Well Balanced Vector Wealth Management

In our latest podcast episode, Sharon Calhoun, managing director at Vector Wealth Management, and Suzy Klapperich, chief compliance officer, discuss the pressing issue of social engineering and cybercrime. Their discussion sheds light on the manipulative tactics that scammers use and provides valuable insights on how to safeguard your personal information.
Key Highlights from the Discussion:
Rising Threat: We’re seeing an alarming rise in fraud cases, with statistics showing hundreds of millions affected by data breaches and nearly a million complaints reported to the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center in 2023 alone.
Understanding Social Engineering: Social engineering involves manipulative tactics by scammers to steal sensitive data. These criminals exploit human psychology, targeting stressed or distracted individuals to trick them into compromising their security.
Common Emotional Triggers: Scammers often create a sense of urgency, trust, fear, desperation, curiosity, or sympathy to manipulate their targets. Each emotion is leveraged to push the victim into making hasty decisions.
Real-Life Examples: Sharon shares personal anecdotes about suspicious emails that mimicked legitimate communications from known brands like Delta and Xfinity, emphasizing how realistic and convincing these fraudulent attempts can appear.
Preventive Measures: Suzy stresses the importance of skepticism and caution, especially when dealing with unexpected phone calls or emails. She advises against relying on caller ID or email reply addresses, as scammers can falsify these to appear legitimate.
Three Practical Takeaways
Stay Informed: Always verify any unusual or unexpected requests by contacting the company using known and trusted contact information.
Guard Your Data: Limit the personal information you share online. More information available to the public means more ammunition for fraudsters.
Use Direct Access: Bookmark, use the company's mobile app, or directly type in the URLs of important sites like banking or investment portals to avoid deceptive ads or spoofed websites.
Connect with Us:
Don't hesitate to reach out if you encounter any suspicious activity or need advice on protecting your financial information. Our team at Vector Wealth Management is here to assist you in securing your assets and peace of mind.
 
Time and Chapters
00:25 ... Introduction to Social Engineering
03:00 ... Emotional Manipulation Tactics Unveiled
11:09 ... Real-life Examples of Fraud Attempts
15:44 ... Preventive Measures Against Fraud
18:32 ... How to Identify and Avoid Scams
22:00 ... Closing Thoughts and Regulatory
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vectorwealth.com/regulatoryV24106114

Did you know that over half of the global voting populace will have the chance to vote in what’s been dubbed the biggest election year in history.
In this Market Perspective podcast, Vector’s Jason and Ezra discuss the S&P 500’s recent highs, economic trends, and the implications of geo-political events on the markets. We get into persistent inflation rates, noting a shift from anticipated declines to a slight acceleration, potentially altering the timeline for expected Federal Reserve interest rate cuts.
The labor market's resilience continues to be a pivotal force in economic momentum, despite the challenges posed by inflation and higher interest rates, the U.S. economy has added jobs for 39 consecutive months. BLS data shows the unemployment rate was below 4% for 26 months in a row, the longest streak since the late 1960s.
In the episode we also touch on the significance of market breadth, which has recently widened, signaling a healthier participation across a spectrum of companies. If market gains are led by only a handful of companies, then the fragility of the stock market may be greater.
The VIX, not to be confused with Vic’s Bar & Grill in downtown Victoria, is an index that measures market volatility, has been on the rise recently. A higher VIX number coincides with larger or more frequent swings in the stock market. We talk about the volatility index as a tool to inform investors about the current state of unrest or stability in the market.
As we reflect on this historic year of elections, it’s evident that the choices we make can reverberate through the markets and beyond. With each episode, we're committed to providing clarity amidst complexity and fostering resilience in your financial life.
Listen to this podcast and others on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Charts and video available on our blog.
Times & Titles
00:00 ... The Global Election Year: Navigating Political Winds
02:10 ... Market Highs and Economic Signals: Q1 2024 Snapshot
04:51 ... Interest Rate Trajectories and Inflationary Trends
07:14 ... Shelter Costs and Auto Insurance: The Inflation Impact
10:55 ... Consumer Spending and the Power of the Job Market
13:46 ... Political Outcomes and Market Implications
17:45 ... VIX and Market Volatility: Reading the Pendulum Swing
21:33 ... Understanding Market Breadth and Top Company Influence
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vectorwealth.com/regulatory
V24107116

In this latest podcast episode, David Moser, wealth advisor at Vector Wealth, discusses the implications of missing just the ten best days in the market over 20 years. We look at a recent 20-year period of the S&P 500 stock index and find that its performance was halved from 9.8% annualized to just 5.6% when missing those precious 10 days.
Put another way, an initial investment of $10,000 in the S&P 500, left untouched for 20 years, would have grown to around $65,000. Being out of the market on those ten big-upward-move days would result in the investment being worth just $30,000. *
This episode serves as a reminder of the timeless adage in investing: it's about time in the market, not timing the market. We emphasize the importance of having a plan and sticking to it during periods of heightened uncertainty. Also avoiding the temptation to make emotionally charged decisions.
David points out that many of the best market days are clustered in time near the worst ones, making it nearly impossible to predict the optimal times to enter and exit the market. He advocates for a disciplined, patient approach, focusing on long-term growth rather than chasing short-term fluctuations.
Charts and video available on our blog.
 
