Our Perspective on Industry News and Trends

We entered last year with the possibility of a return to normalcy, but 2021 was anything but normal. Our job is to navigate all of this on your behalf and provide a long-term plan to meet your goals and objectives, while instilling financial peace of mind. Our people are committed to delivering on this mission throughout your life’s journey and we work diligently each and every day to serve you and your family. Read the 4Q2021 newsletter for a look back at the markets and economy and read President Jason Jackman's annual letter.

Johnson Investment Counsel will be hosting our 2022 Virtual Wealth Management Forum on Thursday, February 3 at 4 pm. The event is free but you must register to receive the zoom link. 

Tim Johnson founded Johnson Investment Counsel in 1965 with a focus on helping others and providing guidance that could ultimately improve our clients’ lives.  Over his 50+ years in investing, he's gathered a wealth of knowledge about the industry.  In the first edition of a special two-part JIC Research Edge, Tim joins Senior Portfolio Manager Jim Hunter to share some of his experiences with our clients.

Changing tax laws affect taxpayers in different ways, depending on personal situations. Get a quick review of proposed tax changes and some insights on how you can plan for them.

Don’t miss the Golden Window for strategic tax planning. With careful planning, recent or soon-to-be retirees can recognize substantial tax savings over the course of retirement.

The coronavirus pandemic has had a profound impact on daily life and has significantly impacted businesses across all industries.  Perhaps nowhere has the impact been more apparent than in Health Care, and JIC analyst Joe Abbott has had a front row seat to see how the sector has responded.  In this edition of the JIC Research Edge, Joe joins Portfolio Manager Laura Mattern to discuss COVID's impact on the Health Care sector.

A choppy September offset gains in July and August, resulting in flattish third quarter returns for U.S. stocks. Read more of this Market Update and other news in our 3Q2021 Quarterly Insight Newsletter.

As one of the building blocks of retirement planning strategies, Social Security income is critical to almost every cash flow plan. Read more about the future of social security.

Current and former P&G employees can learn more about their Profit Sharing Trust (PST) distribution options during this informative webinar. Mike Stanis, CFA, CFP®, is a Senior Portfolio Manager and the Procter and Gamble (P&G) Retirement Plans Director at JIC. He spent 17+ years with P&G and will share what he learned about transitioning from P&G so that you can make the best decisions for your family.

David Theobald, CFA, Senior Portfolio Manager in our Asset Management division has authored a white paper examining how a diversified portfolio of high-quality short-term bonds can out-earn cash without taking unnecessary risks.

See how regularly reviewing your auto and homeowners insurance coverage can prevent low-probability, high-impact life events from derailing your financial plan.

Considering an annuity as a tool for retirement planning? Learn how annuities work to better understand the select and limited situations they should be applied to.

Learn more about the award-winning Johnson Equity Income Fund in this recorded presentation. Senior Managing Director Jarett Levitsky, CFP®, joined Charles Rinehart, CFA, CAIA, Director and Portfolio Manager for the Equity Income Fund for a webinar on July 27,2021. They discussed key topics related to the fund.

Jason Jackman, CFA, President and Chief Investment Officer of Johnson Investment Counsel presented the 2021 Patrick Chong Memorial Scholarship to two outstanding students, Ana Lucia Gehner and Michael Stanis.

What is cryptocurrency, and why has it surged in popularity recently? As we answer these questions, we consider whether cryptocurrency can improve the overall portfolio.

Economic activity picked up steam as more people were vaccinated and as government restrictions were lifted. It became evident that consumers worldwide were anxious to return to normal. Strange market dynamics, including supply chain bottlenecks and shortages, made more headlines as the fallout from the worldwide shutdown last year continued. Read more of this Market Update in the 2Q Quarterly Insight.
 

When developing our asset allocation and equity models, one of the investment types we consider is real estate.  We believe real estate can add diversification, inflation protection, and a balance of growth and income to client portfolios.  In this edition of the JIC Research Edge, Credit Analyst Brad Morrissey and Portfolio Manager Brian Butt discuss how our clients access real estate and what types of real estate we invest in.

