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On our blog we will be sharing thoughts on how to better align the use of capital with what is important. This is done in our blog by exploring the Hyperion FORMula pillars: wealth management, risk management, tax planning, legacy planning, cash management, and philanthropy and connecting those pillars to family, occupation and recreation. 

Monday: Market Insights

Wednesday: Various Financial Series

Friday: Illustrating life and money concepts through sketches



Wednesday, March 22, 2023

The Federal Reserve (Fed) has a history of raising short-term interest rates until something “breaks.” Considering the Fed has raised rates from a near-zero level to 4.75% (upper bound) over the course of only one year, it...

Monday, March 20, 2023

In the markets: U.S. Markets:  The major U.S. indexes finished the week mixed reflecting the stresses in the banking sector, worries over an impending recession, and hopes that the Federal Reserve would now be forced to moderate...

Wednesday, March 15, 2023

Coming into the week, it was all about Federal Reserve (Fed) Chair Jerome Powell’s congressional testimony and the February jobs report. Instead, we got a shockingly fast collapse of a financial institution with over $200 billion in assets,

Monday, March 13, 2023

In the markets: U.S. Markets:  U.S. stocks pulled back sharply over the week, after Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell told congressional committees that he and his fellow policymakers still had work to do in cooling inflation...

Wednesday, March 8, 2023

Suggesting an economy makes “no landing” makes no sense. Analogies eventually break down, especially this one. Economic activity does not stop like an airplane eventually does, but rather the economy will settle into a...

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Monday, March 6, 2023

In the markets: UU.S. stocks closed higher and recovered some lost ground following their worst weekly decline in two months.  Energy and materials shares were especially strong, while utilities lagged. ...

Monday, February 27, 2023

In the markets: U.S. equity markets suffered their biggest decline in over two months as inflation remained entrenched and positive growth numbers meant the Federal Reserve still had work to do.  At its close...

Monday, February 27, 2023

Debt Ceiling Primer | Weekly Market Commentary | February 27, 2023LPL Research discusses the debt ceiling and the possibility of Congress raising it later than expected.

Monday, February 20, 2023

In the markets:  The major U.S. indexes ended the week mixed as investors weighed some positive economic and earnings reports against worries that inflation may be taking an unfavorable turn.  Fears that the...

Monday, February 13, 2023

In the markets: The major U.S. market indexes ended the week lower amid a relatively light week of economic reports.  The Dow Jones Industrial Average pulled back just 57 points to 33,869, a decline of -0.2%...

Monday, February 6, 2023

In the markets: Most of the major U.S. stock market benchmarks extended their winning streaks into February, helped by some upside surprises in economic data and fourth-quarter earnings reports.  The S&P 500...

Monday, January 30, 2023

In the markets:  U.S. stocks resumed their winning streak, as investors appeared to welcome economic data that supported hopes of a “soft landing”.  The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose over 600...

Monday, January 23, 2023

In the markets:  The major U.S. indexes finished the week mixed as recession fears appeared to weigh on sentiment.  The narrowly focused Dow Jones Industrial Average performed worst and gave back a portion of...

Monday, January 16, 2023

In the markets: U.S. stocks recorded a second consecutive week of gains as investors weighed key inflation data and the start of the quarterly earnings reporting season.  The NASDAQ Composite and...

Monday, January 9, 2023

In the markets:  An encouraging U.S. jobs report sparked a rally on Friday that helped 2023 begin on a positive note.  All of the major indexes finished the week in the green.  The Dow Jones Industrial...

Monday, January 2, 2023

In the markets: The major U.S. indexes ended the week lower in a second week of light holiday trading.  Consumer staples and materials shares fell the most, while the consumer discretionary sector remained...

Monday, December 26, 2022

In the markets:  The major U.S. indexes finished the week mixed in a generally quiet week of holiday season trading.  The Dow Jones Industrial Average added 283 points to finish the week at 33,204—an...

