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Insights from Griffin Black

Market wisdom and financial perspective for those who seek clarity. Read our latest analysis on wealth building, investment strategy, and planning for what matters most.
A colorful word cloud centered on "PERSONALITY" with words like "LOYAL," "MODEST," "ENTHUSIASTIC," "CLEVER," and "ELEGANT" in different sizes, surrounded by related terms in varying colors.
  • My Money & Me
4 min read

Does Your Personality Predict Your Wealth?

A recent article in the Wall Street Journal explores an intriguing proposition: “How Your Personality Can Affect Your Portfolio.” It’s worth paying attention to, especially given the effort that so many of us expend to improve our financial outcomes.
Illustration of hands holding insurance symbols: a car, family, and house under green umbrellas with words "Protection" and "Security.
  • Young Investors
8 min read

Risk Management: Protect What Matters Most

I have heard it before, ‘Insurance is a scam. I pay for it every month and yet I may never even use it!’ Buying insurance can often seem like an “extra” or a “nice to have” type of expense. After all, the only time most insurance pays is if something bad happens, right?
A smartphone displaying the U.S. Department of the Treasury website with the "Debt Limit" section open, against a background of hundred-dollar bills.
  • Current & Economic Events, Investing
5 min read

What the Looming Debt Ceiling Deadline Means for Investors

The federal debt limit is once again in the news as the country rapidly approaches a critical deadline on June 1st. Investors are understandably nervous about Washington failing to reach an agreement, a possibility that both sides agree would be self-inflicted damage. And while it's unclear how this will play out in the coming weeks, the fortunate news is that financial markets are mostly taking these events in stride. How can investors maintain the right perspective around political and fiscal uncertainty?
An elderly couple sits on a couch, looking concernedly at a smartphone and documents on the table in front of them, next to a laptop. They seem to be discussing something important.
  • My Money & Me
3 min read

The High Cost of Bad Financial Decisions

There is a good reason why money frustrates so many people. It frequently works in ways that are simply unnatural for our hunter-gatherer brains to grasp.
The facade of a building with "Federal Reserve" engraved on its wall. The structure is made of light-colored stone with decorative elements.
  • Current & Economic Events
5 min read

Why Oil, the Fed and Jobs Are Surprising Markets

There is an old saying that happiness equals reality minus expectations. This is particularly relevant when it comes to financial planning and investing during times of great uncertainty.
A stethoscope rests on top of several hundred-dollar bills placed on a wooden surface.
  • Financial Planning, My Money & Me
4 min read

Some Pro Tips for Your HSA and FSA Contributions in 2023

For 2023, the Internal Revenue Service has increased the allowable maximum contributions to health savings accounts (HSAs) and flexible spending accounts (FSAs). For HSAs, the new limit is $3,850 for single-individual plans and $7,750 for family plans. For FSAs, the new limit is $3,050 for healthcare plans, while the limit for dependent care plans remains unchanged at $5,000 per household. In addition to the new, higher limits for contributions, there are some points to consider for those using or considering the use of either an HSA or an FSA. Let’s take a look.
Image depicting a comparison between stocks and bonds, represented by two documents with graphs and charts, with the word "vs" in the middle.
  • Investing, Young Investors
6 min read

Taking Stock: Basic Vocabulary for Younger Investors

Have you ever heard people say things like, “The market was up today,” or “I just looked at the news, and my stocks are all down”? Or maybe you’ve seen headlines like “Investors Moving into Bonds as Rates Fall,” or “Index ETFs Gain in Popularity.” Maybe you’ve wondered about this unfamiliar language that other people seem to understand. Maybe you wish you understood more about it yourself.
Stone structure shaped like a classical bank building with the word "BANK" cracked and breaking apart.
  • Current & Economic Events
6 min read

Special Update: Navigating Bank Failures, Fed Rate Hikes, and Risks to the Financial System

The recent failure of three U.S. banks has raised concerns over the economy and financial system. The situation is still evolving and there is plenty of speculation as to what might come next. One recent development is that government officials from the Treasury, Federal Reserve, and FDIC have announced that depositors will be made whole in an effort to backstop the system and restore confidence.
A man holds a child on his back while another man high-fives the child outdoors.
  • Financial Planning, My Money & Me
4 min read

What Are You Really Worth? The Answer Is Probably Not on a Balance Sheet

At Griffin Black, we spend a lot of time thinking about our clients’ accounts. After all, our clients expect us to guide their investment strategies in a way that enables them to build wealth. But the most important conversations we have with our clients often center on matters that don’t boil down to dollars and cents. In fact, we’ve written previously about the importance of integrating your financial planning with the core priorities in your life: your “why,” in Simon Sinek’s terms.
A scattered assortment of American currency bills in various denominations, including $100, $50, $20, and $5 notes.
  • Current & Economic Events, My Money & Me
8 min read

Special Edition: Is My Money Safe?

The events of the past several days provide us all with an instructive backdrop for several important financial topics. Even folks who don’t routinely pay attention to financial goings-on are now likely to have heard about the collapse (and subsequent rescue) of Silicon Valley Bank. The first and most obvious of these is a reminder that stock investing always comes with risks. When the economy is booming and companies are doing well, it’s easy to forget about risk. But it’s always there. That’s why the first thing we think about when investing in the stock market is how to manage risk.
A smiling man and woman sit at a table with a laptop and notebook, looking at each other. The man holds eyeglasses, and there is a wooden shelf in the background.
  • Financial Planning, My Money & Me
5 min read

Decluttering Your Bottom Line: Financial Spring Cleaning

It’s an annual ritual in many American households: as the weather gradually begins to warm and the trees begin to bud, we open all the closets and dresser drawers, pulling out clothes and other items and sorting them into three piles—“keep,” “throw,” and “sell or give away.” It makes sense. Spring cleaning is one way that we make a periodic assessment, not just of our wardrobes, but also in our lives. It helps us get rid of what we don’t need so we can focus on what is most important. For many, it’s an emotional decluttering as much as a material one.
A hand arranges wooden letter blocks to spell "NEW JOB" on a wooden surface, surrounded by pencils, paper clips, and a binder clip.
  • Current & Economic Events, Investing, My Money & Me
4 min read

How Corporate Earnings Can Guide Long-Term Investors

While major stock market indices have rallied this year, investors continue to receive mixed signals from the economy, and that has made a lot of people nervous.

Griffin Black, LLC is an SEC registered investment adviser; registration does not imply skill or training. Content is for informational purposes only and is not investment, legal, tax, or accounting advice. No client relationship is created by viewing this site. Information is believed reliable but not guaranteed. Investing involves risk, including loss of principal; past performance does not guarantee future results. Any testimonials or ratings may not reflect all experiences and are not indicative of future outcomes. Additional information, including fees and services, is available in our Form ADV Part 2A.

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