Our winter 2025 financial planning newsletter is now available. There's a lot going on in the world of personal finance! The newsletter includes details on action you may need to take as a result of the Social Security Fairness Act and an upcoming Vanguard litigation deadline. We also cover super … [Read more...]
Spring 2024 Financial Planning Newsletter
The Spring 2024 financial planning newsletter is now available. In addition to the investment market update, we include financial spring cleaning ideas and links to some of our team's favorite financial podcasts. We also provide a gentle nudge on keeping your estate planning up-to-date, along with … [Read more...]
Winter 2024 Financial Planning Newsletter
The Winter 2024 Financial Planning Newsletter is now available. It includes an investment market update and some observations about market responses to the Fed's actions. In addition, we provide some updates on the tax consequences of student loan forgiveness and how to fund a Roth IRA from a 529. … [Read more...]
Fall 2023 Financial Planning Newsletter
The fall 2023 financial planning newsletter is now available. We cover an update on the investment markets along with year-end planning reminders. Plus, we cover how to give to charities and your heirs most tax efficiently if you have charitable intent with your estate planning. In addition, we have … [Read more...]
How much can market timing cost?
We recommend that you not attempt market timing. Mutual fund company Dimensional Fund Advisors recently crunched the numbers on how much it can cost. It's not pretty. Market timing can cost more than a third of your investment assets if you miss out on just 6 months. For details, including the … [Read more...]
Cash vs. Bonds in 2023
Now that interest rates are higher, you may be wondering whether it makes sense to invest in a bond fund when you can earn a relatively high rate of return on cash through money market, CDs, treasuries, or a savings account. These feelings are especially understandable after 2022, a rare year in … [Read more...]
Spring 2023 Financial Planning Newsletter
The spring financial planning newsletter is now available. It includes an investment market update, as well as insight on FDIC and SIPC coverage. We also provide links to adjust your tax withholding if needed now that the 2022 tax filing deadline has passed. In addition, we highlight Rachel Songer's … [Read more...]
Financial Planning 2023 Q1 Newsletter
The 2023 Q1 financial planning newsletter is now available. It includes highlights of the Secure Act 2.0 and how it will affect you, as well as student loan and investment market updates. In addition, we cover 2023 retirement plan contribution limits and tax season reminders. Please click here to … [Read more...]
Asset Allocation
Lead Financial Planner Samuel Pond, CFP, shares about asset allocation and its importance in your investment strategy. … [Read more...]
Investment Volatility is Personal
Investment professionals like to talk about volatility in the investment markets. They talk about it like it’s a uniform feature that affects all investors equally. But it’s not. Volatility is personal. You have more control over your personal investment volatility than you might expect. There … [Read more...]
Q1 2022 Financial Planning Newsletter
Our Q1 2022 financial planning newsletter is now available. In addition to an investment market update, we discuss the potential for a bear market and how that affects your actions now. We also dig into how inflation affects your financial plan and cover the upcoming student loan interest and … [Read more...]
How Inflation Affects Your Financial Plan
We've all seen the headline number for 2021: a 7% increase in the consumer price index. You may be wondering: how does this affect my financial plan? Whether you have firsthand experience from the 1970s and early 1980s or have read about it in history books, the potential of sustained high … [Read more...]
Why a Stock Peak Isn’t a Cliff
Some perspective courtesy of Dimensional Fund Advisors: Many investors may think a market high is a signal stocks are overvalued or have reached a ceiling. But they may be surprised to find out that the average returns for the S&P 500 Index one, three, and five years after a new market high … [Read more...]
Cost of Trying to Time the Market
Trying to time the market can be costly. If you'd invested $1,000 in the S&P 500 index in 1990, you'd have had $20,451 by the end of 2020. However, missing the best day reduced your total to $18,329. And, missing the 5 best days, reduces it to $12,917. Because a picture shows this so well, … [Read more...]
How to Become Financially Fit in 2021
by Christina Slavonik, CFP(R) Oh, yes! It’s that time of year again! It's time to list out resolutions or goals that we would like to accomplish this year. There may be some “rollovers” from 2020! One important resolution to add to your list is to be financially fit. It’s not something … [Read more...]