Monday, December 19, 2022

In the markets:  U.S. stocks pulled back for a second week as fears intensified over rising interest rates.  Nearly every sector within the index reported sharp losses with the exception of energy shares. ...

Monday, December 12, 2022

In the markets:  U.S. stocks gave back much of their previous two weeks’ gains, as some surprisingly strong economic data dampened hopes that the Federal Reserve might be able to slow or cease its program of...

Monday, December 5, 2022

In the markets:  The major U.S. equity indexes ended the week higher, supported by the possibility that the Federal Reserve may slow its pace of interest rate hikes.  Growth stocks outperformed their value...

Monday, November 28, 2022

In the markets: The major U.S. stock indexes managed gains during the holiday-shortened week, with the benchmark S&P 500 index finishing above the 4000 level for the first time in two months.  The Dow Jones...

Monday, November 21, 2022

In the markets:  Most of the major U.S. indexes gave back a portion of last week’s strong gains and closed modestly lower.  Growth stocks lagged value-oriented shares and the energy sector underperformed...

Friday, November 18, 2022

Reem Kassis, has an amazing story that can teach us a lot about getting things done. Reem grew up in Jerusalem, came to the United States, got an undergraduate degree at the University of Pennsylvania, got a job as a consultant for...

Monday, November 14, 2022

In the markets:  The major U.S. indexes recorded strong gains this week as investors celebrated cooler inflation data suggesting the Federal Reserve may slow the pace of interest rate hikes.  The benchmark S&P...

Friday, November 11, 2022

Once upon a time, I sent an email to my newsletter subscribers with a simple question: Is it hard for you to talk about money with your spouse or partner? Most people said yes, but the response I got that really hurt was...

Monday, November 7, 2022

In the markets: Stocks fell after the Federal Reserve dashed market hopes for an impending “pivot” in monetary policy—a slowing or pause in rate hikes.  The technology-heavy NASDAQ Composite...

Friday, November 4, 2022

We’re so good at recognizing patterns that we often see them where they don’t even exist. One of my favorite examples of this is some research done by David J. Leinweber at Caltech. Apparently, he figured out how to predict...

Monday, October 31, 2022

In the markets: Major U.S. stock benchmarks managed a second consecutive week of across-the-board gains as investors reacted to a busy calendar of third-quarter earnings reports.  The Dow Jones Industrial...

Friday, October 28, 2022

Most of us make the same mistake with our money over and over: we buy high out of greed and sell low out of fear. Just look at mutual funds. At the top of the market, we can’t buy fast enough. At the bottom, we can’t sell...

Monday, October 24, 2022

In the markets:  U.S. stocks regained upward momentum as investors reacted to better-than-expected earnings reports from some prominent companies and hints that the Federal Reserve may moderate its pace of interest...

Friday, October 21, 2022

Real change doesn’t happen all at once. Real change is incremental. I experienced this firsthand when I used to ride road bikes with a semi-competitive group. I remember when I first joined the group, it felt like a big victory if...

Monday, October 17, 2022

In the markets: All but one of the major U.S. indexes were lower this week, as third-quarter earnings reporting season began in earnest and investors weighed inflation data and their implications for Federal Reserve...

Monday, October 10, 2022

In the markets: Stocks ended higher for the first time in four weeks but surrendered most of their gains at the end of the week, when employment data suggested that the economy was not slowing enough to satisfy...

Friday, October 7, 2022

You can make a bad decision and have a good outcome… but that doesn’t make it a good decision.Let me give you an example: There was a guy in his early 20s who sold everything he owned, borrowed some money from friends and...

Monday, October 3, 2022

In the markets:  Turmoil in financial markets in the United Kingdom and hotter-than-expected inflation numbers at home sent stocks to their third consecutive weekly decline.  In addition, the yield on the...

Friday, September 30, 2022

One of the craziest things we do as humans is take the recent past and project it indefinitely into the future. As the news cycle has sped up, this problem has only gotten worse. It used to feel like the “recent past” went...

