Our monthly market update covers what’s going on in the investment universe and markets right now. In this episode Heritage Financial CEO, Sammy Azzouz, and CIO, Bob Weisse discuss:* Reasons behind February’s market swoon.* Bob’s investment outlook – What he’s optimistic, and pessimistic, about today.* What causes inflation? Debt? Money supply? They debate different theories on inflation and how to get it under control.* An explanation of common public market investment strategies and vehicles - Pros and cons of ETFs vs. Direct Indexing vs. Mutual Funds.* Debt and interest rates – Guidance on what people should be doing given today’s higher cost of debt.Email us questions, ideas, or feedback at [email protected] (mailto:[email protected]) or visit www.heritagefinancial.net (https://heritagefinancial.net/). We’d love to hear from you!Get your free guide to building your next million. How To Build Your Next Million teaches investors about the tools that can help them SAVE more, KEEP more, GROW more, and PROTECT more.

Host Sammy Azzouz talks with special guest Chris Miller, author of the book Chip War: The Fight for the World’s Most Critical Technology. Computing power has been a key transformative force over the past 50 years and the world has become dependent on microchip technology. Microchips are used in nearly all of today’s electronics - appliances, phones, wearable technology, cars, aircraft, and missiles. They discuss this resource that is essential to both military systems and the global economy, the shortage disruption and the impact on the manufacturing sector, risks to the chip industry, and the chip supremacy contest between the US and China. A fascinating listen!Learn more about Chris Miller and Chip War here: https://www.christophermiller.net/ (https://www.christophermiller.net/)Email us questions, ideas, or feedback at [email protected] (mailto:[email protected]) or visit www.heritagefinancial.net (https://heritagefinancial.net/). We’d love to hear from you!

The markets kicked off 2023 on a positive note across both equity and fixed income. In particular, January proved to be quite a reversal for fixed income markets given that 2022 was the worst year ever for bonds. In this episode Heritage Financial CEO, Sammy Azzouz, and CIO, Bob Weisse catch you up on a record number of topics including: * Did the market bottom out in October? Is the market getting ahead of itself? * Why the rebound in international performance, and China in particular? * Reinvestment rate risk - what it is, why it’s increasing, and what to do about it * What the Fed is juggling now * The debt ceiling distraction* An update on private investments and real estate markets* With the big game Sunday, it’s time for computing statistics and probabilities. We breakdown one of the latest about the markets in 2023. And, we answer a listener question, “Why would you, or wouldn’t you, target a high dividend strategy in your portfolio?”Email us questions, ideas, or feedback at [email protected] (mailto:[email protected]) or visit www.heritagefinancial.net (https://heritagefinancial.net/). We’d love to hear from you!

Health and wealth go hand-in-hand. You may have accumulated wealth, but without health you can’t achieve the goals and dreams you’ve worked and saved so hard for. At Heritage Financial (https://heritagefinancial.net/) we know that feeling confused and overwhelmed about investments and finances often leads to inaction which can impair your financial future. Your health is no different. On this episode of Wealthy Behavior, we welcome Kristin Castner, CFA, Director of Wealth Management at Heritage Financial, and Certified Health & Lifestyle Coach, who is passionate about helping people improve both their health and wealth. She helps us tune out the noise of today’s diet trends, provides simple ideas that will help change our diets without feeling overwhelmed, and offers ways to stay committed. Kristin also shares her motivation for making one change to her diet that ultimately started a major shift to living a healthier and wealthier life. Email us questions, ideas, or feedback at [email protected] (mailto:[email protected]) or visit www.heritagefinancial.net (https://heritagefinancial.net/). We’d love to hear from you!

In this month’s market update host and Heritage Financial CEO, Sammy Azzouz, and CIO, Bob Weisse, provide a quick recap of the record-breaking challenging year investors experienced in 2022 and discuss our market expectations for 2023. We believe the drivers of markets in 2023 will be inflation, fed policy, and earnings. While the beginning of the year may be choppy with continued volatility and the potential for weakness, we expect that as these themes work themselves out throughout the year balance will come to light. In fact, today we are finding more attractive opportunities than we could a year ago. Until that time comes, listen in as Bob discusses how to get defensive without moving to cash, what factors he sees already priced into markets, and the bright spots on the horizon. Email us questions, ideas, or feedback at [email protected] (mailto:[email protected]) or visit www.heritagefinancial.net (https://heritagefinancial.net/). We’d love to hear from you!

