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Written by: Derek Majkowski, Partner. Any opinions are those of Derek Majkowski and not necessarily those of RJFS or Raymond James.

"I'm Gen X. I just sit on the sidelines and watch the world burn."

This was a line from Keenan Thompson who was playing a game show host on a SNL sketch called Millennial Millions. Here is the sketch for your viewing pleasure -

Written by: Derek Majkowski. Any opinions are those of Derek Majkowski and not necessarily those of RJFS or Raymond James.

As I write, the 10 year US Treasury Bond hovers around 1.7%. This is a modest move higher in yield from recently bottoming around 1.45% in August.

Written by: Derek Majkowski. Any opinions are those of Derek Majkowski and not necessarily those of RJFS or Raymond James.

The average Major League Baseball player will play in the pros 5-6 years. The minimum annual salary is approximately $550K and the average annual salary is $4 to $5 million a year.In the NBA, and average player plays 4-5 years and on average earns $5.5 to $6.5 million in annual salary.

Written by: Derek Majkowski. Any opinions are those of Derek Majkowski and not necessarily those of RJFS or Raymond James.

When we conduct a planning meeting, one area of focus we like to review is the balance sheet. The assets, less the liabilities.

Written by: Derek Majkowski. Any opinions are those of Derek Majkowski and not necessarily those of RJFS or Raymond James

What is most important to you? What are your Priorities? For some, these are easy questions to answer. For others, there may be some general thoughts, but no real clear determination or defined primacy. Also priorities are not necessarily constant, and can change over time. It is for these reasons that we spend time discussing and...

Written by: Derek Majkowski. Any opinions are those of Derek Majkowski and not necessarily those of RJFS or Raymond James

The old adage – “Sell in May and Go Away” was derived from the historical underperformance that the market showed during the months of May through October compared to those months of November through April.

Written by: Derek Majkowski. Any opinions are those of Derek Majkowski and not necessarily those of RJFS or Raymond James

Spring fever has kicked into full effect this year as we were teased here in DC with a warmer than usual February, but a colder than usual March and early April. We had Nor’easters, snow, and the area’s beloved Cherry Blossoms were delayed by weeks due the below normal temperatures...

Written by: Derek Majkowski. Any opinions are those of Derek Majkowski and not necessarily those of RJFS or Raymond James

We have been preparing for rising interest rates this year. (We will leave aside that we were also preparing for rising rates last year. And the year before. And the one before that. And the 8 years before that.) But a rising interest rate environment changes the math...

Written by: Derek Majkowski. Any opinions are those of Derek Majkowski and not necessarily those of RJFS or Raymond James

As defined by Wikipedia – The third rail of a nation’s politics is a metaphor for any issue so controversial that it is “charged” and “untouchable” to the extent that any politician or public official who dares to broach the subject will invariably suffer politically...

George Shirley.  Any opinions are those of George Shirley and not necessarily those of RJFS or Raymond James.

I look at your investing life as 4 different phases:  accumulation, protection, distribution and legacy.  Each one of these had its own challenges, but I find it can be difficult to switch your mentality from accumulation to protection and distribution. 

Derek Majkowski. Any opinions are those of Derek Majkowski and not necessarily those of RJFS or Raymond James.

“Lions, and tigers, and bears, oh my!” – Dorothy, the Scarecrow and the Tin Man reacting to the noises they hear walking through the dark forest on the Yellow Brick Road.Drawing attention to this great movie classic is nothing new. 

Written by: George Shirley.  Any opinions are those of George Shirley and not necessarily those of RJFS or Raymond James.

This past week, our firm welcomed some more former colleagues to our office:  Sarah Marks CFP®, and Sr. Registered Client Administrative Managers Vera Reich and Merit Kralovec.

Written by: George Shirley - Any opinions are those of George Shirley and not necessarily those of RJFS or Raymond James.

Traditional financial planning often uses age as a key metric.  At this age you need this much saved; if you want to retire at this age you need to do this; financial goals to obtain in your 30s, 40s, 50s 60s; if you are this age, here is the amount of risk you should have in your portfolio. 

Written by: Derek Majkowski. Any opinions are those of Derek Majkowski and not necessarily those of RJFS or Raymond James.

I was recently inspired to find the following commercial that was run in 2006: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zhnEjxsjjuA Aside from bringing a chuckle, I was reminded of the story around the Pets.com sock puppet and what it ultimately came to signify and represent for both pop-culture and stock market history – to some extent.

Written by: Derek Majkowski. Any opinions are those of Derek Majkowski and not necessarily those of RJFS or Raymond James.

