We love to inform people on the latest industry trends and how to make educated financial choices. Be sure to stay connected with us, and updated with our discussions!

| Fee-Only Financial Advisor, Deer Park, Chicago, IL FDS Financial Professionals

[Video] Small Business Retirement Plan Options: 401(k)

STEPHEN SMALENBERGER, EA ® We have already talked about setting up a retirement plan for a company that’s not incorporated.  What if your company is incorporated? What options are available now with a 401(k) and what’s different? With an S-Corp you’re required to pay yourself a reasonable salary. This just means that out of your…

Read More...
Financial Design Studio Chart

Can Markets Correct Themselves?

Much of the current market pullback over the past few weeks has been instigated by talks of higher interest rates.  Fear that higher interest rates will push us into a recession has kept investors concerned. There are analysts who oppose the Fed continuing to raise interest rates when it could hurt the economy by raising…

Read More...
Financial Design Studio Higher

Positive Earnings Lead The Market Higher

This week had a full calendar of corporate earnings reported.  Let’s review these results to consider what to expect in the weeks ahead. Bank of America: 6.45% Positive Surprise Netflix: 30.88% Positive Surprise Abbott: In Line with Expectations PayPal: Positive Honeywell: Positive Schlumberger: Positive The majority of corporate earnings have been strong which has brought…

Read More...
Financial Design Studio Market Decline

High Momentum to JUST Growth?

This week brought a pullback in the market like we haven’t seen in a while.  The past two years has really brought strong market returns that many investors have enjoyed.  So after a few days where the market has moved lower, analysts start to ask “why?” and how long will this continue? What we have…

Read More...
Financial Design Studio Weekly News

Digesting The Weekly News

Why does the market continue moving higher when the news we read seems to only provide reasons it shouldn’t be?  Let’s review a few news pieces we’ve seen this week to understand how they apply to your portfolio. More people employed and higher wages helps the stock market? We continue to see a rise in…

Read More...
Financial Design Studio Move Forward

[Video] Stepping Back to Move Forward

MICHELLE SMALENBERGER, CFA ® This summer our daughter started swimming lessons outside again and we were reminded of the progress she had made the year before.  The first week into her second year we noticed it was a little bit tough and she was starting to doubt herself. We just realized that sometimes you make…

Read More...
Financial Design Studio Election

A Short-Term Change for the Mid Term?

We talk a lot about how to maintain a long-term view of your investment portfolio.  But, there are times that a short-term view may be appropriate for anticipated changes in your life.  One contributing factor to consider is the upcoming mid-term elections. Leading up to these elections you’ve likely heard there is a chance that…

Read More...
Financial Design Studio Income

Why Income And Expenses Matter

Do you consider yourself a savvy shopper trying to find a discount?  Or do you research something fully in order to find the product with the best quality and consider the higher cost worth it? Just like the above thoughts for buying a product, these things should be considered when you are choosing investments.  Let’s…

Read More...
Financial Design Studio One Big Goal

[Video] One Big Goal or Many Small Goals

MICHELLE SMALENBERGER, CFP ® We recently took a road trip and along the way it was my turn to drive.  I was sitting at the steering wheel thinking about how long the trip was and getting frustrated.  I eventually realized that instead of thinking about it in that way, as one BIG goal, I needed…

Read More...
Financial Design Studio 529 State Tax Deduction Header

[Video] Understanding the 529 State Tax Deduction

Here’s an interesting fact about 529 plans:  All 50 states have their own plans. Out of those 50, 30 plus states allow for a state tax deduction.  Out of those 30 there are 6 that allow you to contribute to any state but take the deduction on your state tax return. Let’s explain this in…

Read More...
Financial Design Studio Intraday Market

Intraday Market Movements Don’t Tell The Whole Story

Spoiler alert: READ TO THE END!  How many times have you watched a movie, read a book, or just experienced something in life that turned out so different in the end than what you were anticipating?  This is very similar to what we are experiencing in the market over the past week and days. In…

Read More...
Financial Design Studio Investment Crisis

Investment Crisis Anniversaries to Remember

Today marks our 10 year wedding anniversary and so it seems fitting to think back to the effect of investment crisis anniversaries.  There were lessons learned at each investment crisis anniversary and it shapes how you continue to invest over the years ahead. See our examples in the list below. Worst One-Day Stock Losses Recently…

Read More...