"The stock market is a giant distraction from the business of investing." - John C. Bogle The stock market can feel like a roller coaster, noisy and filled with conflicting advice. From news headlines to social media...
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Blog
Don’t Just Own “Stocks”—Own Great Companies
July 2, 2025Looking Back to Look Forward: Q2 BTWM Virtual Lunch Review
June 3, 2025
A recap of the Blooming Tree Wealth Management Q2 Virtual Lunch Webinar led by Blooming Tree's Ryan O'Connell.
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Six Retirement Planning Mistakes to Avoid
May 24, 2025
Mistakes happen, but many of them can be avoided. No hockey player has ever scored every shot they've taken, and no Financial Advisor has ever been right about every stock, mutual fund, or bond they've recommended. Long story short, we all make mistakes. But we can turn the tables on a mistake by turning it into a valuable lesson we learn from.
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Six Retirement Planning Mistakes to Avoid
May 24, 2025
Mistakes happen, but many of them can be avoided. No hockey player has ever scored every shot they've taken, and no Financial Advisor has ever been right about every stock, mutual fund, or bond they've recommended. Long story short, we all make mistakes. But we can turn the tables on a mistake by turning it into a valuable lesson we learn from.
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Discussing Change, Tariffs, Pullbacks, & More: BTWM Q1 Virtual Lunch Webinar Qui
March 18, 2025
America is in a period of change, and these changes make it nearly impossible to discuss the economy without mentioning politics in some way, shape, or form.With clients on both sides of the aisle, I have to carefully navigate talking about issues connected to politics. When it comes to my personal standing on politics, I’m a capitalist. Regardless of what party is in the White House, I root for the economy...
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Four Questions to Answer on the Ice or in the Stock Market
February 19, 2025
At the height of hockey season, I was recently reminded of the emotional swings that come with youth sports, both for players and coaches. Leads evaporate, comebacks fall short, and the thrill of a victory is quickly soured by defeat. Whether on the ice or in the stock market, here are four questions I encourage you to ask yourself to evaluate your process and overall approach.
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Improving Your Standard of Giving to Close the Income Equality Gap
February 3, 2025
As the income inequality gap continues to grow, what can we do? Ryan O'Connell shares his approach to increasing his standard of giving.
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Charging into 2025: Q1 BTWM Virtual Lunch Webinar Preview
January 27, 2025
Each year offers a fresh start. That start has been much like the end of 2024 for the stock market. After a series of wild swings, the Nasdaq crossed over 20,000 for the first time in December. While we have yet to cross back over 20,000, volatility remains high, and what lies ahead, from rate cuts to rate hikes, is anything but certain.
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When Choosing an Advisor, Investment IQ is A Starting Point
January 8, 2025
When you need help, where’s the first place you turn? If you’re like me, you probably start with family. The help and advice you receive from family members won’t always immediately solve your problem, but it can serve as a starting point. Where many future retirees go wrong is believing that investment knowledge qualifies someone to serve as their Financial Advisor. “My cousin invests in stocks.”Not everyone who drives a car will become a NASCAR driver, a
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Giving Season Thoughts & Non-Profits Close to My Heart
December 20, 2024
The end of the year is a special time for many, including my family and I. We celebrate the holidays together, participate in countless activities, give each other gifts, and spend time with our extended family. This time of year is not enjoyable for all.
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5 Lessons John Wooden Taught Me About Coaching and Life
December 3, 2024
"On the edge of a small wooden shelf at the University of Illinois library, I found my first coaching mentor." In this short blog post, BTWM's Ryan O'Connell discusses lessons he learned from Coach John Wooden.
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Investing, Politics, and Catching Up to the Magnificent 7: BTWM Q4 Virtual Lunch
December 3, 2024
The largest group of attendees to date joined me and two special guests for the BTWM Q4 Virtual Lunch Webinar on Thursday, November 14. Walt Czaicki, Strategist and AllianceBernsteain Quarterly Capital Markets Outlook author, and Regional Director Michael Cheskis took time out of their busy schedule to discuss the election and its historical impact on the stock market. Based on past results in the market after an election...
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Question: What Industries Are You Watching?
