Our Insights
Financial Enhancement Group (FEG) is a wealth management firm based in Central Indiana with offices in Indianapolis, Lafayette, Anderson, and Rensselaer, as well as Bozeman, MT and Sonoma County, CA This page is updated with insightful posts on tax strategies, retirement planning, investing, and the economy. We invite you to read our articles to stay informed on the current and changing financial climate and share this information with your friends and family.
Consider This… Radio Show 10/10/2015
Here is this week’s radio show, hosted by Joe Clark, CFP with Sherri Contos. Why the fuss over interest rates. The S&P 500 and corporate earnings. The backdoor Roth IRA. Fees for mutual funds higher than you'd expect. https://youtu.be/MUn3nz6GDAc...
Consider This… Radio Show 10/3/2015
Here is this week’s radio show, hosted by Joe Clark, CFP with Sherri Contos. What we can learn from Volkswagen and understanding risks. Roth IRAs and the two C's. Where to take income from different types of accounts. Handing your finances when a spouse passes away....
What We Can Learn From Volkswagen
[vc_row][vc_column width="1/4" offset="vc_hidden-xs"][vc_widget_sidebar sidebar_id="sidebar-main"][/vc_column][vc_column width="3/4"][vc_column_text] This has been a tough week for Volkswagen. The company shed more than a third of its market capitalization at one...
Consider This… Radio Show 9/26/2015
Here is this week’s radio show, hosted by Joe Clark, CFP with Sherri Contos. https://youtu.be/eiIU53XHH00
Consider This… Radio Show 9/19/2015
Here is this week’s radio show, hosted by Joe Clark, CFP with Sherri Contos. https://youtu.be/9hxSCVecR_A
Beware of Auto-Pilot Investing
[vc_row][vc_column width="1/4" offset="vc_hidden-xs"][vc_widget_sidebar sidebar_id="sidebar-main"][/vc_column][vc_column width="3/4"][vc_column_text] My first airplane ride was in 1988. I remember the anxiety. It was thrilling! My new bride and I went through...
Consider This… Radio Show 9/12/2015
Here is this week’s radio show, hosted by Joe Clark, CFP with Sherri Contos. What to look for when reading your tax return. Why investment statements look different based on the type of account. Should you refinance your house? Things to consider when deciding if...
What the rich know that you don’t: 5 secret saving tips
Below is an article that FEG's Joe Clark was recently quoted in for the USA Today, discussing retirement planning strategies. The rich, it bears repeating, are different from you and me. They, for instance, get to learn about little-known, but highly effective...
When It Comes to The Stock Market: A Time For Holding & A Time For Selling
[vc_row][vc_column width="1/4" offset="vc_hidden-xs"][vc_widget_sidebar sidebar_id="sidebar-main"][/vc_column][vc_column width="3/4"][vc_column_text] Investing triggers many emotions; especially when investors have a personal attachment to a company and its stock. For...
Consider This… Radio Show 9/5/2015
Here is this week’s radio show, hosted by Joe Clark, CFP with Sherri Contos. Market volatility and what to do about it. Insurance illustrations and what they mean. Retirement planning blunders. Case study for retirement planning. https://youtu.be/AAq6dQbMbfg...
Economies and Equities – Relatively Speaking
[vc_row][vc_column width="1/4" offset="vc_hidden-xs"][vc_widget_sidebar sidebar_id="sidebar-main"][/vc_column][vc_column width="3/4"][vc_column_text] I don't purport to be Einstein, but a clever wordsmith could connect “relativity” with happenings in the equity...
Picking Stocks Can be Like Picking a Diamond
[vc_row][vc_column width="1/4" offset="vc_hidden-xs"][vc_widget_sidebar sidebar_id="sidebar-main"][/vc_column][vc_column width="3/4"][vc_column_text] June remains the most popular month for weddings, but August, September and October are all busy months for nuptials. ...
Consider This… Radio Show 8/22/2015
Here is this week’s radio show, hosted by Joe Clark, CFP with Sherri Contos. https://youtu.be/2M903hbhQc8
Consider This… Radio Show 8/15/15
Here is this week’s radio show, hosted by Joe Clark, CFP with Sherri Contos. https://youtu.be/3uVhoiJPhJ0
Consider This… Radio Show 8/1/2015
Here is this week’s radio show, hosted by Joe Clark, CFP with Sherri Contos. https://youtu.be/vhw6k5JtGNs
Turbulent Markets Ahead?
