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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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  • Financial Planning, Taxes
5 min read

Practical Ways to Protect Yourself Against Tax Fraud

Tax-related identity theft is a growing issue that has the potential to wreak havoc on your ability to grow and retain wealth over the course of your life. It happens when scammers use your personal information—such as your Social Security number—to file fraudulent tax returns and claim refunds in your name.
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  • Current & Economic Events, My Money & Me
6 min read

After the Election: Thoughts on Financial Priorities

Politics touches so many aspects of our lives, from our financial stability to the future we envision for our families, that it's natural to feel personally and directly impacted.
Close-up of a newspaper headline that reads "Fed rate cut." The text is printed in bold brown letters on a white background.
  • Investing
5 min read

What Federal Rate Cuts Mean for Investors

The Federal Reserve’s interest rate decisions remain a focal point for markets. While the timing and size of rate cuts are the subject of debate, why the central bank is cutting rates and how the full rate cut cycle might play out are far more important.
Image of U.S. currency overlaid on an American flag with a financial graph, symbolizing the intersection of economy and patriotism.
  • Taxes
6 min read

How Tax Proposals and the Election Impact Investors

There are questions about how changes to tax rates could impact both Wall Street and Main Street. What should investors know as we approach November 5th?
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  • Investing
6 min read

How Carry Trades and Market Fragility Impact Investors

Learn how financial leverage, Japanese carry trades, and market pullbacks all contribute to market fragility – and how that can impact investors.
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  • Retirement Planning
4 min read

How to Maximize Retirement Savings with Spousal IRAs

Learn about the tax benefits, contribution limits, and other ways that a Spousal IRA can help to optimize your financial future.
Close-up of a gold-framed analog clock showing the time as 10:11. The clock face features black hands, black numerals, and the word "Timex" printed on it.
  • Investing
6 min read

The Tyranny of the “Best” Decision

When is the best time to invest your money? The answer is that it's better to start now than to never start at all.
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  • Current & Economic Events, Investing
6 min read

How Dollar-Cost Averaging Can Help Investors Get Into the Market

There are investment methods for managing the emotions that come from market volatility. What should investors know about how they can stick to an investment plan through years and decades?
A vibrant graph displaying fluctuating financial data with an overall upward trend amidst a glowing background of bar graphs and bright lights.
  • Current & Economic Events, Investing
5 min read

What Dow 40,000 Means for Consumer Net Worth

The Dow Jones Industrial Average reached 40,000 for the first time recently as markets continue to rebound from a 5% decline earlier this year. While this has felt like a difficult year for many investors due to inflation, high interest rates, and growth concerns, the reality is that the broad market has achieved 23 new all-time highs. Other asset classes, including international stocks, commodities, and even gold, have surged alongside the U.S. stock market as interest rate expectations have fallen.
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  • Financial Planning, Investing
5 min read

Why Cash Is Not a Long-Term Investment

In times of market uncertainty, many investors seek the safety of cash. This has certainly been true over the past several years as markets have fluctuated dramatically due to the pandemic, geopolitical events, Fed rate hikes, inflation, gridlock in Washington, technology trends, and more. More recently, the possibility of worse-than-expected inflation and a delay of the anticipated Fed rate cut have led to renewed investor concerns. At the same time, interest rates on cash are at their highest levels in decades, making it appear that there are attractive “risk-free” returns. How should investors today really think about cash?
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  • Young Investors
4 min read

Tax Time! What to know about Capital Gains & Losses

It's everyone’s favorite time of year: tax time! As you're filing your taxes this year, you will undoubtedly be faced with a lot of tax lingo. It can be overwhelming if you are not familiar with the terminology. A common tax question is “did you buy or sell any assets this year?”. This question is really getting at the treatment of a capital gain or capital loss. Now, you may prefer to turn over the documents showing this information to your tax software or CPA, but understanding how a capital asset is taxed can help you make smart decisions during the tax year.
A straight road with "2024" and an arrow painted on it, surrounded by greenery under a cloudy sky with sunlight in the distance.
  • Current & Economic Events
6 min read

5 Insights for Your Investment Program in 2024

In 2023 markets reversed their 2022 performance with strong gains across both stocks and bonds. The S&P 500, Dow, and Nasdaq all generated exceptional returns last year: 26.3%, 16.2%, and 44.7% respectively (with reinvested dividends). The S&P has come full circle and is now only a fraction of a percentage point below the all-time high from exactly two years ago. The US 10-Year Treasury yield climbed as high as 5% in October before falling to end the year around 3.9%, pushing bond prices higher in the process.

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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