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Welcome to the MSA Financial blog! Our goal is to help educate and inform you about financial markets by providing our thoughts and opinions on current events, the markets and industry trends. We are happy to have you reading along and hope that we can assist you on your journey to financial success.


Wednesday, September 27, 2023

In light of the recent cyberattack in Las Vegas, I want to address an increasingly critical issue in today's digital age: cybersecurity. Hackers are increasingly using a tactic known as "social engineering," which involves hacking...

Wednesday, September 13, 2023

Medicare - and it's many parts - can be challenging to navigate. Join us for this educational webinar to better understand Medicare.

Wednesday, September 6, 2023

If you've heard CEOs mention "A.I." multiple times during second-quarter conference calls, you're not imagining it. There have been an astounding 1,072 mentions of A.I. (and counting) so far.1 Some believe that A.I. has the potential...

Thursday, August 31, 2023

As we approach the back-to-school season, I wanted to discuss an important topic that might be on your mind: the cost of education. Whether you have children or grandchildren preparing for college or considering furthering your...

Wednesday, August 23, 2023

Beyond the Bio – Harriet Carroll   As receptionist, Harriet brings the warmth and personal touch that welcomes clients to our office and makes her colleagues feel at home. Hailing originally from the small but mighty ocean...

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Tuesday, August 15, 2023

Wall Street is slowly starting to talk about an “expansion economy” and forgetting about any recession fears. July’s consumer inflation report was soft, so attention will soon shift to gross domestic product in the...

Wednesday, August 2, 2023

Sometimes, a picture is worth 1,000 words. So I decided to include an image of the June Consumer Price Index (CPI) report to help put inflation in better perspective: Core CPI, which excludes volatile food and energy prices, rose just...

Tuesday, July 18, 2023

As the Fed continues its fight against inflation, one of the more challenging parts of the economy is gauging what's happening in the jobs market.One July report showed the private sector added nearly 500,000 jobs, double the...

Wednesday, July 12, 2023

We hope that everyone had a great 4th of July and was able to spend time with family and friends.  In continuation of the trend that started in the first quarter, most major stock indices produced positive results in the...

Thursday, July 6, 2023

Scammers are pretty crafty these days. With sophisticated software to help make themselves sound convincing (“You’ve won money!” “You owe the IRS!” “You’re getting a refund!”), it’s...

Thursday, June 22, 2023

The years between turning 50 and retirement can be some of the very best. Hopefully you’ve earned enough to start living comfortably, you’re accomplished in your job and life, and you know which risks are worth taking....

Thursday, June 8, 2023

As you know, in the financial industry we take privacy and identity verification very seriously (it’s part of our ongoing effort to best protect clients and their assets). In recent years, we’ve begun adding a...

Wednesday, May 31, 2023

Ever heard of the phrase ‘search cost?’It’s an economic term that refers to the effort, time and money someone spends looking for something they want. The hours you devoted to researching your next car or vacation?...

Tuesday, May 23, 2023

Would it surprise you to hear that investors have moved past worrying about inflation? They have, at least for now.Wall Street has shifted its attention to Washington’s budget negotiations and how the debt ceiling will be...

Wednesday, May 17, 2023

I wanted to take a moment to update you on the potential changes to Social Security benefits for 2024. As I'm sure you know, the Social Security Administration calculates annual cost-of-living adjustments (COLA) based on the Consumer...

Wednesday, May 10, 2023

Financial markets can be challenging to understand. And when markets enter a “bad news is good news” cycle, it becomes even more challenging to follow along.Stock prices rallied at the end of April after the Commerce...

Thursday, May 4, 2023

Many of us are familiar with the phrase “doing well while doing good.” It’s a concept that’s gaining momentum, especially among millennial investors. Studies have shown millennials are more likely to prioritize...

Tuesday, April 25, 2023

Over the next several weeks, we will hear from corporate leaders as they update investors on their first-quarter financials and provide a glimpse into the rest of the year.But this quarter, the actual financial results may be of only...

Wednesday, April 19, 2023

A recent survey reported that 68% of parents had made financial sacrifices to support their adult children. It's often a difficult decision that can stress relationships, impact retirement strategies, and harm overall financial...

Tuesday, April 11, 2023

 After a challenging year in 2022, both stock and bond markets started off 2023 on a positive note.  During the first quarter, U.S. large cap stocks rose by +7.5%, U.S. small cap stocks increased by +2.7%, international...

Wednesday, April 5, 2023

During times of rising interest rates, high inflation, and bear market growliness, a fully diversified portfolio can help lessen the impact of volatile conditions. A diversified portfolio weaves together a range of strategies from...

Wednesday, March 29, 2023

Investing in the stock market can sometimes feel like riding a rollercoaster, full of ups and downs. There’s the thrill and excitement when the market goes up, but also uncertainty and fear when it goes down. It’s important...

Wednesday, March 22, 2023

About the U.S. Banking SystemWith recent headlines about two failed U.S. banks and their ripple effect throughout the banking sector, we want to summarize the latest information on this evolving event. We assure you we are monitoring...

Tuesday, March 14, 2023

For the Federal Reserve, credibility is everything. And its credibility is being tested by how it plans to manage the banking system in the days leading up to its March 21-22 meeting.Last month, Fed Chair Powell confidently told Wall...