[vc_row][vc_column width="1/4" offset="vc_hidden-xs"][vc_widget_sidebar sidebar_id="sidebar-main"][/vc_column][vc_column width="3/4"][vc_column_text] Hoosiers are familiar with weather warnings. A tornado watch means conditions are ripe for a funnel cloud. A tornado...
Consider This… Radio Show 7/25/2015
Here is this week’s radio show, hosted by Joe Clark, CFP with Sherri Contos. 1. Safe families and gifting appreciated stock. 2. Starting a business. 3. Thoughts on Risk. https://youtu.be/2IaCKGgKbqA
Investing and Information Overload
[vc_row][vc_column width="1/4" offset="vc_hidden-xs"][vc_widget_sidebar sidebar_id="sidebar-main"][/vc_column][vc_column width="3/4"][vc_column_text] When it comes to our financial nest eggs, we all want to make the best decisions possible. Scouring information...
Consider This… Radio Show 7/11/2015
Here is this week’s radio show, hosted by Joe Clark, CFP with Sherri Contos. 1. Having a plan for what you own and when it's time to sell. 2. There's more to the market than Greece! https://youtu.be/avlRnUIsU-w
Four Guiding Thoughts for Your 401k
[vc_row][vc_column width="1/4" offset="vc_hidden-xs"][vc_widget_sidebar sidebar_id="sidebar-main"][/vc_column][vc_column width="3/4"][vc_column_text] Participants in 401k plans must consider many choices such as what percentage of earnings to save, whether to select a...
Consider This… Radio Show 7/4/15
Here is this week’s radio show, hosted by Joe Clark, CFP with Sherri Contos. https://youtu.be/R61SBKiTiyE
Before You Buy – Questions Homebuyers Should Consider
[vc_row][vc_column width="1/4" offset="vc_hidden-xs"][vc_widget_sidebar sidebar_id="sidebar-main"][/vc_column][vc_column width="3/4"][vc_column_text] June may be National Homeownership Month, but housing is a perennial topic of interest. For most of us, our home is...
Consider This… Radio Show 6/20/2015
Here is this week’s radio show, hosted by Joe Clark, CFP with Sherri Contos. 1. Passive vs. active investing, unrealized vs. realized (recognized) gains, and producing 'controlled' income. 2. 'Phantom' capital gains. 3. Gen X will be the first generation to live off...
Important Questions Every New Graduate Must Address
[vc_row][vc_column width="1/4" offset="vc_hidden-xs"][vc_widget_sidebar sidebar_id="sidebar-main"][/vc_column][vc_column width="3/4"][vc_column_text] Congratulations, graduates! You’ve landed your first job and entered the real world. But that doesn’t mean there...
Consider This… Radio Show 6/13/15
Here is this week’s radio show, hosted by Joe Clark, CFP with Sherri Contos. This week we aired a compilation of segments from prior shows. https://youtu.be/IpC1EDVQPc8
Managing Inflation and Other Retirement Fears
[vc_row][vc_column width="1/4" offset="vc_hidden-xs"][vc_widget_sidebar sidebar_id="sidebar-main"][/vc_column][vc_column width="3/4"][vc_column_text] Many of us feared monsters hiding in the closet or under our childhood beds. And while such fears are usually...
Consider This… Radio Show 6/6/15
Here is this week’s radio show, hosted by Joe Clark, CFP with Sherri Contos. 1. Five things to ask your parents - making sure they have their things in order. 2. Target date funds and why paying for extra advice makes more sense. 3. How much life insurance do you...
Should You DIY Your Investment Strategy?
[vc_row][vc_column width="1/4" offset="vc_hidden-xs"][vc_widget_sidebar sidebar_id="sidebar-main"][/vc_column][vc_column width="3/4"][vc_column_text] We all know someone with a natural gift for repairing what’s broken. Those of us not blessed with this handy talent...
Consider This… Radio Show 5/30/2015
Here is this week’s radio show, hosted by Joe Clark, CFP with Sherri Contos. 1. What type of assets should you be considering when giving to a charity? 2. How stocks can be used in generating income. 3. Why working with an independent financial advisor matters. 4....
Consider This… Radio Show 5/23/2015
[vc_row][vc_column width="1/4" offset="vc_hidden-xs"][vc_widget_sidebar sidebar_id="sidebar-main"][/vc_column][vc_column width="3/4"][vc_column_text] Here is this week’s radio show, hosted by Joe Clark, CFP with Sherri Contos. 1. Growth in assets flowing to hedge...