Monday, September 26, 2022

In the markets:  Stocks recorded a second week of large losses after Federal Reserve policymakers revealed they expected official short-term interest rates to continue going sharply higher for longer than market...

Friday, September 23, 2022

One of the big problems with setting goals is that we’re really bad at imagining our future self.Remember what you imagined you’d be as an adult when you were a kid? I’m guessing there are some gaps between that dream...

Friday, September 16, 2022

If you’re worried about the stock market, find someone to give you a hug. That’s right. A hug. It may come as a surprise, but that would actually do most of us some good. When the markets go down and the financial pornography...

Friday, September 9, 2022

What if, for one whole week, you did a media fast? You know… like, don’t consume any media at all. No screens, no devices, don’t even pick up a newspaper. No. Media. Period. Is one week too long? Then scratch that….

Monday, September 5, 2022

August was a difficult month for U.S. stocks as all the major benchmarks finished the month in the red. Confidence among the nation’s consumers rose for the first time in four months predominantly due to falling prices at the gas pump.

Friday, September 2, 2022

Imagine it’s a very still day, and you’re in a boat on the ocean. There’s no wind. No swell. The water is as flat as a mirror. The calm goes on just long enough for you to start to feel like it’s normal. When a small...

Monday, August 29, 2022

The big US Market headline last week was the Fed's short and blunt message "Reducing inflation is likely to require a sustained period of below-trend growth". The markets took a dive on Friday in response. We also talk about international

Friday, August 26, 2022

There’s something you’ve been working on. Something you’ve always dreamed of. It’s the business you’re going to launch. The novel in final edits. The podcast you’re about to release. And it’s so...

Monday, August 22, 2022

This week in the markets we discuss US stocks decrease, international markets mixed results, existing home weak sales reports, homebuilders confidence pull back, new home construction decrease, retailer sales, and Fed minutes.

Friday, August 19, 2022

Do me a favor.Try to remember a time when you read or heard something about money in the news, you acted on it, and then, with the benefit of hindsight, you were glad you did.This could include any number of things: the latest IPO,...

Monday, August 15, 2022

In the markets: U.S. Markets: U.S. stocks rallied after data showed signs that inflation had started to slow, supporting the view that the rise in the consumer prices may have peaked.  Federal Reserve officials reiterated that the...

Friday, August 12, 2022

You know what’s worse than judging a book by its cover?Judging a book by its cover… and then making financial decisions based on what you guess the book might tell you.And yet, we do this all the time. Not with books, but...

Monday, August 8, 2022

In the markets: The major U.S. equity benchmarks ended the week mixed after a much stronger-than-expected jobs report revived investor concerns that the Federal Reserve will maintain its aggressive pace of interest rate...

Friday, August 5, 2022

Investing based on past performance is like driving while looking in the rear view mirror. It. Will. Cause. Accidents. Now, I know we’ve all heard the disclaimer repeated on every single investment advertisement: “Past...

Monday, August 1, 2022

In the markets:U.S. Markets:U.S. stock benchmarks posted solid gains, despite another hike in interest rates and data showing the economy contracted for a second quarter.  A “bad news is good news” dynamic seems to be...

Friday, July 29, 2022

Let me tell you a little story about an entrepreneur named Bob.Bob’s Grandpa started a cookie company. There were a few times where the business almost failed and a few breaks (which Grandpa always said were pure luck), but...

Wednesday, July 27, 2022

In the markets: Equity markets carried over their momentum from the end of last week as investors welcomed signs of fading inflationary pressures and decent corporate earnings.  Small-cap stocks and the...

Friday, July 22, 2022

There’s a difference between speculating and investing, and it pays to know what the difference is.Speculating is exciting, full of breathtaking ups and downs. If you chart it over time, it looks like a heartbeat. Probably an...

Monday, July 18, 2022

First off:  If it made up the majority of the Labor Department’s “CPI basket”, the rate of inflation would currently be…zero.  We’re talking about the ever-reliable $1.50 Costco hot dog combo,...

