994 Group

05/22/2023

Absent any legislative workarounds, on June 1, 2023, the U.S. will bump up against the federal debt ceiling. If reached, Janet Yellen warns the U.S. could default on its scheduled payments, and analysts estimate the timing between July and August. The potential for a U.S. default sounds scary, and s...

05/22/2023

The U.S. Debt Ceiling is in its 79th negotiation since 1960. Yes, 79!!!! Consider a few data points as June 1st approaches...

Absent any legislative workarounds, on June 1, 2023, the U.S. will bump up against the federal debt ceiling. If reached, Janet Yellen warns the U.S. could default on its scheduled payments, and analysts estimate the timing between July and August. The potential for a U.S. default sounds scary, and s...

03/17/2023

Silicon Valley Bank failed. Let's pause and review FDIC coverage and easy ways to manage the risk of a bank failure.

The second largest bank failure occurred around lunch time on March 10th. The firm announced (or miscommunicated in a horrific way) a loss on fixed income investments, venture capitalists made some calls, and the bank run began. There are lessons to be learned as the story unfolds, and it's an impor...

02/14/2023

Bear markets are a normal occurrence. It's imperative to ensure you're around when they turn to Bulls. As an example, take a look at the 100 year journey of $100...

The 100 year average for the S&P 500(r) is about 10%. 10% sounds pretty great! But, it is imperative as an investor to understand the resolve it takes to get that 10%. Let’s consider someone born in 1922 with a $100 gift. At 10% on average each year, that $100 would be $1,378,061.23 today. Not bad...

01/23/2023

Who would have guessed that international markets would outperform US markets in 2022? Or, that October would offer the best performance since 1976!? Markets don't usually follow rational sentiment, but the wisdom of the market always prevails! Learn about our thoughts on the economy and markets leading into the New Year!

Well, 2022 was quite a test. Even historically great fourth quarter stock market performance could not remediate earlier losses. It was a tough year for investors to maintain the discipline necessary for long-term investment goals, but our strategy yielded many silver linings with the late momentum....

10/19/2022

As we approach 2022's finish line, inflation remains a thorn in our side, yet the case for progress is getting stronger. Check out our thoughts on current events and what catalysts could prompt a positive change.

Fall in Texas is not marked by cooler weather, but rather the onset of football and… more football. While the seasonality of football (and pumpkin spice) remains predictable, the markets and economy continue to be anything but. The rollercoaster, which began nearly 18 months ago, rolled through th...

09/12/2022

Military Veterans: Six new states are exempting or partially exempting retirement military pay. This can make a substantial impact on your cash flow planning, but be careful.... states with no state income tax (Like our own lovely state of Texas), can have substantially higher property taxes which outweigh state tax benefits. We can help you calculate the disparity, so you optimize your overall financial plan, not just minimize state income tax.

Nearly 300,000 more military retirees are now exempt from state income tax.

08/14/2022

The loss of a loved one is traumatic enough, so learn how you can minimize the difficulty of cumbersome, yet necessary next steps.

https://994group.com/insights/the-final-gift

07/14/2022

Q2 2022 Economic commentary and video -- inflation, rhetoric, and mid-term elections. When the Fed speaks, markets don't just listen, they act in anticipation. In light of inflation and rising interest rates, what does it all mean?

While 2022 was expected to finally deliver some hope and calm after two years of chaos, the first half of the year has resulted in the exact opposite. Our core economic themes of inflation and rising interest rates reverberated throughout markets and the economy, inflicting pain on investment portfo...

04/14/2022

*VIDEO Included*
Inflation remains high, the Ukraine conflict rages on, and equity markets were volatile in Q1 2022. But, not all asset classes are created equal - and neither are all risks. Read this quarter's commentary for perspective on investing in the midst of conflict and high inflation.

Texas decided to skip spring, and transition directly into summer. The markets also felt the heat throughout the first quarter of 2022, and it was challenging to say the least. After an extended period of mostly upward trajectory returns, it was a stark reminder that discipline is the glue that bind...

04/05/2022

Kristen presented at Bridge Point Elementary's Career Day! Teddy was proud to have his momma talk about what financial advisors do for their clients. Also, he got to brag about being Elon Musk's boss as a Tesla stock holder!

03/28/2022

Sadly, March is the peak month for divorce filings in the U.S. Divorce is difficult emotionally and financially, but the focus should be on optimizing the future after the divorce--not being the ‘winner’ of the divorce transaction.

https://994group.com/insights/the-deadweight-loss-of-divorce