Blog

After an eventful first half of the year, many investors are worried about a potential recession, and for a good reason. Recessions have real-world impacts on people’s financial security and well-being. In this edition of "On The...

We always strive to keep you updated on important market and economic information. Take 2 minutes now to hear AssetMark Chief Investment Officer, Christian Chan, share his latest updates on the debt ceiling agreement.  Watch...

We always strive to keep you updated on important market and economic information. Take 2 minutes now to hear AssetMark Chief Investment Officer, Christian Chan, share his perspective regarding the debt ceiling and its...

Join Kezia Samuel, VP of Investment Consulting, and Anthony Huynh, SVP, Western Divisional Sales and Consulting, for our first-quarter market review. In this webinar, AssetMark’s investment team will discuss the economy,...

What is financial fitness? We are all familiar with the term physical fitness, and if pressed for a definition, we might define it in terms of our strength and health level. When it comes to an explanation of financial fitness, the...

We always strive to keep you updated on important market and economic information. Take 2 minutes now to hear AssetMark Chief Investment Officer, Christian Chan, share his latest updates: The Fed’s Message: Our...

Over the last two weeks, the banking system experienced stress not seen since the 2008 financial crisis. Yesterday, the Fed raised the Fed Funds Rate by 0.25%. Fed Chairman Jerome Powell emphasized the resilience of the banking system...

We always strive to keep you updated on important market and economic information. Take 2 minutes now to hear AssetMark Chief Investment Officer, Christian Chan, share his latest updates: Inflation: Markets are finally...

The FDIC took over Silicon Valley Bank and Signature Bank last week.In this special edition of “On the Mark,” Christian Chan, SVP, Chief Investment Officer, discusses why this happened, how the government acted and what...

We always strive to keep you updated on important market and economic information. Take 2 minutes now to hear AssetMark Chief Investment Officer, Christian Chan, share his latest updates: Inflation: Markets are finally...

Investors put the economy on recession watch when the Fed started its “higher in a hurry” push with short-term interest rates in mid-2022.After the 10-year/2-year Treasury curve inverted in July 2022, it was “all...

On January 19, the US government reached its legal $31.4 trillion (T) debt limit1. Given the size of the debt, many investors are concerned about how this will impact the US economy and the markets. In this edition of “On The...

We always strive to keep you updated on important market and economic information. Take 2 minutes now to hear AssetMark Chief Investment Officer, Christian Chan, share his latest updates: Big Picture: Inflation trending...

Last year was an exceptional year, and not in a good way. There was no shortage of worries during the year from COVID-19, the Ukraine war, and the most central story of all: inflation and interest rates.In this edition of "On The Mark...

Join us on Friday, January 27 at 10am PT / 1pm ET to gain insights about the current state of the economy and take advantage of the opportunity to ask questions after the formal presentation.This quarterly market discussion will...

The Internal Revenue Service has released new limits for the coming year. After months of high inflation and financial uncertainty, some of these cost-of-living-based adjustments have reached near-record levels.Individual Retirement...

AssetMark’s experts review the markets and economy for last quarter and year-to-date. They also will review recent Fed actions, inflation, and the possibility of recession, as well as the investment implications for stocks and...

If you’ve felt like stock prices were a little more volatile in 2022 than in recent years, your “spidey senses” are right on the money.The S&P 500 has posted 81 daily moves of at least 1% through August. Of those...

With last week’s spike in volatility and the resulting flood of dismal financial headlines, making the right investment decisions can be challenging. To help provide context and clarity, we’re hosting an exclusive 30 minute...

Investing seems easy when markets rally and are generally calm. It’s during the more tumultuous periods of a market cycle when investing is hard. How an investor confronts the challenge of downturns determines the outcome and...

We strive to keep you updated on the latest financial updates and information. Record high inflation and negative economic growth, as measured by US GDP growth, have fueled recession fears. The bond market is similarly flashing...

Join Kezia Samuel, VP of Client Portfolio Management, and Dylan Schlott, Senior Regional Consultant, for our second quarter market review.You’ll gain insights about the current state of the economy and will have an opportunity to...

"Be fearful when others are greedy and greedy when others are fearful," according to legendary investor Warren Buffett. Please reach out if you feel a bit queasy about today's markets. The best medicine may be a dose of reassurance.

Warren Buffett on Volatility

Diane L. Woodward, CFP®, RICP®

Monday, March 14, 2022

If you’re concerned about today’s market volatility, you might take some comfort from one of my favorite quotes by Warren Buffett. “I would tell them don’t watch the market closely,” said the Oracle of Omaha.

It’s easy to get excited reading the news. With all of the storm and stress of the last few years, it’s only natural to react to each ping of our phone’s news apps with a deep sigh and a cynical “what...

If you’re worried about the financial markets, please reach out. I understand that current events can be a bit overwhelming, and you may feel the need to be proactive. But remember, we created your financial strategy based on your goals, ti

On October 13, 2021, the Social Security Administration (SSA) officially announced that Social Security recipients will receive a 5.9 percent cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) for 2022, the largest increase in four decades. This...

How long has it been since you’ve reviewed your Medicare policy? With open enrollment fast approaching, there are a few questions you may want to ask yourself before you renew, add, drop, or switch coverage.Have you switched...

Most likely, you’ve heard what’s brewing in Washington, D.C., called by one of these names.The Build Back Better Act. Or the $3.5 trillion budget reconciliation bill. Or the Jobs and Economic Recovery Plan for Working...

Have you ever heard the Wall Street expression, "markets climb a wall of worry?"It's the idea that financial markets are constantly on edge. Traders fret about how long a market rally can continue before it runs into trouble. Worry...

It has been a busy two months since we moved to Nevada. Moving our home and my business has taken a huge effort. Going from a 2800 square foot home to a 1250 square foot condo was definitely a challenge. However, we got rid of a lot of...

Will your retirement dreams match your reality?That's perhaps the most critical question to ask people who are currently retired. Was your retirement what you expected, or was it something else?For more than 30 years, the Employee...

Are your financial goals well-defined? While "I want to have lots of money" may sound like a great goal, it's just too vague. How much is "lots?" If you don’t know … how will you know when you have it? And will the...

I.R.S. Delays Tax Filing, Payment Deadlines

Diane L. Woodward, CFP®, RICP®

Sunday, March 28, 2021

Less than one month ahead of the traditional date, the I.R.S. has delayed the deadline for filing and paying taxes. The new deadline is May 17, 2021.1,2,3The delay follows continued disruption from the COVID-19 pandemic and a late...

This year we’re celebrating International Women’s Day on March 8. In 1920, women fought for the right to vote. In 1974, single and divorced women were finally able to secure a credit card without needing a male...

Presidents Day is upon us. It's time to celebrate Washington's birthday and celebrate the founding of our nation. Washington said, "Perseverance and spirit have done wonders in all ages." This Presidents Day, I hope you take a moment...

You may have heard the news about stocks for certain companies suddenly ballooning, quickly going from lunch money prices to several hundred dollars a share. In one case, the shares rose over 1700% since December 2020.1 So, what...

Recently, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) announced that tax season will start a little later than usual. This year the IRS will begin accepting and processing 2020 tax returns on Friday, February 12, 2021.1In light of the December...

As an investor, it can be tempting to get caught up in daily news headlines. Consider how news about the election and COVID-19 vaccines have moved the markets over the past several weeks. But having a financial strategy can help you...

I am honored and excited to announce that I have been awarded the 2020 Five Star Wealth Manager award – that makes eight years! Only 7% of East Bay wealth managers considered earned this award. By earning this honor, Five Star...