Tag Archives: Monthly Review

August 2023 Audio Video Review – The Brain Tests the Systems- Social Security Statement/Web View Reminder – Four Downgrades Reviewed – Financial Planning and Capital Market Review – By John Kvale CFA, CFP

Hello and Welcome to our August Financial Planning and Capital Market Update!

If you are too busy to read, feel free to listen as we describe our post and thoughts in friendly podcast audio format as well as Video!

BREAK IN: Donald the Brain WILL BE reviewing the Schwab TDA Merger information only one of 32k folks to be asked!

Newbies –

We like to articulate our thoughts and review on a Monthly basis our Financial Planning Tips, Capital Markets thoughts and current events!

Hope you enjoy!

August 2023 Video


YouTube

Financial Planning Tip(s)

Check that Social Security Statement no Matter your age

While a late delivery, we managed to remind all (including ourselves) why we need to review annually our Social Security statement, here in this post…. along with some new features from the SSA (Social Security Administration) in their updated website!

From the post:

Confirm your credits via your Earning History

Confirm you received credits for your hard earned money is very important, and easy…. here is what the screen shot look like – Below- oh, there are new drop downs for excellent help if your credits are not showing

Capital Market Comments

Not one, not two, not three …. but FOUR Downgrades with one called by ourselves – Tap Tap on the back

In this first post we commented that Fitch put a shot across the bow of the USA Credit Boat with a mild downgrade from AAA to AA+

Not to be outdone, another of the big three credit agencies, Moody’s chimed in as we discussed here

Then back into the pool goes Fitch with ANOTHER downgrade…. here we discussed Fitch’s second downgrade and mentioned we were surprised the One of the Big Three were silent….

BOOM that night of our above post, the other big three S&P Global Markets came to the party…. as we discussed here along with a timely fun YTD Bankruptcy Graph from our bud at Visual Capitalist

These downgrades among a couple of other items, not surprising, led to an upward push on rates… highlights to the far right…. already headed back to norms!

Have a Great Day, Talk to You at the End of September !

John A. Kvale CFA, CFP

Founder of J.K. Financial, Inc.

A Dallas Texas based fee only

Financial Planning Total Wealth

Management firm.

jkfinancialinc

street-cents

July 2023 Audio Video Review – RMD Reminder -AI – Cyber – FOMC on the Brakes – Financial Planning and Capital Market Review – By John Kvale CFA, CFP

Hello and Welcome to our July 2023 Financial Planning and Capital Market Update!

If you are too busy to read, feel free to listen as we describe our post and thoughts in friendly podcast audio format as well as Video!

Newbies –

We like to articulate our thoughts and review on a Monthly basis our Financial Planning Tips, Capital Markets thoughts and current events!

Hope you enjoy!

BREAK IN – CLIENTS – Early RMD

July 2023 Video


YouTube

Financial Planning Tip(s)

AI – Artificial Intelligence Update – Great but Not Saving the World

In this timely post (in our humble opinion – IMHO) we revisit the latest rage… AI – Artificial Intelligence – very similar to Dot.com in our opinion… So we try to clarify…

Oh… Here is a GREAT YouTube resource for explaining AI – Christopher Penn a Marketing Expert we have long followed

From the Post:

AI – Artificial Intelligence Today explained

Program assigns a number to all the words in the English Language – other languages too of course.

Cluster of huge computers located somewhere inexpensive scans everything it can get its eyes on, and tags the patterns of the numbers from the words it has scanned…

Not kidding, this is it!

Cyber Reminder –

They are at it again…. Watch out!

Capital Market Comments

Go Powell Go – Rates a 24 Year High – Both Feet On the Brakes!

Careful what we ask for….

Have a Great Day, Talk to You at the End of August !

John A. Kvale CFA, CFP

Founder of J.K. Financial, Inc.

