Here's your source for thoughts and observations on all things financial (and otherwise). Topics can range from tips on your personal well being to the well being of your investments. As always, we welcome your comments and feedback.
Disclaimer: Our blog posts are for informational purposes only and are not to be considered investment, tax, or financial advice. Cornerstone does not and cannot guarantee the accuracy or applicability of any information presented in our blog posts regarding your individual circumstances. Please review your personal situation with your tax and/or financial advisor.
On Wednesday, December 14th the Federal Reserve increased interest rates by 0.25%, to a range of 0.50% - 0.75%. This was the second increase in a decade, the last one being December 2015. The increase reflects the Fed’s confidence in the US economy and Janet Yellen stated that they expect the economy to continue performing well. Some economist are predicting that the rates could rise at a…
Read MoreThey say that the markets hate uncertainty. The election of Trump last night as our next president at least brings some certainty back into the markets, but adds to it through many unanswered questions. What will his administration do with the Affordable Care Act? Will he build a wall around our border and restrict global trade? Will Russia attempt to assert its strength on the US? These…
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Currently Americans sit for nearly six hours per day and research has proven that this type of inactivity can lead to early death and cancer. However standing isn’t necessarily the fix, any non-activity for an extended period of time can be unhealthy whether it’s sitting or standing. In a world driven by screens we need to remind ourselves to get moving; take a walk or choose the stairs…
Read MoreMorningstar, a leader in investment research and mutual fund analysis, has launched new Sustainability Ratings in partnership with Sustainalytics. This new rating system is applied across all mutual funds whether they are considered to be a ‘SRI’ (Socially Responsible Investment) or not. The new rating system reveals that many non-SRI funds are indeed sustainable. With Morningstar’s new…
Read MoreWere “the good old days” really that good? Memory is a funny thing. We tend to remember good things that happened more than bad, perhaps contributing to the generalization that life in past years was better than it is today. Morgan Housel, of The Motley Fool, examined that idea recently and found it to be inaccurate in at least 3 economic areas. First, Housel looked into the common idea that…
Read MoreAmidst these lazy hazy days of summer, many of us find an escape from the routine work week to indulge in a bit of R&R. This probably isn’t the environment under which one considers their finances – and that is perfectly okay! However, you may have a child who is out mowing lawns, scooping ice cream, camp counseling or otherwise engaged in some income producing labor. And this presents an…
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Cornerstone held a ribbon-cutting ceremony and open house to celebrate their new offices on Union Wharf. Mayor Strimling and Joe Pickering from the Chamber of Commerce presided. Oysters on the half shell (from BP’s Shuck Shack) and Jumbo shrimp cocktail (by Vinnie Veligor) rounded out other delightful delectables provided by Foodworks of India Street. We are grateful to our many guests who…
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Here we are at Memorial Park in Biddeford for United Way’s Day of Caring. We helped create a “learning” trail for young folks, replete with actions to support their evolving education. We love primary colors!
Read MoreRecently a study of 36 online retirement planning tools found that most give misleading advice, often showing outcomes that are far more favorable than the results that would come out of retirement planning software used by financial planners. This could be very harmful to users who may think they are confidently on the path to retire when, in fact, they are not taking the necessary steps. The…
Read MoreThe long-awaited Department of Labor’s ruling emerged in final form last week. This ruling is for the protection of the people and their retirement savings and requires those in the brokerage world to adopt a higher standard and to act as “fiduciaries”; that is, to put their clients’ interest first. And while many investors assumed their interests always did come first, that is not the…
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