Latest Posts

By Steven M. Gronceski, CFP®, AIF®
Vice President, Wealth Management

If you are the adult child of aging parents, you may find yourself in the position of someday having to assist them with handling their finances. Whether that time is in the near future or sometime further down the road, there are some steps you can take now to make the process a bit easier.

By Chad E. Hassinger, CFP®
Chief Executive Officer

Bradley J. Rathe and James L. Hart recently earned the Accredited Investment Fiduciary® (AIF®) Designation. Attainment of the AIF® designation demonstrates an understanding of the Prudent Practices® and methodology.

By Bradley J. Rathe
Chief Investment Officer

Geopolitics are back in focus with G7 over the weekend and President Trumps meeting with the North Korean Leader. Equity markets have been ignoring these types of risks lately.

By Jeremy D. Schares, CFP®, CRPC®
Vice President, Wealth Management

When it comes to planning your estate, you might be wondering whether you should use a will or a trust (or both). Understanding the similarities and the differences between these two important documents may help you decide which strategy is better for you.

By Bradley J. Rathe
Chief Investment Officer

We had a very strong jobs number this past Friday. Payrolls advanced by 223k above the 190k expected and the Unemployment rate dropped to 3.8%. The focus of the report was on wage growth and hourly earnings grew by a stronger than anticipated .3%.

By Bradley J. Rathe
Chief Investment Officer

Retail Sales were strong enough last week to increase inflation fears and hence to push Interest rates higher. The US Ten Year Treasury settled the week at the highest level going back more than 7 years above 3% at 3.06%.

By Steven M. Gronceski, CFP®, AIF®
Vice President, Wealth Management

Ask anyone you know what kind of person would need to be concerned with estate planning, and 90% would describe the well-to-do retiree who has spent the last 40 years of life building up substantial wealth. Young people tend to think they are invincible. They don't plan on getting sick or even worse, dying. Why, then, do they need an estate plan?

By Bradley J. Rathe
Chief Investment Officer

Those products linked to tariffs, including steel and aluminum, had strong inflationary pressures. However, the rest of the inflation data for both the consumer and the producer were as expected and should not give the Federal Reserve extra incentive to move faster on rates.

By Chad E. Hassinger, CFP®
Chief Executive Officer

Pamela A. Martin and Nicole M. Clarke recently earned the Accredited Investment Fiduciary™ (AIF®) Designation, which signifies specialized knowledge of fiduciary responsibility and the ability to implement policies and procedures that meet a defined standard of care for clients.

By Bradley J. Rathe
Chief Investment Officer

The Federal Reserve did not raise rates last week as expected.  The next meeting in June is expected to bring the second rate rise for 2018 and still another later in the year to make three.