Blog
Thank you for visiting our blog where you will find the latest news and happenings from FIFS Capital Advisor Group as well as our insights into financial topics and emerging industry trends. Keep checking in for all of the latest updates, and please contact us if you have questions or a subject that you would like us to write about. We are glad to have you reading along!
Have you joined The Great Resignation?

Have you recently left your job? Or perhaps you are contemplating being part of The Great Resignation? If so, what happens to the money you have saved in your employee retirement plan? If you have left your employer, you have 4...
Read MoreA Wall of Worry

Have you ever heard the Wall Street expression, "markets climb a wall of worry?"It's the idea that financial markets are constantly on edge. Traders fret about how long a market rally can continue before it runs into trouble. Worry...
Read MoreBehavior versus everything else

There are a lot of people running around out there making a lot of noise and waving their hands, trying to tell you what you should be focusing on as an investor. These “hand-wavey'' people talk about China, things like The Fed,...
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Summer Travel is Back!

One of the most anticipated comebacks of 2021 isn’t an athlete, rock star, or movie franchise. It’s summer travel, and it appears to be back with a vengeance.Travel agents are working 14-hour days to meet the needs of...
Read MoreThe American Rescue Plan Act Explained

The Cetera Advanced Planning Group has released an overview of the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021. This provides explanation and analysis on how this may affect your financial planning interests.This overview provides information...
Read MoreFinancial Watch | January 2021

4 Steps for Strengthening Your Financial Safety Net in the New Year As many Americans learned in 2020, emergency savings can provide a much-needed lifeline during periods of crisis or uncertainty. Adequate cash reserves can be...
Read MoreSpeed Bumps & Headlines

As an investor, it can be tempting to get caught up in daily news headlines. Consider how news about the election and COVID-19 vaccines have moved the markets over the past several weeks. But having a financial strategy can help you...
Read MoreGridlock Expected as Joe Biden Declared President

Joe Biden has been declared the next President. With Republicans likely to hold the Senate (after a January runoff election in Georgia), expect a divided government that markets favor. The newest commentary from Cetera Investment...
Read MoreElection Uncertainty Remains, But Potential Outcomes Shrink

Election Day is behind us and the votes are still being counted. The newest commentary from Cetera Investment Management takes a thoughtful and objective look at the political landscape after one day of vote counting and what this...
Read MoreTrump vs. Biden: Do Markets Care Who Wins?

We have received many questions regarding the impact of the upcoming election on financial markets. This piece does a nice job of answering some of those questions. The latest commentary from Cetera Investment Management covers the...
Read MoreElection 2020: Don't Vote with Your Portfolio

The pandemic has largely overshadowed politics this year, but November’s presidential election is inching closer by the day. What will the election mean for investing and, more importantly, your portfolio? The latest commentary...
Read More3 Tax-Smart Ways to Help Family Members Pay for College

3 Tax-Smart Ways to Help Family Members in Need Pay for College As colleges and universities grapple with reopening during the COVID-19 pandemic, a growing number of college students and their parents find themselves struggling to pay...
Read MoreKnow your 401(k) options between jobs

Few life events are more stressful than a job loss. If you or someone you know is in this situation due to COVID-19, you’ll likely have several questions about job hunting, unemployment insurance, and health care. You may also...
Read MoreFinancial Watch | May 2020

Staying Rational About Your Investments, Even Through VolatilityRight now, it’s easy to look at the ups and downs of the markets and want to get out altogether. Emotional investing—or having a knee-jerk reaction to a...
Read MoreAn invitation to use Everplans to organize your essential documents during this pandemic

For most of us, COVID-19 has caused major disruptions to our daily routines. Many people are stuck at home with the exception of a quick trip to the grocery store or pharmacy. If you find that your new routine includes some...
Read MoreSharing Perspective on COVID-19 and Impact to the Markets

These are uncertain times, and as financial markets react to the global spread of the COVID-19 virus and anxiety levels increase, we want to provide perspective on the situation from Cetera®...
Read MoreAn Update on the Economic Impact of the Coronavirus

The markets have recently been impacted by the spread of the Coronavirus throughout the world. FIFS Capital Advisor Group is monitoring the outbreak and we wanted to share with you this timely update from Cetera Investment Management:...
Read MoreWhat Should You Know about the SECURE Act?

