Tariffs can greatly impact investments, and Dave Ramsey’s four categories—Growth, Growth & Income, Aggressive Growth, and International—respond differently. Growth stocks may be hit hardest, while Aggressive Growth and International companies may benefit. Diversifying across all four can help reduce risk. Understanding these effects with the help of a financial advisor can guide smarter investing in uncertain times.

Tax loss harvesting helps offset gains by selling investments at a loss, reducing taxes in taxable accounts. Retirement accounts like IRAs and 401(k)s are tax-favored and don’t require this strategy. For maxed-out retirement savings, consider taxable accounts. Consult financial advisors to navigate tax loss harvesting effectively and avoid costly mistakes. Need guidance? Contact our Whitaker-Myers team to optimize your investment strategy.

Reflections on my visit to PIMCO Headquarters - fixed income, trade policy and tariffs

Understanding the business cycle helps investors make smarter financial decisions during market uncertainty. While we can't control the economy, we can plan with discipline—by staying invested, rebalancing portfolios, managing expectations, and maintaining emergency funds. Market cycles may be more volatile, but a resilient, diversified portfolio helps weather all phases. Don’t try to time the market—plan wisely and stay focused on long-term goals.

Private Mortgage Insurance (PMI) helps lenders reduce risk when borrowers put down less than 20%. Types include BPMI (monthly payments), LPMI (built into interest rates), and Lump-Sum PMI (paid upfront). PMI can be removed once equity reaches 20% or by refinancing. Though PMI opens doors to homeownership, it’s a cost to the borrower that only protects the lender. Saving a full 20% down can help avoid PMI and save money long-term.

Technology now makes up about 32% of the S&P 500, highlighting its dominance in the U.S. economy and markets. In 2024, strong demand for AI, semiconductors, and cloud computing fueled growth for firms like NVIDIA and Microsoft. However, this concentration poses risks—tech’s heavy influence can create volatility and distort the index's representation of the broader economy. Investors should review their diversification and risk exposure with an advisor.

For self-employed individuals and small business owners, SEP IRAs and Solo 401(k)s offer powerful, tax-advantaged retirement savings beyond traditional IRAs. SEP IRAs are simpler to set up and ideal for businesses with employees, while Solo 401(k)s allow higher contributions and catch-up options for owners with no employees. Each has unique rules and benefits—consult a Whitaker-Myers advisor to choose the best fit for your retirement goals.

5 Insights for your financial, saving and investing life for 2025.

The Homestead Tax Exemption is a legal benefit available in most states, which reduces property tax reduction on homeowners’ primary...

The new year can fill you with a sense of hope and expectation.  There are new goals to reach and new challenges to tackle.  Something...

For many individuals with investments in the market and other securities, the state of the economy is critically important. But what...

What is Mean Reversion? Mean reversion is a financial concept that describes the tendency of a stock or index price to return to its...

A Life-Changing Event Our daughter and her family experienced a horrible life-changing event this past summer. They were making home...

So many terms in the financial industry  seem mysterious and confusing, and some even sound completely made up.  The Backdoor Roth IRA...

Basic Insurance In addition to health, home, umbrella, and auto insurance, each family and most individuals should consider a few other...

Annuities “You get an annuity; you get an annuity, you get an annuity, and in fact… everyone gets an ANNUITY!”   It's not a common phrase...

Life Insurance: Term Life Insurance Specifically As followers of many of Dave Ramsey's  principles, we should be familiar with his...

After a historic campaign, Donald Trump has won the 2024 presidential election and Republicans have won control of the Senate. For half...

The Efficient Market Hypothesis  (EMH) The efficient market hypothesis (EMH) is a theory that suggests that share prices accurately...

How to think about the Presidential Election as it relates to my investment portfolio