A Dallas Texas based fee only

Financial Planning Total Wealth

Management firm.

jkfinancialinc

street-cents

June 2023 Audio Video Review -Student Loan Update – Candid Kaplan Review – Financial Planning and Capital Market Review – By John Kvale CFA, CFP

Hello and Welcome to our June 2023 Financial Planning and Capital Market Update!

If you are too busy to read, feel free to listen as we describe our post and thoughts in friendly podcast audio format as well as Video!

Newbies –

We like to articulate our thoughts and review on a Monthly basis our Financial Planning Tips, Capital Markets thoughts and current events!

Hope you enjoy!

June 2023 Video


YouTube

Financial Planning Tip(s)

Student Loan Update – No forgiveness – BUT story not over

Supreme knocks the loan forgiveness down – BUT plans continue – story not over !

There are plans to delay the repayments, what will be interesting to see if interest starts acrueing again and the end result of the forgiveness… stay tuned, likely not over!

Capital Market Comments

Robert Kaplan gets Candid – Accidentally Lets Rabbit out of the Hat

In a stumbled upon podcast, we discover some accidental VERY candid comments from former Dallas Federal Reserve chair, Robert Kaplan, here in this post.

  • There are still TONS of stimulus in the system – We new it!
  • Higher for Longer
  • Good Ole Boys Club – New it again!

Have a Great Day, Talk to You at the End of July !

John A. Kvale CFA, CFP

Founder of J.K. Financial, Inc.

A Dallas Texas based fee only

Financial Planning Total Wealth

Management firm.

jkfinancialinc

street-cents

May 2023 Audio Video Review – Buffet/Munger Words of Wisdom, Debt Ceiling, – Financial Planning and Capital Market Review – By John Kvale CFA, CFP

Hello and Welcome to our May 2023 Financial Planning and Capital Market Update!

If you are too busy to read, feel free to listen as we describe our post and thoughts in friendly podcast audio format as well as Video!

Newbies –

We like to articulate our thoughts and review on a Monthly basis our Financial Planning Tips, Capital Markets thoughts and current events!

Hope you enjoy!

May 2023 Video –


YouTube

Financial Planning Tip(s)

Berkshire Hathaway – Buffett Munger Words to Live By

In this post Charlie Munger and Warren Buffet are discussed in great details… along with a secret to speeding the time to listen (1.75x speed)…..

Main thoughts to live by from Charlie and Warren:

  • The world is full of foolish gamblers, and they will not do as well as the patient investor.
  • If you don’t see the world the way it is, it’s like judging something through a distorted lens.
  • All I want to know is where I’m going to die, so I’ll never go there. And a related thought:
    Early on, write your desired obituary – and then behave accordingly.
  • If you don’t care whether you are rational or not, you won’t work on it. Then you will stay
    irrational and get lousy results.
  • Patience can be learned. Having a long attention span and the ability to concentrate on one
    thing for a long time is a huge advantage.
  • There is no such thing as a 100% sure thing when investing. Thus, the use of leverage is dangerous. A string of wonderful numbers times zero will always equal zero.

Particularly added this as just last week, saw a review of the meeting that completely missed several of these points in my opinion.

Capital Market Comments

Debt Ceiling Fizzle- All done until after next elections

With several comments from the field, we spoke multiple times, here and here about the Debt Ceiling, the history and the most likely outcome…

Much of our confidence on the matter comes from our contacts that we have developed over the years that try to give us a 100% straight scoop as much as possible…. They could always be wrong, but being numbers folks, we go with the odds…

They were right, once again!

Have a Great Day, Talk to You at the End of June !

John A. Kvale CFA, CFP

Founder of J.K. Financial, Inc.

A Dallas Texas based fee only

Financial Planning Total Wealth

Management firm.

jkfinancialinc

street-cents

April 2023 Audio Video Review – Cyber Reminder, US Dollar Discussions, Chat GPT the modern .COM (Dot Com) – Financial Planning and Capital Market Review – By John Kvale CFA, CFP

Hello and Welcome to our April 2023 Financial Planning and Capital Market Update!