Two Johnson Investment Counsel mutual funds have received 2021 Lipper Fund Awards in recognition of consistently strong risk-adjusted performance relative to their peers. The Johnson Equity Income Fund is a winner of the “Best Fund Over 5 Years” for Equity Income Funds. The Johnson Institutional Intermediate Bond Fund is a winner for “Best Fund over 3 Years” and “Best Fund over 5 Years” for Institutional Mutual Funds. 

In this month's blog, we share the transcript of "A Conversation on Inflation". Managing Director Jarett Levitsky and Director and Economic Strategist Brandon Zureick discuss the recent spike in inflation providing unique insight as to how it happened and answering the question on so many minds… are we in a new era of high inflation?

Whether it’s plywood, used cars, or groceries, consumers have been dealing with higher prices in 2021.  In this update, Jarett Levitsky and Brandon Zureick discuss the recent spike in inflation providing unique insight as to how it happened and answering the question on so many minds… are we in a new era of high inflation?

Are the rapidly rising home prices in 2020-2021 a sign that we’re witnessing another housing bubble? Will it lead to a crash? We conclude that the basic economics of supply and demand are driving much of the pricing action - not speculation. 

A picture is emerging of an economy on the verge of a robust recovery. As more are vaccinated and case counts fall, hiring is happening in earnest, and mobility and spending data show people are anxious to get out and spend money. There is a long way to go, but the snapback effect coming off the lows of 2020 could lead to record growth numbers in the coming quarters. 

High inflation has the potential to erode the purchasing power of one’s savings. In this edition of the JIC Research Edge, Portfolio Manager Max Monk and Fixed Income Portfolio Manager Ryan Martin discuss what inflation is, the primary drivers of recent inflation concerns, and how JIC positions client accounts to offset the potential impact of inflation.

As we look back on the first 100 days of President Biden's administration, there have been many proposed changes to tax rates (both individual and business), estate planning considerations, and more. While the effective date for these changes remains unknown, being prepared is the best approach.
 

We should no longer think of retirement as a binary option with a hard stop. Instead, we should consider a “phase-down” transition. This approach has a positive impact on long-term sustainability of the cash flow plan and may benefit retirees’ mental health.

One characteristic that makes us unique versus other advisors is our in-house research staff.  In this edition of the JIC Research Edge, Portfolio Manager Jeff Cornell and Director of Research Brian Kute give you a behind-the-scenes look into how our research team picks stocks.

2020 will certainly go down as a year to remember and a year to forget. The prudent investor, however, can reflect on this past year as a “teachable moment” on how counterintuitive market performance can be and how attempting to time the market can be confounding, and even dangerous.

On Thursday, February 4th, Johnson Investment Counsel hosted our Virtual Wealth Management Forum. President Jason Jackman shared highlights from 2020 and other JIC professionals shared economic and market updates, as well as a discussion on taxes and estate planning. 

How can one possibly summarize 2020? Amid a global pandemic, the deepest recession since World War II, and a contentious political environment, we witnessed the quickest bear market and fastest return to all-time highs ever. Read JIC's fourth-quarter 2020 newsletter for a look back at 2020 and hear from President Jason Jackman in his annual President's Letter. 

For many, flipping the calendar to 2021 will be the most cathartic turn of a page in decades. 2020 was unforgettable for many reasons, but like every other December, it’s a good time to reflect on the past year and plan for the future. This is definitely true regarding our financial lives. Here are a few suggestions for what to review as we look ahead to 2021 and beyond.

With the election mostly complete, we turn our attention to the potential market impact. In this edition of the JIC Research Edge, Brandon Zureick walks through our thoughts on what to expect from a Biden administration and a possible divided Congress.

Stocks are rallying toward fresh record highs as investors cheer the weekend’s news regarding progress on a Covid-19 vaccine. This comes on top of last week’s rally that occurred despite the delayed and uncertain election results for both the White House and Senate.

