Markets have been highly volatile recently, with sharp swings driven by uncertainty around geopolitical developments. The ongoing conflict in the Middle East continues to weigh on investor sentiment, particularly through its impact on energy prices, global trade routes, and overall economic stability. As long as tensions persist and the outlook remains unclear, markets are likely to experience continued volatility in the near term.   The global chokepoint is the Strait of Hor

Highlights of this Special Edition Newsletter: Introducing: Clients Giving Back Congrats to Our Colleague: 25 Years with LVM! Financial Spring Cleaning: Organize Your Documents Review Your Budget and Cash Flow Check Your Insurance Coverage Revisit Your Investment Allocation Update Your Estate Plan Your Spring Cleaning Checklist Introducing: Clients Giving Back A new recurring feature in our quarterly newsletter At LVM, we’ve always believed that thoughtful financial planning

The story of the American consumer begins with their financial buffer, and recent trends in the personal savings rate show that cushion steadily thinning. As the chart below illustrates, households have moved from an elevated post-pandemic savings environment into a period marked by persistently lower savings behavior. Consumers are therefore increasingly reliant on credit, wage growth, or asset appreciation to maintain spending momentum—leaving them more exposed to shocks in

Highlights of this Special Edition Newsletter: Year-End Tax Planning Update: Key Changes from the One Big Beautiful Bill What Changed for 2025 Taxes Planning Implications for Clients Looking Ahead to 2026 Supporting Our Communities Tax Season Reminder for IRA and Roth IRA Holders Year-End Tax Planning Update: Key Changes from the One Big Beautiful Bill AS TAX SEASON APPROACHES and year-end planning concludes, a major piece of federal tax legislation warrants your attention. T

The stock and bond markets performed well in 2025, helping to keep personal financial plans on track.  Those plans take each investor’s life situation, goals, risk tolerance, and time horizon into consideration to meet their investment and financial goals.  As is typical in most years, the stock market underwent a significant correction during the year, dropping 19% from mid-February to mid-April.  While it may be tempting to make sudden portfolio changes based on recent perf