Below are two studies, conducted by Morningstar and Innovest Portfolio Solutions, which demonstrate how periodically rebalancing your portfolio can reduce downside risk, shorten the recovery time following a market downturn, and enhance return potential compared to never rebalancing.  Read full article

Foreign stocks and stock funds have underperformed the U.S. for a long time, but change is inevitable.. 

Information on the secure act and how Fidelity is handling the changes

Many people use a bank safe deposit box to store valuable papers and small assets. 

Health Savings Accounts (HSA) Update

Health Savings Accounts or HSAs, subject to eligibility, represent the most attractive tax advantaged type of account. 

Don't get scammed!

by Julie A. Welch, CPA, CFP^®, PFS; and Cara L. Smith, CPA, CFP^®
Julie A. Welch, CPA, CFP^®, PFS, is the director of tax services and a shareholder with Meara Welch Browne P.C. in Leawood, Kansas.
Cara Smith, CPA, CFP^®, is a senior tax manager with Meara Welch Browne P.C. in Leawood, Kansas.

In this world of technology and constant connectivity, working remotely has become more common. 

This month's Planet Money podcast: The Cost of Life in America. 

FYI, great summary of a little known aspect of tax reform which allows investors to defer gains (and receive a 15% step up in basis) by rolling all or a portion of the gains into low income community funds, eg Qualified Opportunity Zones.

The word "goals" seems to generate a certain sort of emotional weight, for many, it's a roll-your-eyes-sort-of-dread ... “Not this again.” But we've found the following ideas to be helpful as we enter the annual season of goal setting.

 To prevent/minimize the impact of data breaches and identity theft:

Political issues shouldn’t play a large role in long-term strategy

Based on Russell Investments 2017 study

Bonds sink as investors bet on an improving economy and value priced stocks.

Portfolio Insights: Index and Factor Investing

The Election and what it might Mean

In July, the stock market continued to rebound from the Brexit correction and experienced a rotation back toward large and medium capitalization growth stocks.

Stocks continue rebound from January funk, but bonds flat in May. Return expectations flat lining after post crisis run.

This is an unbiased comparison of the proposed tax plans for individuals released by Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump. In many ways, their tax policy aligns broadly with the platform of their political party — Clinton wants high-income earners to pay a larger percentage of their income in taxes, while Trump wants to cut taxes for all income levels.