Friday, July 15, 2022

When people think of mountain climbing, they tend to think of Mount Everest, armies of Sherpas, an insane amount of equipment in a jam-packed basecamp, miles of rope anchored to the mountainside, etc. For a very long time, many people...

Monday, July 11, 2022

In the markets: U.S. Markets: U.S. equities erased much the previous week’s losses on optimism that the Federal Reserve will be able to slow inflation without tipping the economy into recession.  The gains pulled the...

Friday, July 8, 2022

The following is a message from the Center for Personal Finance Disease Control about a particularly dangerous virus called Pretend Investor Disease (PID).PID is an especially malignant disease that, if left untreated, can suck your...

Monday, July 4, 2022

In the markets: U.S. Markets: The major U.S. indexes surrendered a portion of the previous week’s strong gains, as worries grew that the Federal Reserve’s fight against inflation would push the economy into recession. ...

Friday, July 1, 2022

There’s no such thing as a Magic Certainty Button. Sorry to burst your bubble. There is no spreadsheet that can guarantee you will be fine. There is no amount of money that can guarantee you’ll always have enough. Uncertainty...

Monday, June 27, 2022

In the markets: U.S. Markets: Signs that inflation may be moderating amid slowing growth fueled stocks to a sharp rally this week, lifting the benchmark S&P 500 back out of bear market territory.  Nearly every sector in the index...

Friday, June 24, 2022

We don’t know when to stop. At least, I sure don’t. Sometimes, on the way home from work, I’ll swing by the grocery store, buy a pint of ice cream, and eat it. That’s right. The whole thing. Yes, I know....

Monday, June 20, 2022

In the markets: U.S. Markets: The Federal Reserve’s most aggressive rate hike since 1994 raised fears of a recession and sent stocks sharply lower for a second consecutive week.  The benchmark S&P 500 index recorded its...

Friday, June 17, 2022

I can’t tell you how many times people have asked me, “what’s the number one thing I can do to be more creative?” My answer is always the same…

Friday, June 10, 2022

What I’m about to tell you is going to sound crazy, but bear with me. Because it’s definitely true.Ready? Here it is…We get to decide what we focus on.Hold on… let me repeat that in case you missed it.We. Get....

Monday, June 6, 2022

In the markets: U.S. stocks surrendered a portion of the previous week’s strong gains as investors continued to question whether the Federal Reserve would be able to rein in inflation without causing a recession. All...

Friday, June 3, 2022

We are really bad at knowing what we actually want. In fact, we learn what we want by watching other people. First, by seeing what our parents, siblings, and peers want, followed, eventually, by what people on social media...

Friday, May 27, 2022

We love to win, but not as much as we hate to lose. For example, pretend that a few years ago, you hired an advisor and built a diversified, low-cost portfolio based on your values and goals. But you still have a dirty little...

Monday, May 23, 2022

In the markets: U.S. Markets: Wall Street continued its losing streak as fears grew that inflation was causing consumers to pull back on spending, setting the stage for an imminent recession.  At its lows on Friday, the S&P 500...

Friday, May 20, 2022

Here’s a paradox: 1. I know people who have more money than they will ever need, but are totally insecure. 2. I know people who have almost nothing, but are totally secure. The conclusion this forces me to draw is that if...

Thursday, May 19, 2022

Monday, May 16, 2022

In the markets: U.S. Markets: Despite an end-of-week rally, the major U.S. equity benchmarks recorded another week of losses.  It marked the sixth consecutive weekly decline for the both the S&P 500 index and the Nasdaq Composite,...

Saturday, May 14, 2022

Friday, May 13, 2022

One of my wife's least favorite answers that I give her is yes and no. She says it either has to be either yes or it has to be no. As I go on to explain my answer it is either yes for this reason or no for that reason. In the financial...

Friday, May 13, 2022

It’s crazy how fast a want can turn into a need. I noticed this once when I saw an ad for a new iPhone. I remember thinking, “Wow, that’s cool, but I already have one.” And then, within what felt like a matter...

