Spend Better, Not Less: A Guide to Thoughtful Spending
The goal of financial planning is not simply to accumulate wealth, but to use it thoughtfully. Intentional spending decisions can help families align their resources with what matters most over time.Continue reading→
Client Question: Should I Consolidate My Retirement Accounts?
Many investors accumulate multiple retirement accounts throughout their careers without revisiting how the pieces fit together. Consolidating accounts can simplify investment management, reduce complexity, and improve overall portfolio coordination.Continue reading→
TAGStone Quarterly Insights – Q1 2026
Wars, elections, trade disputes, and geopolitical shocks can create significant market uncertainty, but reacting emotionally to headlines has historically been costly for long-term investors. A disciplined financial plan is designed to withstand periods exactly like these.Continue reading→
Client Question: I’ve Got a Lump Sum in Cash, Should I Invest It Right Away?
Investing a large sum of money can feel emotionally difficult, especially during periods of market uncertainty. This article explores the trade-offs between investing all at once and phasing money into the market gradually through dollar-cost averaging.Continue reading→
When Geopolitics Rattle the Markets
Geopolitical crises can create sharp market volatility and unsettling headlines, but history shows markets have repeatedly recovered from wars, conflicts, and global uncertainty. Long-term investors are often better served by discipline and perspective than by reacting emotionally to short-term events.Continue reading→
The Core Four: The Legal Documents Everyone Should Have in Place
A sound estate plan starts with four core documents: a durable power of attorney, health care proxy, living will, and will or trust. Together, they help protect your family, clarify your wishes, and reduce uncertainty during difficult moments.Continue reading→
Wars, elections, trade disputes, and geopolitical shocks can create significant market uncertainty, but reacting emotionally to headlines has historically been costly for long-term investors. A disciplined financial plan is designed to withstand periods exactly like these.
In recent months, two themes have dominated investor conversations: AI investing and the renewed belief in gold as a timeless safe haven. Both trends have resurfaced at the exact moments when crowd enthusiasm is high. That’s why we’re taking a closer look at the gold safety myths and the rising excitement around artificial intelligence as we enter the final stretch of 2025.
It’s our pleasure to report on the progress of your long-term financial plan through what proved to be a highly instructive first half of 2025. If markets seemed unusually dramatic, it’s only because they were, but not in ways unfamiliar to seasoned investors. Let me begin by restating a few principles that have guided us…
The first quarter of 2025 served as another vivid reminder that while history doesn’t repeat itself in investing, it often rhymes. We entered the year amid considerable volatility, as the largest technology stocks fell into bear market territory, triggering the seventh-fastest 10% correction in the S&P 500 since 1929. This correction gained momentum following President…
Over the years, I have spent more ink cautioning investors about the perils of bear markets rather than celebrating bull markets because discipline is tested in tough times. However, as evidenced by today’s somewhat stretched valuations, let’s talk about the other great pitfall: the fear of missing out (FOMO).
“The first rule of compounding is to never interrupt it unnecessarily.”
—Charles T. Munger
As we navigate a world of shifting dynamics, it’s wise to stay grounded in the fundamentals.
I am pleased to update you on our progress in the first half of 2024. Before examining the current market landscape, it is worth reflecting on what our disciplined approach has delivered so far.
While strong market performance is encouraging, it can also trigger a less favorable response within the investment community. On the opposite end of the spectrum from selling during market downturns, some restless investors might be tempted to chase after speculative trends, no matter how closely they resemble past “Fear of Missing Out” (FOMO) frenzies.
The unpredictability of markets became evident in 2023, as The Wall Street Journal aptly reported: “Almost no one thought 2023 would be a blockbuster year for stocks. They could hardly have been more wrong.” As we step into the new year, it brings the opportunity to reflect on the intricacies of the equity markets, not…
Contemplate how invaluable your steadfastness is to those you love and care for. This is the gift you give.
