Planning Article

June 2023 – By Bob Veres

Paying for college used to be easy.  In 1970, the average yearly cost of college tuition and fees at a public four-year university was $358; private universities cost an average of $1,706 per year.  Add in room and board, and the all-in cost was $1,238 and $2,327, respectively. 

Market Memo

May 2023 – By Kyle Rohrwasser

Since February 2022 the Federal Funds rate has increased from 0% to 5%. So, your bank savings account should reflect that in some capacity, right? You wouldn’t expect to get 5% yield on your savings account but if the bank can borrow your money and earn 5% in short term treasuries (considered the safest investment in the world) you assume you would be compensated for letting them use your funds. The answer would surprise you; we are still seeing the historically low interest rates on bank accounts we saw a year ago. I looked up what the Chase Savings interest rates are, and they are basically 0% with the annual percentage yield is 0.01%.

Market Memo – Planning Article

May 2023 – By Tom Rueger, J.D., CFP^®

In general, an Advance Directive is a document that instructs others about your preferences for medical care if you are unable to make decisions on your own or unable to communicate your wishes to others. Advance Directives can give instructions on your preferences regarding the decisions of doctors and caregivers if you are terminally ill, seriously injured, in a coma, in the late stages of dementia, or near the end of life.  They only become effective under the circumstances stated in the document. Advance Directives can communicate the treatment that you want and don’t want. They can help avoid unnecessary suffering, reduce confusion or disagreement, and relieve caregivers from the burdens of making decisions.  An Advance Directive does not remove any decision-making authority from you while you are still competent since you can always override any decision or revoke any Directive that you have made.