November 18, 2024
I’m pretty sure I’m not the only Financial Advisor who’s constantly asked the question, “What industries or stocks are you watching?” However, I try to take a unique approach to answering this question.
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BTWM Q4 Webinar Preview: Special Guests Discuss the Election’s Impact
November 8, 2024
As interest rate cuts continue, the election's over, and we're less than 60 days away from the new year, it feels like the perfect time to start looking ahead. On Thursday, November 14 at noon (Central), Ryan O'Connell will host the BTWM Q4 Virtual Lunch Webinar. Read more here!
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How My Mother Inspired Me to Become A Financial Advisor
October 29, 2024
My mother's dedication to our family and work ethic helped me understand what it meant to take care of a family and serve others. Read more about her impact on why Ryan O'Connell became a Financial Advisor here.
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Ryan's Love for Coaching & How It Translates to Being a Financial Advisor
October 14, 2024
Saying Blooming Tree's Ryan O'Connell loves hockey is an understatement. His quest for more ice time as a collegiate hockey player led him into coaching.
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Retirement Planning: Tailored Vs. Trailblazing
October 3, 2024
A rising trend is the use of the words "creative" and "unique" regarding building retirement portfolios. The promise of a trailblazing retirement strategy seems to be becoming more and more popular. There's a big difference between a tailored and trailblazing retirement portfolio. In my experience...
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What the VIX Index Tells Us About the Economy
September 23, 2024
When the VIX Index rises, volatility is increasing, and the stock market is less predictable. When volatility is above it’s usual levels, we can expect a wider range of highs and lows. We discuss the VIX Index and what an increase in volatility means for you and your retirement account in today's post.
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With Rate Cuts Coming, What Does That Mean for Your Portfolio?
September 8, 2024
The current Fed interest rate, which is approximately 5.25% - 5.50%, is at its highest since late 2000 and early 2001. Rate cuts are coming, but what does this mean for your investment portfolio?
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Question: What Should I Do About the Election?
August 28, 2024
Are you ready for November? The upcoming election was a popular topic during the BTWM Q3 Virtual Lunch Webinar. One of the questions I’ve been asked several times during the last quarter is, “What should I do about the election?” Let's talk about it!
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Trading Dollars for Dimes: Let’s Talk About Stock Splits
August 23, 2024
A rising trend in blue chip companies splitting shares of their stock has investors wondering if this is an opportunity worth taking advantage of. Blooming Tree's Ryan O'Connell shares his opinion on stock splits in today's blog post.
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Is a Recession Lurking? Where Are We Headed? Q3 BTWM Virtual Lunch Webinar Recap
August 17, 2024
Is a Recession Lurking? We are talking about in during the Q3 BTWM Virtual Lunch Webinar recap.
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Join Us in November for the Q4 BTWM Virtual Lunch Webinar
August 12, 2024
Let's look ahead to Q4. The last BTWM Virtual Lunch Webinar of the year will take place on November 14 at noon. Join us for a discussion on the market, presidential election, potential rate cuts, and more!
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Is A Storm Coming? Uncertainty and Your Portfolio: Q3 BTWM Virtual Lunch Webinar
August 1, 2024
There are less than 100 days until the election. Is a storm coming? Let's talk about it in our Q3 Webinar preview. Join us on August 8 at noon Central for an update on the current state of the market, to have your questions answered, and for a look at how the election may or may not impact your retirement plan.
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Looking Beyond Uncertainty: Q3 BTWM Virtual Lunch Webinar Preview
June 17, 2024
The election is right around the corner, and so is the Q3 BTWM Virtual Lunch Webinar. Join Ryan O'Connell on 8/8 at noon. Learn more in this short preview.
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What’s the Best that Could Happen? Q2 Virtual Lunch Webinar Recap
June 17, 2024
Each quarter, Blooming Tree Wealth Management hosts a cost-free webinar open to everyone. On Thursday, May 9, we held the BTWM Q2 Virtual Lunch Webinar, and asked attendees to submit questions via email and chat. One of three questions we received was, what's the worst that could happen? Let's explore!
