To demonstrate our commitment to the fiduciary responsibility we have when it comes to both personal and business financial planning, we recently completed the rigorous CEFEX certification for our retirement planning service division. The CEFEX certification is a global fiduciary standard of excellence. It’s based on the international standard, ISO 19011: Guideline for quality management system auditing. The assessment is evidence-based, and all work is reviewed by the CEFEX Registration Committee to ensure impartiality and consistency. The assessment typically includes document review, client file sampling, on-site visits, and interviews with senior representatives at the firm. To be able to work with CEFEX means we’ve completed rigorous training and have been able to audit and provide feedback on our systems. The CEFEX analyst we worked with holds not only the Accredited Fiduciary Credential, but also the Fiduciary Analyst Credential and a Qualified 401(k) Administrator designation. The point of holding these advanced credentials and training is to help provide fiduciary guidance, best practices, and overall accountability to firms like ours. Going forward, these best practices will be verified by annual audits and are intended to ensure that those who hold the certification place clients’ interests first, and this will continue to build trust with clients, along with fostering a culture of continuous improvement. This is an important
Following the conclusion of its September meeting, The Federal Reserve (Fed) announced another “jumbo” interest rate hike of 0.75% and communicated that further interest rate increases will likely be appropriate in the coming months. The Federal Open Market Committee now projects its target interest rate to be raised an additional 1.00% to 1.25% by the end of 2022. Following this announcement stock markets declined, resulting in the S&P 500 index re-entering bear market territory (more than 20% below its January high). In August’s inflation report, the Consumer Price Index rose 8.3% from a year ago, suggesting that inflation may prove higher and longer lasting than many previously believed. In response, Federal Reserve chairman Jay Powell reiterated that the Fed intends to continue raising interest rates, rather than prematurely pausing or pivoting as financial markets had hoped over the summer. From June lows to August highs, the S&P 500 index rallied nearly 19%. As you may recall, we took advantage of that run-up in equity markets to rebalance investment portfolios back in line with the asset allocation most appropriate to meet long-term investment objectives (for reference, asset allocation is the percent of a portfolio’s investments held in each major asset category, such as stocks, bonds, or other securities). We did this to manage risk as we entered what we felt may be a volatile fall. Thus far, stock declines have occurred while corpor
Anticipation is swirling around the pending student loan forgiveness plan announced by the Biden Administration in late August. The plan can cancel up to $10,000 in debt for eligible student loan borrowers who didn’t receive a Pell Grant. If a borrower is a Pell Grant recipient, they will be eligible for up to $20,000. To be eligible, you must be a student loan borrower with a federal student loan and earned up to $125,000 of annual income (or $250,000 as a joint filer) during the COVID-19 pandemic. Here’s where the plan is so far: An exact date for applying for loan forgiveness has not been set, but the U.S. Department of Education says to expect it by early October. The initial form will be available online, with a paper version available later. The payment pause has been extended through the end of 2022, and another pause will not be coming. Interest will begin accruing again on January 1, 2023, and regular payments will resume. To receive loan forgiveness before the payment pause ends, the Department of Education recommends applying for relief before November 15. Loan servicers will send a notification when relief has been applied to an account. Borrowers should see forgiveness applied to their loan balances within four to six weeks after submission of the application. Note that borrowers with FFEL or Perkins loans not held by the Department of Education may not be able to obtain debt relief due to new guidance issued by the Depart
From left, Michael Rae, Andy DiLiello and John Jaros Lineweaver Financial client John Jaros has potentially found his second act as a lyricist. While on the way home from an annual police memorial commemoration, the retired Mentor police captain was listening to Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelujah” when he started coming up with his own lyrics. John was able to compose five verses, with each verse representing different people involved with a fallen officer. Being encouraged by friends to build on the idea more, John partnered with retired Federal Agent Michael Rae and musician Andy DiLiello to create a tribute titled “Hallelujah, The Thin Blue Line.” Andy recorded the song and Michael worked his connections to send the lyrics to coordinators of this year’s National Police Week, which was held May 11 to 17 in Washington, D.C. The coordinators loved the trio’s rendition and asked if it could be performed at some point during the commemoration. Then on May 13, while a crowd of 10,000 people gathered at the National Mall, Andy opened the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial 34th Annual Candlelight Vigil with their creation, bringing John’s lyrics to
LFG Investment Research and Client Service Team Member Dylan Casler poses with the foul ball he caught during a recent company outing to a Cleveland Guardians game against the Los Angeles Angels. LFG employees participated in a friendly axe-throwing competition, where Travis Dragan, CFA®, FRM, CMT, Portfolio Manager, was deemed the “Lumber Lord” after earning the highest score and was presented an accompanying