Casual Friday: Financial Insights

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The opinions voiced in this material are for general information only and are not intended to provide specific advice or recommendations for any individual...

**Connect with Us:**
- Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@fordfinancialgroup
- Subscribe to the Casual Friday - Financial Insights podcast: Apple and Spotify
- Share your stories or questions:  info@FordFG.com
- Find us on the Web: FordFG.com

The opinions voiced in this material are for general information only and are not intended to provide specific advice or recommendations for any individual...

This week Brian and Ryan sit down with Marc Fowler, 401(k) expert and representative of Human Interest, to discuss why 2025 is a pivotal year for small businesses to start offering a 401(k) plan. If you’re a business owner who hasn’t yet taken the plunge, this episode is packed with actionable insights on why now is the time.

Key Takeaways

1. Tax Incentives Are Better Than Ever
   • Marc explains how recent legislation, such as the SE...

In this episode, Ryan and Brian explore the U.S. national debt as it approaches a staggering $36 trillion—a figure that has nearly quadrupled since before the 2008 global financial crisis. With the federal debt growing every year since 2001, it’s a topic that continues to spark heated debates over budget deficits, the debt ceiling, government shutdowns, and stimulus spending.

Now that the election is behind us, the focus shifts to t...

In this episode, we delve into the latest insights on retirement planning amidst rising living costs and inflation. Here’s what we cover:

1. Current Inflation and Social Security Adjustments:
   - 2025 Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA): A 2.5% increase for Social Security reflects slowing inflation, down from higher increases in recent years.
   - Impact on Retirees: While the COLA helps, it's still challenging...

In this episode, we explore the effects of rising and falling interest rates on bonds and money market funds. We discuss:

• Bonds as a Hedge: Are government bonds have become a less reliable hedge in volatile markets
• Money Market Funds: The behavior of money market fund assets following the first Fed rate cut and historical trends.
• Equities Outlook: Are U.S. equities and sectors poised for growth as inflation cools?

**Connect wi...

Today Ryan, Brian, and Eric all jumped on the podcast to discuss today's news that the Federal Reserve is cutting the Fed Fund rates by 0.50%, the first cut by the Fed in 4 years and the first of what is likely many to come.

**Connect with Us:**
- Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@fordfinancialgroup
- Subscribe to the Casual Friday - Financial Insights podcast: Apple and Spotify
- Share your s...

In this episode, we dive into the complexities of 401(k) plans and the audits conducted by the Department of Labor (DOL). The Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA) is the group responsible for investigating and auditing 401(k) plans, which can be a significant challenge for plan sponsors.

Key insights discussed:

• EBSA’s investigations recovered an average of $573.5 million annually from FY2019-FY2023, with more than 65%...

To paraphrase Ernest Hemingway, changes in the stock market often happen "gradually, then suddenly." This week Brian and Ryan discuss how, over the past month, there has been a rotation from large-cap technology stocks to small caps and other sectors. However, following the latest jobs report, global stocks experienced a sharp pullback due to concerns about the timing of Fed rate cuts, a weakening labor market, and disapp...

This week Brian and Ryan took to the second half of 2024 by reviewing some of the key highlights from LPL Research's recently unveiled Midyear Outlook 2024: Still Waiting for the Turn, the semi-annual report that recaps where markets and the economy have been over the first half of 2024. 

As we reach the halfway point of 2024, a sense of persistence defines the economic and market landscape. Trends from late 2023 have continued...

Over the past few years, the path of interest rates has been highly unpredictable due to factors like inflation, economic growth, and the Federal Reserve's policies. The 10-year U.S. Treasury yield exemplifies this volatility, having surged from 3.8% at the end of last year to a peak of 4.7% in April, before recently settling around 4.2%. These higher rates have confounded the expectations of investors and economists, creating...

In this eye-opening episode of the Casual Friday: Financial Insights podcast, hosts Brian and Ryan delve into the ever-evolving world of online scams, fraud, and identity theft. As the digital landscape expands, so do the tactics of cybercriminals. Brian and Ryan shed light on some of the most common and insidious scams circulating today, from phishing emails and fake tech support calls to social media scams and fraudulent websites...

This week Brian is joined by our special guest Brian Domingos, owner of Premier Valley Realty, a full-service real estate brokerage firm based in Fresno, California. 

Brian and his brokerage assists clients with buying and selling residential properties in the Central Valley, Central Coast, and Sierra Nevada areas. In addition to real estate sales, they offer property management services through their subsidiary Cypress P...

This week Brian and Ryan talk about how the Dow Jones Industrial Average reached 40,000 for the first time recently as markets continue to rebound from a 5% decline earlier this year. While this has felt like a difficult year for many investors due to inflation, high interest rates, and growth concerns, the reality is that the broad market has achieved 23 new all-time highs. Other asset classes, including international stocks and c...

In uncertain market conditions, cash holdings can offer a sense of security for investors. The past few years have seen significant market volatility due to various factors such as the pandemic, geopolitical tensions, monetary policy changes, inflation concerns, and technological disruptions. Amidst this turmoil, the allure of cash has grown, especially as interest rates on cash instruments have reached multi-decade highs, presenti...

In this episode of Casual Friday: Financial Insights, Brian and Ryan delve into the recent pullback in the markets, which have dipped at the onset of the second quarter. After kicking off the year with strong gains, the landscape has shifted due to a combination of geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, rising inflation concerns, and uncertainties around corporate earnings.

Join us as we discuss strategies for understan...

This week Ryan and Brian come up for air from a busy tax season to examine how current tax brackets, both personal and corporate, compare to where brackets have been historically. They also touch on the possibility of brackets changing in the future, especially in light of the Federal debt to GDP ratio (spoiler: it's high).

Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@fordfinancialgroup

Subscribe on Apple Podca...

As we delve into the intensifying presidential election season, every day brings us closer to November 5, Election Day. We're witnessing what appears to be an impending rematch between Joe Biden and Donald Trump. Given the months ahead until November, it's understandable for investors to feel uneasy about the potential effects of political events on the stock market and the broader economy.

The current political...

This week Eric and Brian review how much "dry powder" is in money market funds and how these cash equivalent investments have swollen to record levels as rates have risen. However, event the Federal Reserve has said rates are coming down, so what are investors options if those sweet interest rates on money market funds really start to fall?

Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@fordfinancialgroup

Su...