but because your employer went bankrupt and the courts ruled that your retirement savings now belong to creditors. That’s not

There’s no shortage of things to worry about today—tariffs, economic uncertainty, global unrest—and all of it can impact our financial future. The media often magnifies these concerns, focusing on fear because it grabs attention. Over time, this constant exposure can affect our mood, cloud our thinking, lead to unproductive decisions, and—most importantly—erode our personal happiness.

As we conclude the first quarter of 2025, I wanted to provide you with an overview of recent market developments and discuss strategies to navigate the current investment landscape. Market Overview The first quarter presented challenges for U.S. equities, with the S&P 500 Index experiencing a total return of -4.3%, marking its weakest quarterly performance

Investors are always seeking for more certainty; we all want to know what the future will hold and make the best decisions today for a better tomorrow. This desire stems deep in our physiology. The brain may consist of a lot of gray matter, but it hates gray areas. It wants certainty and rewards us

As promised in previous pieces, here are the latest developments regarding the Beneficial Ownership Information (BOI) reporting requirements under the Corporate Transparency Act (CTA). Please note that this will be our last update about this topic and we have provided resources below for you to stay informed about any further changes. On March 2, 2025,

Last month, Berkshire Hathaway held its annual shareholder meeting which included Buffett’s famous letter to shareholders. In his letter, Buffett is quite transparent with his thoughts about Berkshire’s operations and how he views the economy and markets.  Investors are especially interested in his view on the economy and markets. But what he says and what

In 2024, we discussed the Corporate Transparency Act and the Beneficial Ownership Information (BOI) reporting rules. To recap, BOIs were originally due on January 1st, 2025, but a federal court in Texas blocked this required reporting. As we mentioned previously, we weren’t sure if that would be the final word and promised to keep you

The simplest and truest reason as to why we diversify is that we don’t know what assets will do very well in the future, and which assets will do poorly. Diversification is the evidence that we cannot accurately and consistently forecast the future. When we invest during a period where one asset vastly outperforms all