It’s madness, March Madness! It is always fun to fill in a NCAA basketball tournament bracket, whether for family bragging rights or for the office bracket pool. As the tournament unfolds, most of the basketball powerhouses smash lesser rivals while a few Cinderella...
Paul K. Fain, III, CFP®
New Baby in the Family? Here’s Some Financial Advice
In the midst of much trial and tribulation around our country, can I share a personal story on the lighter side of life? I’m a first-time grandpa. This experience is good beyond my imagination – all the joy with none of the responsibilities! Still, as a financial...
Should I Buy GameStop Stock?
Hello all! Just when you thought it couldn’t get any wackier!? It did. Several weeks ago, my son asked me if I had seen what was happening with GameStop, AMC and Blackberry stocks. My honest reply was, “No, but are those companies still in business?” In “short,”...
Expect the Unexpected for the 2021 Stock Market, and Plan Accordingly
Last year was a paradox: The second quarter was the worst GDP performance on record. However, November was one of the best months for the stock market on record, led by long-lagging small caps and value stocks. The Russell 2000 Index (small company stocks) enjoyed the...
Here’s a Merry Approach to Mortality
he holidays (normally) conjure warm images of large family gathering with dinners, gift exchanges, and merriment. The holidays are different this year. As the COVID pandemic is filling ICUs across the country, our mortality has entered the national conversation. With...
Top Gifting and Tax Considerations to Know Now
TAX CHANGES IN 2021? Maybe. One of the possible implications of a change in the White House is tax regulations. Americans, blue or red, are asking the same question: are my taxes going to change? Joe Biden’s victory could spell changes in income, payroll, estate, and...
Stay Calm and Prepare for Another Wave of Pandemic Panic
Election Day is over. The sun rose the following morning. The stock market did not crash. So our attention has turned back to the pandemic. A second wave of the virus is surging across the nation. To wit, I was hospitalized (non-COVID) in June at the University of...
Hang in There, Things Will Get Better
Several weeks ago, I (virtually) attended the Vanguard Advisor Symposium. Sidebar: One of the unexpected silver linings to the COVID pandemic has been access to great meetings without the hassle and expense of air travel and hotels. The event kicked off with a...
What Should I Do With My Money? It Depends…
From the perspective of personal financial planning, the answer to many of life’s complexities is, “It depends.” Of course, we all prefer black and white answers to important questions. But “It depends” fails to give us any certainty of outcomes. Here are some common...
How Will the Presidential Election Impact My Financial Plan?
Consider these election headlines: “Should you hoard cash before the election?" "This election could help make or break your retirement." "The nastiest election of our lifetime." "A Trump win will tank the market.” Were these headlines published last week? No, they...