Consider This… Radio Show 5/16/2015
Here is this week’s radio show, hosted by Joe Clark, CFP with Sherri Contos. 1. Reviewing the technical charts of the market with FEG's Andrew Thrasher, CMT. Discussing seasonality and what he's seeing right now. 2. Is your retirement planner crazy? Thoughts...
Retirement is About More than money
As I write today’s column, I’m ending seven years of teaching financial planning at Purdue University. No, it does not mark my retirement from the financial services industry but it does evoke a substantial amount of emotion. As I walked the halls of the hallowed...
An Increase In A False Sense of Safety in the Stock Market
[vc_row][vc_column width="1/4" offset="vc_hidden-xs"][vc_widget_sidebar sidebar_id="sidebar-main"][/vc_column][vc_column width="3/4"][vc_column_text] The NASDAQ index finally topped its previous closing record set on March 10, 2000. It took 15 long years and the...
Consider This… Radio Show 4/25/2015
Here is this week’s radio show, hosted by Joe Clark, CFP with Sherri Contos. 1. It's not how much money you make but rather how you manage it, looking at the number of NFL players who have filed for bankruptcy. 2. Discussing Bill Polian and the Colts training camp....
Budgeting for Vacation
[vc_row][vc_column width="1/4" offset="vc_hidden-xs"][vc_widget_sidebar sidebar_id="sidebar-main"][/vc_column][vc_column width="3/4"][vc_column_text] Kids are starting to longingly look out the windows of their classrooms as the grass becomes green again and the...
Consider This… Radio Show 4/25/2015
Here is this week’s radio show, hosted by Joe Clark, CFP with Sherri Contos. https://youtu.be/xUZpYWz3uGk
Defined Benefit or Defined Contribution?
[vc_row][vc_column width="1/4" offset="vc_hidden-xs"][vc_widget_sidebar sidebar_id="sidebar-main"][/vc_column][vc_column width="3/4"][vc_column_text] Employers typically offer two primary retirement account options – a “defined contribution” plan and a “defined...
Consider This…. Radio Show 4/18/2015
Here is this week’s radio show, hosted by Joe Clark, CFP with Sherri Contos. https://youtu.be/_LTXrLoXhfc
Consider This…. Radio Show 4/12/2015
Here is this week’s radio show, hosted by Joe Clark, CFP with Sherri Contos. https://youtu.be/gQxUJ3BbAdQ
How Healthy is Your 401k? Look Beyond the Balance
[vc_row][vc_column width="1/4" offset="vc_hidden-xs"][vc_widget_sidebar sidebar_id="sidebar-main"][/vc_column][vc_column width="3/4"][vc_column_text] According to a recent CNBC report, the average 401k balance in America is just $18,000. Based on this low average...
Consider This…. Radio Show 4/5/2015
Here is this week’s radio show, hosted by Joe Clark, CFP with Sherri Contos. https://www.youtube.com/embed/tZ9dukJNuWo
Can Your Financial Plan Survive an Unexpected Storm?
[vc_row][vc_column width="1/4" offset="vc_hidden-xs"][vc_widget_sidebar sidebar_id="sidebar-main"][/vc_column][vc_column width="3/4"][vc_column_text] Great financial planning requires two opposing skill sets: First, investors must be very focused on their end...
Faith and Finance: Wisdom from Rev. Billy Graham
[vc_row][vc_column width="1/4" offset="vc_hidden-xs"][vc_widget_sidebar sidebar_id="sidebar-main"][/vc_column][vc_column width="3/4"][vc_column_text] We live in a fast-moving world. Our tax code is fluid, investment markets can move more than a percent in moments, and...
It’s Now Cheaper to Buy Oil Than Lemonade
[vc_row][vc_column width="1/4" offset="vc_hidden-xs"][vc_widget_sidebar sidebar_id="sidebar-main"][/vc_column][vc_column width="3/4"][vc_column_text] It’s hard to ignore the massive decline in the price of a barrel of oil. The last few weeks have seen crude prices...
Consider This…. Radio Show 3/15/2015
Here is this week’s radio show, hosted by Joe Clark, CFP with Sherri Contos. 1. The financial audit - What should you be looking for? 2. Where have all the earnings gone andw hat need to you consider with your investments. 3. Questions asked on twitter and by Joe's...
