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Steve Coker, CFP
Jan 34 min read
2025 Outlook
Forecasting is always a dangerous business. Look at 2023 and 2024, when many economists were predicting a major recession and stock...
Steve Coker, CFP
May 31, 20243 min read
The Pros and Cons of Owning a Rental Property
We are frequently asked whether it is a good idea to invest in real estate. The answer of course is “it depends”. As the saying goes,...
Steve Coker, CFP
May 24, 20243 min read
Investing Basics: What is an ETF?
I’ve recently had a number of conversations about ETFs – how they work, what the benefits are, etc. Despite the fact that they make up a...
Steve Coker, CFP
Apr 19, 20242 min read
Risk Realized
So far, April has not been good for the stock market, which is now down almost 6% from its high at the end of March. The most significant...
Steve Coker, CFP
Apr 12, 20242 min read
The Cost of Chasing Fund Performance
It’s so easy to do and seems so reasonable. If you have a mutual fund that is underperforming, why not simply swap it out for a fund...
Steve Coker, CFP
Mar 15, 20242 min read
Rebalancing: Self-Discipline in Buying Low and Selling High
One of the often-quoted tenets of good investing is to buy low and sell high. Similar to commercial spending – you want to purchase...
Steve Coker, CFP
Mar 8, 20242 min read
On Elephants and Donkeys
During my 20 years of professional investing experience, I have learned that political considerations rarely matter as much as the papers...
Steve Coker, CFP
Feb 25, 20243 min read
Inheriting an IRA? 4 key rules you should know
If you have been named as the beneficiary of an IRA then you should know that inheriting an IRA is different from inheriting other...
Steve Coker, CFP
Jan 6, 20242 min read
2023 A Year in Review
What a difference a year makes! As we began 2023 we featured some of the common doomsday predictions that we found in the media:...
Steve Coker, CFP
Dec 16, 20232 min read
Santa Claus Rally
It is only the middle of December, but the Santa Claus rally is topping off what has been a very good year in stock and bond markets. ...
Steve Coker, CFP
Dec 8, 20233 min read
Why Dividends Matter – and Don’t
When it comes to stock investing, dividends matter – and don’t. Here is what I mean. Dividends truly matter to overall stock returns...
Steve Coker, CFP
Dec 1, 20232 min read
The Basics of Restricted Stock Units
If you are a corporate executive then it is likely that you are receiving Restricted Stock Units (“RSU”) as a key part of your...
Steve Coker, CFP
Apr 21, 20232 min read
How To Tell If Something Is a Scam
As returns on publicly traded investments like stocks and bonds struggle, investors are turning to “special” private deals that claim to...
Steve Coker, CFP
Feb 3, 20233 min read
Social Security Survivors Benefit
When the unthinkable happens and one spouse dies, Social Security provides a benefit, commonly referred to as the widow’s benefit, to the...
Steve Coker, CFP
Dec 9, 20222 min read
Too Hot or Too Cold?
The stock market had a tough week as investors vacillated between worries that the economy is too hot, which would lead to more...
Steve Coker, CFP
Oct 21, 20222 min read
The Housing Recession Deepens
Mortgage rates are still rising, reaching 7% this month from around 3% less than 12 months ago. As a result, mortgage applications for...
Steve Coker, CFP
Jul 29, 20222 min read
How much cash should I hold?
With continued market volatility, we have been receiving questions about how much cash to hold. How much is too much and how much is too...
Carole Meitler
Jul 23, 20223 min read
Our Top 5 Things To Consider Doing In A Down Market
With the S&P 500 down over 20% this year so far and the NASDAQ even more so, many are understandably concerned. However, there are some...
Steve Coker, CFP
Jul 15, 20222 min read
Bonds Have Had a Terrible Year (and that is what makes them attractive)
There is no question that bonds have had a terrible year. How terrible? The Bloomberg Aggregate Bond Index has fallen over 10%...
Steve Coker, CFP
Jul 8, 20223 min read
Why you shouldn’t pay off your mortgage with your IRA
Paying off the mortgage is a noble goal and is a great idea for most Americans. Having a ‘mortgage burning’ or ‘debt free scream’ is a...
