Wealth Insights:  BFG Blog

By James T Barker, ChFC, CLU

Observations of investor actions in a non-performing market.

 We have observed that many people tend to invest in ways that suggest that they are somehow immune from the market conditions we observe daily. We have all experienced difficult [...]

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Wealth Insights: BFG BLOG

 By James T. Barker, ChFC, CLU
President

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Many investors assume that buying a mutual fund comprised of fixed income assets (Bonds) will accomplish the same goal as directly investing in those same bonds, notes and bills.

If your investment goal is predictable income, then [...]

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Managing Market Volatility

On August 23, 2011 By

 The recent market volatility reminds us how quickly portfolio asset allocations can drift from the original investment objectives.  Rebalancing is a crucial step in managing your investment risks and rewards.

 Successful investing – as opposed to speculating on the next best winner – requires a [...]

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By James T. Barker, ChFC, CLU
President

Since the onset of the financial crisis in late 2007, the Federal Reserve has used interest-rate cuts and other policy tools in an effort to fuel economic growth. Economists can debate the effectiveness of these policies, but everyone can agree that today’s low interest rates are a [...]

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What about gold?

On July 15, 2011 By

It seems like I can’t turn on the television or radio these days without getting overwhelmed by commercials warning us to protect our wealth through gold. And the message seems to be resonating with many people concerned about the potential inflation effects from the increase in federal spending and debt. They ask if gold, whose [...]

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With the recent market volatility, more and more clients are asking about annuities as an investment option.

On the surface, guaranteed income, principal protection and a chance to benefit from market advances are features that sound appealing to investors.  However, once we sit down with our clients to discuss annuities in detail, they [...]

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