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How to Overcome Temporary Ups and Downs in Your Retirement Account
June 4, 2024
How are meetings with your Financial Advisor? Are they full of mystery, excitement, and planning drastic changes to your holdings and overall strategy? Let's hope not. Frequent changes in a retirement account are a sign of watching the scoreboard and accepting rumors as facts prematurely. The scoreboard is your total account balance, and while all investors and Financial Advisors aim to increase this total balance over time, tracking it constantly is a recipe for anxiety...
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Should Election Results Impact My Retirement Investment Plan?
May 19, 2024
There's an election around the corner, are you going to change your investment plan based on who wins? Take a deep breath and a step back from making any impulsive decisions, and let's dive into what the outcome may mean for investor sentiment.
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Inflation: Who’s Behind the Wheel?
May 7, 2024
From 2012 to 2020, inflation never reached or exceeded 3% in any given month. From 2021 to 2023, inflation has been at or higher than 3% in all but three months. Let's discuss what's driving inflation.
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Q2 BTWM Virtual Lunch Webinar Preview: Is “Missing Out” on New Highs a Myth?
April 10, 2024
The Q2 BTWM Virtual Lunch Webinar is just around the corner, and we hope you'll join us on 5/9. Read more about what to expect here!
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3 Quick Steps to Take If Starting Late for Retirement
April 9, 2024
Do you feel like you're starting late for retirement? Don't worry. Take a deep breath, and start planning out your steps to get closer to a plan you can work from to comfortably retire. Here are a few steps to consider that may help you get started.
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What is a Comprehensive Retirement Plan?
April 3, 2024
Blooming Tree Wealth Management prides itself on providing comprehensive retirement plans, but what is a comprehensive retirement plan? We explore in this post!
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3 Reasons the Market is Outperforming Expectations
March 5, 2024
In 2023, the market outperformed expectations. During the Q1 BTWM Virtual Lunch Webinar, Ryan O'Connell discussed several reasons the market surprised us last year. This included three main drivers. Read more and join us for our next Virtual Lunch Webinar in May!
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Q1 2024 Webinar Recap: What You Can Expect this Year
February 19, 2024
How did 2023 treat your investment portfolio? Let's talk about the market and what you can expect in 2024. In this post, we recap the Q1 Blooming Tree Wealth Management Virtual Lunch Webinar, hosted in early February by BTWM's Ryan O'Connell.
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What an Increase in Volatility Means for Your Retirement Portfolio
January 30, 2024
2024 is an election year, meaning the chances of volatility playing a significant role in our portfolios over the next 8-10 months are high. Let's discuss what this could mean for your retirement account.
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2.0.2.4: Q1 BTWM Virtual Webinar Preview, 2/8 at Noon
January 22, 2024
2023 was the year of the most anticipated recession we never had. Despite a consensus that a recession, even if a mild one, was inevitable, we escaped 2023 on a positive note with the market ending strong. What does this mean for 2024? Let's talk about it.
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Answering Three End-of-the-Year Questions from Investors
December 16, 2023At the conclusion of the Q4 BTWM Virtual Lunch Webinar (read a brief summary here), Ryan O'Connell answered three questions from the community. Here is a recap of those questions and Ryan's answers.
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Gaining from Giving: Why Donating Your Required Distribution Could Help
November 21, 2023
While discussing end-of-the-year strategies during the Q4 BTWM Virtual Lunch Webinar, Ryan O'Connell shared how some investors may be able to fulfill a requirement while making a big difference for their favorite nonprofit organization.
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Q4 Webinar Recap: Are Fixed Income Assets Worth Considering?
November 16, 2023Here's a brief recap the Q4 BTWM Virtual Lunch Webinar. We discussed tax harvesting, fixed income assets, and more.
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EOY Tips: Tax Harvesting 101
November 8, 2023
2023 is coming to an end. Are you prepared? To help you make the most of your year as you continue to build and protect your assets for retirement, I would like to share a quick strategy -- tax harvesting. What is Tax Harvesting? Learn more here and join us on November 9 for our final Virtual Lunch Webinar of the year.
