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The Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement Act of 2019, popularly known as the SECURE Act, was signed into law in late 2019. Now called SECURE Act 1.0, it included provisions that raised the required age for mandatory distrib

January 9, 2023Dear Client,Happy New Year! Goodbye 2022, Hello storm of 2023! We hope this letter finds you warm and dry. A New Year brings Fresh opportunities and a fresh start.The year 2022 was an unpleasant one for investors. The...

It appears that America’s corporate leaders are preparing for the worst while hoping for the best.Almost half of S&P 500 CEOs in second-quarter conference calls pointed to “recession” as a potential headwind in 2023....

Dear Client,As the Holiday Season approaches, we want to focus on our blessings at this time of year. We believe that one of our significant blessings is you, our client. We are grateful for the trust you have given us to manage your...

October 14, 2022A gloomy SeptemberFor reasons not fully understood, September has historically been the worst month for stocks, according to the average S&P 500 return for each month (St. Louis Federal Reserve dating back to 1970).As...

The White House recently forgave up to $10,000 to student loan borrowers as part of a larger debt forgiveness program. There are still quite a few questions to be answered, but here are some key points to know.Pell vs. non-Pell: Loan...

Few investors should have been surprised when the Federal Reserve raised interest rates after its May meeting.Throughout April, Fed Chair Jerome Powell and several Fed Governors talked about the need to keep raising short-term rates to...

July 11, 2022 The first half of 2022 has earned a place in the record books. The Wall Street Journal summed up the first six months of the year with a simple but telling headline: S&P 500 Posts Worst First Half of Year Since 1970....

Since the beginning of the year, both the stock and bond markets have been rattled by persistently high inflation. The question of how the Federal Reserve might respond to bring it down has been on everyone's minds.

April 13, 2022 Play Ball! It is so exciting to see the boys of summer back in the yard. It signals the start of spring with the promise of the warmth of summer and carries us right into the fall. The Giants even won their home opener...

In recent weeks, the word recession has started creeping into business news and financial market coverage. Is that cause for alarm or just another attention-grabbing headline? There’s no simple answer. A recession is defined as...

Mid-Quarter Letter to Clients As you are undoubtedly aware, overnight, Russia launched an invasion of Ukraine. While the situation is rapidly evolving, Russia's apparent goal has gone from occupying a couple of relatively small eastern...

January 11, 2022 The new year is the perfect break in the calendar that allows us to take off the old and put on the new. It's like turning the page. It's a new chapter. It's a new book! You can't change the past, but you can change...

There are new contribution limits for specific retirement accounts and a higher income limit for Roth IRA contributions. If you are planning to do a specific percentage every month, adjust it accordingly to the new rules to maximize.

You see it in prices at the grocery store and the gas station. You feel it in your monthly budget. So why don’t the financial markets seem too concerned about inflation?Remember, financial markets are considered...

Dear Client, As the Holiday Season approaches, we want to focus on our blessings. We believe that one of our major blessings is you, our client. We are grateful for the trust you have given us to manage your investment assets and guide...

October 6, 2021 There is a chill in the air this week, bringing forth thoughts of another change of the season. We are stocking up on candy this year with high hopes of our first real Halloween in two years. We are also cautiously...

Most likely, you’ve heard what’s brewing in Washington, D.C., called by one of these names. The Build Back Better Act. Or the $3.5 trillion budget reconciliation bill. Or the Jobs and Economic Recovery Plan for Working...

Dear Client, The thermometer tells us that it is summertime, and we hope you have been able to get out and spend some time with family and friends you may not have seen for a while. Second Quarter 2021 in Review U.S. S&P 500 corporate...

Recently, you may have seen headlines regarding the Securing a Strong Retirement Act, also referred to as the second version of the SECURE Act, or SECURE Act 2.0.As the bill moves from the House of Representatives to the Senate, many...

Dear Client, We know spring is in full swing when the days grow longer and warmer. We also recognize that this is tax season, as the calls from CPAs, tax professionals, and clients come in at a fast clip. Last year, due to the...

You've probably seen many articles popping up about the bond market. Interested in why this is occurring? #svwa #bonds

What's going on with bonds? #bondmarket

Dear Client, Happy New Year! We wish you a very Happy and Prosperous New Year! It is the start of a new year, and we can finally say goodbye to 2020 as we embrace a hopeful 2021. For many, it is also a time to plan, set new goals, and...

As Wall Street pushes higher, a pandemic-weary Main Street is relearning how to manage cash flow with the hope of keeping its retirement dreams alive.Self-employed Americans, and the people working for them, account for roughly 30...

With the Federal Reserve keeping interest rates at or near zero, you may wonder about your mortgage. Is it a good time to refinance or even pay off the debt entirely? After all, your mortgage is one of the biggest expenses you may...

On October 26, the Treasury Department released the 2021 adjusted figures for retirement account savings. Although these adjustments won’t bring any major changes, there are some minor elements to note.401(k)sThe salary deferral...

Dear Client - Welcome to Fall and the changing colors of autumn leaves. This tax letter will bring to light tax planning challenges and opportunities brought about by the CARES Act (2019) and SECURE Act (2020). Uncertain economic times...

Many home owners have taken the time during COVID to improve their property. Are you thinking about how this can affect your financial goals and priorities? Speak with one our advisors today to have a conservation about your goals.

Read about Home Builders confidence during the pandemic. Are you thinking about purchasing a home but not sure if this fits within your financial plan? Speak with one of our advisors today.