The U.S. Equity Chart We Are Keeping An Eye On Right Now
[vc_row][vc_column width="1/4" offset="vc_hidden-xs"][vc_widget_sidebar sidebar_id="sidebar-main"][/vc_column][vc_column width="3/4"][vc_column_text] Starting in late February we began to see some warning signs for the short-term movement in U.S. equities. While the...
Walking the Tightrope With The Market’s Valuation
[vc_row][vc_column width="1/4" offset="vc_hidden-xs"][vc_widget_sidebar sidebar_id="sidebar-main"][/vc_column][vc_column width="3/4"][vc_column_text] The month of February ushered in two key valuation milestones for the market (S&P 500). First, the Shiller...
Risk Management and the Investor’s Journey
[vc_row][vc_column width="1/4" offset="vc_hidden-xs"][vc_widget_sidebar sidebar_id="sidebar-main"][/vc_column][vc_column width="3/4"][vc_column_text] Bad road conditions often produce wrecks; but not always. With the exception of chronic worriers, most of us don’t...
Consider This…. Radio Show 3/7/2015
Here is this week’s radio show, hosted by Joe Clark, CFP with Sherri Contos. 1. The audit – What should you be looking for? 2. Colts training camp and Bill Polian – Can you be loyal to a fault? 3. Questions submitted by listeners and Joe’s Purdue students. 4. How...
Understanding Your 401K Options
Life goes by quickly. The tax code is fluid and there are only so many hours in a day. A lack of time can tempt people to reduce their investment decisions to the lowest common element. But be wary of falling into silo thinking or compartmentalizing information....
Consider This…. Radio Show 2/28/2015
Here is this week’s radio show, hosted by Joe Clark, CFP with Sherri Contos. http://youtu.be/RTTWlB7mCJg Want to learn more about how FEG can help you plan for retirement? Check out our website!
A Call for Transparency in the Financial Services Industry
[vc_row][vc_column width="1/4" offset="vc_hidden-xs"][vc_widget_sidebar sidebar_id="sidebar-main"][/vc_column][vc_column width="3/4"][vc_column_text] Everyone has a fiduciary. Either you serve in that role or you hire someone to perform fiduciary duties. Fancy words...
Consider This… Radio Show 2/21/15
1. Hiking analogy – Want to pack as light as possible (fewest number of accounts, least complex, fiduciary focus) and yet have everything you need. 2. The airplane ride – The three phases of finance and the snap shot vs the journey 3. The difference between fees and...
Balancing Yield & Tax Considerations In Your Portfolio
[vc_row][vc_column width="1/4" offset="vc_hidden-xs"][vc_widget_sidebar sidebar_id="sidebar-main"][/vc_column][vc_column width="3/4"][vc_column_text] As the world’s most tracked stock index, the S&P 500 was never intended to be an investment guidance tool....
Consider This… Radio Show 2/14/15
Here is this week’s radio show, hosted by Joe Clark, CFP with Sherri Contos. True diversification vs illusions of diversification. Things to ponder before retirement including what questions to ask of your advisor. Retirement check up: how you doing, compared to...
Planning for Physical and Fiscal Fitness
[vc_row][vc_column width="1/4" offset="vc_hidden-xs"][vc_widget_sidebar sidebar_id="sidebar-main"][/vc_column][vc_column width="3/4"][vc_column_text] Waking up early and heading to the gym is tough. But once the workout is over, the payoff is often a tremendous energy...
Consider This…. Radio Show From 2/7/15
Here is this week’s radio show, hosted by Joe Clark, CFP with Sherri Contos. We hope you enjoy! http://youtu.be/C3SHWciz4i8 Want to learn more about how FEG can help you plan for retirement? Check out our website!
A Gifting Strategy for Tax Savings
[vc_row][vc_column width="1/4" offset="vc_hidden-xs"][vc_widget_sidebar sidebar_id="sidebar-main"][/vc_column][vc_column width="3/4"][vc_column_text] The current tax code allows U.S. taxpayers to make financial gifts of up to $14,000 to any other U.S. citizen for...
The Tough Decisions Companies Make with Earnings
[vc_row][vc_column width="1/4" offset="vc_hidden-xs"][vc_widget_sidebar sidebar_id="sidebar-main"][/vc_column][vc_column width="3/4"][vc_column_text] Business CEOs and their boards must make many decisions: Where do they invest in their business? Do they add new...