Monday, May 9, 2022

In the markets: U.S. Markets: Most of the major U.S. benchmark equity indexes suffered a fifth consecutive week of losses as interest rates and inflation worries continued to weigh on sentiment.  The selling briefly pushed the...

Friday, May 6, 2022

We are really good at managing risk by looking backward and preparing ourselves to handle a situation we’ve already seen. But we’re not very good at managing risk by looking forward and preparing ourselves for something we...

Monday, May 2, 2022

In the markets: U.S. Markets: The major U.S. market indexes endured a fourth consecutive week of losses as fears of slowing growth were compounded by disappointing earnings from some market heavyweights like Amazon.  The benchmark...

Friday, April 29, 2022

You know what I feel when somebody tells me to list my financial goals? I feel a weight on my shoulders. Tension in my neck. This emotion bubbling up in me, saying, “I don’t know!” Guess what: If you felt that too,...

Monday, April 25, 2022

In the markets: The major U.S. equity indexes ended the week lower with particularly steep losses on Friday.  The Russell 1000 Growth Index stocks gave up more ground than their Value counterparts, while the large...

Friday, April 22, 2022

Everybody talks about getting ahead. What I want to know is… ahead of what? Of who? And why? To what end? Because, it turns out, “getting ahead” is not only super vague, it’s also just not a great goal. The...

Monday, April 18, 2022

In the markets: The major U.S. indexes ended the week mixed in the first week of major corporate earnings reports for 2022.  Value stocks continued to outperform their growth counterparts, while small-caps outpaced...

Friday, April 15, 2022

There’s a famous Zen parable that I love, captured nicely by Jon Muth’s book, Zen Shorts: Two traveling monks reached a town where there was a young woman waiting to step out of her sedan chair. The rains had made deep...

Monday, April 11, 2022

In the markets: U.S. Markets: The major U.S. indexes finished the week lower with small caps and growth stocks lagging considerably.  Sector performance varied widely within the S&P 500 Index, with the typically defensive consumer...

Friday, April 8, 2022

One day, I imagined that I had a vault where I kept the most valuable lessons I’ve ever learned. I opened the vault and was surprised to find that everything in there had been hard at the time. Often, deeply painful. I saw...

Monday, April 4, 2022

In the markets: The major U.S. indexes ended the week mixed, with stock prices fluctuating over the week in apparent response to the evolving situation in the war in Ukraine.  The Dow Jones Industrial Average ticked...

Friday, April 1, 2022

Real Financial Planning is not about being right today, it’s about being less wrong tomorrow. Airline pilots know this. For years, every time I met one, I would ask two questions. The first was, “Do you prepare a flight...

Monday, March 28, 2022

In the markets: The major U.S. benchmarks ended the week mostly higher, with the large cap S&P 500 index hitting its highest level since February 10.  The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 0.3% to close at 34,861,...

Friday, March 25, 2022

If you really want to crush it, you need to rest. Seems obvious, but for me, it’s a very painful lesson I am still trying to learn. You know the gig: up at five in the morning, daily workouts, paleo, bulletproof, gluten-free,...

Monday, March 21, 2022

In the markets: U.S. stocks moved sharply higher for the week, ending a two-week losing streak and reclaiming much of the ground lost over the past month.  Gains were spread across the major indexes, with the...

Friday, March 18, 2022

Talking about money is like grabbing an electric fence you didn’t know was electric.In other words, shocking. And not very pleasant.We’ve been taught, if we were taught anything about money, that it’s about...

Monday, March 14, 2022

In the markets:  The major U.S. equity benchmarks moved lower for a second week in extremely volatile trading.  The Dow Jones Industrial Average shed 671 points finishing the week at 32,944, a decline of -2%...

Friday, March 11, 2022

We all have blind spots, and by definition, you can’t see your own. Let me give you an example. One time, I was having a conversation with a friend of mine. Let’s call him Dave. Dave was a retired investment banker who...