Time & Section Titles
00:05 – Introductions with David Moser
00:52 - The Impact of Staying Invested in the Market
01:39 - Navigating Market Turbulence Over Two Decades
02:21 - The Cost of Missing the Market’s Best Days
03:54 - The Challenges and Realities of Market Timing
05:01 - The Fundamentals of Successful Long-Term Investing
07:11 - Summary: The Importance of Discipline and Planning in Investing
 
* The historical performance calculations are discussed for illustrative purposes only. Any calculations discussed are gross of fees and reflect the reinvestment of all dividends. If fees were included, returns would be lower. Past performance is not indicative of future returns. An individual cannot invest directly in an index.
vectorwealth.com/regulatory Media ID: V24081108

In our latest podcast, Vector wealth advisor, Charlie Gruys delves into the role of scenario planning to align one’s investment policy with their life needs and goals. The conversation explores how engaging with different financial scenarios may help clarify the path towards a more confident financial future. By carefully modeling various financial decisions, such as the purchase of new vehicles, paying off a mortgage, or planning a significant vacation, individuals can assess the impact of today’s decisions on their long-term financial well-being. 
The conversation also touches on different financial levers that individuals may use, such as: 
Adjusting the timing of social security or portfolio distributions,  
Contributing time rather than investable assets to charitable organizations, 
Reducing lifestyle expenses to allow investments to have more time in the market to grow. 
Charlie emphasizes what he sees as the need for a strategic approach to financial planning, one that accommodates the inevitable ebbs and flows of the market, while staying aligned with personal financial objectives. 
These discussions aim to spark dialogue about enhancing retirement readiness and making more informed financial decisions. At Vector, we delve into the nuances of scenario planning, offer insights and guidance tailored to each client's unique circumstances. If you or someone you know is pondering their financial future or seeking clarity on their retirement plan, we're here to help.  
Time and Section Titles (Video/Podcast) 
01:24 ... The ‘If You Haven't Saved Enough’ Feeling 
02:00 ... Adapting to Market Volatility 
03:11 ... Enhancing Retirement Savings 
05:18 ... Strategic Gifting and Financial Planning 
06:23 ... Volunteering vs Charitable Contributions 
07:18 ... Bucket-Based Investment Strategy 
08:02 ... Consideration of Social Security and Pensions 
10:45 ... Navigating Big Financial Decisions 
12:07 ... Buying a Vehicle?  
13:32 ... Evaluating Mortgage Impact on Retirement Plans 
14:07 ... Is it Feasible? 
15:20 … We’re Running Financial Scenarios in Our Minds All-The-Time 
 
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vectorwealth.com/regulatory
V24044098

Are annuities a boon or a bane for your portfolio? When is it wise to hold onto an annuity, and when might it be time to let go?
In this podcast episode, we talk through annuities with Vector senior wealth advisor Mike Nesheim. An annuity is a financial product issued by an insurance company, generally designed to create an income stream. Periodically, clients come to Vector with one or more annuities as part of their overall portfolio.
While everyone’s portfolio and financial situation is unique, there are some broad takeaways when it comes to annuities and wealth management. We discuss evaluation of annuities and talk through factors to consider when aligning your financial plan with your goals.
 
Time & Section Titles
00:04 … Types of Annuities
Annuities come in assorted flavors. We discuss some differences.
00:38 … Evaluation of Annuities and Benefits
Considerations of maintaining vs surrendering annuities.
01:20 … Analyzing Annuities for Clients
Determining the best course of action for a client.
02:30 … Reliability of Annuity Companies
What backs the guarantees of annuity benefits?
These topics are meant to help start a conversation around planning for retirement and managing wealth over time. At Vector, our team will review the terms of annuities (held or considering) and provide options and context for clients. Let us know if this is something you are thinking about or if you know someone who may have a question about their annuity.
Video at vectorwealth.com
vectorwealth.com/regulatory
V23347079

In this week’s episode of our Market Perspective podcast, we dive into recent financial news and its implications on the economy.
We kick off the discussion with Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell's recent comments on potential interest rates adjustments. Powell said, “When we do get that confidence, and we’re not far from it, it’ll be appropriate to begin to dial back the level of restriction.” Jason and Ezra discuss what this means for inflation and the overall market.
The spotlight then turns to Warren Buffett and his enterprise, Berkshire Hathaway, particularly focusing on the substantially high cash reserve of $167 billion reported in a recent shareholder letter. The dialogue explores Buffett's possible strategy of waiting for more opportunistic investments. We also draw analogies between Buffett's methods and the bucket-based investment strategies used by Vector. Our episode continues with a discussion on the importance of having bonds and cash-like assets for upcoming needs.
It's about being prepared and flexible.
 
Times & Chapters
00:46 - Market Perspective Introduction
01:16 - Powell's Remarks on Interest Rates
04:45 - Strong Job Market and Economic Tailwinds
05:06 - Soft Landing and Fed Speak
06:26 - Berkshire Hathaway's Cash Reserves
09:03 - Managing Investments for Rough Market Periods
11:37 - Rebalancing During Opportune Times
13:49 - Trade-Offs Between Cash and Investments
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vectorwealth.com/regulatory
V24068105