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As the turn of the millennium approached people began to realize that computers around the world only counted the last two digits of a number for any given year (computers used xx99 for the year 1999, for example). This meant that computers didn't know the difference between the year 1900 and the year 2000. People thought that computers everywhere would reset on 01/01/2000 and mass chaos would ensue.…

We are so grateful that the Hope Ministries staff is enjoying our donation of cubicles. They look great! Thank you for the great pictures, Hope Ministries! …

Today marks the 14th anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Our hearts go out to all of the families affected by this terrible tragedy. We honor all those who lost their lives 14 years ago and those who continue to serve to protect our freedoms. #NeverForget #911Memorial #Honor911 …

Every financial planning client has a return requirement and a risk tolerance. When a prospective client meets with an advisor, the two outline what return is required from the client's portfolio to meet the client's goals and the level of risk which can be tolerated by the client. Once the return requirement and risk tolerance are determined, assets are then allocated in a manner which would generate that return while adhering to the clients risk tolerance.…

For the last few years we have been living in a low interest rate environment. The Federal Reserve has not seen the kind of economic improvement necessary to justify an increase in the federal lending rate. This has made chasing bond yields difficult in a market that contains an abundance of low yield options for investment grade bonds. To complicate the matter further, there is always the lingering debate of tax-managed bonds versus taxable bonds.…

Discussions are often brought to us regarding the appropriate assumptions for investment returns on retirement accounts or the sustainable withdrawal rate that retirement resources can maintain for a lifetime. These two topics appear to be the bottom line for retirement financial success, but history has shown us that a number of other factors also influence financial success in retirement. Most notably the sequence of investment returns can have a substantial impact on the level of income that a retirement nest egg can support, and strategies are available to protect against this risk.…

Congratulations to our very own James Mantosh for completing the CFA® Program and earning his Chartered Financial Analyst® (CFA) designation! The CFA Program curriculum connects academic theory with current practice and ethical and professional standards to provide a strong foundation of advanced investment analysis and real-world portfolio management skills. Congratulations, James, on this accomplishment!…

It's often said that farmers and ranchers are "land rich and cash poor." Most of their net worth is tied up in land, and while land may appreciate in value, its actual cash return can be low. And when farmers have significant income, they often want to invest those profits in more land.…

Originally featured in Ag Progress on June 22, 2015…

The theme of this year's CFA Annual Conference is "Future Finance." The intent is for us to examine not only future prospects in the investment markets, but also - and more importantly - the future of the profession itself.…