Blog

We’re launching a podcast! The Optimistic Investor takes the often dry and uncomfortable discussion of money, investing, and retirement planning and makes it palatable, interesting, and relevant. In our first episode, Myron...

Starting a family means a lot of new, joyful experiences are headed your way. However, it also means you’ll be shouldering many new responsibilities. Try your best not to stress though! Instead, start making plans. The sheer...

The wide world of investment is full of opportunities. Unfortunately, along with these opportunities comes a lot of jargon and confusion. Common questions that people ask themselves are, “What are mutual funds?” and,...

The renewable energy industry continues to thrive. Wind, solar, hydroelectric, geothermal, and bioenergy are all more popular than ever. In fact, according to a 2019 report from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, electrical...

The initials ESG refer to the factors used to measure the environmental and ethical impact of investing in a company. The “G” stands for governance, corporate governance to be exact. A trend within the group of investors...

This April 22nd marked the 50th anniversary of Earth Day, which was celebrated with the theme of “climate action.” Ironically, two days before Earth Day 2020, wholesale crude oil prices were negative while many alternative...

If you contribute to a 401(k), you’re probably aware of the strict rules around withdrawing money from this type of retirement account. However, some of these rules are currently being temporarily lifted thanks to the Coronavirus...

You may be aware that on December 20, President Trump signed into law the SECURE Act (short for Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement Act). It is the broadest piece of retirement legislation passed in the last 13 years....

For the first time, a highly respected periodical, “The Economist,” has dedicated an entire issue to climate change. My perspective is that this subject matter surrounds all of us; it is undeniable and it touches each of us...

We’d like to clear up the unfortunate misconception that financial planning is a service which only benefits the wealthy. The truth is that having a financial plan, either one you’ve crafted with the help of experts or one...

With concerns about climate change on the rise, investors are beginning to address environmental challenges through their investment decisions. Investing does not have to be about profiting at any cost. It’s becoming more and...

In the world of finance, there are so many buzzwords that it can be hard to keep up. Average people looking for professionals to help them manage their money have to be careful to avoid those who are only in the business to make...

If you’ve created an estate plan, then you know how stressful it can be just thinking about how the next generation will handle the family’s wealth. Many people set up long-term trusts with flexible distribution standards...

If you pay any attention to the stock market, you probably know that ups and downs are commonplace. Though this can be nerve-wracking for investors, fluctuations are actually a normal part of investing. The last several years, however,...

The concepts of socially responsible investing (SRI) and impact investing grow in popularity more and more every year. Environmental, social, and governmental (ESG) criteria assist investment managers in finding financial opportunities...

ESG refers to the factors used to measure the sustainability and ethical impact of an investment in a company. These criteria are usually used in sustainable, responsible and impact investing and socially responsible investing (SRI)....

Socially responsible investing (SRI) seeks both financial gain and social good. The goal of most participating investors is to positively impact society with their funds. Of course, this is subjective. The set of ethical and moral...

When it comes to finance, there is a lot of jargon that gets thrown around. Just when you think you’re starting to understand what’s being discussed, a new term hits the scene and the confusion starts all over again. When...

It’s hard to ignore China. After all, it is one of the largest countries geographically speaking as well as the most populous. We are here, however, to discuss another big aspect of this country; their ever-growing economy. China...

Most of us feel like we need more money. But colleges and universities? They really do need it. If you're one of the many people who feel like you’re up to your eyeballs in student loan debt, then you might be screaming...

Investing is about making money. When you invest, you do so with the goal of profiting later on. Consumers, however, become more and more self-aware with each passing year. Most of us want to make more money, this is true, but most of...

Depending on whom you ask, as much as 20-33% of all equity investments is held in index funds. Index funds have always been popular, but the recent bull market has seen billions of dollars pumped into them by individual investors who...

The road of life is not a straightaway, for better or for worse. Each of our paths twists in one way or another. Sometimes we curve in familiar directions, but when in uncharted territory, a sudden turn can mean shock, tragedy, and...

It’s 2019, you’ve probably heard the words “renewable energy” multiple times, maybe you even hear them multiple times a day. In case you’re still unsure of what they mean, we’re talking about energy...

Various picturesque images come to mind when our home base Vermont is brought up in conversation: fall foliage, ski slopes, flourishing farms, sweet syrup, blossoming breweries. Breweries, as in beer? That’s right, a lot of...

Our goal in putting these thoughts together is to give everyone a historic understanding of the correction that occurred during the past two weeks, whether it has further to go, and answer the most important question, is this the start...

Index funds allow the average individual who may not know the ins and outs of the stock market to invest intelligently by offering stock diversification and by reliably delivering average market performance. In essence, they are a type...

Many people spend their whole lives passively preparing for retirement, but the older you get the more important it is to flesh out your specific plans. Even if you feel pretty confident about your financial situation, retirement is...

Tip: How Much? Check your Social Security earnings and see an estimate of your benefits on the Web site, www.ssa.gov. Social Security’s been a fact of retirement life ever since it was established in 1935. We all think we know...