December 2020 Financial Planning Newsletter
Our December 2020 financial planning newsletter is now available. It includes year-end financial planning tips from Lead Planner Patty Priddy. What a year 2020 has been! For most people, it is one for the books, or in the infamous words of Mr. Miyagi in Karate Kid, it is a year we want to “Wax … [Read more...]
How Stocks Perform in Election Months
As we wait for votes to be counted this morning, it may be helpful to put stock market returns in historical context. The attached graphic from Dimensional Fund Advisors shows performance of stocks in the months of presidential elections going back to 1926. You'll notice there's not a consistent … [Read more...]
Investing in Turbulent Times
We sent this letter out to clients and friends of Keener Financial Planning this afternoon. As you may have heard, trading on the stock market was temporarily suspended this morning. This suspension was based on automatic thresholds established initially after "Black Monday" in 1987 and since … [Read more...]
Concerns About the Market
We sent this email out to clients and friends of Keener Financial Planning today. We've all been hearing a lot about the coronavirus. Many stock market investors have reacted by selling stock holdings. As of this writing (around noon February 28), the S&P 500* is down about 13% from its … [Read more...]
How did small and value perform in 2018
At Keener Financial Planning, we use broad diversification as part of a long-term, low-cost investment strategy. We also find the long-term data on the performance benefits of over-weighting small and value companies compelling. Because these strategies affect investment performance, we like to … [Read more...]
Successful investing during turbulent times
As market volatility has continued over the past couple of months, it's been a rather harsh reminder of the ups and downs we must tolerate to be stock market investors. If you have 2 minutes, this short video from Dimensional Fund Advisors is worth a watch. It's a good reminder of the importance … [Read more...]
Why Corrections Are a Good Thing
It doesn’t seem like a positive when your portfolio drops in value. And it’s certainly not something that most of us would say we enjoy. However, there can be several benefits to stock market corrections. Remembering them can make enduring the drop less painful. Why #1: Corrections create an … [Read more...]
October 2017 Newsletter
Our October newsletter is now available to help with your personal financial planning. It includes an overview of the third quarter investment market performance, along with a review of Nobel Prize winning economist Richard Thaler's work. In addition, we have suggestions on how to respond to the … [Read more...]
Third Quarter Investment Market Review
The third quarter provided positive performance across all major stock and bond indices. Full details are in this 2017 Q3 Keener Financial Planning Quarterly Market Review. The report also includes the major financial headlines for the year and quarter, along with some principles to follow when … [Read more...]
April 2017 Financial Planning Newsletter
Our April financial planning newsletter is now available. It covers an update on the investment markets for first quarter, along with our perspective on current market valuations. In addition, we give you the most important retirement plan and tax limits for 2017 -- if you haven't already reviewed … [Read more...]
First Quarter Investment Market Review
The first quarter of 2017 started the year with positive returns across all major stock and bond investment asset classes except international bonds. Emerging markets stock was the super star with an 11.44% rate of return for the quarter as measured by the MSCI Emerging Markets Index. US stocks, … [Read more...]
2016 Annual Investment Market Review
2016 ended up a good year to be an investor. The US stock market (as measured by the Russell 3000) was up 12.74%. All other major asset classes -- international developed stocks, emerging markets stocks, global real estate, US bonds, and international bonds were also positive for the year. Small … [Read more...]
October 2016 Financial Planning Newsletter
The October Financial Planning newsletter is now available. In addition to an investment market update, it includes an update on the social security cost-of-living adjustment, tips on inheriting an IRA, a third quarter investment summary, year-end tax tips and more. To read the newsletter, click … [Read more...]
2016 Third Quarter Investment Market Review
The investment markets provided gains in third quarter gains across the broad US and International stock indices, as well as bonds. With positive returns so far this year, many are worried about the effects of presidential election on the stock market. However, the data suggests that which … [Read more...]
July 2016 Personal Finance Newsletter
Our July newsletter is now available. On investing, it includes a second quarter investment market review and our commentary on why fears about Brexit may be overblown. In addition, it covers the highlights of the June 2016 Social Security and Medicare Trustees' Reports and a Q&A on how the … [Read more...]
2016 Second Quarter Market Review
To see a summary of the investment markets performance for the second quarter of 2016, along with historical context, click here. … [Read more...]
