Volatility, Discipline & Outlook
Dear Friends and Family, The market is always testing investors’ resolve. Volatility has returned, but history tells us that discipline — not prediction — drives long-term results. Our approach remains…
Ignore Volatility, Focus on Fundamentals
Dear Friends and Family, Volatility is one of the drivers of poor investment returns — if and only if you pay attention to it. Studies show that ignoring volatility is…
Gifting, RMDs & Holiday Wishes
Dear Friends and Family, We hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving. As the year closes, please keep the following in mind: Make personal and charitable gifts early to ensure completion…
Year-End Tax & Gifting Moves
Dear Friends and Family, As 2013 ends, here are some suggestions for review: Make annual IRA contributions (and for your spouse). Review gain/loss transactions for tax planning. Take RMDs if…
Shutdowns & Emerging Markets
Dear Friends and Family, Government Shutdown: There were 17 government shutdowns between 1976 and 1996. The average length was 6.4 days, and market/GDP effects were minimal. The longest, in 1996,…
Why We Use Financial Models
Dear Friends and Family, We’ve been successfully using fundamental financial models to select securities for over 50 years. Here’s why: Models act as checklists. Good models suggest both buy and…
Inflation, Diversification & 401(k)s
Dear Friends and Family, We like to use August as a time to review 401(k)s and retirement plans held outside of Katz Family Financial. The funds in these plans tend…
Interest Rates & Market Resilience
Dear Friends and Family, Thanks to those who didn’t panic during June’s 500-point Dow drop. No calls = confidence. We’ll reach out if action is needed. Key observations: Rising interest…
401(k) Reviews & Lost Policies
Dear Friends and Family, We offer complimentary 401(k) reviews. Send us your current investments and fund options—we’ll help align them to your goals. Let’s talk about the big picture: Retirement…
Volatility & Home Prices
Dear Friends and Family, Volatility means price swings—but we believe risk is the permanent loss of buying power, not short-term movements. We embrace volatility as an opportunity: To buy bargains…
Estate Planning & Document Access
Dear Friends and Family, Tax time is hard enough — don’t make it harder by hiding key documents from loved ones. Organize and share the location of your estate documents.…
Spending Cuts & Bond Risks
Dear Friends and Family, Government budget cuts: The March 1st cuts amount to a 2% reduction in budget—not enough to cause concern. We hope Congress avoids another delay. Bond Fund…