Don’t Give up on Small Caps

Don’t feel sorry for the punished small-company stocks Small stocks have been punished this year. As of Oct. 10, the S&P 600 SmallCap Index was down 8.21% since Jan. 1. In contrast, over the same period the S&P 500 Index of large-cap stocks was ahead by 3.13%.. We view this as a potential buying opportunity […]

October Market Commentary from Vanguard & Co

It was a good week for economic news. Inflation remained below the Federal Reserve’s 2% target rate, home sales showed growth, and The Conference Board’s Leading Indicator Index was positive. For the week ended October 24, 2014, the S&P 500 Index rose 4.1% to 1,965 (for a year-to-date total return—including price change plus dividends—of about […]

Mentor Monthly Missive – September 2014

Health Insurance Marketplace Check-Up

If you have insurance through the Health Insurance Marketplace, you may be getting advance payments of the premium tax credit. These are paid directly to your insurance company to lower your monthly premium. Changes in your income or family size may affect your premium tax credit. If your circumstances have changed, the time is right […]

How to Add a Real Asset to your Portfolio

Real estate investments should have a presence of some size in nearly everyone’s portfolio. As an asset class, real estate offers an alternative to U.S. and foreign developed stock markets. It’s considered to be a cyclical asset class, like stocks, in that its values rise and fall with the growth of the economy. Like bonds, […]

September Market Commentary from Vanguard & Co.

Consumer spending engine is in gear Consumer spending habits featured prominently in this week’s relatively short list of economic reports. The news was encouraging for the overall growth of the economy during the third quarter, as both consumer credit and retail sales advanced. For the week ended September 12, 2014, the S&P 500 Index fell […]

Keeping Investment Costs Down Pays

It’s an indisputable fact in investing: If you can keep down your costs, you’ll have more in your pocket in the long run. Lower costs generally mean better returns. There are lots of ways investors pay for the “privilege” of buying and holding investments. And although there is no way to eliminate all investing costs, […]

How to Freeze your Credit File

Putting a security freeze on your credit report is now an option in Illinois for consumers concerned about identity theft. A security freeze prohibits (with certain exceptions) the credit reporting agency from releasing your credit report or any information from it without your express authorization. The credit reporting agency may charge up to $10 each […]

August Market Commentary from Vanguard & Co.

Consumers didn’t shop much this summer, as weak retail sales revealed. But business inventory levels remained steady. Meanwhile, industrial production has strengthened thanks to improvements in manufacturing. Automakers were key to the pickup. For the week ended August 15, 2014, the S&P 500 Index was up 1.2% to 1,955 (for a year-to-date total return—including price […]

Mentor Monthly Missive – August 2014

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