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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.
An older couple smiles, with the woman leaning her head on the man's shoulder. They are standing outdoors and wearing casual clothing.
  • Retirement Planning
5 min read

Do You Know Your RISA®? Retirement Income Style Awareness 

It’s a well-known fact that people come in all shapes, sizes, and dispositions. Take a close look around at any family reunion and you’ll see it: the crazy aunt who drives too fast and laughs all the time; the bespectacled cousin who always looks like he’s adding a column of numbers, even when he’s talking to you; the grandfather who thinks the sky is always falling; the middle-aged mom who seems to not have a care in the world. And the list goes on.  
A colorful hot air balloon with a checkered pattern floats against a clear blue sky with wispy clouds.
  • Current & Economic Events
3 min read

Light at the End of the Inflation Tunnel?

The latest inflation readings from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, released August 10, came as a relief to both financial markets and consumers, as they appeared to indicate some cooling off in the recent rapid rise in prices. The 8.5% rise in consumer prices came in below analysts’ expectations, largely as a result of lower energy prices. 
A large brown bear stands on grass with a rocky, vegetated backdrop. The bear is looking to the left side of the image.
  • Retirement Planning
4 min read

Waiting Out the Bear: Market Roundup

“How long?” That’s the question on many investors’ mind as we pass the halfway point of 2022. Since its highs last January, the broad equities market in the US, as measured by the S&P 500, fell just over 23% by mid-June, fulfilling the classic definition of a bear market. Since then, the index has clawed back about 6% of the loss, closing (at this writing) a bit below the 4,000 mark.
Illustration of two people tilting a large watering can to nourish a tree growing between two rocky cliffs under a clear blue sky.
  • Current & Economic Events, Saving & Budgeting
7 min read

So What’s Your Plan?

A lot of people are stressed out about a lot of things right now. Markets are down. Prices are up for many of the things we need to buy. News headlines about possible economic turmoil ahead are making it a confusing time to consider major financial decisions. Add to this the lingering stresses of the pandemic, the health of loved ones, and a job situation – and it makes for a pretty unsettling time.
An illustration of a bull and a bear on a seesaw, symbolizing market trends. Rising and falling bar charts with arrows support the background.
  • Current & Economic Events
5 min read

Special Update: How Investors Can Position for Bear Markets

The S&P 500 officially fell to bear market levels this week. Rapid inflation across the economy has affected consumers and businesses, raising questions about spending and corporate profits. These pressures have pushed interest rates higher across the curve, breaking a four-decade pattern of falling yields.
A set of Russian nesting dolls, also known as Matryoshka dolls, arranged with some open to show smaller dolls inside, featuring traditional painted floral designs.
  • My Money & Me
7 min read

Looking for success? Look inside the box inside the box.

Simple is good, right? If you want to get something, the direct approach is best. Yes, simple is good, but simplistic is not. Many times the straightforward approach gets you exactly the opposite of what you actually want. The world we live in is complex, largely unknown (to each individual in it), and full of feedback loops and consequences....
Illustration depicting the cycle of market emotions, including stages like optimism, excitement, euphoria, anxiety, fear, desperation, panic, capitulation, despondency, depression, hope, and relief.
  • Current & Economic Events
5 min read

What Defines a Recession? And Is a Soft Landing Possible?

One question at the forefront of investors' minds is whether the economy can achieve a so-called "soft landing" in the face of high inflation, rising interest rates, Fed rate hikes, geopolitical conflicts, and other challenges. A soft landing would require the economy to slow gradually without creating a downward spiral in consumer demand and business investment.
Photo by Jason Briscoe on Unsplash
  • Saving & Budgeting, Young Investors
9 min read

Ready to Buy Your First Home? Here’s What You Need to Know

Being a first-time homebuyer isn’t quite as easy as it looks—especially if you’re a young professional with a budding family, an emerging career, perhaps some student loans or consumer debt to tackle, and an ever-growing list of financial priorities vying for your paycheck.
Two people are sitting at a table with a laptop and documents, engaging in a conversation. One person is giving a thumbs-up sign, and both appear to be in a positive mood.
  • Young Investors
6 min read

Fall In Love With Your Finances

We may all be guilty of putting our finances on the backburner from time to time, especially when life gets hurried and there don’t seem to be enough hours in the day to, well… breathe! Between career responsibilities, family duties, and trying to remember to drink enough water (does coffee count as water?), your finances may deserve a little more love.
Hands holding a piggy bank with "Inherited IRA" written in red marker. Books, glasses, and a red marker cap are on the black wooden table.
  • Young Investors
4 min read

You’ve just inherited an IRA. Great. Now What?

Happy 40th birthday to the IRA! IRAs first became available to most of us in 1981, back when many retirees still had access to traditional pension plans. In those ensuing years, however, traditional pensions have become ever less common while so-called “defined contribution plans” (e.g., IRAs and 401(k)s) have taken their place as the predominant retirement savings vehicles.
A person interacts with a futuristic transparent touchscreen displaying "Long Term Goals" and various icons, with a global digital network background.
  • Current & Economic Events, Investing
5 min read

Why Investing Is Hard but Still Worth Doing in Today’s Market

For long-term investors, facing periods of geopolitical risk is unavoidable. Headlines on regional and global conflicts can be alarming since they disrupt the typical flow of business and market news. These events are also difficult to analyze and their outcomes challenging to predict. Of course, this doesn’t stop many short-term traders from talking about....
A woman with glasses, wearing a blue shirt, sits at a table in a kitchen, reading a document and using a calculator. A pink mug is on the table beside her.
  • Financial Planning
7 min read

Five Mistakes Women Make with Their Money

Over the past fifteen years I've had the pleasure of working with many smart and capable professional women. I've spoken with even more about their finances. Here are the biggest mistakes I've seen these smart women make with their money.

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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