Current and former P&G employees can learn more about their Profit Sharing Trust (PST) distribution options during this virtual workshop. Mike Stanis, CFA, CFP®, is a Senior Portfolio Manager and the Procter and Gamble (P&G) Retirement Plans Director at JIC. He spent 17+ years with P&G and will share what he learned about transitioning from P&G so that you can make the best decisions for your family.  

We are just days away from another consequential election, and the volume of related news is reaching a fever pitch. So let’s take a step back and take a deeper look into what history can teach us about our investment and wealth-building strategies moving forward.

Back in March when stocks had fallen 35% in a matter of weeks, the near future looked bleak. With a worldwide shutdown in process and much of the economy at a standstill, it would have been hard to believe the best two-quarter gains in years were just ahead. This year is a reminder that life and markets are always unpredictable, and sometimes market behavior seems out of sync with current events.

On Thursday, October 15th, Johnson Investment Counsel hosted our first-ever Virtual Wealth Management Forum. Our panel of speakers shared economic and market updates, a discussion on wealth and estate planning, as well as a brief review of the upcoming election and its potential impact on the markets. Here, you can view the recorded presentation and accompanying slides.

 

Concerned about your investments? We've helped clients successfully navigate the markets for over 55 years. With so many unknowns in the world, it’s important to take a step back, get a little perspective, and learn to see beyond the volatility.

Johnson Investment Counsel’s mutual fund has received the 2020 Lipper Fund Award in recognition of consistently strong risk-adjusted performance relative to its peers. The Johnson Equity Income Fund is a winner of the “Best Fund Over 3 Years” for Equity Income  Funds.

A successful retirement strategy isn’t just driven by numbers - we must also consider elements of our past such as money mindset, relationships, health and goals. Even with these differences, it’s valuable to follow a step-by-step framework when considering retirement. Learn the steps to plan for retirement and how you might work with a wealth advisor.

The region Johnson Investment Counsel serves is blessed to have many strong public companies in a wide variety of industries.  We’re establishing the Research Edge 40  – an index of S&P 500 companies out of Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana, and Michigan – to help track those firms.  In this edition, Research Analysts Joe Edelstein and Chris Godby weigh in on BorgWarner, J. M. Smucker, Kroger, and Alliance Data Systems.

JIC Columbus is pleased to announce their sponsorship of the nonprofit organization Rock The Street, Wall Street (RTSWS) bringing the financial and investment literacy program for high school girls to The Metro Early College High School in Columbus, Ohio. This is the first time that Rock The Street, Wall Street will be available in Columbus.

The sharp rebound in stocks has been one of the most surprising in decades. It’s happened in the midst of record unemployment numbers and the worst contraction in GDP in more than 70 years. If investors need to be reminded that economic growth and stock-market performance aren’t always in lockstep, 2020 is thus far the quintessential case study. 

Asset allocation has historically been the most important determinant of portfolio total return and volatility.  In this edition of the JIC Research Edge, President & CIO Jason Jackman and Senior Portfolio Manager Fred Brink discuss what asset allocation is and what role it plays in portfolio construction.  They also breakdown the asset allocation implications of the COVID-19 crisis.

The shocking, rapid outbreak of COVID-19 sent stocks plummeting in February and March, until they bottomed on March 23rd, down 35% from the peak. It was one of the fastest selloffs on record. But then one of the fastest rallies in history began. The S&P 500 Index gained nearly 21% in the second quarter, its best quarter in more than 20 years.

For all of us there are any number of variables in a retirement plan. Social Security benefits factor in for almost everyone, with varying degrees of impact. Regardless of one’s wealth, it’s important to integrate Social Security benefits with asset allocation and portfolio withdrawal strategies to efficiently finance living expenses in retirement. 

Jason Jackman, President, presented the Patrick Chong Memorial Scholarships to two outstanding students, Nicole Moulas and Andrew Moulas. This is the first time in the history of the award that the two recipients have come from the same family.

In this update, President and Chief Investment Officer, Jason Jackman, CFA, and Director and Portfolio Manager Brandon Zureick, CFA, discuss the reopening of the economy and its impact on investors.

