Bill Wendling

And the reward goes to … you?

With a few clicks and a change in which credit card I was using, I was able to make adjustments that will earn my family an extra $500 in rewards over the next twelve months.... Read More

The bonds that tie – an exciting look at fixed income

What’s your opinion of bonds and the direction yields are headed? Buy, sell, or maintain in your portfolio—that’s the question in today’s investing environment. Read on for the popular opinions and what to consider before you invest.... Read More

New and updated 2025 tax laws

Happy New Year, and welcome to 2025!  With the dawn of a new calendar year, some tax laws have been updated, some have changed, and others are set to end. You may want to bookmark this article and reference it as you move through the year.... Read More

Easing like Sunday morning

On September 17th and 18th, the Federal Reserve will meet and likely ease the interest rate on Federal Funds. I’m picturing the meeting taking place poolside, with Chairman Powell wearing floaties and beverages being served with umbrellas and freshly sliced citrus. Waist-deep in the shallow end are the Commodores singing “Easy Like Sunday Morning.” ... Read More

Renting a car? Learn to ‘drive happy’ with a little research

With travel approaching pre-pandemic levels and international travel as popular as ever, now is a good time to look at some helpful hints for renting cars. ... Read More

Cybersecurity and your money: Don’t let your guard down

Recently, I heard from two friends about how an online fraud scheme duped them. One involved a grandmother thinking that she was helping a grandchild in trouble. The second involved providing account information over the phone to someone that falsely claimed to be working for PayPal.... Read More

Student loan forgiveness – what to do with extra money

Everyone is talking about the student loan forgiveness plan. And everyone has an opinion about the merits or demerits of forgiving debt.  Regardless of your opinion, for those that will benefit from this gift, it would be great to see them take advantage.... Read More

Headed for recession or through a recession – does it matter?

Over the next few months, we are going to hear a lot about a recession, and in most cases accompanied by a qualifier such as: “unlikely recession”, “certain recession”, or my favorite that comes out in a couple of years, “the recession that everyone knew was going to happen.”... Read More

Amidst Bond Market Carnage – Any Opportunities?

The bond market is down over -9% since the beginning of the year. The significant losses are almost across the board. High yield, investment grade, long-term, and intermediate bonds have taken large hits. Only short-term and adjustable-rate bonds have largely escaped the carnage. So what is happening to the bond market and what should you do?... Read More

Inverted – What the Bond Market and Top Gun Have in Common

On May 27th, the movie “Top Gun: Maverick” will be in theaters 36 years after the release of the original Top Gun. In a famous scene from the original, Tom Cruise describes how he (and Goose) were inverted and could take an up-close Polaroid that proved the government’s analysis of the enemy’s capabilities did not accurately reflect reality.  What does this have to do with the bond market?... Read More