We wanted to share an update on the ongoing debt ceiling negotiations. The most up-to-date reports are that President Biden’s White House and the Republican House leadership appear to be moving closer toward an agreement. As reported by the New York Times this morning, the two sides look to be coalescing around “a deal that would raise the debt limit for …
Cybersecurity Best Practices
In today’s digital age, cybersecurity has become a major concern for individuals and businesses alike. With the increasing prevalence of cyberattacks, it’s more important than ever to know cybersecurity best practices to protect ourselves and our data. So, how can we best do that? We think about this question frequently at Park Piedmont. We take cybersecurity seriously, and we’re continuously …
Ongoing Market Recoveries Against a Backdrop of Uncertainty
The broad stock and bond markets experienced ongoing recoveries against a backdrop of uncertainty in April. US stocks have risen almost 8% for the year, with developed markets up 10% and developing markets up 3%. The 10-year US Treasury rate has declined from 3.88% at the beginning of the year to 3.44% at the end of April, and in turn …
What the Debt Limit Might Mean for Investors
The subject of the United States debt limit has been in the news, and we want to discuss both what it is and what it might mean for you as investors. What is the debt limit? The United States has for many years maintained a debt limit, which provides a ceiling for how much money the federal government can borrow to …
The Hidden Curriculum of Money
My grandfather never invested in the stock market. It seemed to him that investing was an awful lot like gambling. And gambling was a sin, so if A = B and B = C … investing in the stock market must be sinful too. The way my dad tells it, he’s not entirely sure his parents would have had money to invest anyway. They had five kids, …
How Intelligent Financial Guidance Can Help Beat Burnout
One of the values that Vic instilled in our PPA team is the importance of reading the news every day. This has become an important part of our respective daily routines – waking up, making a cup of coffee, and browsing a variety of news resources before beginning our workday. Not too long ago, in the middle of this routine …
Market Gains Across the Board
After the large declines from 2022 in both the stock and bond markets, the first quarter of 2023 showed market gains across the board. US stocks rose 7%, developed country international almost 8%, and emerging markets international 3.5%. With the 10-year Treasury interest rate declining from 3.88% at the end of 2022 to 3.48% on 3/31/23, bond prices – which …
Think Like a Freak
I’m a relative latecomer to podcasts. I had heard a lot about them, of course, but hadn’t really tried them out until the last year or so. (I’m a notorious late-adopter of pretty much all new media and technology.) We started with Serial, and then moved on to Office Ladies, featuring Jenna Fisher and Angela Kinsey dissecting each episode of …
Which Education Saving Plan Makes the Most Sense for Your Family?
If you’re a parent, or even contemplating becoming one, you know that starting a family leads to all kinds of “firsts.” For many, it’s the first time you’ve sought out financial planning services. Life insurance, wills, trusts, saving for college – all of these can feel complex, maybe even a little overwhelming. So, in this week’s Life with Money, our focus is …
Making Sense of the Recent Bank Failures
Recent economic and financial news has left many heads spinning and brought back reminders of the 2007-2009 financial crisis. To help you make sense of the recent bank failures, below we provide an overview of economic events, share our current assessment, and take a look at the bigger picture. Current Economic Events Here are a few of the main events …