In this update, Senior Portfolio Manager Scott Wyckoff, CFA, CFP®, and Director of Northeastern Ohio Market and Portfolio Manager Tony Kure, CFP® discuss why it's worth revisiting Roth Conversions today.

After a historic stock-market rebound, it’s a good time to survey the planning landscape from a more stable vantage point. Uncertainty is still pervasive. Even so, it is prudent to seek opportunities to make the best of these trying circumstances. Events thus far in 2020 have led to one such opportunity – the Roth conversion.

The outbreak of Covid-19 sent stocks plummeting in February and March, until they bottomed on March 23rd, down 35% from the peak. But since then, stocks have shot higher in dramatic fashion. The S&P 500 Index gained nearly 13% in April, its best one-month performance since 1987.

In this update, Senior Portfolio Manager Scott Wyckoff, CFA, CFP®, and Managing Director and Portfolio Manager Charles Rinehart, CFA, CAIA® discuss why high-quality stocks are an important component of a diversified investment portfolio.

The outbreak of COVID-19 has impacted us all, and millions of Americans are suffering financially as a direct result. In response, Congress recently passed the CARES Act, a $2-trillion stimulus package designed to alleviate the financial stress on individuals and business owners associated with the economic shutdown.  

In this update, Director and Portfolio Manager Brandon Zureick, CFA, explains our investment philosophy that bonds should be of the highest quality and provide portfolio stability, liquidity and reliable income, particularly during times of economic and market stress.

As 2019 drew to a close, investors were enjoying a fantastic year of stock-market gains, unemployment had reached record lows, and the U.S. economic expansion appeared on track to continue into 2020. As always, there was a list of concerns confronting investors (impeachment, trade wars, and elections in particular), but no one knew how trivial those concerns would soon become.

Without a doubt, we are living through historic times. The shutdown of the global economy and the accompanying speed of the declines in stocks rivals the steepest selloffs in history. This crisis is playing out against an almost inescapable backdrop of news coverage and social media.

Listen to an update from Johnson Investment Counsel President and Chief Investment Officer Jason Jackman.

In conversations with clients in recent weeks we have discussed a number of issues related to the economy, markets, and the unfolding situation. We’ve compiled our answers to the most common of these questions below, and we will continue to share our perspective in the coming weeks.

Johnson Investment Counsel has been designated as an essential business, and will remain fully operational during the state of Ohio's Stay at Home Order. 

As your trusted advisor, it is our role to help you navigate through uncertain, challenging times like we are experiencing now. Read our latest message regarding the current crisis.

At Johnson Investment Counsel, the health and safety of our clients, employees, and their families is extremely important. We are monitoring the coronavirus situation and its impact closely in order to continue to provide you with the high level of service you expect.

As is typical in environments of higher volatility, steep selloffs have been somewhat offset by sharp increases. The volatility is likely to continue in the weeks ahead as investors try to sort through the noise, and the medical community along with policymakers try to respond to the situation.

The SECURE Act was passed by Congress and signed into law by President Trump in December 2019 as an attachment to the broader government spending package. Based on the number of changes and new rules introduced or modified by this legislation alone, it could be argued this is the most comprehensive change to retirement and wealth planning in decades.

2019 was a strong year for the financial markets with equities posting robust gains. Are we likely to see a repeat of that performance in 2020 or are we poised for lower returns? In this edition of the JIC Research Edge, Portfolio Managers Charles Rinehart and Dan Barnett recap what happened in 2019 and provide an outlook for 2020.

Jason Jackman, President, and Chief Investment Officer is joined by a panel of colleagues to discuss our current views on the markets. An overview of the 2020 political landscape is provided by guest speaker, Andy Laperriere from Cornerstone Macro.

This past year was a successful one for the firm on multiple fronts. It was a tremendous year for investment results in both absolute and relative terms. While we believed our “slowing but growing” economic outlook could provide a decent backdrop for the stock market, the returns exceeded our expectations.

The Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement (SECURE) Act was signed into law in December 2019 as part of a broader government spending package. The law includes many provisions designed to make saving for retirement easier and more accessible. However, other changes related to distributions from retirement accounts may not be as favorable.