So there’s a pretty good chance we’re all going to die.  I know, I know, this is such a surprising and extremely enlightening (and rather morbid) observation. 

Written by: George Shirley   Any opinions are those of George Shirley and not necessarily those of RJFS or Raymond James.

This Fall marked 20 years in the financial services industry for me.  As with many milestones, I took some time to reflect on my time in the business, where I have been, where I am and more importantly where I am going. 

Written by: Derek Majkowski. Any opinions are those of Derek Majkowski and not necessarily those of RJFS or Raymond James.

When posed with the question – Are you going to be more upset if you sell your equity assets while in a profit position and they keep going higher, or that you did not sell when things were up and they corrected or pulled back?

Written by: George Shirley. Any opinions are those of George Shirley and not necessarily those of RJFS or Raymond James

You often hear that in sports, winning can mask serious issues within a team. If your team wins, it is easy to look past some of the problems that could have impacted the result, especially if you got the result you wanted.

Written by: Derek Majkowski. Any opinions are those of Derek Majkowski and not necessarily those of RJFS or Raymond James.

What are you looking for when you seek financial and investment advice?Let’s assume that “great returns with no risk” is not a realistic answer.

Written by: Derek Majkowski. Any opinions are those of Derek Majkowski and not necessarily those of RJFS or Raymond James.

To us, Liquidity – means cash. Flexibility – means pliable and with options.

Written by: Derek Majkowski. Any opinions are those of Derek Majkowski and not necessarily those of RJFS or Raymond James.

Is it fair to be criticized for being conservative in providing financial modelling forecasts? When assessing the amount someone spends (choose a higher number), or measuring potential returns or outcomes (pick lower returns), is it wrong to be conservative? Does being conservative mean that your life or lifestyle will be boring?

Written by: Derek Majkowski. Any opinions are those of Derek Majkowski and not necessarily those of RJFS or Raymond James.

When it comes to beginning an engagement with a financial planner and embarking on the financial planning process…

Written by:  George Shirley - Any opinions are those of George Shirley and not necessarily those of Raymond James or RJFS

In the past month, I have spoken to a number of college-aged children/grandchildren of current clients about investing.

Written by George Shirley. Any opinions are those of George Shirley and not necessarily those of RJFS or Raymond James.

We have had some college interns in our office this summer. It has been a fun dynamic with the different points of view and various degrees of understanding about the financial services industry.

Written By: George Shirley.  Any opinions are those of George Shirley and not necessarily Raymond James or RJFS.

Risk tolerance questionnaires that ask a series of questions in an effort to understand an investor’s tolerance of risk are a popular way to determine how to invest.  By classifying investors into a category,

Written by: Derek Majkowski. Any opinions are those of Derek Majkowski and not necessarily those of RJFS or Raymond James.

Fear and Greed - the two emotional states that have long been tied to the randomness, impulsiveness, and volatility connected to, and associated with, the stock market.

Written by: George Shirley - Opinions are those of George Shirley and not necessarily those of Raymond James or RJFS

Our firm was recently named one of the top places to work in Washington DC by the Washington Business Journal   https://finance.yahoo.com/news/steward-partners-awarded-best-place-185000722.html.

Written by: George Shirley. Opinions are those of George Shirley and not necessarily those of Raymond James or RJFS

I went around the office and asked everyone for their favorite bite-sized financial wisdom.  Here is a list of 10. Spend less than you earn.Pay off your debt as quickly as possible.Invest for the long term.Take a moment to think before acting.

Written by: Derek Majkowski. Any opinions are those of Derek Majkowski and not necessarily those of RJFS or Raymond James.

Over the next several decades, it is anticipated that as much as $30 trillion will transfer from the wealthiest generation in US history to Gen X and millennial children.  That is a lot of money, and a lot of change and preparation for all involved.

Written by: George Shirley. Opinions are those of George Shirley and not necessarily those of RJFS or Raymond James.

I have gotten this question often over the years, and the answer to that has changed.  When I first started in the business, I was happy to talk to anyone and would have said $1.

Written by: The Verus Team. Opinions are those of the Verus Team and not necessarily those of RJFS or Raymond James.

We have recently been holding similar discussions with a number of our clients.  In each case, the value of their investments is as high as it has ever been, and lately, there has been no strong catalyst to change much of what we have been doing.

Written by: Derek Majkowski. Any opinions are those of Derek Majkowski and not necessarily those of RJFS or Raymond James.

