For many people, including me, falling interest rates have been the general trend in the bond market throughout our working lives. At the beginning of 1983, the year I graduated from business school, the yield of the benchmark 10-year U.S. Treasury note stood at more than 10%. It was less than 2.5% at the beginning of 2017. 

We’re living in unprecedented times, so we certainly can’t predict what 2017 will bring. And if you know Vanguard, you should know not to expect hot stock tips or “sure bets” from us either. But I do have four suggestions that I believe can help your clients reach their goals.

 When the Federal Reservewraps up its December meeting Wednesday, Chairwoman Janet Yellen will mostlikely announce an increase of 25 basis points (0.25 percentage point) in itstarget for the federal funds rate. The bump in the benchmark interest rate will get the headlines, but it’sjust one piece of communication in a dialogue between the Fed and the markets.        

Many small- and middle-sized businesses are missing out on enabling Internal Revenue Code provisions that would permit them to offer enhanced benefits to just a few key executives. The backbone of this benefit structure is an existing Qualified Plan, such as a profit sharing or active or frozen defined benefit Plan,combined with a Qualified Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan (QSERP). By incorporating design and compliance-targeted contributions and benefits, these businesses can go beyond traditional limits of a qualified retirement plan.

Investors can find good funds and enjoy solid returns for a long time but other times, investors have a poor experience, even in a fund with great returns.

Cash balance plans are receiving a lot of press these days as business owners, professionals and their advisors seek safe and deductible exit strategies and strategic retirement planning.

Sometimes the stock market and the economy go in the same direction but sometimes not. But they are tied together so it can never get too far apart.

To be successful, the mission of any private client service firm should begin (and arguably end) with the best interests of its private clients.

Blackstone is pleased to offer the following Market Commentary by Byron Wien which shares his thinking on global economic developments, market insights and other factors that may influence investment opportunities and strategies.

World economies will remain very fragile until the debt-deleveraging of the global private sector is completed. The global economy will move toward a more balanced and healthier equilibrium.  As a result, the developed economies such as the United States and Western European countries should contribute more toward global growth than they have in nearly two decades.  For these reasons Austin Capital’s view is a world economy in deceleration not a short term stagnation.