Economic Update – Fall 2019 Edition The US Economy – Safe as Houses In the movie Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows, the evil Professor Moriarty sends some thugs to kill John Watson and his new bride Mary as they travel by train en route to their honeymoon. While the train speeds over a bridge,… Read More
Trust & Investment
Negative Interest Rates As Told by Alice in Wonderland “Oh, you can’t help that,” said the Cat: “we’re all mad here. I’m mad. You’re mad.” “How do you know I’m mad?” said Alice. “You must be,” said the Cat, “or you wouldn’t have come here.” Let’s start with the basics – as of August 2019… Read More
For the Best Investment Opportunities Look Local Let’s start with a question: What is your largest asset? Many people will respond with the following answers – “My home” or “my 401(k)”. Both of these answers miss a larger opportunity. For many of us, especially those in early and mid-career stage, the most valuable asset we… Read More
Economic Outlook – Spring 2019 Edition Hope Springs Eternal The deep freeze of winter is finally over in the Midwest (we hope) and spring is in the air. There seems to be a renewed sense of optimism after a winter that dampened both moods and economic growth. The US Stock market rebounded from its big… Read More
Economic Outlook – Winter 2019 Edition The 4th quarter of 2018 reintroduced investors to the volatility that can suddenly hit the stock market. The S&P 500 reached all-time highs in September before dropping 13.5% over the next three months. Since the stock market is more predictive than reactive many observers were wondering if this sharp… Read More
Finding Peace in Stock Market Investing “Remember, Dragon Warrior, anything is possible with Inner Peace” – Master Shifu, Kung Fu Panda 2 The pick-up in market volatility this fall has caused anxiety for many investors. People look at the balances on their investment accounts and see it fluctuate from day-to-day and start wondering – Should… Read More
Robots Vs. Humans – The Battle for the Future of Investing In the Terminator movies, Arnold Schwarzenegger does not play a robot. He plays a terminator, which is something different. “I’m a cybernetic organism. Living tissue over a metal endoskeleton” If you are not familiar with the Terminator movies, they take place in a dystopian… Read More
Economic Update – Fall 2018 Edition Leaves are falling, the NFL season is in full swing, and stores are already decorating for Christmas. It is hard to believe we are closing in on the end of the year. This year has felt like it has flown by. As I come up on my one year… Read More
When Will the Stock Market Finally Drop? The only true answer is that no one knows. Use that to your advantage. As we approach the 10-year anniversary since the low in March 2009, this has become one of the longest runs in the stock market without a drop of at least 20%. Historically, the market… Read More
Stillman Bank’s Bogner Earns National Certification David Bogner, Vice President and Trust Officer at Stillman Bank, was recently awarded the Certified Trust & Financial Advisor (CTFA) professional certification from the American Bankers Association. “Earning the CTFA certification validates David’s experience and depth of education in the wealth management industry,” states Marty Larson, Stillman Bank Chairman… Read More