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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.
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  • Taxes, Young Investors
6 min read

Uncle Sam’s Share: Smart Tax Basics

Benjamin Franklin said it a couple of hundred years ago, and it’s still true today: the two inevitabilities are death and taxes.
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  • Current & Economic Events, My Money & Me, Retirement Planning
4 min read

Big Changes for Retirement Accounts in Congress’s New Spending Bill

In December 2022, Congress passed a new spending bill which also contains many changes to retirement accounts. The changes are extensive, but here is a summary of specific changes that are most likely to impact you.
A pink piggy bank with a sad expression on a blue background.
  • Current & Economic Events, My Money & Me
4 min read

The Next Recession and You: Dealing with a “Pouting” Economy

It happens to all of us: waking up in a sour mood. The causes can be many. Maybe you went to sleep the night before, brooding about a problem at work. Maybe your family has gotten on your last nerve. Maybe you realized, as you staggered into the kitchen, that you forgot to get coffee at the store yesterday. For whatever reason, your day has gotten off on the wrong foot. Similarly, for much of the past year and continuing to the present, investors and other market-watchers are worried that the US economy is in a lousy mood. Once again, the causes are manifold: stubbornly high inflation and a resultingly hawkish Fed; rising interest rates (see also: “hawkish Fed”); increasing labor costs and a tight job market… the list could go on.
A man is sitting at a desk using a laptop with a child on his lap. There is a notebook and a coffee mug on the desk. The background shows shelves with various items.
  • My Money & Me
4 min read

Your Money or Your Life — Or Both

By now, most of us have at least heard of Simon Sinek and his maxim— which is also the title of his bestselling book—“Start with Why.” The main idea that Sinek has captured so effectively is that companies and people can achieve great success by truly understanding the purpose behind what they do, and then ordering all their efforts from that starting point. As Sinek puts it, “People don’t buy what you do; they buy why you do it.”
A white model car and a white model house are placed next to a burlap sack with a dollar symbol on it, set against a blurred background.
  • My Money & Me, Young Investors
8 min read

Viability of a Liability: Using Debt the Right Way

Depending on the “money culture” of the home you grew up in, it’s likely that you’ve encountered one of two attitudes toward debt: either you view it as a “slush fund” to be tapped when there’s something you want that you don’t have enough cash to buy; or you think of debt as an evil that must be avoided at all costs.
A man with a beard, wearing a denim shirt, stands indoors by a table, holding a clipboard and smiling. The background includes large windows and a potted plant.
  • Taxes
3 min read

Smart Year-End Tax Move: Convert to a Roth Account while Conversions Are “On Sale” 

Let’s be honest: It has not been a fun year in the markets. With the S&P 500 down more than 20% from its highs in January (and other major indices in similar territory), good news has been about as scarce as hen’s teeth. But they say that every cloud has a silver lining, and, as it turns out, there’s a bit of good news for investors, even when the markets are in the doldrums, as they are currently.
A family of four poses outdoors; the mother carries one child on her back, while the father carries the other. Everyone is smiling. Trees are in the background.
  • Financial Planning
6 min read

Raising Smart, Confident, and Financially Successful Kids

What is a parent’s role in raising smart, confident, and successful children? What matters? What doesn’t? Though author Margot Bisnow was the mother of two happy and driven entrepreneurial sons, these are questions she once never thought to ask. But then she interviewed 70 successful entrepreneurs – and their Moms – and found that many parents’ approach to ‘helping’ their children is counterproductive.
A group of people wearing blue shirts stand in a close huddle, with their arms around each other's shoulders, outdoors.
  • Taxes
3 min read

Year-End Strategies for Charitable Giving: 2022 Edition 

With the holidays just around the corner, it’s time to consider your year-end charitable giving options. A little advance planning now can save you money when it comes time to write your check to Uncle Sam, next April 15. We offer tips and ideas for maximizing the benefit to your favorite charity while minimizing the tax bite.
An elderly couple paddles a red canoe on a calm forest lake, surrounded by lush greenery.
  • Retirement Planning
4 min read

Retirement: Getting Beyond the Numbers  

The popular image of retirement tends to emphasize numbers: a balance in a 401(k) or IRA; a date on the calendar; a quantity of years with the company; a pension plan vesting schedule. For most of us, the questions we ask ourselves as we approach retirement also tend to focus on concepts of numbers and quantity: Do I have enough saved? How much debt should I pay off? What will my medical costs be? What kind of budget should I set? And on it goes. 
A woven basket filled with brown eggs is hanging beside lush green leaves in bright sunlight.
  • Investing
3 min read

When Concentration Isn’t Good for You 

We’ve all heard the adage: “Don’t put all your eggs in one basket.” In fact, this concept is the cornerstone of one of the most important concepts for successful long-term investing: diversification. But for a few years now, many investors have taken a different approach: “Put all your eggs in one basket, and watch that basket very carefully.”
A man wearing a plaid shirt and jeans sits on a car seat, fastening his seatbelt with a focused expression.
  • Current & Economic Events, Investing
4 min read

The Importance of Staying in Your Seat When the Roller Coaster is Moving

A key lesson to be learned from challenging market environments like these is that long-term investment success requires steadiness. It’s the price we pay for those 8% - 10% average long-term historical returns. And that’s why it's so important to never focus on or overreact to short-term market movements, especially over a single day.
A person stands in the distance on a large, white chessboard, with stacks of coins increasing in height along one side.
  • My Money & Me, Young Investors
5 min read

The Unmatched Power of Compound Interest

As financial advisors, we often talk about different tools investors can use to earn money, save money, and even protect their money. Some of these tools include access to alternative investment options, some are tax saving strategies, others are legacy protection techniques. But of all the tools we talk about, and of all the benefits different tools can offer, there is one that trumps them all.

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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