2019 was an eventful year for the global economy, filled with geopolitical disputes and decelerating global growth.  In this edition of the JIC Research Edge, Economic Strategist Brandon Zureick and Portfolio Manager Skye Barry recap what happened in 2019 and provide our current views on the chance of recession.

As a banner year for the stock market draws to a close, it’s worth recalling where we were a year ago. After a strong start to 2018, the S&P 500 Index fell 19.9% during the fourth quarter, just barely avoiding an official bear market.

Facing the issues associated with aging and dying is not fun for anyone. But we all have to face mortality sooner or later. Don't tarnish your legacy by leaving a mess for those you love. Instead, give the gift of planning for the end.

In this edition of the Research Edge, Portfolio Manager Charles Rinehart and Associate Portfolio Manager Tony Miliano introduce the Johnson Equity Income Fund and the goals it seeks to achieve.  They highlight our belief in the importance of investing in only the highest quality stocks and valuation's key role when making purchase decisions.

“Location, location, location” is a well-worn axiom keen-eyed investors employ when evaluating a potential real estate purchase. However, “location” can also be applied when thinking about the types of investment accounts that “house” stocks, bonds, and other investments.

While the stock market posted a very modest increase for the third quarter, it’s still been a great year by historical standards, primarily due to strong performance during the first half of the year.

As advisors, we get to talk about how clients can enjoy retirement and still have resources to travel, help with the grandkids’ education, or buy that vacation home in the South. However, we must also include discussion on a critical and often overlooked drain on cash flow – health care costs.

When people talk about investing, bonds typically take a back seat to stocks. Typically the Steady-Eddie asset class, bond interest payments and return of principal never seem quite as exciting as the flashy world of the stock market.

Navigating the shifting terrain of retirement, tax, and estate planning can be a complicated and arduous journey. With so many variables and moving pieces, the landscape is constantly evolving.

An up-and-down second quarter resulted in further stock-market gains, capping off the best first half for the S&P 500 Index since 1997. The market volatility that began last October continued in the first half of 2019.

In this edition of the JIC Research Edge, Industrials Research Analyst Bryan Andress joins Portfolio Manager Jon McEvoy to discuss the ongoing trade war between the United States and China. They provide a practical explanation of how tariffs work, recap the major U.S. policy changes, and discuss the impact on U.S. companies.

Future retirees with pensions facing the big decision of whether to take a monthly payout or a lump sum rollover to an IRA  must consider a number of factors in order to make the most informed decision. 

As we often tell clients, we can’t control interest rates, volatile stock market returns, Fed policy, trade policy, or global economic trends. Because of this we should plan for multiple outcomes. But most importantly, we must control what we can control. 

Now that tax season has come and gone, most taxpayers are aware (in some cases, painfully) of the impact of the changes brought about by the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. Each tax return has its own unique wrinkles, and few situations are the same. Still, one broad conclusion that has been made about the new law is the sharp reduction in the percentage of taxpayers who itemized deductions. 

One common example of a reduction to income is traditional IRAs and/or 401(k) contributions. The merits of maximizing contributions to these retirement accounts are well known. But there is another under-the-radar and very effective tax-saving strategy that is often overlooked: the Health Savings Account (HSA). 

In this edition of the JIC Research Edge, Fixed Income Portfolio Manager David Theobald joins Simon Buchman to introduce the yield curve and why it's used as an economic indicator.

Because 529 plans are administered by the individual states, the accounts are often held at a different financial institution. As a result, they sometimes become an afterthought.

Jason Jackman, President and Chief Investment Officer of Johnson Investment Consel is  joined by a panel of colleagues to discuss our current views on the markets, and an update on tax planning.

In this edition of the JIC Research Edge, Portfolio Manager Dale Coates joins Laura Mattern to discuss what happened in the markets in 2018 and what to potentially expect going forward.

Some investors struggle to see the big picture. They choose to focus in on the minute details (in this case, year-to-year returns) instead of taking in the broader view. The bigger picture tells the real story, demonstrating the value of diversification across asset classes.