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Looking Back & Ahead at the Market: BTWM Q3 Virtual Lunch Webinar Recap
August 21, 2023A recap of the Q3 Blooming Tree Wealth Management Webinar, hosted by Ryan O'Connell on August 10.
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BTWM Nominated in the 2023 Pantagraph Readers’ Choice Awards
July 18, 2023
BTWM has been nominated for two awards in the annual Pantagraph Readers' Choice Awards. Blooming Tree Wealth Management is nominated for Best Investment Firm and Best Financial Planner. The Pantagraph received over 89,000 nominations, and only the five most nominated businesses in each category advanced.
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Blooming Tree Wealth Management Q3 Virtual Webinar Preview
July 14, 2023
With inflation cooling down, the market is temporarily climbing. However, with earnings reports coming, uncertainty lies ahead. Are you prepared?
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Fundraiser Brings Books to Young Kids in McLean County
July 14, 2023
United Way of McLean County Women United held its fifth annual Power of the Purse event on June 14 to raise needed funding for its partnership with Dolly Parton's Imagination Library.
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Unpacking 3 Key Issues in the Market
May 30, 2023
During the May 11 Blooming Tree Wealth Management Virtual Lunch Webinar, we went through the J.P. Morgan Guide to the Markets and discussed how and why the market has been flat. The discussion revolves around the three key issues that are keeping the market range-bound. Those issues include: Inflation, Regional Banking Turmoil, and the Debt Ceiling Debate.
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BTWM Q2 Virtual Lunch Webinar Recap
May 29, 2023
On May 11, Ryan hosted the Q2 BTWM Virtual Lunch Webinar after what he described as a turbulent quarter. Learn more in this short recap.
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The Glass is Half Full: Q2 BTWM Virtual Lunch Webinar Preview
March 17, 2023
As Q1 comes to a close (3/31), it's time to look ahead to Q2 and the second BTWM Virtual Lunch Webinar of the year.
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Unprecedented Times and What to Do About Them: Q1 BTWM Webinar Recap
February 14, 2023
2022 was unprecedented in terms of the rapidness with which the FED raised rates. On February 2, Ryan O'Connell hosted the first BTWM Virtual Lunch Webinar of the year. While covering a wide range of topics during the 30-minute session, the focus of the discussion was finding balance in 2023. The webinar started with a brief wrap-up of the last year in the market. The one word that can't be avoided when describing what happened is...
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Finding Balance in 2023: Save the Date & Virtual Webinar Preview for 2023 Q1
December 27, 2022
There have been few times in history quite like the past two years. From the pandemic to the recovery the following year, to rate hikes to supply and employee shortages, we have experienced a decade worth of activity in 24 months. Let's take a look at finding balance in 2023.
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"When I Change What’s on My Investment Watchlist"
November 20, 2022
While preparing for the Q4 BTWM Virtual Lunch Webinar on November 3, I received a question via email, which I answered during the 35-minute meeting. How often do you change the top stocks you're watching closely, and what makes you move on from tracking one company to another?
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Reasons for Hope and Controlling What We Can: Q4 BTWM Lunch Webinar Recap
November 19, 2022Ryan O'Connell started the Q4 BTWM Virtual Lunch Webinar with a discussion on the impact midterm elections will have on the market, which appears to be minimal. Generally speaking, the market likes gridlock. The market benefits from gridlock because it protects us from what some believe to be rogue policies, which put the future....
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What's at the Top of My Watchlist
October 25, 2022In a post published earlier this month (read here!), we talked about wide-moat stocks. To summarize, wide-moat stocks are companies that have a significant competitive advantage over their competitors. A silver-lining to the dramatic reduction in P/E this year is that some of these wide-moat companies are trading at steep discounts to their fair value.As indicators show that a recession is likely, companies that are almost certain to survive even a lengthy recession, like wide-moat companies, be
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Recession Protection: Quick Introduction to “Wide-Moat” Assets
October 15, 2022
Is the economy coming to storm your retirement castle? Learn how wide-moat stocks may provide you some relief during difficult times.