April 2016 Personal Finance Newsletter
Our April 2016 newsletter was sent to email subscribers on April 19 and is now available online. For investing, the newsletter includes an investment market update and a review of the major factors affecting first quarter market performance. The newsletter also covers our perspective on the new … [Read more...]
2016 First Quarter Market Review
To see a summary of the investment markets performance for the first quarter of 2016, along with historical context, click here. … [Read more...]
January 2016 Financial Planning Newsletter
The January 2016 financial planning newsletter is now available. It includes an update on the investment markets with perspective on the volatility of the last two weeks, plus an overview of 2015 market returns. In addition, we cover what you need to know when filling out the FAFSA and the tax … [Read more...]
August 2015 Personal Finance Newsletter
The August 10, 2015 personal financial planning newsletter is available online. It includes information on qualified longevity annuities, frame-of-reference risk for investing, and investing in China. If you'd like to receive the newsletter as soon as its published, please enter your contact … [Read more...]
A different kind of investment risk
I recently attended the Garrett Planning Network conference near Denver, CO. What a nice break from the Texas summer heat! One of the sessions highlighted an issue many of us are dealing with right now: frame of reference risk. We usually think of investing risks as external events that could … [Read more...]
Concerns about Investing in China
If you've followed the news over the last month or so, you're aware that China's stock market has been on a wild ride. The Shanghai Composite Index (companies traded in Mainland China) is down more than 25% in the last 2 months, but still up almost 70% over the last 12 months.* This quick run-up … [Read more...]
June 2015 Personal Finance Newsletter
The June newsletter is now available. In addition to the regular investment update, it includes highlights and take-aways from a book I just read and highly recommend -- Happy Money: The Science of Happier Spending by Professors Elizabeth Dunn and Michael Norton. The newsletter also has updates on … [Read more...]
May 2015 Personal Finance Newsletter
The May 2015 personal finance newsletter is now available. It covers several personal financial planning topics including why consuming too much financial journalism may be hazardous to your long-term financial health. There's also information on how divorce affects your social security and … [Read more...]
January 2015 Personal Finance Newsletter
Our personal finance newsletter for January is now available. It includes a review of the 2014 investment markets, an article highlighting the relationship between net worth and financial habits, and more. Please click here to read the newsletter. … [Read more...]
November Personal Finance Newsletter
Our November personal finance newsletter is now available. In addition to the investment market update, it includes several articles on personal financial planning. We have updates released by the IRS and social security administration for 2015: Retirement plan contribution limits for … [Read more...]
Investing Consistency Pays Off
If you’ve ever found yourself tempted to stop investing when the market was declining, you now have one more piece of evidence that it’s best to stick with your game plan through good and bad market conditions. A recent study analyzed 7.5 million 401(k) plan participants who participated in their … [Read more...]
Fall Retirement Planning Workshops Announced
Our fall schedule for retirement planning workshops at the Keller Public Library has just been released. The series is entitled Countdown to Retirement and is designed for individuals and couples within 5 – 10 years of retirement. During the workshop sessions you will learn about the tools and … [Read more...]
August 2014 Personal Finance Newsletter
The August 2014 Personal Finance Newsletter is now available. It includes a year-to-date investment market update, plus thoughts on why we shouldn't fear a correction. In addition, we highlight 10 tax breaks that haven't been extended yet for 2014 and why you may wish to consider a Roth IRA for … [Read more...]
Personal Finance Newsletter for December
The December financial planning newsletter is now available. It covers several tax items: Year-end tax planning tips for 2013 including new taxes to be aware of for higher income tax payers IRS regulations affecting legally married same-sex tax payers for 2013 In addition, we have … [Read more...]
Hmm … Can Underperforming Assets Actually Help Your Portfolio Over Time?
The answer will probably be surprise you. You've likely noticed that the U.S. stock market has offered booming returns over the past three or four years: up an average of 17.4% in the past 36 months alone. Then you look at the money invested in international equities (the EAFE index up just 8.7% … [Read more...]
August 2013 Personal Finance Newsletter
The August Personal Finance Newsletter is now available. It includes information on how this summer's Supreme Court rulings on same-sex marriage affects financial planning for couples in Texas and other states. It also covers an update on the bond market, how to fix an error on your credit report, … [Read more...]
