We have been managing investments and providing financial planning for 27 years, and for nearly as long we have been bringing you a December chocolate recipe as our gift for the Holiday Season. Prior to the pandemic, the annual chocolate cook-off was an eagerly anticipated office event. Favorite chocolate recipes were secretly hidden away, an […]
The yields, they are a changin’…
Inflation is high, currently at levels not seen in over four decades. The Fed’s target for inflation to ensure balanced growth in the economy is 2%. Much like Icarus, inflation is soaring way too close to the sun for the Fed to feel comfortable about our economic outlook, and they are moving aggressively to fix […]
What is a CCRC anyway?…
Finding proper care as we age is an important financial and emotional decision. I had the opportunity to talk with Martha Maksym, the CEO of Wake Robin. Located in Shelburne, Wake Robin is Vermont’s only Continuing Care Retirement Community (CCRC). Tell me about your personal experience and how you became the CEO of Wake Robin. […]
Considering an EV as Your Next Car?…
Our family of five needs a new car and we’re considering, for the first time, an Electric Vehicle (EV). If you haven’t done research into EVs, the terminology can be confusing. There’s charging, range, tax credits, and kilowatt-hours. Start by reviewing unbiased rankings of EVs by Edmunds or Consumer Reports. Many car concepts will begin […]
Preparing To Live For 100 Years…
I t seems hard to foresee what life will look like in the year 2124, but on average, a child born today will live to see such a world. Let that sink in for a moment. Life expectancy has been increasing over time. People today die at around 80, 30 years ago it was 74, […]
And Preparing In Case You Don’t…
Notwithstanding what we just wrote about average life expectancy being on the rise, we all are unique individuals on our own trajectory. Preparing to live a long happy life is important, but so is preparing for unknowable occurrences. Unpleasant as it may be, not preparing for death or disability will upend the best-intentioned plans. Estate […]
R.I.P 60/40…
For decades investors have relied on a simple and practical investment approach, the “60/40 portfolio,” to achieve long-term investment goals. The simplicity is elegant and historical results, powerful. In its most simplified form, the 60/40 portfolio is 60% large-cap U.S. stocks and 40% U.S. government bonds. The American Association of Individual Investors, or AAII, has […]
Breakin’ Up Is Hard To Do…
W e hear all the time from reporters and news anchors how the market has performed. But what exactly do we consider the “market”? There are many options but when it comes to the granddaddy of all market indexes, we need to refer to the Dow Jones Industrial Average or DJIA for short. Created in […]
A Tale of Two COVID Investor Trends…
Have come to light recently during these extraordinary times. The first is a substantial increase in people day-trading stocks and the second is the surprising lack of activity in 401(k) accounts. These two things are moving in completely different directions on the behavioral spectrum, one exploding with euphoria and the other about as boring as […]
When Coronavirus Gives You Lemons…
With plenty of uncertainty surrounding the Covid-19 pandemic it’s hard to know how to control certain elements. But with the recently passed CARES Act there are some opportunities on the financial planning front that may help people better weather this storm. The chart below outlines some key takeaways. One item we find particularly relevant is […]
Does Debt Matter Anymore?..
There are two methods by which a country may achieve an annual spending budget. First funds can be raised through taxation of citizens and businesses. The second is to borrow. Historically a prudent monetary policy would not utilize the second option unless there is an emergency, like war or economic recessions. Yet we find ourselves […]
Trotting of the Turkeys 2019
On November 2, 2019, several Hanson & Doremus employees along with their families participated in the 6th Annual Trotting of the Turkeys. This fundraiser benefits Feeding Chittenden (formerly the Chittenden Emergency Food Shelf) and Burlington Sunrise Rotary. From left to right: Jordan, Eric, Xin, Art, Jamie, Eric and children
