Newsletters

Are You and Your Family Prepared? Written by: Ashley A Thompson, CFP® One of the more consistent conversations we’ve been having lately, both in client meetings and at our recent “Lunch with Benedict,” is around planning for the later stages of life. As clients age or take on the role of helping their aging parents navigate these transitions, the focus often shifts to questions about health, independence and future care. What once felt distant now hits close to home, leaving many families navigating unfamiliar territory without a clear plan. These conversations often start with: What…

Staying Grounded During High Times… Written by: Mark A Beaver, CFP® It’s hard to believe April was just a few short months ago, but it feels like a lifetime ago in the markets.  All the volatility and scary headlines that rattled the markets in early April seem to be a distant memory now.  The current mood of the market feels decidedly bullish with excitement and confidence building as markets climb. In this kind of environment, investors often adopt a greater appetite for risk. Even traditionally cautious investors start feeling the pull of the market’s momentum.…

Our Initial Thoughts on the ‘Tariff Tantrum’ Written by: Mark A Beaver, CFP® Wednesday April 2nd was dubbed ‘Liberation Day’; the day our Administration announced sweeping new tariffs on countries around the world. The announced tariffs placed on our trading partners were much worse than expected. These high tariff rates, along with the significant uncertainty surrounding future implementation, negotiations, exemptions, waivers and exceptions, have resulted in swift and painful market declines since then. What Exactly Happened? A baseline 10% tariff was announced on all imports (Mexico and Canada were exempt, but now face a 25%…

Our Thoughts on Next Week…What Could Happen? Honestly, I cannot wait for all of this to be over!  And from my recent conversations with clients and friends, many of you feel the same way.  The constant political ads, commercials and text messages are just too much. (I keep thinking about all the money being spent on these campaigns and how it could be better used to help and support hurricane relief areas in FL, GA and NC.  Wouldn’t that be a positive change!)  With election day coming up, a common question we are hearing is,…

Now that tax season is over (except for those who file extensions), you probably think you are done with your annual required Government filing for the year. Well, not exactly. If you or someone you know is a small business owner or someone that has an active LLC, there is a new law that may apply to you…and the initial required filing is due in 2024. Wait! What new law and what required filing?

What is happening with the economy and the markets? Is there any good news out there? To say that 2022 has been a challenging year is an understatement. Starting with the first few days in January, this year has proven to be one of the most difficult in recent memory. We’ve experienced the terrible tragedy of the war in Ukraine, sky-high inflation figures that have not been seen since the Reagan administration, soaring energy prices around the globe and significant market declines across all major stock indexes. So, is there any good news out there?…

Are You an Owner or a Renter? Most times when you hear this question, it pertains to your primary residence. Do you own your home, or do you rent? While we could offer opinions on the subject and debate the pros and cons of each, the question I’m posing is not about your current living situation…it’s about your investments. So, when thinking about your investments, are you an owner or a renter? (more…)

The Election and the Stock Market The months leading up to a presidential election is one of my least favorite times. The non-stop political ads, the unsolicited phone calls and text messages, and the never-ending arguments on social media can be stressful and overwhelming. It almost seems the election season tends to bring out the worst in some people. But this Benedict Brief is not about personal preferences, it’s about the election and the stock market. We’ve received a lot of questions over the last few weeks regarding this topic, so we thought we should…

The Dreaded March Statement As we are all painfully aware, this month has been an exceptionally difficult time in the investment markets and could go down as one of the worst months in stock market history.  The COVID-19 pandemic has continued to spread causing global economies around the world to literally shutdown in an effort to contain the virus.  In addition to the thousands of virus-related deaths, the economic impact is unprecedented and the uncertainty of it all has taken its toll on global investment markets. (more…)

The fears surrounding the Coronavirus outbreak have been building for the last few weeks, but those fears just hit the market this week. The markets have experienced a sharp selloff this week resulting in a 10% correction in the broad S&P 500 Index, it's quickest correction in history. (more…)