Category: Investment Insights

So, you’re telling me there’s a chance!

In the classic comedy, Dumb & Dumber, Lloyd demonstrates the epitome of optimistic thinking when his crush, Mary, gives him a hard truth. Forced to answer the uncomfortable question of whether the two of them could conceivably end up together, Mary admits the odds are “not good”. In fact, it is “like one in a million”, she says. To which Lloyd responds after a moment of deep reflection, “So…you’re telling me there’s a chance.”

The Federal Reserve and its cadre of economists are currently hoping the economy will make a soft landing in 2023. They would like a way out of the painful inflation of 2022 and into a comfy low-inflation, positive growth environment. The Fed believes increasing short-term lending rates are just what is needed. Current economic conditions are responding a little like Mary, however. Current data suggests the odds of a gentle economic transition in 2023 are definitely “not good”.

Market Update: Safety Nets are Essential

“These are the times that try men’s souls.” Thomas Paine, The Crisis.
The Coronavirus is an unpredictable event that has disrupted supply chains, shut down economies, and created fear and panic in the markets. Any time there are sudden declines of this magnitude, we can expect prices to rebound in some fashion. This is often referred to as a “dead cat bounce”, which is perhaps not the best visual at times like these. But it’s meant to convey the idea that even things that are destined to end badly can have moments of optimism.

Expect the Unexpected

In this Investment Insights, author and Chief Investment Officer, John R. Hooper, discusses when elites fail, populists need to avoid taking a wrong turn, central bankers have cultivated a casino-like atmosphere and to chase the future, not the past performance.

Year-End Tax-Planning Report: December 2016

As we near the end of 2016, there may be an opportunity to reduce your income taxes if you act before the end of the year.  The election of Mr. Trump will likely result in significant changes to the income tax code.

Growing & Protecting Wealth in a Lower-Return World

Fall 2015 article reviews why diversified portfolios may now be making a comeback in style, the best measure of a portfolio’s true value is their sustainable income stream it is likely to deliver, and key strategies for improving an investor’s lifestyle and portfolio over the long run.

Winter 2014: Annual 3-5 Year Investment Outlook

Winter 2014. Continuing our approach that has served Plan Financial’s clients well for almost 30 years, our annual 3-5 year outlook for the global economy provides the guardrails for how, where, why and when we invest the funds that you have entrusted to us.