Fischer Investment Strategies

12/09/2025

Check Out Our Latest Blog!

Retiring in Bigfork, MT? Explore key tax, income, and lifestyle factors—and how a local fiduciary advisor can help you build a secure retirement plan.

11/11/2025

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06/30/2025

Is SEO (search engine optimization) being replaced by AEO (answer engine optimization)?

If you’re a business owner, this shift might be worth understanding. (We’re trying to learn about it, too!)

🔎 First off, what is AEO, and how does it work?

As you know, with traditional SEO, you type a question into a search engine like Google and get a list of links to click through to find your answer.

Now, when you search, Google often serves up an AI-generated summary using its Gemini tool. If you’ve asked a question on ChatGPT and gotten an answer, that’s AEO in action.

It’s less about pointing you to the answer and more about delivering it instantly.

So, to stay ahead, consider the following strategies to help AI tools pull answers directly from your website into AEO responses:

💡 Add messaging that provides clear, concise answers to common customer questions.

📷 Include FAQs and summaries that AI can extract easily.

As financial professionals, we work with some small and mid-sized business owners. While we’re not marketing experts, we recently learned about this and found it worth sharing.

06/30/2025

🏛️ Major changes could be coming to public company regulations as U.S. exchanges and the SEC discuss easing regulatory burdens. The number of publicly traded companies has dropped 36% since 2000, with many high-value startups choosing to stay private longer due to costly compliance requirements.

These potential reforms focus on streamlining disclosure processes, reducing listing costs, and making it easier for companies to raise capital through follow-on offerings. The discussions also include simplifying SPAC-related regulations that have made these vehicles less attractive in recent years.

Understanding these regulatory shifts is important because they could significantly impact market dynamics and investment opportunities. When companies find it easier to go public, it often creates more accessible investment options for individuals, while potentially changing how capital flows through the markets. 💼

U.S. exchange operators are in talks with the Securities and Exchanges Commission on easing regulatory burdens for public companies, as they seek to encourage more richly valued startups to list, according to four people familiar with the matter.

06/27/2025

Have you ever asked ChatGPT a question and gotten an answer that sounded right but wasn’t? 🤔

According to a 2025 article in The Wall Street Journal, AI chatbots like ChatGPT are trained to find conflicting, incorrect or incomplete information about the subject you’re asking about.

That’s why they sometimes “hallucinate” answers, even when they don’t have the facts. ⚠️

The problem? Most AIs aren’t designed to say, “I don’t know.” Instead, they give answers that seem confident—even if they’re wrong.

💡 So, what can you do to help manage the risk of getting inaccurate information?

Here are some tips from the article:
1️⃣ Be specific. Vague questions often lead to vague (and less accurate) answers.
2️⃣ Provide AI with sources. This can help the process.
3️⃣ Double-check anything important. AI can be a great tool for drafts but final copy may need some scrutiny.

As financial professionals, we hear from clients who are experimenting with AI in all sorts of ways—from writing assistance to travel planning.

While these tools can be incredibly helpful, they still require human judgment to be used wisely—which is why we thought this article was worth sharing.

06/25/2025

Fed Holds Rates Steady—But Hints at Cuts Ahead

The Federal Reserve has kept its benchmark interest rate unchanged at 4.25%–4.5%, holding steady for now. But don’t mistake stillness for certainty.



In its updated outlook, the Fed:
🔹Projects two rate cuts by the end of the year
🔹Expects slower GDP growth (1.4%) and higher inflation (3%)
🔹Notes continued uncertainty, even as it signals less concern than earlier this year



While markets had anticipated no action this round, the updated “dot plot” shows a growing divide among policymakers about what’s next.



Whether you're following interest rates and inflation or just trying to make sense of it all, this is a key moment to stay informed.

The Federal Reserve on Wednesday released its decision on interest rates following its two-day meeting this week.

06/25/2025

❓❓❓Today’s Quiz Question: Which of the following is the last account some people draw from in retirement?

A) Traditional IRA / 401(k)
B) Roth IRA
C) Taxable brokerage account

Answer: B – Roth IRA.