Why Hold Bonds
If you hold bonds in your investment portfolio, you've likely noticed that they experienced negative returns in second quarter this year. Bond prices go up when rates go down, and rates have been doing just that since the Reagan Administration. Back in 1982, 10-year Treasuries were paying 15%, … [Read more...]
May 2013 Personal Finance Newsletter
The May personal finance newsletter is now available. In addition to the introduction of our new staff members Jordan Nightingale and Rachel Songer, it includes financial planning information on understanding your expenses in your 401k as you plan your retirement, how to use payable on death … [Read more...]
January Personal Finance Newsletter
The January 2013 personal finance newsletter is now available. It includes lots of financial planning news and updates. Starting with a review of the 2012 investment year, we also review the details of the fiscal cliff compromise and how it may affect you. In addition, there are articles on … [Read more...]
November/December Personal Finance Newsletter
The November/December Personal Finance Newsletter is now available. It includes information on the 2013 retirement plan limits and an update on investment market performance. There are also two articles relevant to the fiscal cliff negotiations -- a review of the considerations in harvesting long … [Read more...]
Keller Retirement Planning Workshops 2013 Schedule
I'm pleased to announce the schedule for my first quarter 2013 Keller Personal Finance Workshops. The series is entitled Countdown to Retirement and is designed for individuals and couples within 5 – 10 years of retirement. January, Part I: Creating your Retirement Plan This session will … [Read more...]
October Personal Finance Newsletter
The October personal finance newsletter is now available. It includes the 2013 social security cost of living adjustment and maximum earnings level just announced this morning. A detailed review of the 3rd quarter investment market performance, plus 2012 year-to-date information is also covered. … [Read more...]
September Personal Finance Newsletter
The September personal finance newsletter is now available. In addition to an investment market update, it includes information on several financial planning topics. For retirees, we look at how remarriage affects social security. For those in the wealth accumulation phase, we look at the … [Read more...]
July/August Personal Finance Newsletter
The July/August personal finance newsletter is now available. It includes a review of the investment markets through second quarter, consideration of potential outcomes with the federal estate tax for 2013, and an announcement about the personal financial planning workshop schedule for this fall in … [Read more...]
June 2012 Personal Finance Newsletter
The June newsletter is now available. With the Supreme Court upholding the healthcare law last week, you will want to read the article and watch the video on how the new 3.8% Medicare tax works so you can begin incorporating this into your financial plans if it affects you. Also in this newsletter … [Read more...]
May 2012 Personal Finance Newsletter
The May 2012 personal financial planning newsletter is now available online. If you've been waiting for it's arrival, you may want to sign up to receive it through email on the same day it's sent to clients and friends. Sign up is available at https://keenerfinancial.com/about. The May … [Read more...]
April 2012 Personal Finance Newsletter
The April personal finance newsletter is now available. It includes the investment market update from January - March 2012, how to decide whether to pay down debt or save and invest, and planning for a career change. In addition, there's information on upcoming retirement income and social … [Read more...]
March 2012 Personal Finance Newsletter
The March 2012 personal finance newsletter is now available and covers several personal finance topics. For retirement planning, we look at your options when you inherit an IRA. For debt management, we cover how to pay down credit cards without hurting your credit. For investing, we look at … [Read more...]
Getting the Most Out of Your Employer Retirement Plan
I will be presenting a free financial planning workshop at the Keller Public Library on Tuesday, March 20 at 6:30 pm. The topic is How to Get the Most Out of Your Employer Retirement Plan. We will cover: How to choose the best funds with the information provided Where to get more … [Read more...]
January 2012 Personal Finance Newsletter
The January 2012 personal finance newsletter is now available. It includes a 2011 investment market recap from Dimensional Fund Advisors with data on all the major indices and a summary of the major investing themes of 2011. In addition, there's a comparison between the dividend rates of the … [Read more...]
December 2011 Personal Finance Newsletter
The December personal finance newsletter is now available. It includes information on a new student loan repayment program going into effect in January 2012, gift tax strategies, and tips on keeping your online accounts secure. Plus, for those that enjoy history, there's some perspective on stock … [Read more...]
