Aug 13 2019
72

Inside The Economy with SH&J: Housing Prices & Corporate Earnings

By | Economic Discussion, Economy, SH&J Blog | No Comments

On this week’s Inside the Economy with SH&J, we discuss the effects of lower mortgage rates on the housing market. Which region in the U.S. is seeing home prices increase at the fastest rates? The answer may surprise you. Corporate earnings have seen robust growth since 2017. What are most corporations choosing to do with the excess profits? Tune in to find out these answers, and more!

Aug 05 2019
180

Sharkey, Howes & Javer Investment Process

By | Investing, SH&J Blog | No Comments

Investment Management is a very important part of our business here at Sharkey, Howes & Javer. Designing a custom investment portfolio is integral in helping our clients achieve their financial goals. Below is an outline of the investment process at SH&J, and an overview on how we choose investment portfolios for clients.

Pyramid

We first take a macro level view of the global economy and work to identify trends and how they could potentially impact clients’ portfolios. Macro economic research, as well as insights from various mutual fund managers and investment professionals, is used to determine what asset classes may add value to portfolios during various economic conditions.

The biggest driver of investment returns is the stock and bond exposure of a portfolio. The more stocks in a portfolio, the greater the long-term rate of return is expected to be. Portfolios can range from 100% stocks, which are the most aggressive, to portfolios that may have over 60% in bonds, which are more conservative by nature. We then discuss how much international stock and bond exposure is appropriate, and also evaluate if there are opportunities in alternative asset classes, such as real estate or commodities, for additional diversification.

Once the asset class allocation is outlined, the individual mutual fund or exchange traded fund (ETF) position for each asset class needs to be chosen. Third party investment research tools aid in scanning the entire fund universe. Many factors are considered in selecting each holding. Such as how long a fund manager has been managing a particular fund, what the fund’s underlying expense ratio is, how much risk the fund is taking compared to the benchmark, and if the fund has had consistent 3, 5, and 10-year performance numbers.

The economic conditions around the globe are fluctuating every single day. And, what’s also changing is the number of mutual fund and ETF options available for people to invest in. It is important to stay up-to-date on your investment portfolio and make adjustments as needed. If you would like to discuss your current investment portfolio or discuss our strategies, please contact Sharkey, Howes & Javer today to speak with a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™.

The economic conditions around the globe are fluctuating every single day. And, what’s also changing is the number of mutual fund and ETF options available for people to invest in. It is important to stay up-to-date on your investment portfolio and make adjustments as needed. If you would like to discuss your current investment portfolio or discuss our strategies, please contact Sharkey, Howes & Javer today to speak with a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™.

Jul 30 2019
72

Inside The Economy with SH&J: Lower Interest Rates & Negative Yields

By | Economic Discussion, Economy, SH&J Blog | No Comments

On this week’s Inside the Economy with SH&J, we discuss the Federal Reserve meeting happening this week. It looks like the market is already assuming the Fed will cut interest rates, but how much lower could interest rates go in the future and what affect would that have on the economy? Speaking of low interest rates, there is now around $14 trillion in negative yielding debt around the world. What countries currently have the lowest interest rates and why are their citizens buying negative yielding bonds? Tune in to find out!

Jul 22 2019
0

Meet Claire O’Neill

By | SH&J Blog, SH&J Team | No Comments
Claire

Name: Claire O’Neil

Title: CERTIFED FINANCIAL PLANNER™

SH&J team member since: September, 2018

How did you decide to become a financial planner?

I started out in the business working alongside financial advisors and through this experience fell in love with the idea of working more closely with clients. I decided to get a CFP® license so I could be a direct help in advising for their financial success.

What’s your favorite part of your job?

My favorite part of the job is working directly with clients and meeting new people along the way. Being able to take the stress off of people’s plate for major financial decisions and helping them navigate different scenarios is the best part of my day.

You’re originally from Kansas City, Missouri, so what brought you to Colorado and SH&J?

I had lived in Missouri my whole life, but have always had a soft spot in my heart for Colorado and the outdoor lifestyle, as Breckenridge was a family vacation destination growing up. After college, I was looking for a change of pace, so I packed up my stuff and moved to Colorado.

What do you like to do in your free time?

I spend a lot of time in the mountains hiking or skiing but if I’m not in the mountains you can find me hanging with my Spanish Water Dog, Hugo, in the parks or playing volleyball. Outside of outdoor activities, I love to explore restaurants and try new foods.

Do you have a favorite place you like to ski or hike?

Winter Park is my new favorite but Breckenridge is hands down my favorite mountain town. This is where my family vacation spot was growing up and is a longtime favorite city of mine.

What’s something about you that would surprise us?

I come from a really large Irish family (60+ counting aunts, uncles and cousins) so I have an unknown passion for Irish culture and music. My family enjoys listening to Irish bands in the Kansas City area and my cousin actually runs one of the biggest Irish events in the city.

What is the most interesting place you’ve ever been to?

Nice, France. It’s a small city by the ocean and I loved spending 5 days there before visiting my sister who was living in Barcelona. The food and atmosphere were amazing. You can walk everywhere and it had a really laidback vibe.

If money was not a factor, what would you do?

I would travel around the world and learn to speak a new language. I would also consider splitting my Colorado time between Denver and the Mountains.

Jul 16 2019
72

Inside The Economy with SH&J: Unemployment & Fed Decision

By | Economic Discussion, Economy, SH&J Blog | No Comments

On this week’s Inside the Economy with SH&J, we discuss unemployment numbers. Job openings in May exceeded the number of people unemployed for the 15th straight month. Could there be a new natural rate of unemployment in a robust economy? Short term interest rates have already priced in an interest rate cut for July. What are the possible implications of the Fed’s decision at the upcoming meeting? Media bias aside, what is really going on with state and federal debt? Tune in to find out!