Technological change has always been met with a mix of excitement and anxiety. Today, headlines about autonomous trucks replacing drivers or robots taking over manufacturing lines seem to confirm our fears about mass unemployment. My mind goes there, too, by default. But, if history is any indication, technology usually leads to new opportunities, not permanent job losses. Think of how farm mechanization dramatically reduced the need for farmhands in the 20th century, or how elevator operators disappeared once automatic elevators became standard. Societies adapted, workers moved on to new fields, and the overall standard of living rose.

A few weeks ago, I was talking with a client who noted that post-COVID, the future—and the financial risks it presents, felt uncertain. It’s a sentiment that I’ve heard often, and it’s true that no one would have predicted on January 1st, 2020, what was to come in the year following. With that said, it’s worth remembering that hedging against risk is part of what we do for clients. In fact, we’re constantly keeping tabs on the markets, the economy, and key trends on our clients’ behalf. Below are four risks many of our clients are facing, along with some general strategies that are often employed to combat these issues.

Back in May 2023, amidst the political drama of raising the debt ceiling, I shared a letter highlighting debt and inflation that is mostly memorialized as a May 2023 summary blog post. The congressional tug-of-war was more of a sideshow compared to the looming economic issue: the likelihood of sustained, higher-than-average inflation.

Matt provides an overview with Leanne Broyles, JD of Frost Law on the importance of reviewing life insurance coverage at the start of the year to ensure it meets financial and estate planning needs.

Valued Clients & Friends, As 2024 comes to a close, I want to take a moment to reflect on what has been another remarkable year for the economy, markets, and our collective financial journeys. This year brought its share of uncertainties—ranging from geopolitical tensions to election-year dynamics—but it also underscored the resilience of the U.S. economy and the opportunities that arise when we remain disciplined and focused on long-term goals.

As the year ends, it’s time to reflect on the achievements of your 401(k) plan. For plan sponsors, celebrating success is about more than checking compliance boxes—it’s an opportunity to recognize the positive impact your plan has had on employees and your organization. Here’s how you can identify, celebrate, and communicate your 401(k) plan’s successes to build momentum and engagement for the year ahead.

In part one of this blog series, I discussed why cash value life insurance is often a poor investment choice. These products are, quite frankly, sold more often than they’re bought. A key selling point in recent years has been the concept of “infinite banking” and “tax free policy dividends.”

In a September blog post, I discussed annuities and my concerns about their widespread sales tactics. Staying in that vein, let's dive into another product often marketed as a hybrid insurance and investment vehicle: cash-value, whole life insurance. Cash Value Whole Life Insurance policies promise the security of a death benefit along with a tax-free savings component. But do they really deliver? To reveal the flaws, we will look at this as a math problem below.

Matt collaborates with Leanne Broyles, JD of Frost Law on the complexities of estate planning in our technologically advanced world.

The internet is a great place to find financial insights, and I love using X (formerly Twitter) to follow portfolio managers, macroeconomists, and advisors I respect. However, the algorithm also brings a lot of bad advice to my feed. Lately, I’ve seen a repetitive trope: “Buy VOO and chill” as the only retirement plan you need. For those not memorizing investment tickers, VOO is the Vanguard S&P 500 Index. I like VOO—it’s one of the cheapest ways to buy into one of the most important indices in the world. But, this raises, is it really a complete retirement plan? There are a few issues with this, but let’s focus on two: recency bias and liquidity.