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Recession is Coming; Now What? BTWM Q4 Webinar Preview
October 11, 2022
Take a look at the weather in the market. A storm (recession) is imminent. What we don’t know is how strong that storm will be. We’re not sure if we need to take shelter or simply dust off the umbrella. With unemployment remaining low, company earnings staying strong, and the FED paying close attention to market conditions, the incoming storm appears to be an extended drizzle. What Should We Do About It? When you know something is coming, you can plan for it, right? Well...
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Get Your Records in Order NOW: BTWM Virtual Seminar with Sonja Reece
September 23, 2022
Who has time to organize records? Well, there are some things you have to make time for, and organizing records is one of them. After all, if you don’t take the time to organize your records before or during retirement, who will? The answer is those you love, that is if they can even find the records they’ll need. The types of documents that you need to organize include: HealthHomeCar InsuranceFinancial Will And more In an upcoming virtual seminar hosted b
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Pantagraph Readers’ Choice Results Announced
September 16, 2022 Last month, we were excited and proud to be alerted that we were nominated for not one, but two Pantagraph Readers’ Choice Awards. We shared that news with you and asked for your continued support through votes for us in both categories. Today, we received the official results of the awards. But before we share the final results, we want to thank you for voting for Blooming Tree Wealth Management! We were pleased to learn that we placed 2nd for Best Financial Office
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Q3 BTWM Virtual Lunch Webinar Recap
August 18, 2022On Thursday, August 4, Ryan O'Connell hosted the quarterly BTWM Virtual Lunch Webinar. Here is a short recap of the webinar.
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What is Causing the Selloff, and Should We Be Worried? BTWM Webinar Preview
August 17, 2022
Make no mistake about it, the market is down. But this is not 2007 or 2008. Despite experiencing a significant dip in the market, we need to look past the red in our portfolios to look closer at what is causing the selloff. There is no forced shutdown or recession like there was in 2007, no bubble has popped, and massive government bailouts for companies aren’t needed to save the market from bottoming out. The current selloff in the market is not due to corporate weakness; it’s
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What is Causing the Selloff, and Should We Be Worried? BTWM Webinar Preview
August 17, 2022
Make no mistake about it, the market is down. But this is not 2007 or 2008. Despite experiencing a significant dip in the market, we need to look past the red in our portfolios to look closer at what is causing the selloff. There is no forced shutdown or recession like there was in 2007, no bubble has popped, and massive government bailouts for companies aren’t needed to save the market from bottoming out. The current selloff in the market is not due to corporate weakness; it’s
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BTWM Q3 Virtual Lunch Webinar Preview: Join Us on August 4 at 12 PM
July 30, 2022
Imagine moving from a Chicago high-rise apartment to your own two-story home here in Bloomington-Normal. While each has benefits, there is one clear difference between a high-rise apartment and a two-story home – the space between you and the ground. In the first half of 2022, the market moved into a two-story home after a massive rise, and the ground floor is currently much closer than it was to start the year. While the value of assets has dipped, the good news is...
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Save the Date for BTWM’s Q3 Virtual Lunch Webinar 8/4 12pm
June 17, 2022
Put an hour time block in your Outlook or Google calendar for August 4 at 12pm Central to join us for a free Virtual Lunch Webinar! Every quarter, Blooming Tree Wealth Management hosts a free Virtual Lunch Webinar that is open to anyone. Each webinar, led by Ryan O’Connell, includes the following: A look at the current market A preview of what experts and research are saying about the near future What Ryan is keeping an eye on in the market Trends to trackOpen Q&A session Take a lo
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Waiting for Positivity: BTWM Q2 Webinar Recap
May 27, 2022
Are you waiting for something positive to happen in the market? Don't wait for positivity, go out there and find it. In this post, we look at the recent BTWM Virtual Lunch Webinar and what there is to be positive about in the current market.