If you are too busy to read, feel free to listen as we describe our post and thoughts in friendly podcast audio format as well as Video!

Newbies –

We like to articulate our thoughts and review on a Monthly basis our Financial Planning Tips, Capital Markets thoughts and current events!

Hope you enjoy!

April 2023 Video –


YouTube

Financial Planning Tip(s)

Cyber – Fraud Reminder

In this post about cyber fraud and a reminder we point out where some 95% of all intrusions come from….

The trojan horse of clicking on a spam email!

Capital Market Comments

US Dollar Currency Status –

After hearing from four different directions …discussions of the US dollar and weaking in its status… the follow post was born

Likely overstated…but acknowledge there are surely effect from cutting a countries Swift code- (lifeline to wires)

True Foreigners, likely want a WEAKER US dollar – as its strength is not waning currently!

.COM and Chat GPT Comparisons

One of the neat things about staring so young in this industry and doing this for so long, is at a fairly young (this is subjective our course) age we get to recall and remanence about times of old….

…We all know what happened eventually, tons of .COM companies came public and expired in short order… BUT public companies learned by adding .COM to their name or services would drive the stock price up… many times in huge amounts…

.Com rhymes with Chat GPT – in almost every way…. but be sure to follow the revenues, not the narratives!

Have a Great Day, Talk to You at the End of April !

John A. Kvale CFA, CFP

Founder of J.K. Financial, Inc.

A Dallas Texas based fee only

Financial Planning Total Wealth

Management firm.

jkfinancialinc

street-cents

March 2023 – Financial Planning and Capital Market Review – Taxes, Corrected 1099, No Form Reminder – Coco Bonds Via Advanced Analysis, FOMC Pickle Situation Resolutions – Great Content Video By John Kvale CFA, CFP

Hello and Welcome to our March 2023 Financial Planning and Capital Market Update!

If you are too busy to read, feel free to listen as we describe our post and thoughts in friendly podcast audio format as well as Video!

Newbies –

We like to articulate our thoughts and review on a Monthly basis our Financial Planning Tips, Capital Markets thoughts and current events!

Hope you enjoy!

March 2023 Video –


YouTube

Financial Planning Tip(s)

Taxes – Corrected 1099 Down to a Trickle – Reminder

We reminded here earlier in the month and some what pounded our chest that additional Corretions would come…. well … they did, and we have notified all effected,

We left the following in from last months review due to its importance!

IRS Pointer and J.K. Financial, Inc. Important Reminder too

” … We would add, just because you did not receive a tax notice, DOES NOT mean the IRS did not and is looking for the appropriate notation on your tax return (Huge amount of time this occurs with cashing Series EE bonds) … a missing item is an easy automated paper letter audit….and as mentioned here absolutely requires a response …”

Cyber Security & Dall-E-2 (Combo Review)

We reminded once again here, about an abundance of spam and cyber threats coming through the email system…. just by chance a four hour update in person visit with pro’s on the subject was attended and they mentioned a lot of great points that we will dig deeper into soon, but interestingly the subject of AI (Artificial Intelligence) came up as a warning during our Cyber review as well…. recall we rolled out detailed comments here on the subject, with WAY more to come soon!

Capital Market Comments

Coco Pickle ? Huh – (A Second Combo post review)

In our continued and somewhat surprisingly fast accumulating Advanced Analysis Series – this time it was the CoCo Bond (it is so hard not to jump in feet first with a Cereal reference- too serious of a subject) digressing…. Tied into these explanations along with our Pilot Advanced Analysis via M2 was the FOMC (Federal Open Market Committee) decision to raise interest rates again, even with some confidence in banks concern, which we also spoke of as well… Wow all of this tied together quickly!

Have a Great Day, Talk to You at the End of April !

John A. Kvale CFA, CFP

Founder of J.K. Financial, Inc.

