Recent Insights
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Third Quarter 2023 Newsletter
This year's market has felt more like that maze with each passing quarter. The initial wide-eyed enthusiasm and AI-driven investing in the first half of the year has been
replaced by a range of worries. Labor strikes, the resumption of student loan payments, and potential government shutdowns have dominated the financial news cycle. Inflation concerns, a growing deficit, and Fed policy loom large, pushing interest rates higher and bringing volatility back to the stock and bond markets. In the midst of all this, I thought the best use of this quarter's newsletter would be to zoom out and take a fresh look at the map. -
Retirement Spending Reconsidered
It’s challenging to change the lifelong savings habit imprinted on the psyche. But if proper wealth planning and an in-depth cash flow plan yield a very high probability of the capacity to spend more, we are strong advocates. Spending on experiences and time-saving services is often overlooked; however, it can significantly enhance a retirement lifestyle without filling up the basement and garage with more stuff.
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72(t) Payments: A Tool for Early Retirement Flexibility
Generally, retirement accounts should remain fully invested, monitored, and left to grow over time. However, as interest rates have increased over the past year, Substantially Equal Periodic Payments (SEPP) have become a viable strategy for individuals to consider in unlocking the flexibility of retirement funds sooner while avoiding the burden of penalties.
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2023 Patrick Chong Memorial Scholarship Recipients Awarded
Jason Jackman, CFA, Chief Executive Officer of Johnson Investment Counsel, presented the Patrick Chong Memorial Scholarship to two outstanding students, Grace Gehner and Sosi Mahdasian.
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Second Quarter 2023 Newsletter
The S&P 500 is up over 20% from the lows it set last October. All in all, I’d say the year so far has been off to a surprisingly pleasant start. The 2023 economic environment has hardly been a walk in the park. We’ve seen the Leading Economic Index continues to fall. The current reading, -7.9%, is a level which has preceded or coincided with the recession, without fail, going back at least 30 years
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The Math and Mindset of Holding Concentrated Positions
Concentrated positions are a great problem to have because it usually means extremely strong growth, but there are many factors to consider when managing this situation prudently. Handling these situations is a case study of how the integration of investment management, tax planning, estate planning, and cash flow is critical
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Johnson Investment Counsel Names Seven New Shareholders
Johnson Investment Counsel is pleased to announce nine new shareholders to the firm. The shareholders include Bryan J. Andress, CFA, Sandy F. Himmelsbach, CFP®, ChSNC®, R. Ryan Martin, CFA, Laura R. Mattern, CFA, CFP®, Maxwell T. Monk, CFA, Justin T. Rowden, CFP®, and Michael R. Timm, CFA, CFP®.
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The US Dollar: Concerns, Confidence, and What To Do
With so many recent headlines surrounding the debt ceiling, inflation, and interest rates, chatter around a global weakening of the US dollar has ramped up along with concerns by some investors. We think, while concern around this topic is troubling, it should not be the primary focus of a family’s wealth plan. Instead of focusing on US currency relative to other countries, we think families should focus on tax efficient investment and wealth plans that help maintain purchasing power of assets relative to domestic goods and services, which provides a more real-world impact on day-to-day life.
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Benefits of a Deep Freeze
Private information can be used to open new credit cards, apply for loans or government benefits, and file fraudulent tax returns. There are plenty of software/ services advertised today that offer some protection against this. As good as those services might be, “Deep Freeze” more commonly referred to as a “credit freeze” is a simpler and more cost-effective method for protecting personal credit and can be very impactful.
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First Quarter 2023 Newsletter
The S&P 500 gained 7% in the first quarter despite banking sector turmoil and economic anxiety. In typical fashion, early action reflected a reversal from themes that drove last year’s markets. The tech sector showed significant strength after taking a massive hit in 2022. Read Johnson Investment Counsel's 1Q2023 Quarterly Insight newsletter including a Market Update, JIC Blog: Interest Rates and Asset Allocation, and other JIC news.
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Should Higher Interest Rates Change our Asset Allocation?
Anyone who drives down a major highway these days can attest there is no shortage of billboards from banks advertising much more attractive yields on savings accounts and CDs. Obviously, the key driver for this major interest rate shift has been the Federal Reserve’s aggressive rate tightening, which they used to battle the not-so-transitory inflation over the past 18 months. It’s pretty easy to find many banks offering one-year CDs paying between 4.5% and 5.0%+. Read more in this month’s JIC Blog.
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Bank Failures: What to Know & What to Do
It’s only natural that the recent bank failures and accompanying market volatility created some fear among investors.By combining clear-headed analysis of the facts and daily vigilance on the latest developments with time-tested strategies, we’re confident we can successfully navigate this storm and the inevitable storms to come.
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The Longevity Question: Retirement’s Most Impactful Unknown
Retirement date, social security claiming, spending assumptions, inflation – many factors impact retirement cash flow planning. However, one of the most impactful is longevity. By studying and utilizing more accurate assumptions, retirees can have a better understanding of the risks of running out of money so the factors we CAN control can blunt the risk of the factors we cannot. Read more in this month’s JIC Blog.
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2023 Virtual Wealth Management Forum Presentation
Johnson Investment Counsel hosted our 2023 Virtual Wealth Management Forum on February 8. CEO Jason Jackman provided a brief firm update, CIO Charles Rinehart and Director Brandon Zureick provided a detailed economic and market review, and a panel of speakers discussed key wealth and estate planning topics, including impacts of the recently passed Secure Act 2.0.
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