Why? Since qualified withdrawals from Roth IRAs are tax-free, many retirees draw from them last to maximize their tax-free earnings. However, the correct approach depends on your broader tax picture, income needs, and long-term goals.

One of the most complicated parts of a retirement strategy is turning savings into steady, tax-smart income.

Here are some of the factors that we financial professionals help our clients consider:

1️⃣ Social security timing—and how it integrates with other income sources;

2️⃣ Account sequencing—to manage tax brackets, Medicare premiums, and long-term flexibility;

3️⃣ Market volatility—and how to build in guardrails early in retirement;

4️⃣ Required Minimum Distributions (RMD) and Roth conversions—to manage tax surprises; and

5️⃣ Withdrawal flexibility—to help get your portfolio through up and down markets.

Income in retirement is an art and a science, and it’s never too early to start preparing.

Consult your tax, legal, and accounting professionals if you believe taxes might influence your retirement income strategy.

In most circumstances, once you reach the age of 73, you must begin withdrawing RMDs from your traditional IRA and 401(k) retirement accounts. If you withdraw them before age 59.5, they may be subject to a 10% federal income tax penalty.

Roth IRA accounts qualify for tax-free and penalty-free earnings withdrawal if they meet the five-year holding requirement and if the withdrawals occur after age 59.5. Tax-free and penalty-free withdrawals can also be made under certain other circumstances, such as the owner’s death. Original Roth IRA owners are not required to take RMDs during their lifetime.

06/24/2025

Unemployment claims dipped to 245,000 last week, keeping levels near historic lows. But economists are watching more than just that headline number.

The four-week average has crept to its highest level since 2023, and hiring has cooled compared to previous years. On average, employers are adding fewer jobs per month, and uncertainty around trade policy and interest rates may be holding businesses back.

Some analysts believe companies are “hoarding” talent rather than hiring aggressively or cutting staff, waiting to see where things land.

Even in a healthy labor market, momentum matters.

The number of Americans applying for unemployment benefits dipped to 245,000 last week amid uncertainty over President Donald Trump’s trade policies

06/23/2025

What’s the one subject your kids won’t learn in school—but absolutely should?

Financial literacy.

Help them learn with some quick tips from Barron’s, “6 Steps to Raising Money-Savvy Children.”

1️⃣ Start them young: Introduce basic money concepts to them early to give them a strong foundation.

2️⃣ Introduce them to investing: Teach older children about investing to help them understand risk and return.

3️⃣ Offer them incentives: Encourage them to save by matching their savings or setting goals for them to reach with corresponding rewards.

4️⃣ Give tweens and teens more responsibility: Allow them to manage a budget for certain expenses to foster independence.

5️⃣ Discuss college costs with them: Have open conversations with them about funding education and the implications of student loans.

6️⃣ Keep the conversation going: Make financial discussions a regular part of your family life to reinforce your children’s learning.

Teaching your children financial literacy today helps them build a confident and responsible future. It’s never too early (or late) to start!

Do you agree with all of these?

06/20/2025

🔥 Did you know that the top 10% of earners account for nearly half of all U.S. consumer spending?

According to a 2025 report in "The Wall Street Journal", high earners (those making $250K+) are keeping the economy afloat, while much of the country tightens its belt.

Here are a few key takeaways:

👀 The top 10% now drive ~50% of consumer spending—up from 36% in the 1990s.

👜 The top 10% spent 10% more on luxury goods abroad compared to the prior year.

⚖️ This creates risk—if wealthy households scale back their spending due to market declines, the effects could ripple through the broader economy.

📊 Spending power is more concentrated than ever—making the economy more vulnerable to the behaviors of a small group.

👉 As this trend continues, it’s worth watching how shifts in markets or inflation might impact consumer spending and economic resilience.

06/19/2025

June 19 marks the day in 1865 when the last enslaved people in the United States were informed of their freedom—more than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation.

It’s a powerful reminder of how progress can be delayed and why continued reflection, education, and action are important.

As a firm, we recognize the significance of this day and the ongoing work to achieve equity and opportunity for all.