Here's your source for thoughts and observations on all things financial (and otherwise). Topics can range from tips on your personal well being to the well being of your investments. As always, we welcome your comments and feedback.
Disclaimer: Our blog posts are for informational purposes only and are not to be considered investment, tax, or financial advice. Cornerstone does not and cannot guarantee the accuracy or applicability of any information presented in our blog posts regarding your individual circumstances. Please review your personal situation with your tax and/or financial advisor.
I’ve noticed for years now a growing use of the pronoun “guys” when addressing a group of two or more people regardless of gender. It is most glaring, though, when the group consists of all women!In the early years of feminism, there was an effort to randomly exchange...
Read MoreThanksgiving dinner a budget-buster? Not really. Every year the American Farm Bureau releases their survey of the average cost of a Thanksgiving meal for 10 people. The meal includes turkey, stuffing, cranberry sauce, peas, sweet potatoes, a vegetable tray, rolls, pumpkin pie and coffee/tea. This year the average cost is $49.12, or about $4.91 per person. That’s down $0.75, or 1 ½ percent, from…
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Oh snap -- where did September go? The years since I headed back to school has creeped into double digits but I still feel the excitement and shift towards the fall mentally; a time of getting back on a regular schedule and of course buying new school supplies, shoes included! Here at Cornerstone...
Read MoreThe following statistic came to my attention recently: “According to a recent study in the Journal of Aging, a full 50% of those over 65 will need care that’s sufficient to trigger benefits under a long-term care policy – substantial assistance with 2 of 6 activities of daily living, or substantial supervision due to a cognitive impairment.” That’s a staggering statistic to me. If I told…
Read More26 states have legalized marijuana. And with the increased awareness of its many medical benefits you may be wondering if now is a good time to invest in companies that grow and deliver this product. Not so fast! The federal government categorizes marijuana as a Class 1 drug under the Controlled Substances Act (the same category as heroin), making it illegal according to government law. This is…
Read MoreInvestors look for any way to predict the market so it should come as no surprise that someone has tried to tie the outcome of the Super Bowl to market performance. In 1978 Leonard Koppett discovered a strong correlation between the Super Bowl winner and stock market performance in the same year. He found that when an AFC team won the conference the markets went down that year, and when an NFC…
Read MoreThis is the time of year when many of us think about what should be accomplished over the coming 12 months. January offers a fresh start, a clean slate, and the days ahead are filled with possibility. We at Cornerstone, of course, think about investment perspectives for 2017; where the economy stands, the global macro issues we face and also the political wave of populism sweeping the world. What…
Read MoreOn Wednesday, December 14th the Federal Reserve increased interest rates by 0.25%, to a range of 0.50% - 0.75%. This was the second increase in a decade, the last one being December 2015. The increase reflects the Fed’s confidence in the US economy and Janet Yellen stated that they expect the economy to continue performing well. Some economist are predicting that the rates could rise at a…
Read MoreThey say that the markets hate uncertainty. The election of Trump last night as our next president at least brings some certainty back into the markets, but adds to it through many unanswered questions. What will his administration do with the Affordable Care Act? Will he build a wall around our border and restrict global trade? Will Russia attempt to assert its strength on the US? These…
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Currently Americans sit for nearly six hours per day and research has proven that this type of inactivity can lead to early death and cancer. However standing isn’t necessarily the fix, any non-activity for an extended period of time can be unhealthy whether it’s sitting or standing. In a world driven by screens we need to remind ourselves to get moving; take a walk or choose the stairs…
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