A Dallas Texas based fee only

Financial Planning Total Wealth

Management firm.

jkfinancialinc

street-cents

February 2023 – Financial Planning and Capital Market Review – Tax Preparation(s) and Reminders – ODTE’S (What?) – Advanced Analysis Series – When Good Economic News is Bad – By John Kvale CFA, CFP

Hello and Welcome to our February 2023 Financial Planning and Capital Market Update!

If you are too busy to read, feel free to listen as we describe our post and thoughts in friendly podcast audio format as well as Video!

Newbies –

We like to articulate our thoughts and review on a Monthly basis our Financial Planning Tips, Capital Markets thoughts and current events!

Hope you enjoy!

February 2023 Video –


YouTube

Financial Planning Tip(s)

All About Taxes or the Getting Ready for the Processing of Personal 1040’s

Corrected 1099 Reminder

Just last Friday we reminded of the Corrected 1099 time frames …. and NOT to rush your taxes if you have after tax accounts that generate the all encompassing 1099 Misc and Int Tax Forms ….

With originals due on or around the end of February …. aka NOW – hah The good ole Corrected’s are a few weeks out yet… not to worry we will let you know who those lucky ones are that get a Corrected and a headcount that let’s us know if those early planners/filers may be safe to go forward !

IRS Pointer and J.K. Financial, Inc. Important Reminder too

Also, early in the month here, which may seem like and eternity ago (or not) we highlighted an IRS heads up email about prepping for Taxes AND we added our most important thought, which has come into play multiple times already this season…hence the happy repeat and acknowledgment :

” … We would add, just because you did not receive a tax notice, DOES NOT mean the IRS did not and is looking for the appropriate notation on your tax return (Huge amount of time this occurs with cashing Series EE bonds) … a missing item is an easy automated paper letter audit….and as mentioned here absolutely requires a response …”

Capital Market Comments – Advanced Analysis Series Begins

ODTE’S — Zero Dated to Expire Options – Part Two of our Advanced Analysis Series

Here in this Post we talk about a VERY heavy topic …. ODTE (Zero Dated to Expire Options) their unusual quantities, as well as their possible Capital Market manipulation …. not only that, but this post also is Part 2 of our Multiple part series that we intend to do this year… in addition, here is a screencast video during market hours to help explain our point too…

When “Good” News can be Bad – Fast Economic Reminders

In another reminder like post, here we speak of when “Good” News can be seen as bad due to the FOMC (Federal Open Market Committee) attempt to slow the economy…

The good news is from this report lots of jobs and more than expected…. Bad News… Fed may continue to be aggressive in slowing the economy… aka Higher short term rates…

Two year at the time was 4.41% now 4.81% a LARGE move for such a short term of 2 years!

Have a Great Day, Talk to You at the End of March!

John A. Kvale CFA, CFP

Founder of J.K. Financial, Inc.

A Dallas Texas based fee only

Financial Planning Total Wealth

Management firm.

jkfinancialinc

street-cents

January 2023 – YES Already One Month Down – Financial Planning and Capital Market Review – Roth Donation – Homestead – Contra Rally reminder – By John Kvale CFA, CFP

Hello and Welcome to our January 2023 … YEP 2023 !!! Financial Planning and Capital Market Update!

If you are too busy to read, feel free to listen as we describe our post and thoughts in friendly podcast audio format as well as Video!

Newbies –

We like to articulate our thoughts and review on a Monthly basis our Financial Planning Tips, Capital Markets thoughts and current events!

Hope you enjoy!

New Laptop – Looks Like the Old One – But not so much!

January 2023 Video – Note New Intro and Theme Music


YouTube

Financial Planning Tip(s)

Give a kid/Young Adult a Roth if they Meet the restrictions

By blending a couple of Tax laws and having at least $6500 in earnings, a young adult may be just the right recipient of a gift, but to a Roth Retirement plan rather than for spending….

Gifts up to $17k per person are free of gift/estate tax issues – blend that with at least the Roth amount of earnings and a donation directly to a Roth can be a super gift, all of which we discuss here in our January post!