Enrolling in Medicare is a new process when people turn 65. Medicare enrollment is currently open but don’t wait until the end to learn about this.

Have you read about the new inflation rate from the Social Security Administration? Are you worried about retirement and how social security can impact your life? Speak with one of our advisors today.

Dear Client, As the Holiday Season approaches, we want to focus on our blessings. We believe that one of our major blessings is you, our client. We are grateful for the trust you have given us, both to manage your investment assets and...

Unemployment is still a huge factor for many Americans during this pandemic. If you’re unsure about what options are available to you about 401(k) options or want to navigate how to proceed with your investments, talk with one of our adviso

Will activity grow more in the future? Read more to find about Mergers, Acquisitions, & the Markets.

Your financial health is an important aspect to your lifestyle because many decisions revolve how financially well you’re doing. Take the time to learn about the components of financial planning and speak with one our advisors today.

Read our Quarterly Letter which goes over our thoughts about the past few months.

Will Political Changes Affect the Economy? On top o fall of the storm and stress of the year 2020, we’re due for another national election in November. Many states will be selecting governors, representatives, and senators, while...

Record Low Mortgage Rates & Refinancing With the new lows on home mortgage rates, we have been looking at refinancing for many clients. On July 16, 2020, the interest rate for a 30-year home loan had fallen to 2.98%. In addition, the...

July 8, 2020 Dear Clients, First and foremost, we hope you and your family are safe and sound. We hope you enjoyed your July 4th holiday and were able to celebrate our country's independence. This summer, even though we do not have the...

Washington has created a number of tax changes and programs designed to assist people and businesses to weather this crisis. We thought we would give you highlights of what we think you should know about both the recently passed CARES...

Every year we send out the “Key Financial Data”. This year, between the SECURE Act passing in December 2019, and the CARES Act further changing the rules – the original printed paper version were out of date before...

First and foremost, we hope that you and your families are safe and healthy during this difficult time. As the country copes with the human impact of COVID-19, the strain on markets and the economy have been swift. There is no...

We wanted to give you an update on our thoughts on COVID-19 and financial markets. The COVID-19 situation is somewhat unprecedented. We simply do not know how bad, nor how long the economic effect will last. It is our belief that, at...

When to Expect Your 1099s: Schwab has two release dates planned: January 31 for simple accounts (cash and stocks only), and February 14 for all other accounts (those that have mutual funds and ETF holdings). Note that these are the...

The Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement (SECURE) Act, signed into law December 20, 2019, includes many common sense and overdue provisions that may enhance retirement savings along with some provisions that are not...

Many of you may have heard TD Ameritrade has agreed to be absorbed by Schwab. According to Baron’s the companies expect the deal to close in the second half of 2020. As Baron’s reported the combined company would be an...

Dear Clients, Happy New Decade. We trust you all had a wonderful holiday season. As the we enter a new decade how many of you remember where you were December 31st, 1999? The clocks were going to fail to rollover and our world would...

If you are the victim of a data breach, time is of the essence. Whether your personal data has been compromised as part of a larger targeted cyberattack, or you are the victim of an individual cybercrime. You'll need to take immediate...

Dear Clients, Summer has slipped away, and cool weather is becoming the norm. There is much to look forward to as the season brings us baseball playoffs, football, hockey, fall reading accompanied by pumpkin flavored treats, harvest...

Scott Ponder, CFP® - Principal We would like to welcome R. Scott Ponder, CFP® to the SVWA team. With over 30 years in the financial service industry as an Advisor and Owner of Ponder Financial Group, he brings a wealth of...

Dear Clients, Spring gardens have finally been planted, baseball is in full swing, the Warriors are closing out their regular season run in the Oakland Colosseum and heading for the playoffs, and the San Jose Sharks are skating well....

Dear Clients, Spring gardens have finally been planted, baseball is in full swing, the Warriors are closing out their regular season run in the Oakland Colosseum and heading for the playoffs, and the San Jose Sharks are skating well....

Dear Clients, Happy New Year! Family gatherings have come to a close, and binge-watching of Sopranos, Game of Thrones, or Everybody Loves Raymond have supplanted the desire to have just one more holiday treat. As we have mentioned in...

Dear Clients, As football and hockey take the main stage we must tip our hats and offer congratulations to the boys of summer. The Giants entertained, and the A's almost pulled it off. We are pleased to report our thoughts on the...

Tips for Preventing Fraud Online Cybercrime and fraud are serious threats and constant vigilance is key. While Silicon Valley Wealth Advisors play an important role in helping protect your assets, you can also take action to protect...

Dear Clients, Summer is here, baseball is in full swing, we are still floating on the rarified air of the Warriors championship, and vacations are upon us as we continue to explore the financial markets. Please read on for our thoughts...

Dear Clients, We know spring is in full swing when the days grow longer and warmer. We also recognize that this is tax season, as the calls from CPA's, tax professionals, and come at a fast clip. The volatility of the first quarter of...

Dear Clients, In writing this letter, we reflect on the year and try to use this thinking to not only understand what occurred, but also help us shape our thinking for what lies ahead. These retrospectives conjure images, both positive...

As we enter October, we are now three quarters through a very eventful 2017. Summer has come to an end and Fall is officially here. As the days turn cool and the nights grow long we look forward to holidays spent gathered around tables...

It was announced last week that Equifax suffered one of the largest security breaches in US History. While the breach was just announced, Equifax is reporting that they became aware of the breach in late July and that the breach was...