It seems simple to presume two heads are better than one, or that the idea of working with like-minded people can generate positive and leveraged results.

Written by: George Shirley Opinions are those of George Shirley and not necessarily RJFS or Raymond James

When evaluating a portfolio, most investors understand the concept of diversification.  What is less understood-- and can have a bigger impact on a portfolio performance and volatility-- is correlation. Correlation attempts to quantify the price movement of two securities as related to one another. 

Written by: Derek Majkowski. Any opinions are those of Derek Majkowski and not necessarily those of RJFS or Raymond James.

That was a recent question asked of me by a longtime client.  I couldn’t help but smirk a little after reading the question - which was sent via email. 

Written by: George Shirley. Opinions are those of George Shirley and not necessarily those of RJFS and Raymond James.

A former colleague recently became a current colleague as Bill Blake, AIF®, Wealth Manager joined our firm.  I had the pleasure of working with Bill for more than 8 years, and was excited to have his vast experience and knowledge added to the collective wisdom of the office.

Written by: Derek Majkowski. Any opinions are those of Derek Majkowski and not necessarily those of RJFS or Raymond James.

Risk by definition is a situation involving exposure to danger.  In the world of finance and investments, risk can be broken down into several different categories. 

Written by: George Shirley. Opinions are those of George Shirley and not necessarily those of RJFS or Raymond James

What is your top financial concern and what have you done about it?  Two people who may fall into the same general category from a “profile” standpoint, can have very different feelings towards their personal financial situation and may answer these questions in very different ways.

Written by: George Shirley    All opinions are those of George Shirley and not necessarily those of RJFS or Raymond James.

Congratulations!   As with any life change, the birth of a child brings a whole new series of things to deal with. 

Written by:  Derek Majkowski.  Any opinions are those of Derek Majkowski and not necessarily those of RJFS or Raymond James.

With the recent announcement by the FOMC to raise target interest rates for the second time in 3 months, and the expectations of further gradual hikes over the course of the year.

By: George Shirley. Opinions are those of George Shirley and not necessarily those of RJFS or Raymond James.

In the context of investing, diversification usually refers to owning different assets in an attempt to reduce the exposure to any one particular risk.

Written by: Derek Majkowski. Any opinions are those of Derek Majkowski and not necessarily those of RJFS or Raymond James.

Every financial advisor has to disclose that they do not give tax advice, and I don’t.  That said, every financial advisor also has to be aware of the tax features when it comes to a particular investment or investment strategy.

Written by: George Shirley  Any opinions are those of George Shirley and not necessarily those of RJFS or Raymond James. 

February 16, 2017 The process of getting your financial house in order really starts with getting organized. 

Written by: Derek Majkowski. Any opinions are those of Derek Majkowski and not necessarily those of RJFS or Raymond James.

“The purpose of life is to live it, to taste experience to the utmost, to reach out eagerly and without fear for newer and richer experience.” – Eleanor Roosevelt

Written by: Derek Majkowski. Any opinions are those of Derek Majkowski and not necessarily those of RJFS or Raymond James.

“Be Kind to Yourself” – a recent comment made to me at the end of 2016 when I was reflecting on the past year, and considering all the goals I wanted to accomplish on the year ahead. 

By:  George Shirley.  Opinions expressed are those of George Shirley and not necessarily those of RJFS or Raymond James.

In the first class of the Executive Certificate in Financial Planning program that I took, the professor asked everyone to describe their most valuable asset. 

By: George Shirley Opinions expressed are those of George Shirley and not necessarily those of RJFS or Raymond James

When investing and organizing your financial life is not a top priority, it can take a back seat to other things. 

Written by: Derek Majkowski. Any opinions are those of Derek Majkowski and not necessarily those of RJFS or Raymond James.

Recently I sat with two sets of clients that are both affluent and successful in their respective lives and careers.  One couple is in their mid-forties, and the other is in their mid-sixties.

By: George Shirley   Opinions are those of George Shirley and not necessarily those of RJFS or Raymond James

I recently attended a funeral of a long-time client at Arlington National Cemetery.  Even though I am a native or Arlington VA, this was the first time I had witnessed a ceremony at the cemetery.

Written by: Derek Majkowski. Any opinions are those of Derek Majkowski and not necessarily those of RJFS or Raymond James.

With further reference to our diagram, even it does not go far enough to properly visualize the complexities and nuances to crafting a financial or investment plan. 

Written by: Derek Majkowski. Any opinions are those of Derek Majkowski and not necessarily those of RJFS or Raymond James.

