The Snarled Supply Chain
We often take for granted how products arrive at our doorsteps or on store shelves. The pandemic has caused a snarled supply chain, and the resulting scarcity is driving up product prices.
Taking Control of ‘Losing Control’
Addressing our mortality, and the gradual lack of capacity that often precedes it doesn't rank on our favorite things to do. Starting conversations early paves the way for specific problem solving when issues arise and can create peace of mind.
Lessons from Fukushima
Transitory disruptions to the global supply chain persist and the impact on long-term valuations grow as investors question how companies will recover and protect their profits against future disruptions.
Investing in a Changing Climate
Response to our worsening climate crisis is complex and gradual. For clients interested in climate friendly investing, we focus on a number of ways they can choose financial security while having an impact with their investments.
The Callous Market
History offers many examples of war and tragedy that can be used to analyze how markets make sense of the potential financial impacts during a crisis.
Back to School
There are four primary avenues to paying for college: scholarships, student loans, work-study, and savings. Many families' college cash flow plans include several of these options, and each has different lessons for parents and children.
We Welcome Two New Advisors to Our Team
North Berkeley is excited to announce the addition of two new advisors to our team! Joining us are associate advisor, Carmetta Joyner, and lead advisor, Krystal Fortner, CFP®.
Mixed Messages
The prevailing story in the markets over the past year has been economic recovery, pandemic progress, and Fed support. The story has supported price growth but hinges on a “just right” middle path to keep those three pillars in balance.
From Idea to Reality
Response to our worsening climate crisis is complex and gradual. A chorus of voices from investors and consumers can accelerate the process for all stakeholders in the global ecosystem.
Olympic Trials & Tribulations
The Olympics reliably provide great drama. Whether it’s enough to justify the cognitive dissonance of hammering forward with the Games amid a health crisis is another question
The Right Amount of Liquidity
As you build wealth over time, you start to develop a portfolio of investments beyond cash, which provides other options for funding your financial needs.
Cycles of Recovery
Q2 2021 Market Commentary
Global economic activity has picked up over the last three months, reflecting pent-up demand but still faces several road bumps as the pace of recovery varies between nations.
They Who Have The Gold
Diverse boards and diverse management teams - both in terms of gender and racial diversity - can anticipate a broader set of needs, and come up with more innovative solutions.
Echoes of Past Excess
Investors face the question of whether high equity prices are a sign of speculative excess or a reasonable conclusion based on pandemic-altered demand and a recovering economy.
Using Capital to Create Opportunity
Impact Highlight Report
We highlight specific investments that address the historic lack of access to capital in housing and business funding via both loans and venture capital.
Innovation Begins with Investment
In a showing of bipartisan support, the US Senate voted for the Innovation and Competition Act. It provides widespread support for research and development in technology and science, representing a long-term view that will hopefully drive needed patterns of change.
There and Back Again
To navigate the boundary between your portfolio and your needs in life, your choices and priorities should be front and center when deciding to buy, sell, and reallocate equities.
The Hemingway Law of Motion
Life is full of tipping points, and change isn’t always smooth and linear. Response to certain crises can take much longer to develop than expected, and when it does coalesce, change can occur faster than anticipated. Rapid change may be coming for the oil industry.
Help Wanted
The national employment headline numbers don’t tell the full story of a fraught employment landscape, with ‘help wanted’ signs outpacing job applications in recent weeks.
Goodbye Masks, Hello Volatility
The economy has recovered substantially from the lows of last year, but this week offered reminders that there are risks to market resiliency beyond the pandemic.
Your Retirement, Your Values
A successful transition to retirement must express your values. Understanding the motivation behind your decision, and being prepared for how you will spend your time post-retirement, are key steps to achieving a fulfilling retirement.
History as Context
Tax rates and mortgage rates are both on the rise. For some investors, these shifts may indicate negative trends for market prices and economic growth. If we zoom out for perspective, history tells us that these increases may not be such a bad thing.
Pinch Points
Many industries have been unprepared for rapid surges in demand caused by the pandemic. Notably, the lumber and microprocessor industries find themselves rationing scarce quantities through higher prices.
A Dash of Perspective
One method of gaining perspective when faced with overwhelming data is to zoom out and understand how recent activity fits into a larger pattern. By doing this, we can gain a better understanding of the ‘relative progress’ during the pandemic versus the ‘absolute progress’ over a longer timeframe.
Money, Cryptocurrency, and the Value of Trust
Cryptocurrency is an evolution of money that currently hinges on its ability to solidify widespread trust in its functionality as a store of value and a medium of exchange. Trading platforms like Coinbase may add legitimacy and security to ownership of cryptocurrency.