The investment you make in your child or grandchild’s college tuition could be one of the biggest expenses you ever have, but it also could be one of the most rewarding investments of your life. Being able to afford this invaluable learning experience often requires deliberate planning and years of diligent saving. Fortunately, FinTrust offers…
The United States health-care system has been impacted by the Affordable Care Act (ACA). But how does delivery of health care in the United States compare to that of other nations? And where does the United States rank with respect to the cost of health care per capita and as a percentage of gross…
A White Paper by: David E. Lewis, CFA That question is being asked a lot these days, and many people are struggling to come up with an answer. The academics and followers of Harry Markowitz, The Efficient Frontier and Modern Portfolio Theory will tell you it is important to diversify your assets and that bonds…
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) provided some welcome news recently regarding the amount of money that investors can save toward retirement. Changes to income level thresholds were also announced, which could mean that more individuals might now qualify to make tax-deductible contributions. Employer Sponsored Plan Changes For those individuals who have access to employer sponsored…
Broken Models & Interest Rates at Ground Zero During World War I, an area developed between the trenches that quickly became known as No Man’s Land. It was truly a hell on earth, a barren field between warring sides, landscaped with barbed wire, seeded with mines, full of trenches and holes, overseen by snipers, and…
Investment Committee Update Earlier this week, the FinTrust Investment Committee held its quarterly meeting to review the model holdings and discuss the investment landscape. After reviewing each holding compared to its respective peers and benchmark, the Committee determined that both the models and their holdings are well positioned and that no changes were warranted at…
Thoughts on Michael Lewis’s Flash Boys The financial press has been asking the question, “Are U.S. stock markets rigged?” since Michael Lewis appeared on CBS’s 60 Minutes on March 30th. Here is the link: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/michael-lewis-explains-his-new-book-flash-boys/ Our answer: of course they are. It just happens to be our view that the Federal Reserve is the party…