Posts by Catherine Buck
Paradigm Shift – The Goal of Life is NOT to Maximize Your Finances
Written by: Martin Shields, CFP®, AIF® For the first 13 years of my career, I worked in corporate finance for publicly traded companies. In this role, the primary goal was to maximize the productivity of the company’s assets to provide the highest level of future cash flow. When I started as a personal wealth…
Read MoreRecognizing Marty Shields for Years of Dedication to the Ronald McDonald House Charities
Picture Left to Right: Dan Miller (Current RMHC Board Chair), Marty Shields, Kimmy Ventner (RMHC CEO) Our Chief Wealth Advisor, Marty Shields, CFP®, was recently honored at the Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC) of the Capital Region annual dinner for his 9 years of board service with two of those as board chair. Marty…
Read MoreFinancial 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…
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