Monday, March 6, 2023

Filing for Social Security is one of the biggest financial decisions you will make. That is why it is the choice of a lifetime.

Wednesday, March 1, 2023

Fewer things are more reliable than Tax Day, even if the deadline has shifted around a bit in recent years. This year, it’s April 18th for most taxpayers, and recent legislation changes include substantial increases to...

Wednesday, February 15, 2023

The stock market can provide some head-scratching moments, which is why I like Warren Buffet’s quote, “...don’t watch the market closely.”Stocks have been strong this year, and they rallied sharply before...

Wednesday, February 8, 2023

If you are anticipating an annual bonus this year, it’s wise to come up with a thoughtful plan for the extra cash before it comes so you can get the most benefit from it. If you need more time to consider your options, deposit...

Wednesday, February 1, 2023

In the final days of 2022, Congress passed a new set of retirement rules designed to make it easier to contribute to retirement plans and access those funds earmarked for retirement.The law is called SECURE 2.0, and it's a follow-up to...

Wednesday, January 25, 2023

The New Year means taking a new look at your finances. The most important thing is to make sure you feel like you have the cashflow you need to do the things you want to do. So, let’s set some goals this year to build on last...

Monday, January 9, 2023

The fourth quarter ended the year on a positive note with most asset classes rising during the last three months of the year.  Despite the strong quarter, 2022 was still a challenging year with inflation and the Fed as primary causes.

Wednesday, November 9, 2022

The financial markets are on edge this year each time Fed Chair Jerome Powell takes the podium following a Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) meeting.The chart below shows that the Standard & Poor’s 500 stock index has gained...

Wednesday, November 2, 2022

The Internal Revenue Service has released new limits for the coming year. After months of high inflation and financial uncertainty, some of these cost-of-living-based adjustments have reached near-record levels.Individual Retirement...

Wednesday, October 26, 2022

Making charitable contributions is a great way to help people in need while maximizing tax benefits, creating a win-win. Donations to qualified 501(c)(3) organizations can shrink taxable income, saving hard-earned cash. Here are...

Wednesday, October 19, 2022

The time to take RMDs is upon us and since there are strategic ways to ensure that you can save more of your hard-earned money and enable it to continue to grow, we wanted to help you start the process now.

Thursday, October 6, 2022

We hope that everyone had a great summer and is settling back into their regular routines this fall.  Unfortunately, markets (both stocks and bonds) have been anything but routine as the volatility that began in the first half of...

Wednesday, September 28, 2022

Panic selling is not an investment strategy. While it is totally natural to be concerned about portfolio performance during declining markets, we can learn a lot about how we should (and shouldn’t) react by looking at history.

Wednesday, September 21, 2022

With inflation hovering near 40-year highs, some investors are looking for alternative ways to weather the storm. For many, a Series I Savings Bond is just the ticket.

Wednesday, September 7, 2022

We’re entering a tricky time of year: September and October have a reputation for bringing an extra measure of market volatility.Some of the stock market’s most challenging events have hit in September and October, and...

Wednesday, August 31, 2022

As you probably heard on the news, President Biden signed the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 on August 16. Among other things, the legislation includes various initiatives such as locking in the American Rescue Plan health coverage...

Wednesday, August 24, 2022

Like many Americans, you may be feeling pain from the high cost of living every time you buy groceries or fill up at the pump. Surging food costs and higher gas prices are pinching consumers, especially those living on a fixed income....

Wednesday, August 17, 2022

Remember when a college education was reasonably priced? In the past 20 years, the cost of college tuition for public universities has risen 165%. College students and their families have been taking on more and more debt, and they are...

Tuesday, August 2, 2022

Summer travel is picking up this year. If you’re headed to Europe, you may notice that you get more bang for your buck.Why is that?For the first time in almost 20 years, the U.S. dollar and the euro have reached parity. Souvenirs...

Wednesday, July 27, 2022

Good days and bad days are a fact of life in the market. Sometimes it’s up and we celebrate. But when it dips, we worry…and if it tanks, forget it: the first instinct for most of us is panic, and we wonder if we should just...

Wednesday, July 20, 2022

Phew, what a roller coaster we’ve all been riding. There’s so much going on in the world right now, and a lot of it is less-than-happy news. Understandably, most of us have nagging worries about what’s going on in the...

Thursday, July 7, 2022

The volatility that started in the first quarter, intensified into the second quarter, leaving both stocks and bonds with their worst first half of the year since 1970. 

Wednesday, July 6, 2022

Like it or not, taxes are a way of life. They fund great things like roads, libraries and parks, but nobody wants to pay more than they absolutely have to. We often get questions like, “How can I balance my tax...

Friday, July 1, 2022

The best part of Financial Independence Day? You get to pick your date! But, what does it mean to be financially independent? In its simplest form, financial independence is the liberty to live as you want, free of financial...

Wednesday, June 29, 2022

Inflation"If the current annual inflation rate is 8.6 percent, why do my bills seem like they're 10 percent higher than last year?"1Many of us ask ourselves that question, and it illustrates the importance of understanding how...

Wednesday, June 22, 2022

What an “interesting” week. In a move unseen since 1994, the Federal Reserve has taken an aggressive stance toward inflation by raising the key interest rate by three-quarters of a percentage point.Investors initially...