Harvesting Investment Losses for Tax Purposes
You frequently hear investment professionals suggest “harvesting losses” before the end of the calendar year to save money on taxes. Loss harvesting can be a highly productive strategy, and it pays to understand how it works and when you might not want to take advantage of it. The opportunity to … [Read more...]
August Personal Finance Newsletter
The August personal finance newsletter is now available. It features a Q&A on the debt ceiling, downgrade, and market response. Plus there's a follow-up on the ABCs of Trusts article from last month's newsletter, suggestions on talking with your high school student about college costs, an … [Read more...]
July Personal Finance Newsletter
The July personal financial planning newsletter is now available. Because of the tumultuous investment markets and economic uncertainty, the newsletter includes two investing columns -- one a recap of the second quarter market performance with a look forward, and another by Jim Parker with … [Read more...]
May Personal Finance Newsletter
The May 2011 Personal Finance Newsletter is now available. It includes articles on long-term care planning, mid-year tax considerations, and deciphering health savings vehicles. A link to a great article on the relationship between how we spend our money and happiness is also included, as well as … [Read more...]
Low-Cost Investing Basics
I will be hosting a free investment workshop at the Keller Library on Tuesday, May 17 at 6:30 pm. This workshop will cover the fundamentals of successful long-term, goals-based investing. Effective investing doesn't have to be complicated, but with so much information available, it can be … [Read more...]
March Personal Finance Newsletter
The March personal financial planning newsletter is now available. It includes an update on the investment market, tips on cutting discretionary spending to build your cash reserve, planned charitable giving, and social security survivors benefit. There's also a special guest column from attorney … [Read more...]
February Personal Finance Newsletter
The February personal finance newsletter is now available. In addition to the investing market update, the topics are: Extension of tax-free charitable contribution option from IRAs for those over 70 1/2 New cost basis reporting rules (important for those with taxable investment … [Read more...]
January 2011 Personal Finance Newsletter
The January newsletter is now available with a 2010 investment market recap, a humorous look at investing resolutions for the new year, and details on the estate tax changes enacted in December. It also includes an announcement of topics for the Keller Public Library personal finance workshop … [Read more...]
December Personal Finance Newsletter
The December 2010 personal finance newsletter is now available. It includes an important update on social security rules, 2011 IRS mileage rates, considerations in rolling your traditional 401(k) to a Roth IRA, and changes to the adoption assistance program. As always, there's also an investment … [Read more...]
October Personal Finance Newsletter
The October 2010 personal finance newsletter is now available. It includes information on social security, medicare open enrollment season, year-end investment planning, and the new small business jobs act provisions. In addition, an investment market update and information on free financial … [Read more...]
Portfolio Diversification Pitfalls
Common Investment Diversification Problems and How to Avoid Them You’re diversified, right? You own all kinds of investments – individual stocks, traditional mutual funds, and those new-fangled exchange-traded funds (ETFs) – and have multiple accounts at different financial institutions. That’s … [Read more...]
September Personal Finance Newsletter
The September 2010 personal finance newsletter is now available. It includes information on opportunities unique to 2010 for year-end tax planning, tips on teaching your college-age child about money, how a stronger dollar affects your portfolio, information on FDIC insurance now that higher limits … [Read more...]
Interviewed by Wall Street Journal on keeping investing costs low
I was recently interviewed for the Wall Street Journal's website about the importance of keeping investing costs low and how costs affect your long-term investment returns. You can read the article at WSJ.com. … [Read more...]
Four Rules for Asset Allocation
As a special guest blog post, the Motley Fool staff has provided the following article on asset allocation. It's an excellent summary of some of the most important concepts of investing and asset allocation, and is definitely worth the read. Enjoy! By The Motley Fool When it comes to asset … [Read more...]
May 2010 Newsletter
The May 2010 newsletter is now available. It includes investing information with perspective on last week's market plunge and an update on the new reduced fees for trading Vanguard ETFs. For taxes, there's information on the new 3.8% medicare tax for high income individuals. For cash flow, we … [Read more...]