You may have read in the news about the SECURE (Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement) Act that went into effect on January 1, 2020 and wondered if it will affect your retirement accounts. This Act makes some very...
Read MoreThank You, SEI!

On Thursday, October 24th, we were again privileged to partner with SEI in hosting an event for clients and friends on SEI’s unique campus in Oaks, PA. The evening provided opportunity to view the art works on display throughout...
Read MoreRich Guy Buries Million Dollar Bentley To Prove Point

Click on the Link Below to Find Out the Motivation Behind this Stunt. https://www.everplans.com/articles/rich-guy-buries-million-dollar-bentley-to-prove-point What is the best gift to give to your family? How about peace of mind? How...
Read MoreWhat Should You Do About Market Volatility?

Recent Volatility in the market has created some concern. What steps should you take, if any, at this time? The following article helps to outline things you should remember about unsettled periods in the market. What Should You Do...
Read MoreChoices For Your 401(k) At a Former Employer

CHOICES FOR YOUR 401(K) AT A FORMER EMPLOYER One of the common threads of a mobile workforce is that many individuals who leave their job are faced with a decision about what to do with their 401(k) account.¹ Individuals have...
Read MoreTim Swartley Named President of Indian Valley Education Foundation Board

Tim Swartley of FIFS Capital Advisor Group recently was named the President of the Indian Valley Education Foundation (www.indianvalleyef.org) Board of Directors. The IVEF is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that raises funds to...
Read MoreBorn from Financial Crisis, Bull Market Turns 10 Years Old
Friday, March 8, 2019March 9, 2019 will mark the 10-year anniversary of the S&P 500’s bull market run, the longest in history. While this is great news, it is also a good time to reflect on how we got here. On March 9, 2009, the S&P 500 closed at its lowest...
Read MoreBeyond the New Year’s Resolution: Keeping Your Financial Paperwork in Order

Beyond the New Year’s Resolution: Keeping Your Financial Paperwork in Order New Year’s resolutions can be great motivators, but any time of year is good to get your financial paperwork in order. Managing your important...
Read MoreFour Budgeting Myths Debunked

Four Budgeting Myths Debunked The New Year is a great time to reassess saving and spending habits and put new goals in place. To do so requires creating a formal process to succeed—and that means developing a budget. You may...
Read MoreThree Steps to Successful End-of-Year Charitable Donations

Three Steps to Successful End-of-Year Charitable Donations The end of the year can provide wonderful opportunities to support organizations you are passionate about, and possibly decrease your tax liability. To ensure your...
Read MoreThe Midterms - Red and Blue Waves Turn to Purple Haze
Thursday, November 8, 2018Red and Blue Waves Turn to Purple Haze • Investors anticipated the election outcome correctly and stocks are rallying as uncertainty(risk) is being reduced from markets. • Now Democrats have the majority in the House of...
Read MoreTim Swartley named Vice President of the Indian Valley Education Foundation Board of Directors
Tuesday, October 23, 2018Tim Swartley of FIFS Capital Advisor Group recently was named the Vice President of the Indian Valley Education Foundation (www.indianvalleyef.org) Board of Directors. The IVEF is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that raises funds...
Read MoreWhy the Fall is a Great Time to Start, Review, or Update Your Financial Plan

Why The Fall is a Great Time to Start, Review or Update Your Financial Plan For most of the country, the Fall marks a seasonal turning point. As temperatures cool and the leaves begin to drop we’re reminded that life, like the...
Read MoreAn Evening at SEI Investments

On Tuesday, October 9th, FIFS Capital Advisor Group hosted clients and friends for a tour of SEI’s unique campus and the art works of emerging artists throughout. The event included a time to socialize, a walking tour, lite fare...
Read MoreEquity Markets Decline; Search for Direction Ahead of Earnings
Thursday, October 11, 2018Volatility has returned to the stock market, and with it we have seen some significant short term declines. Cetera Investment Management recently authored a brief article on the declines, citing rising interest rates and challenging...
Read MoreSupplies You Will Need In A Weather Emergency Or Power Outage

This article is provided by Everplans — The web's leading resource for planning and organizing your life. FIFS Capital Advisor Group is proud to offer our clients and friends complimentary access to Everplans. To learn more...
Read MoreThe Longest Bull Market Ride

Recently the S&P 500 reached a significant milestone. At 3,453 days without a decline of 20% or more, it became the longest running bull market in U.S. history. This article outlines the history of this bull run and how long it might...
Read MoreWill the Fed Raise Rates Again in 2018?