Purchase a New Home last Year – Check that Homestead Exemption

In one of our annual reminders, in this post we once again remind those that purchase a new home last year, that if they are in the home as of January 1 in most/many cases, you may be eligible for a Homestead Deduction aka – Property tax savings….

We also updated a large but not complete slew of state related adjustments – thanks Wikipedia!

Capital Market Comments

Watch the Contra Rally – They can be very deceiving!

With a suddenly happy faced Capital Market, we remind ourselves and everyone else Contra Rallies can seem very soothing, but often times their main result is to have you let your guard down and draw one into a sudden overconfident situation… NO biting…

Have a Great Day, Talk to You at the End of February!

John A. Kvale CFA, CFP

Founder of J.K. Financial, Inc.

A Dallas Texas based fee only

Financial Planning Total Wealth

Management firm.

jkfinancialinc

street-cents

December 2022 Financial Planning and Capital Market Review – Secure Act 2.0 – By John Kvale CFA, CFP

Hello and Welcome to our December 2022 … Financial Planning and Capital Market Update!

If you are too busy to read, feel free to listen as we describe our post and thoughts in friendly podcast audio format as well as Video!

Newbies –

We like to articulate our thoughts and review on a Monthly basis our Financial Planning Tips, Capital Markets thoughts and current events!

Hope you enjoy!

December 2022 Video


YouTube

Financial Planning Tip(s)

Secure Act 2.0 – Passed on 12-27-22 Quietly …. Shhhhh we are working through the details

On December 27, 2022 a HUGE bill … over 4000 pages, was passed…. while not sweeping in our neck of the woods, there is one main adjustment….

RMD – Required Minimum Distributions are pushed out again to age 73! Not Kidding!

Capital Market Comments

Rate Increase – Fed Raised rates for the Holidays

In December the FOMC (Federal Open Market Committee) led by Jerome Powell raised rates, but only by .50% … but it was a raise…

Have a Great Day, Talk to You at the End of January – Happy 2023!

John A. Kvale CFA, CFP

Founder of J.K. Financial, Inc.

A Dallas Texas based fee only

Financial Planning Total Wealth

Management firm.

jkfinancialinc

street-cents

November 2022 Financial Planning and Capital Market Review – RMD’s and Rate Review – By John Kvale CFA, CFP

Hello and Welcome to our November 2022 … Financial Planning and Capital Market Update!

If you are too busy to read, feel free to listen as we describe our post and thoughts in friendly podcast audio format as well as Video!

Newbies –

We like to articulate our thoughts and review on a Monthly basis our Financial Planning Tips, Capital Markets thoughts and current events!

Hope you enjoy!

November 2022 Video

YouTube

Financial Planning Tip(s)

RMD’s (Required Minimum Distributions) not taken can be taxed at 50%

In this reminder post (somewhat meant to frighten) we notify everyone, PLEASE do not delay in your RMD’s as the IRS is readily funded with new staff and the penalty is 50% of the amount not taken if they so desire….

Also with a continued bottle neck lack of workers …. many financial firms are on a “Best Effort” processing as of December 1! Gone are the last minute days of RMD’s act now!

Capital Market Comments

Rate Increase Discussions from “First Time in Long Time Conference”

Happily attending the first conference in over four years, the topic of interest rates came up, especially since a .75% rate increase occurred DURING the conference….

In this post, a chance meeting with Liz Ann Saunders … long time macro market strategist… we share our common thoughts on the fact the FOMC (Federal Open Market Committee) led by Powell are steadfast in their goals to slow the economy i.e. Slow consumption …. no matter what is takes…

Fort the record while short term rates are holding fast at a higher level, longer term rates have slowed their increases…. More on this as it plays out….

Have a Great Day, Talk to You at the End of December – Wow That Came Fast!

John A. Kvale CFA, CFP

Founder of J.K. Financial, Inc.

A Dallas Texas based fee only

Financial Planning Total Wealth

Management firm.

jkfinancialinc

street-cents