Keller Public Library Free Investing Workshop
Common Investing Mistakes and How to Avoid Them Free Investing Workshop at Keller Public Library on Tuesday, May 18 at 6:30 pm. This workshop will cover the fundamentals of successful long-term, goals-based investing. Effective investing doesn't have to be complicated, but with so much … [Read more...]
April 2010 Monthly Newsletter
The April 2010 monthly newsletter is now available. It includes information on how the new healthcare law may affect you as an individual and new student loan and financial aid provisions. Also covered are an investment market update and a discussion on the merits of dollar cost averaging to make … [Read more...]
Non-Deductible IRA Contributions: Good Idea?
If your income is over the limit for deductible and Roth IRA contributions, you are faced with a dilemma each year: should you contribute to a non-deductible IRA? Making a non-deductible contribution shouldn’t be an automatic decision. It could be beneficial, or investing the same amount of money … [Read more...]
March 2010 Newsletter
The March 2010 Newsletter is now available. It includes an investment market update, Part II in my series on how to tap into your home equity in retirement, considerations in evaluating an early retirement offer, information on 2009 tax deduction for 2010 Haitian relief contributions, 2011 tax rate … [Read more...]
Partial Roth Conversion Strategy
When people find out how much tax they would have to pay to convert their IRA from traditional to Roth, it’s often times a conversion show stopper. Even if all the analysis shows that conversion would be clearly beneficial to their after-tax retirement income levels or provide estate planning … [Read more...]
Couples, Investing, and Risk
It's pretty common for spouses to be at different points on the risk tolerance spectrum. If you're one of these couples, you know that these differences can have varying effects on the relationship and your investing behavior. Sometimes, the more conservative spouse just completely delegates … [Read more...]
Free Financial Webinars
The National Association of Personal Financial Advisors is starting a new series of free webinars on various financial topics including Money 101, Kids & Money, Investing Basics, Protecting What you Have, and more. These sessions are designed to provide a convenient, accessible way to get … [Read more...]
July 2009 Newsletter
The July 2009 newsletter is now available online. It reviews some blog information on FDIC insurance limits, establishing an emergency fund, and down market estate planning opportunities. It also covers new information on whether or not you should refinance your mortgage and considerations in … [Read more...]
Do Build America Bonds Make Sense for You?
Investors have a new mechanism for investing in municipal bonds, courtesy of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. As part of the Obama administration's economic stimulus program, the bill authorized a subsidy for local and state governments that issue what are known as Build America … [Read more...]
Investing in Low Interest Rate Environment
Low interest rates create a dilemma. Do you accept a low return because you feel you must protect your principal? Or do you take on greater investment risk in order to try for a higher return? In balancing those two concerns, here are some factors to think about. Consider laddering your … [Read more...]
In Defense of Buy and Hold
Buy and hold has come under a lot of fire lately as investors and advisors question whether there's a better way. It's good to question and re-analyze over time. But it's not good to have a knee-jerk reaction to the last year's stock market roller coaster that can do permanent damage to your … [Read more...]
May 2009 Newsletter
The May 2009 newsletter is now available. It has information on the tax benefits of charitable giving, investing in a low-interest-rate environment, the extension of the federal money market guarantee, and divorce financial planning. Click here to read the May 2009 newsletter. … [Read more...]
April 2009 Newsletter
The April 2009 newsletter is now available online. It includes an update on market conditions, plus information on the Cobra subsidy, writing off worthless securities on your taxes, an estate planning pitfall to avoid, a conversation for parents about saving for retirement vs. college, and a how-to … [Read more...]
January 2009 Newsletter
The January 2009 newsletter is now available. It contains information on investing, saving for retirement, FDIC insurance, social security, financial preparedness for natural disasters, and information on upcoming events. … [Read more...]
Dummies Excerpt Now Available
Investing in an Uncertain Economy for Dummies came out in October this year. The book is by Sheryl Garrett and the Garrett Planning Network, and I am proud to be a contributor. I wrote Chapter 37, Sort Through an Investment's Return. Wiley (the publisher) has now provided the electronic version … [Read more...]
Investment News quotes Jean
In an article on the performance of big mutual funds in the recent market downtown, Sue Asci writes about how 60% of the big mutual funds are under-performing the S&P 500 Index. I was quoted on how the under-performance is making investors more willing to consider an index strategy. See the … [Read more...]