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 understanding and managing through this period of heightened market volatility. What steps can investors take to maintain perspective and make informed decisions? Tune in to gain val ..read more

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 Podcasts (or wherever you listen to podcasts): https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast... Questions? Email us at info@FordFG.com Web: FordFG.com The opinions voiced in this material are for ..read more

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 atmosphere is notably charged, influenced not only by the upcoming elections but also by contentious debates in Washington over issues like the budget, immigration, and foreign policy ..read more

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 Subscribe on Apple Podcasts (or wherever you listen to podcasts): https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast... Questions? Email us at info@FordFG.com Web: FordFG.com The opinions voiced in this ..read more

This week Ryan and Brian discuss how all of the jobs lost during the pandemic have been recovered (and then some), and how business are still having trouble hiring, despite the large number of unemployed workers. Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@fordfinancialgroup Subscribe on Apple Podcasts (or wherever you listen to podcasts): https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast... Questions? Email us at info@FordFG.com 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. A ..read more

This week Ryan and Brian review what could be ahead this year as the Fed begins to cut interest rates, and discuss how that impacts both equities and bonds in portfolios. LPL Research 2024 Outlook: https://bit.ly/3RKkZXG Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@fordfinancialgroup Subscribe on Apple Podcasts (or wherever you listen to podcasts): https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast... Click here for Ryan's chart: https://twitter.com/biancoresearch/st... Questions? Email us at info@FordFG.com Web: FordFG.com The opinions voiced in this material are for general information only and are ..read more

This week Ryan and Brian review LPL Research's 2024 outlook for stocks, bonds and the economy, and give there take on what could be ahead. LPL Research 2024 Outlook: https://bit.ly/3RKkZXG Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@fordfinancialgroup Subscribe on Apple Podcasts (or wherever you listen to podcasts): https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast... Click here for Ryan's chart: https://twitter.com/biancoresearch/st... Questions? Email us at info@FordFG.com Web: FordFG.com The opinions voiced in this material are for general information only and are not intended to provide specific ..read more

This week Ryan and Brian talk about how both stocks and bonds have been accelerating into the end of the year, though there may be reason to temper your optimism for 2024. Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@fordfinancialgroup Subscribe on Apple Podcasts (or wherever you listen to podcasts): https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast... Click here for Ryan's chart: https://twitter.com/biancoresearch/st... Questions? Email us at info@FordFG.com Web: FordFG.com The opinions voiced in this material are for general information only and are not intended to provide specific advice or recomme ..read more

In this episode, we dive deep into the world of Qualified Charitable Distributions (QCDs). Join us as we explore how QCDs can be a tax-savvy way to support your favorite charitable causes while benefiting your retirement savings. Brian shares valuable insights and practical tips to help you navigate this powerful financial strategy. A qualified charitable distribution (QCD) is a tax-free donation from an IRA to a qualified charity. To make a QCD, you must be at least 70.5 years old.  You can use QCDs to manage required minimum distributions from an IRA. The amount of the distribution is ..read more

Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@fordfinancialgroup Subscribe on Apple Podcasts (or wherever you listen to podcasts): https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast... Questions? Email us at info@FordFG.com 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. All performance referenced is historical and is no guarantee of future results. There is no assurance that the views or strategies discussed are suitable for all investors. To determine which investment(s) may ..read more