Blog

On Thursday, July 29th, I held a virtual lunch webinar on behalf of Blooming Tree Wealth Management. During the talk, we discussed “speeding slower,” meaning we expect the economy to continue to move forward but at a slower pace than the first half of 2021. One of the main topics was the “TINA trade.”TINA = there is no alternative.TINA refers to the stock market in relation to bonds. In past generations, bonds have been a safe and useful investment tool for retirement fun

The first half of 2021 has been almost as exciting as 2020 was concerning for investors. Mentioned in the LPL Mid-Year Outlook 2021, the U.S. GDP has seen growth between 6.25-6.75% and the S&P 500 is currently over 4,300.There is a lot to be happy about as an investor, but market trends don’t always last, and the current rate of growth we are seeing is not sustainable.  If you have been following recent chatter about the stock market, you are well aware that a market correction, a

On April 30, we hosted a free virtual lunch using GoToMeeting. Ryan O'Connell led our discussion about the last year in the market, where we are now, and how to view the future as an investor. Here are 5 takeaways from the 40-minute conversation.

It is hard not to be pleased with the performance of the market over the past year. After a severe dip at the start of the worldwide pandemic, we have seen a record-setting uphill climb that has led us to new highs. Despite gains, here at Blooming Tree Wealth Management, we are hearing a blend of excitement, caution, and fear in the tone of our clients in emails, calls, and visits.It is hard to believe how well the market has performed over the past 12 months as we reach yet another S&P 500

2020 is winding down. Before we begin to look ahead to 2021, let's quickly reflect on the past year and what lessons we can take with us while we're positioning ourselves for a great financial year.We have recently received the LPL Research Outlook for 2021, and we would like to share that full report along with a few of our takeaways.

There is nothing permanent except change. Change is scary, and an election is upon us, meaning change is imminent. Regardless of who you are voting for in November (11/3), the outcome is going to affect us all. But what impact will the president have on your investments, and to what degree?There are positives to take away from either scenario we are facing in terms of your future and the future standing of your retirement account. While we all have thoughts on how p

Nothing in life is free, including Medicare. Not only do you pay for it with your taxes throughout your professional career, you will also have out of pocket health care expenses in retirement. On average, retirees spend from $6,000 - $8,000 annually even with Medicare. Spread out over a 25-30-year retirement, you could end up spending $250,000 on health-related expenses alone.The thought that Medicare is free is just one of many “mines” you can run into when navigating the Medicare

Change can be challenging to navigate, especially when you have specific goals that are impacted by that change. When your employer merges with a competitor several years before your planned retirement, change is inevitable. How you react to that change will determine your future. Learn more in this article that explains sequence of return risk.

Facing a merger while nearing retirement? Join us on August 6 for a virtual workshop that will cover what you need to know to retire the way you want!

When big changes happen in your life, it’s time to review your goals and ensure that your current path is aligned with what you want your future to be. With the news of a merger with Carle health system, Advocate BroMenn employees find themselves in a period of change and uncertainty.  To help guide you through this transition, Blooming Tree Wealth Management Founder Ryan O’Connell, in conjunction with the Community Health Care Clinic, will host a free “Financial Plan

The market is down during the current COVID-19 pandemic. The market has responded to the unknown and uncertainty of our current situation. Are the losses in the stock market justified? At this point, it's hard to tell. We do not know how this pandemic will impact companies' earnings. Uncertainty causes fear...

Take a second to picture what you want retirement to look like. Are you sipping a margarita at the beach? Relaxing at a new home in Florida? Taking trips to visit your grandchildren? Traveling around the world?Whatever it is you want to do to get the most out of retirement, income is going to be an important part of it. By building streams of income, you can protect yourself against fluctuations in benefits, inflation, the stock market, and other uncertainties. Retirement Income Streams: What an

Retirement, sooner or later, is coming. Are you prepared? You deserve to retire happy, healthy, and wealthy enough to live out the rest of your life the way you want to. You also deserve to rest assured that your financial future is in good hands. In this short guide, we will cover misconceptions, when you should start planning for retirement, what to do if you're starting late, how to get started planning for retirement, and more.