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Finding the Next FAANG & Discussing Recession: BTWM Q2 Webinar: Join Us on 5/19
April 13, 2022
How are you feeling about the current state of the market? For many of our clients at BTWM, there are concerns, and rightfully so. The first quarter of the year has been a bumpy one with many ups and downs, including the ongoing conflict in Ukraine and the fallout from the Russian attack.On May 19, 2022, at 12pm, Blooming Tree Wealth Management’s Ryan O’Connell will host the second BTWM Virtual Lunch Webinar of the year. The webinar will cover the current state of the market, finding
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The Fed, Omicron, Earnings, & More: Q1 BTWM Virtual Lunch
February 24, 2022
On February 10th, Blooming Tree Wealth Management hosted our first Virtual Lunch Webinar of the year and discussed the Market outlook for 2022.We started the virtual lunch by taking a peek at the 2022 LPL Outlook. We also looked at the Market’s current state and discussed what actions the Fed (Federal Reserve) may feel forced to take. At present, the Market is focused on and reacting to three main Fed moves: Raising ratesTaperingReducing the balance sheet One question submitted during th
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Preparing Your Portfolio for 2022: Your Invitation to BTWM’s Q1 Webinar
January 26, 2022
Welcome to 2022. Here at Blooming Tree Wealth Management (BTWM), we are optimistic about 2022, but risk-aware. The new year brings new opportunities, but some of the same old questions. Learn more and join us for our Q1 webinar.
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What is Thematic Investing, and Why Should You Care?
January 22, 2022
Netflix wasn’t the first company to offer streaming services, and Tesla wasn’t the first company to offer electric vehicles. While predicting a company that will turn into a unicorn is challenging, to say the least, identifying themes that will grow over the next 20-30 years, like electric vehicles and internet traffic, is much more feasible. On October 21, BTWM hosted a virtual lunch webinar to discuss thematic investing. We hosted guest speaker Sara Tunnell, Analyst and Produc
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Protecting Your Purchasing Power: BTWM Virtual Lunch Webinar Recap
November 30, 2021
What do you expect from your financial advisor? Clients work with Blooming Tree Wealth Management (BTWM) to protect their purchasing power in retirement. Everyone’s purchasing power appears to be at risk because of the current state of the market. Inflation, which decreases our purchasing power, is on the way after adding nearly 30% of the total amount of money in circulation (USD). We discussed purchasing power, thematic investing, and where opportunities can be found in the mar
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Uncovering Opportunity in Today’s Stock Market: BTWM Q4 Lunch Webinar Preview
October 13, 2021
Join us for the next BTWM virtual webinar to discuss uncovering opportunities in today's stock market. We will host this free virtual webinar lunch on 10/21 at 12 pm, and we will be joined by a special guest.
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How Bond Yields Make the Stock Market a “TINA” Trade
September 13, 2021
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
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Virtual Lunch Takeaways: “Opportunities of a Hot Economy” with BTWM
September 8, 2021The three quarters of 2021, in a word, have been overwhelming for investors. We have seen strength in the economy that I have not witnessed in my entire career, powered by an unprecedented amount of money being poured into the country.But where are we headed, and how should you adjust your retirement portfolio?On Thursday, July 29th, I held a virtual lunch webinar on behalf of Blooming Tree Wealth Management. The theme of the talk, which covered the LPL Mid-Year Outlook, was “speeding slow
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Challenges, Consequences, and Opportunities of a Hot Economy: Join BTWM for Our
July 21, 2021
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
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5 Takeaways from BTWM’s Virtual Lunch
May 8, 2021
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.
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“Is the Glass Half Full or Half Empty?!” Join BTWM on 4/30 for Virtual Lunch
April 20, 2021It 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
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Taking a Look Back and Forward with LPL’s 2021 Research Outlook
December 22, 2020
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.
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10 Truths No Matter Who Wins: Investments and the Election; Attend our Workshop
October 5, 2020
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
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Nearing Retirement? Free Workshop on How to Tiptoe Through the Medicare Minefiel
September 10, 2020
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
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Nearing Retirement and Facing Change? Avoid This Huge Mistake – Sequence of Retu
July 28, 2020
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.
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“Financial Planning in Transition” Free Workshop for Advocate BroMenn Employees
June 19, 2020
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
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Market Update from Ryan O’Connell of Blooming Tree Wealth Management
March 23, 2020
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...
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Creating Retirement Streams of Income: What You Need to Know
December 13, 2019
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
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Your Retirement Planning Guide: When and How to Start Planning
December 13, 2019
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.
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