Plan Group Financial

06/07/2024

New building smell!

11/29/2023

Friendly Tax reminder to Oklahomans that the Oklahoma Parental Choice Tax Credit application opens on Friday! There are benefits for private school choice, as well as home school. https://www.parentalchoice.ok.gov/

11/18/2023

Our office in downtown Grand Island, NE is working for a very special person during the Railside Christmas event tonight!

05/30/2023

Dirt is being moved for our new building at The Half by Flix Brewhouse, Dolese, and Chicken N Pickle off Wilshire and 77. We are excited to see our new building come to life!!!

05/10/2023

As Republicans and Democrats reach a rare consensus to fight high drug costs, investors should consider how and if this change will affect their portfolios.

Many proposals by lawmakers to cut costs target the companies that manage drug benefits.

05/09/2023

THIS WEEK ON WALL STREET

This week has been quiet as investors are waiting for April Inflation data to be released on Wednesday. The Dow Jones Industrial Average and the S&P 500 are down –1.26% and -0.79% this week respectively, and the Nasdaq finished even.1

INVESTORS PLAY IT SAFE, BUT ANXIOUS FOR NEXT GAINS

Based on current market data, investors are beginning to slow their risky plays. Based on the institutional investor risk appetite indicator, investors have been moving holdings to safer assets over risky ones over the past few months. Further, the Cboe Volatility Index has shunk to its lowest level since 2021. Still, these investors are seeking the moment to enter the market again. The consensus among investors is that there will be no more rate increases this year and that they will be lowered from now on. If true, this would boost stock gains considerably. If not, a recession could be looming, which would punish the risky investor. These risks combined with fears of future banking failures create a situation where investors do not know which way to turn.2

NEW ALZHEIMER’S DRUG ACCESS LIMITED IN RURAL AREAS

The high demand for Alzheimer’s treatments is making it difficult for those in areas with little health infrastructure to get access to it. The new Alzheimer’s treatments Leqembi and Donanemab have been conditionally approved by the FDA in January and are soon to be determined whether they are cleared for full approval. Big hospitals are anticipating the full approval to pass and are actively investing in more neurologists and screening equipment to prepare themselves for the rush of patients. Smaller healthcare systems in rural areas are opting to wait until the drug is covered by Medicare to make it economically feasible. Because of the over 6.5 million Americans who are wanting this drug and few health centers who are developing the capabilities to prescribe it, there will be a large imbalance in the supply and demand making it difficult for many to get access to it.3

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The information contained in this post is general in nature and for informational purposes only. It should not be considered as investment advice or as a recommendation of any particular strategy or investment product. This post is not a solicitation or an offer to buy or sell any specific security. Plan Group Financial cannot guarantee the accuracy of information from third parties.

Citations:

https://www.wsj.com/market-data?mod=Markets_MDW_MDC

https://www.wsj.com/articles/investors-flock-to-safety-plays-but-stock-fomo-lingers-f821acbd?mod=trending_now_news_3

https://www.wsj.com/articles/access-to-new-alzheimers-drugs-might-depend-on-where-you-live-4829caed?mod=business_lead_pos6

05/05/2023

Great points by MIT Director Joseph Coughlin. As humans live longer and healthier lives, the traditional retirement period grows. This ever-increasing extension to the retirement period makes it necessary to make longevity a key consideration when planning for retirement.

The classic notion of retirement is incomplete. Americans should think about "longevity," which includes ice cream, lunch and light bulbs, one expert said.

05/04/2023

Any recent college graduate should get their personal finances in order as soon as possible, and parents can play a significant role in assisting their children in developing sound financial practices. Parents can use the following advice to assist their college graduate with their finances:

Motivate them to set up a budget: Assist your child in developing a practical budget that accounts for their income and outgoings. This can range from food and entertainment to rent and utilities.

Stress the value of saving: Encourage your child to begin saving by allocating a portion of their monthly income to savings. By doing so, they can start saving for long-term objectives like retirement and establishing an emergency fund.

Educate them on credit: Make sure your child is familiar with the fundamentals of credit, such as how to build good credit and stay out of debt. Think about assisting them in obtaining a credit card with a low limit and advising them to pay it off completely each month.

Talk about student loans: If your child has student loans, make sure they are aware of the conditions of their loans and the significance of making payments on time. If necessary, you can also assist them in looking into loan refinancing or consolidation options.

Encourage your child to seek financial advice: Think about setting up a meeting between your child and a financial advisor who can assist them in developing a long-term financial plan and offering advice on investment techniques.

While this advice is helpful, the best way to teach your child sound financial principles is to model them yourself. Maintaining healthy financial behaviors and communicating openly and honestly about money is one of the best ways to do this!

05/03/2023

Go out and make the world a little bit better today! 🙌

05/02/2023

THIS WEEK ON WALL STREET

This week has been focused on recent banking failures and the potentially rate-increasing Federal Open Market Committee meeting on Wednesday. The Dow Jones Industrial Average and the S&P 500 are up 0.87% this week, and the Nasdaq finished strong at 1.91% for the week.1

FIRST REPUBLIC BANK SEIZED AND SOLD TO JPMORGAN IN SECOND LARGEST U.S. BANK FAILURE

First Republic Bank has seen its depositors rapidly withdraw deposits for the last 3 months as interest rates have increased. This morning, the bank collapsed and was finally seized by regulators. The bank is to be sold to JPMorgan Chase, in which JPMorgan will assume all $92 billion in deposits as well as the purchase of $173 billion in loans and $30 billion in securities. The deal was structured by the FDIC to stabilize the financial system. JPMorgan is positioned to emerge from this crisis even larger, with them receiving over $50 billion in deposits after the recent March failures.2

NEXT RATE INCREASE – PUT ON PAUSE?

There is ambiguity as to how the Federal Reserve will proceed with rate increases at their next meeting this week. With the recent quarter percentage point increase to a range between 4.75% and 5%, the economy saw two substantial banking failures. Further rate increases could cause further harm to the financial sector. Nonetheless, the Fed still deems further rate increases are necessary to slow the economy and cap off inflation. As Wednesday approaches, the Fed will have to weigh these two concerns as well as investor outlook as they come to a decision.3

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The information contained in this post is general in nature and for informational purposes only. It should not be considered as investment advice or as a recommendation of any particular strategy or investment product. This post is not a solicitation or an offer to buy or sell any specific security. Plan Group Financial cannot guarantee the accuracy of information from third parties.

Citations:

https://www.wsj.com/market-data?mod=Markets_MDW_MDC

https://www.wsj.com/articles/first-republic-bank-is-seized-sold-to-jpmorgan-in-second-largest-u-s-bank-failure-5cec723

https://www.wsj.com/articles/fed-set-to-raise-interest-rates-to-16-year-high-and-debate-a-pause-860c8146?mod=hp_lead_pos1