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Financial Design Studio Estate Planning Documents

Estate Planning Documents [Video]

Are there some decisions you think, “I’ll do that when I’m older?”  While there are some things that are OK to push off to tomorrow, there is one thing you need to do today. And that is your estate planning documents. We always think we can get to this later or we think this is…

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Financial Design Studio Financial Recession

Do You Remember Where You Were Financially In The Recession?

Be encouraged! The market has made a strong comeback in the first three months of this year! This should bring some excitement. Christmas season last year may have been discouraging because the market had spiraled down losing the strong gains from the previous nine months. But now we’re back to seeing growth again. Now, let’s…

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Financial Design Studio Uncommon Cents

Uncommon Cents [Video]

One thing I want to challenge you in regards to your finances is called “Uncommon Cents”.  Financially, it might not make sense to others, but it makes sense to you and your goal in life. With everything you say and do, are you always try to make sense so people always understand you? Or have…

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Financial Design Studio Rules

Do You Have Rules For Investing?

This week the market moved higher from last week’s pullback. With this weekly volatility back and forth, higher and lower, it’s important to establish your set of rules when investing. Looking ahead there are many outcomes that can affect your investments. Here are some examples you can implement so your emotions don’t swing in step…

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FDS Daylight Savings

[Video] Daylight Savings Time Check

It’s that time of year again when we are adjusting the clocks, either springing forward or falling back.  We’re more aware of time because of our surroundings. Either it’s still light out longer or getting dark sooner.  Time is important. We never seem to have enough. We all have the same 24 hours in a…

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Financial Design Studio Financial Happiness

Does The Market Affect Your Happiness?

Remember the saying “If momma ain’t happy, ain’t nobody happy”? This seems to resonate closely with investors. If the market ain’t happy, ain’t nobody happy. After a strong first quarter of the market performing higher and coming back from the end of 2018 lows investors were starting to feel more confident. With a few days…

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Financial Design Studio one size fit all

[Video] Does One Size Fit All?

STEPHEN SMALENBERGER, EA ® Hats…I love hats.  I have some that are falling apart because I’ve worn them so much.  They come in all different shapes, styles, or colors. Some are fitted and some you can fit with the adjustment in the back which says one size fits all. But even though that sounds great…

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Financial Design Studio Global Trade Tension

Is Global Trade Tension Progress Already Priced In?

When investing, people consider what may happen in the future regarding an investment. There are so many things you can think (related to your conviction) about for finally making the investment. Today, an item we need to consider together is whether the global trade tension with China is already priced in. What does it mean…

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Waiting For Fed & Trade Tension Direction

From trade tension to the Fed, the best way to describe this week’s market movement is simply with the word patience. The Fed Slowing Economy We learned from the Fed that they are watching economic data to point toward any interest rate changes or balance sheet changes needed ahead. This is welcome news to investors….

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Financial Design Studio Market Risk Edge

There’s Always A Market Risk

We’ve seen a nice week of markets moving higher which brings some welcome relief from all of the worries we had just a week or two ago.  Much of this relief was brought by easing concerns that global tensions with China are getting better. So now that the government shutdown and global tensions are getting…

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Financial Design Studio LIfe Insurance II

[Video] Life Insurance: Should I or Shouldn’t I?

STEPHEN SMALENBERGER, EA ® [Video] Life Insurance: Should I or Shouldn’t I? Here are a few questions around life insurance: Should I start, maintain, or stop a life insurance policy? Here are two different situations with different life stages and we will analyze the role of life insurance to help answer these questions! Starting A…

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Financial Design Studio Winners of Portfolio

The State Of Your Portfolio

This week was the President’s annual State of the Union address.  As of just a couple weeks ago we didn’t know if this address would take place.  But the temporary end to the shutdown allowed for that talk to subside. And as a reminder, the looming deadline of February 15th still remains for the next…

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