When discussing all the things to consider with one’s investment plan and finances, one has to consider a large number of inputs and variables.

Written by: Derek Majkowski. Any opinions are those of Derek Majkowski and not necessarily those of RJFS or Raymond James.

When my wife and I first bought our house in the Washington, DC suburbs, I was met with my first yard since I lived at home as a teen, pre-college.  I swelled with pride one Saturday spring morning as I hopped out of bed and prepared to go out back to the shed in the yard.

Written by: Derek Majkowski. Any opinions are those of Derek Majkowski and not necessarily those of RJFS or Raymond James.

Total return is measured by both capital appreciation and dividend payments over time.  If a stock does not pay a dividend, then obviously return is only measured by growth.

By: George Shirley    Opinions expressed are those of George Shirley and not necessarily those of RJFS or Raymond James.

We often get asked “how much should I keep in cash?”  Conventional wisdom usually gives a number of months (3,6,12) times your regular expenses as an appropriate amount.

Written by: Derek Majkowski. Any opinions are those of Derek Majkowski and not necessarily those of RJFS or Raymond James.

Often I’m asked to explain the differences between using a 529 account vs. that of a Custodial account, and if I have any preference over which one I like better.

Written by: George Shirley - Any opinions expressed are those of George Shirley and not necessarily those of RJFS or Raymond James

There is a bakery a few miles from our house that sells breads, scones, muffins etc. The quality of the items is good, but the reason we continue to return is the wonderful women who have worked at the store.   

By: George Shirley - Any opinions are those of George Shirley and not necessarily those of RJFS or Raymond James.

I have spent the better part of the last 15 years involved in youth sports…primarily as a soccer coach.  At the beginning of each season, I stress to the parents and players that I will be focusing on being competitive, individual and team improvement, and our performance to evaluate the team, not results of the games.

Written by: Derek Majkowski. Any opinions are those of Derek Majkowski and not necessarily those of RJFS or Raymond James.

Over the course of the last several months, I have been having a number of nervous conversations with clients on what to do based on the next important upcoming “event” that can impact the market. 

By: George Shirley  Any opinions are those of George Shirley and not necessarily those of RJFS or Raymond James.

October 5, 2016 I often get asked by clients for an opinion on investment opportunities that fall outside the scope of registered securities. 

Written by: George Shirley.  Any opinions are those of George Shirley and not necessarily those of RJFS or Raymond James.

During a meeting with a client a number of years ago, I was discussing the impact of possible rising interest rates on his portfolio and what allocation would likely hold its value better. 

Written by: George Shirley. Any opinions are those of George Shirley and not necessarily those of RJFS or Raymond James.

I have worked with many clients with very different investing goals and strategies to and the ones who have had the most success in the markets share a number of similarities.

Written by: Derek Majkowski. Any opinions are those of Derek Majkowski and not necessarily those of RJFS or Raymond James.

A client wants personal attention.A customer needs a transaction fulfilled.A client wants to be engaged in the process and feel they are being heard.A customer needs a product or service, and requires very little personal interaction.

Written by: Derek Majkowski. Any opinions are those of Derek Majkowski and not necessarily those of RJFS or Raymond James.

When I think of the word “Core”, several things come to mind.  One is the root or definition which defines it as the strong, center, or the foundation of something.

Written by: George Shirley. Any opinions are those of George Shirley and not necessarily those of RJFS or Raymond James.

While some are predicting the demise of traditional asset management from robo-advisors, I think some of that stems from the stodgy, outdated asset management strategies that many firms still use.

Written by: Derek Majkowski. Any opinions are those of Derek Majkowski and not necessarily those of RJFS or Raymond James.

It is without a doubt important to utilize all of the great tools offered by and through the advancements of technology.  As a 22 year veteran in providing investment and financial services, I have seen the advent of many online tools and technological advancements in this industry.

Recently the majority of Great Britain’s people voted to leave the European Union. The outcome of the referendum caught many by surprise and set the stage for a market pullback that immediately injected uncertainty around the world.

Written by: George Shirley. Any opinions are those of George Shirley and not necessarily those of RJFS or Raymond James.

One of the gratifying aspects of this job is to help people with philanthropic and charitable endeavors.  I have found that being able to give time and financial support to causes that are important to people is extremely rewarding and can provide almost a renewed sense of purpose, especially for retirees.

Welcome to 1776i, our blog about financial topics and our thoughts surrounding them. With this blog, we hope to give a window into our thinking about many different issues that arise every day in the ever-changing landscape that is investing and personal finance.