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from the RetirementDNA blog

Retirement Planning: Social Security COLA and Portfolio Considerations

K. Brad Tedrick, CFA®, CFP® For retirees and those approaching retirement age, there is no goal more important than ensuring their savings will support a long retirement. This challenge has been compounded by inflation over the past several…

Quarterly Market Update for Q4 2025: Navigating Conflicting Signals

Blog, Business Owner Planning, Estate Planning, Financial Planning, Investing, Investment Planning, Markets, Retirement Income Planning, Risk Management, Tax Planning

K. Brad Tedrick, CFA®, CFP® Investors experience market swings as a normal part of investing, and this year has been no exception. While market declines - such as the tariff-driven sell-off - can be uncomfortable, they also create opportunities…

Understanding Fed Rate Cuts: A Guide for Long-Term Investors

Blog, Financial Planning, Investing, Investment Planning, Markets, Retirement Income Planning

K. Brad Tedrick, CFA®, CFP® The famous investing principle "don't fight the Fed" was coined in the 1970s but has only grown in significance. The idea is simple: the Federal Reserve's monetary policy decisions can have important effects…

How to Navigate Fears of a Market Bubble

Blog, Financial Planning, Investing, Investment Planning, Markets

K. Brad Tedrick, CFA®, CFP® As markets reach new highs and artificial intelligence stocks continue to rally, some investors are asking "are we in a bubble?" This is as much about investor psychology as it is about market conditions. While…

How the Great Wealth Transfer Creates Financial Planning Opportunities

Blog, Financial Planning, Investing, Investment Planning, Markets

K. Brad Tedrick, CFA®, CFP® “Life affords no greater responsibility, no greater privilege, than the raising of the next generation.” This statement by former United States Surgeon General C. Everett Koop underscores what for many is…

Special Update: What the Fed Rate Cut Means for Long-Term Investors

Blog, Business Owner Planning, Estate Planning, Financial Planning, Investing, Investment Planning, Markets, Retirement Income Planning, Risk Management

The Role of Dividends as the Fed Cuts Rates

Blog, Investing, Investment Planning, Markets

K. Brad Tedrick, CFA®, CFP® The late Jack Bogle observed that "successful investing is about owning businesses and reaping the huge rewards provided by the dividends and earnings growth of our nation's—and, for that matter, the world's—corporations."…

Monthly Market Update for August: Markets Climb on Fed Expectations and Earnings Growth

Blog, Business Owner Planning, Estate Planning, Financial Planning, Investing, Investment Planning, Markets, Retirement Income Planning, Risk Management, Tax Planning

K. Brad Tedrick, CFA®, CFP® The stock market climbed to new all-time highs in August, while bonds also contributed positively to portfolios. This occurred despite continued uncertainty around tariffs, Fed independence, and technology stocks.…

Fed Rate Cuts: What Is the Bond Market Signaling to Investors?

Blog, Financial Planning, Investing, Investment Planning, Markets, Retirement Income Planning

K. Brad Tedrick, CFA®, CFP® Fed Chair Jerome Powell's recent speech at the Fed's annual Jackson Hole conference, which has been covered extensively in the media, reinforced that an interest rate cut in September is likely. Powell emphasized…

How Investors Can Keep Up with Inflation

Blog, Financial Planning, Investing, Investment Planning, Markets

K. Brad Tedrick, CFA®, CFP® When it comes to natural disasters, it's important to be prepared for earthquakes and erosion alike. Even though one is immediate and dramatic while the other is slow and gradual, both require careful planning…

How Reliable is Government Data? Creating a Balanced Economic Picture

Blog, Financial Planning, Investing, Investment Planning, Markets, Risk Management

K. Brad Tedrick, CFA®, CFP® For investors trying to understand the economy, recent reports have provided mixed signals, even leading President Trump to fire the Bureau of Labor Statistics commissioner. The latest jobs numbers showed weakness…

The Role of Social Security in Financial Planning

Blog, Financial Planning, Investment Planning, Retirement Income Planning

K. Brad Tedrick, CFA®, CFP® Social Security, one of the most important government programs for retirees, has evolved over its 90-year history. As the aging population grows, so too do concerns about whether Americans will be able to rely…

Bitcoin, Copper, Gold, and Silver: A Portfolio Perspective

Blog, Investing, Investment Planning, Markets

K. Brad Tedrick, CFA®, CFP® One of the biggest challenges for investors is balancing long-term goals with short-term market moves. This is just as true when financial markets are rallying as when they are struggling. New developments in…

What the “One Big Beautiful Bill” Means for Investors

Blog, Business Owner Planning, Estate Planning, Financial Planning, Investing, Investment Planning, Markets, Retirement Income Planning, Risk Management, Tax Planning

K. Brad Tedrick, CFA®, CFP® After months of negotiations, a new tax and spending bill was approved by Congress and signed into law by President Trump on July 4. This new budget is far-reaching, including making many parts of the Tax Cuts…

Quarterly Market Update for Q2 2025: Tariffs, Geopolitics, and All-Time Highs

Blog, Financial Planning, Investing, Investment Planning, Markets, Retirement Income Planning

K. Brad Tedrick, CFA®, CFP® The second quarter of 2025 showcased both the resilience of financial markets and their sensitivity to policy uncertainty. From the White House's tariff announcements in April to escalating tensions between Israel…

How a Weakening Dollar Affects Long-Term Investors

Blog, Investing, Investment Planning, Markets

K. Brad Tedrick, CFA®, CFP® For many Americans, the status of the U.S. dollar reflects the country’s position in the world. However, the dollar has weakened in recent months amid trade and economic uncertainty, declining against a basket…

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Investment advice offered through Integrated Partners, doing business as RetirementDNA. Please note the other companies referenced on this website are separate entities from RetirementDNA and Integrated Partners and are not authorized to provide, and do not provide investment advisory services.