According to a well-known study by Brinson et al, asset allocation is responsible for over 90% of a portfolio’s return. With the success of your financial future on the line, how do you determine what asset allocation is right for you?In this episode of Wealthy Behavior Michael Waldron, Heritage Financial’s Director of Portfolio Management, discusses the important role that capital market assumptions play in determining the appropriate asset allocation for each client and the factors that go into allocation adjustments throughout the year (Surprise! Our assumptions don’t start with targeting returns). Finally, as we wrap up our last podcast for the year, we’ll discuss what factors we believe will drive asset class returns in 2023.Looking for more insight into 2023? Be sure to register for our 2023 Market Outlook webinar (https://pages.services/go.heritagefinancial.net/2023-market-outlook-webinar-v2/?ts=1668259113062) on January 10th @ 12pm ET. Can’t make it? Register and we’ll send you the recording!We’d love to hear from you! Email us questions, ideas, or feedback at [email protected] (mailto:[email protected])

In this month’s market update host and Heritage Financial President, Sammy Azzouz, and Heritage Financial’s CIO, Bob Weisse, discuss what’s going on across the investment universe today, including: * November’s FTX implosion and the unintended consequences to investors that haven’t invested in crypto* Protests in China over the country’s COVID shut down* Ideas to get venture capital like market returns with less risk* What 8 months of declines in LEI data has signaled historically* And, where to invest during periods of high but slowing inflation (like today) Email us questions, ideas, or feedback at [email protected] or visit www.heritagefinancial.net (https://heritagefinancial.net/). We’d love to hear from you!

Holiday parties and planning are in full swing! As a host, what should you serve your thirsty guests? You want to be a gracious guest, what should you bring?Burgundy, Bordeaux, or bubbles? What’s up with the bourbon craze? Have limited budget? What should and shouldn’t you spend it on? We are joined by Gordon Fine Wines & Liquors (http://www.gordonswine.com/), Ken Gordon, Owner & Spirits Buyer, and Chelsea Bell, a Certified Sommelier and the Director of Events & Marketing, to help bring the “Rum-pa-pa-pum” to your holidays!Links to some of the wines and spirits mentioned in the episode are below:Mezcal – La Luna Espadincillo Mezcal (https://www.gordonswine.com/product/la-luna-mezcal-espadincillo/)Tequila - Clas Azul Plata (https://www.gordonswine.com/product/clase-azul-plata/)Bourbon – Four Roses Small Batch Bourbon (https://www.gordonswine.com/product/four-roses-small-batch/)Peaty Scotch - Ardbeg Corryvreckan (https://www.gordonswine.com/product/ardbeg-corryvreckan/)Champagne - NV Moutard Brut Grande Cuvée (https://www.gordonswine.com/product/moutard-bdn-grande-cuvee/)Pinot Noir – 2018 St. Innocent Temperance Hill Pinot Noir (Willamette Valley) (https://www.gordonswine.com/product/st-innocent-temperance-hill-pn-2/)Beaujolais- 2018 Julien Sunier Fleurie (Beaujolais) (https://www.gordonswine.com/product/julien-sunier-fleurie/)Bordeaux -2019 Clos Petit Corbin St. Emilion (Bordeaux) (https://www.gordonswine.com/product/clos-petit-corbin-st-emilion/) and/or 2016 Chateau Marquis de Terme Margaux (https://www.gordonswine.com/product/marquis-de-terme-margaux/)

Month to month the markets have been performing differently, but throughout 2022 the story has remained the same. Inflation is high, the Fed is fighting inflation by raising rates - it’s surprising the markets are so sensitive and seem to be getting surprised by this repetition. In this market update, Sammy Azzouz and Heritage Financial’s CIO, Bob Weisse, discuss the future of large rate hikes, what we need to see before inflation can come under control, the return to more normalized mortgage rates, why it’s a great time to put money to work across the markets, and some end-of-year ideas for keeping more of what you make.We'd love to hear from you! Email us at [email protected] or visit www.heritagefinancial.net (https://heritagefinancial.net/).

As Heritage Financial’s Director of Financial Planning, Ed Jastrem is no stranger to hearing and reading outlandish financial “advice” such as don’t use a 529 plan because it will lower your financial aid, or pay off all your debt before investing, and use life insurance for tax free investing. Not all these statements are black and white. There may be some truth to them, but you can’t take them at face value because there are more unintended consequences than what can be seen on the surface. On this episode of Wealthy Behavior, we set the facts straight on some of the worst retirement planning, college savings, life insurance, and credit card “advice” on the internet.Find more valuable financial advice in Beyond the Basics: Maximizing, Allocating, and Protecting Your Capital (https://www.amazon.com/Beyond-Basics-Sammy-Azzouz/dp/1632992809).