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Team Spotlight: Jacque Hayes

In Articles, Articles: Kansas City Office, Summer 2021, Team Spotlights by Scott Dougan

Fun Facts About Jacque Where were you born? Kansas City Mo. What’s your biggest pet peeve? People licking their fingers and touching something before handing it to you. Favorite vacation spot? Toss up between Mexico for relaxation and Disney for family fun! What was the first concert you attended? Lyte Funkie Ones (LFO) Cats or Dogs? Dogs My favorite candy …

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Back to the Basics: The Choice Challenge In Retirement

In Articles, Articles: Kansas City Office, Articles: Salt Lake City Office, Back to the Basics, SLC Summer 2021, Summer 2021 by Scott Dougan

The Choice Challenge In Retirement If you were to ask me what is my very favorite thing, I think I’d say it’s choice. I suppose it’s like declaring that freedom is good. The very ability to make choices with our time, money, relationships, careers…these all make life so much richer than the alternative, having few choices. An uncluttered view of …

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2021 Summer Newsletter: Salt Lake City

In Newsletters, Newsletters: Salt Lake City Office, Newsletters: Salt Lake City Office by Scott Dougan

The dog days of summer are here.  We just wrapped up the baseball season for my son, Michael, and his nine-year-old team of little leaguers. As you do in Utah, we started the season battling snow, rain and cold temps only to end the season scrambling for shade, dousing each other in sunscreen and praying a cloud would hover above …

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Is It Possible To Over-Save For Retirement?

In Articles, Articles: Kansas City Office, Articles: Salt Lake City Office by Scott Dougan

There are countless studies that reveal how underprepared baby boomers are for retirement. As a group, it’s said that boomers are doomed to poverty lifestyles during retirement, that is, if they can ever retire at all. Sobering, indeed. While I can’t comment on all people approaching retirement, I often consider how much saving is “too much.” So I ask you: …

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Diversification: Always Something To Celebrate (And Apologize For)

In Articles, Articles: Kansas City Office, Articles: Salt Lake City Office by Scott Dougan

This may feel like an old, well-worn topic, but please bear with me; I hope to present a new twist.  Diversification is a time-tested way for investors to manage the inherent risks of investing by owning lots of different kinds of assets. Diversification takes many forms, but often looks like this example: owning 60% of a portfolio in stocks and …

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Cash: The Glue That Holds It All Together

In Articles, Articles: Kansas City Office, Articles: Salt Lake City Office by Scott Dougan

Have you ever gazed upon an heirloom-quality piece of furniture, a new gourmet kitchen, or a stunning sports car and thought to yourself, “The glue-work is simply exquisite.” Probably not. I know I haven’t. But what would that object look like if it wasn’t fastened together correctly, or at all? It’d be little more than a pile of individual parts …

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Report: Second Quarter Economic Update

In Special Reports, Special Reports: Kansas City Office, Special Reports: Salt Lake City Office by Scott Dougan

A new US president and the winding down of most government-led pandemic safety measures welcomed investors to 2021.  As we experienced the reopening of many countries, volatility appeared in the equity markets but resulted in new market highs in the second quarter. The S&P 500 has now gained ground for five quarters in a row. Notably, it has gained more …

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Spending In Retirement: More Or Less?

In Articles, Articles: Kansas City Office, Articles: Salt Lake City Office by Scott Dougan

The question is easy to ask but incredibly difficult to answer. When faced with the question, it seems that the inner monologue of many aspiring retirees is screaming “We really should know this, but…” Of course, the question is intended to discover what your expenses are now and what they’re likely to be once you’re retired, a key piece of …

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Predicting the Future of the Market

In Articles, Articles: Kansas City Office, Articles: Salt Lake City Office by Scott Dougan

Every so often I’ll read an article sent to me that says something to the effect of, “The stock market is poised for a HUGE loss, according to someone really smart.” I genuinely appreciate receiving these articles because I want to know what you’re reading out there, and if there’s validity to the article then let’s learn from it! With …