Posts by Catherine Buck
Financial Planning in a Forecast of Rain: Finding Stability Amid Weekly Storms
Written by: Scott Strohecker, CFP®, EA If you’ve felt like the weekends have been a wash – literally since last November, you’re not alone. From soggy Saturdays to damp Sundays, the near-constant weekend rain has affected everything from BBQ plans to local events. But there’s a silver lining hidden in the storm…
Read MoreUnderstanding Series-I Savings Bonds
Written by: Catherine Buck, CFP® When inflation peaked in June 2022, many investors turned to Series I Bonds, commonly known as I-Bonds, as a safe haven offering government-backed returns tied to rising inflation. At the time, they provided an appealing combination of low risk and inflation protection. But now that inflation has begun…
Read MoreDefined-Outcome ETFs: Clarity in Uncertain Times
Written by: Paolo LaPietra, CFP® Sometimes the market just wants to keep us on our toes. April was a perfect reminder of that—when the S&P 500 dropped over 15% seemingly overnight on tariff fears and recession whispers. And yet, here we are, not even into June, and the index has already clawed…
Read MoreUnderstanding Marginal vs. Effective Tax Rates — and Why It Matters
Written by: Vincenzo G. Testa, CPA, CFP®, ECA When most people talk about how much they “pay in taxes,” they’re usually thinking of one number. But there are actually two tax rates that matter—and they tell very different stories: your marginal tax rate and your effective tax rate. Understanding the difference can help…
Read MoreRemoving the Emotions from Investing
Written by: Martin Shields, CFP®, AIF® When we meet with a prospective client in an initial meeting, we discuss the value we provide for our clients which can be broken down into the following categories: Personal CFO – We provide guidance regarding any finance related question. Tactical Investment Management – We manage ETF…
Read MoreCDPHP Workforce Team Challenge 2025
The 2025 Workforce Team Challenge is the largest running event in the Capital District and organized by Hudson-Mohawk Club HMRRC. It is a major fundraising event and this year Girl’s on the Run Capital Region and Unity House were the honored event charities. Scott, John, Katie, Shelley, Marty, Ed (not pictured), and Vinnie (not pictured) ran…
Read MoreNavigating Uncertainty: Key Tariff and Market Updates
Watch our latest market update webinar where we present a market update focused on the effects of tariff policy and current economic data. The discussion will be led by Chief Investment Officer Ryan Bouchey and Portfolio Strategist Paolo LaPietra. Topics Include: Market Update Soft Data vs. Hard Data – What to focus on Tariff…
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