Monday, March 7, 2022

In the markets:  U.S. stocks ended lower after a volatile week, as investors continued to assess the crisis in Ukraine.  The Dow Jones Industrial Average shed 444 points to close at 33,615, a decline of -1.3%...

Friday, March 4, 2022

Humans don’t fit into an algorithm. This is particularly true when we’re talking about humans and their money. “Humans + Money” is a messy little cocktail that economists refer to as a complex adaptive system....

Monday, February 28, 2022

In the markets:  The major U.S. indexes finished the week mostly higher after a holiday-shortened week of historic volatility.  On Thursday, the Nasdaq Composite Index had an intraday swing of 6.8%, the largest...

Friday, February 25, 2022

When tackling big, audacious goals, you don’t need big, audacious actions. All you need is the contagious magic of micro-actions. Let me give you an example. When I travel, I often don’t feel like exercising, even though I...

Monday, February 21, 2022

In the markets:  The large-cap benchmarks experienced their second consecutive week of declines as worries over conflict in the Ukraine and high inflation continued to weigh on investor sentiment.  The Dow...

Friday, February 18, 2022

You want to achieve enlightenment? The key is not in down dogs and green smoothies. The key is budgeting. I know that sounds crazy. But take it from Thich Nhat Hanh, “Budgeting leads to enlightenment.” I’m just...

Monday, February 14, 2022

In the markets:  Another volatile week in the U.S. markets; the large-cap indexes ended the week lower, but the S&P Midcap 400 and small-cap Russell 2000 recorded modest gains.  The Dow Jones Industrial Average...

Friday, February 11, 2022

Treat everyone you run into as if they’re going through something heavy. Because if you do, you’ll probably be right. I remember thinking about this in the airport when I found out the mother of one of my best friends had...

Monday, February 7, 2022

In the markets:  U.S. equity markets remained volatile but recorded overall gains for the second consecutive week.  Breaking with its pattern of value outperforming growth since November, growth and value...

Friday, February 4, 2022

Trying to pick the best investment before you've come up with a financial plan is like trying to decide whether to take a plane, train, or automobile on a trip before you've decided where you want to go. It makes as much sense as a...

Monday, January 31, 2022

In the markets: ­­Strong gains going into Friday’s market close lifted the large-cap benchmarks higher for the week, but not before most of the major indexes had moved temporarily into...

Friday, January 28, 2022

We are obsessed with comparing ourselves to others. This is pointless behavior, of course. How other people are doing has nothing to do with how you are doing. But it’s what we do. Don’t believe me? Consider this:...

Monday, January 24, 2022

In the markets: U.S. Markets:  Rising interest rates and concerns over slowing economic growth pushed the benchmark S&P 500 index to its biggest decline in more than 14 months.  The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell for a...

Friday, January 21, 2022

There’s a difference between investment returns and investor returns… and only one of them matters. If a mutual fund yields 10% a year for 10 years, that is the investment return. Now, let’s talk about investor...

Monday, January 17, 2022

In the markets: U.S. Markets:  The major U.S. indexes recorded their second consecutive week of losses to start the year and the technology-heavy NASDAQ Composite its third.  The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell -320 points...

Friday, January 14, 2022

We only have so much time, energy, and attention. So how do we decide where to place our focus? To figure out the answer to that question, I like to ask myself two additional questions: Does it matter? And can I control it? Unless the...

Monday, January 10, 2022

In the markets: U.S. Markets:  U.S. stocks continued pulling away from their record highs as significantly higher interest rates took a toll on growth and technology stocks.  The technology-heavy NASDAQ Composite shed over...

Friday, January 7, 2022

There’s a very important question we all need to ask ourselves from time to time. Say it with me… Why? Why do we invest how we do? Why do we spend what we spend? Why do we save so much (or so little)? After all, the moment...

Monday, January 3, 2022

In the markets: Most of the major U.S. indexes recorded gains for the week, as a “Santa Claus rally” lifted the S&P 500 index to record highs.  The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 388 points in...