The Value of a Financial Plan
There is a meaningful adage attributed to Benjamin Franklin that states “If you fail to plan, you are planning to fail.” This is true of many things in life but how significant is it to have a financial plan? Isn’t it sufficient to do the best we can when it comes to things like savings […]
10 Rules of Investing – Part 3
In the first two parts of this series (Part 1 & Part 2), we explored six of Bob Farrell’s rules of investing, highlighting the importance of market cycles, sentiment, and valuation. As we delve into the final segment, we’ll examine rules 7 through 10, which offer insights into market breadth, consensus views, and the phases […]
Why Rules of Thumb Are Out of Style
There seems to be a plethora of financial ratios and rules of thumb whenever you are searching the web for an answer to a personal finance related topic. Here are some common financial rules of thumb that you may have seen or heard of: Save 10% of your income Have 3 to 6 months of […]
10 Rules of Investing – Part 2
Back in April, my THOR colleague, Drew Woodard, began a blog series where he discusses Bob Farrell’s 10 Rules of Investing. Bob Farrell was a pioneer in market psychology and sentiment, and he believed there was more to a stock’s performance than just the financial statements. At THOR, we focus on fundamentals, but we also […]
10 Rules of Investing – Part 1
After studying under Benjamin Graham, known as the “father of value investing,” at Columbia University in the late 1950s, Bob Farrell began his career as an analyst at Merrill Lynch. Following a distinguished tenure as one of Wall Street’s leading analysts, Farrell ascended to the position of chief market strategist at Merrill Lynch. During the […]
IRA Contributions
The 2023 tax season is almost complete – your tax return is due to be filed by Monday, April 15th unless you extend your return. But, if you have not yet filed your return, you still have a chance to have an impact on your taxes and/or your savings plan. Let us go over some […]
Why Save to a Dependent Care Flexible Spend Account (DCFSA)?
Among the list of savings accounts offered by an employer (FSA, HSA, 401(k), etc.), the Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account (DCFSA) can be a powerful tool for parents. It is a tax-advantaged account designed to pay for childcare expenses. The DCFSA allows you to save up to $5,000 pre-tax money in 2024. You can then […]
An Investment Adviser’s Value Proposition: When and Why Do I Really Need a Financial Adviser?
At what point should you hire a financial adviser? People often assume the answer to this question is largely based on the size of their portfolio. Once your portfolio has reached a certain size, either the job becomes too daunting or complex or the risks of making a wrong move carry too much weight. In […]
ROBS – A Unique Alternative for Starting or Buying a Business
One of the key decisions when starting or buying a new business is how to fund the purchase or start-up. There are a lot of alternative ways to accomplish this task including: Using your own after-tax funds to provide the necessary capital Getting a loan through a traditional bank Applying for a loan through the […]
Finding An Investment Advisor
What Is a Financial Advisory Firm? Finding the appropriate financial professional for your personal situation can be a challenge. Part of that challenge is due to all the terminology and jargon used to describe financial advisors. For example, what is the difference between an investment advisor, financial adviser, financial planner, wealth manager, broker, etc.? In […]