Steady, rising growth and inflation nearing target levels has led the Federal Reserve to raise interest rates twice this year, with a third hike widely expected in September. The Fed left rates unchanged at its August 1 meeting, but...
Read MoreThree reasons why every family needs to think about a legacy plan now

Three reasons why every family needs a legacy plan now A common misconception about legacy planning is that only the very wealthy leave legacies. But nothing could be further from the truth. That’s because your legacy is about...
Read MoreTax Season is Over - Or is it?

Now that another tax season has wrapped up, it is easy to think that we can put all of the documents in a file until next year. However, with recent tax law changes it may be more important than ever to think ahead for the 2018 tax...
Read MoreA lot has happened since 2008

Do you remember 2008? I remember it as the year that the Phillies finally won another World Series. A few other key highlights for 2008 include: Barack Obama was elected President, the Apple App Store was launched, Beijing hosted...
Read More8 Social Security Changes You Need to Know About in 2018

This helpful blog post provides you a quick update on several key Social Security changes. If you have questions about how these changes may impact your income in retirement or if you need help with Social Security claiming strategies...
Read MoreMarkets Continue Slide on News of Tariffs and Other Worries

Markets Continue Slide on News of Tariffs and Other Worries The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell by over 1% for a third straight day on Thursday, something ithas not done in over two years. Markets tumbled after President Trump said...
Read MoreKey Highlights of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017

This helpful blog post provides you a quick update on key highlights of the new tax law. While this is far from a complete list of reforms ushered in by the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, the number of changes points to the importance of...
Read MoreMarkets Have Been Waiting for a Pullback

"The recent sell-off is not that unusual, but something we have not seen in a long time. Before the pullback, we had gone the longest period without a 3% sell-off (drawdown from peak) in the S&P 500 (311 trading days). The next longest..."
Read MoreImplications of the First Major Tax Overhaul in 30 Years

The last time this country reformed its tax code, shoulder pads were in fashion, Mike Tyson became the youngest Heavyweight Champion in history, the Oprah Winfrey show had just debuted on television, and the movie “Wall Street” had not...
Read MoreWhat is Bitcoin?

Bitcoin is unavoidable in the news right now. It’s meteoric rise has captured the attention of professional investors and individual investors alike. But what is Bitcoin? More importantly, is it an appropriate investment for the...
Read MoreFIFS is now an official Everplans Advisor!

FIFS is now an official Everplans Advisor! FIFS Capital Advisor Group is proud to offer Everplans. An Everplan is a secure, digital archive of everything your loved ones will need should something happen to you. It contains wills,...
Read MoreTim Swartley Joins Indian Valley Education Foundation Board

Tim Swartley of FIFS Capital Advisor Group recently joined the Indian Valley Education Foundation (www.indianvalleyef.org) Board of Directors. The IVEF is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that raises funds to support and enhance the...
Read MoreTim Swartley Attends Cetera Advisor Networks’ Connect Conference

Tim Swartley of FIFS Capital Advisor Group recently attended Connect 2017 hosted by Cetera® Advisor Networks, aimed at bringing together advisors from across the country aspiring to work on their personal and professional...
Read MoreThe National Association of Plan Advisors (NAPA) Membership

FIFS Capital Advisor Group is proud to announce that Sid Ruth and Tim Swartley have furthered their commitment to Qualified Retirement Plans by recently becoming members of The National Association of Plan Advisors (NAPA). The National...
Read MoreA Further Update on The DOL Fiduciary Rule

Several months ago, we posted an update on our blog regarding news that our then newly elected President had issued a directive to the Department of Labor (DOL) regarding its Fiduciary Duty Rule or “Conflict of Interest”...
Read MoreSocial Security Seminar in Souderton – June 21, 2017

At FIFS Capital Advisor Group, Sid Ruth and I are often asked questions related to Social Security. “When should I claim?” “What happens if I continue to work part time after I claim?” “Should I claim on...
Read MoreAn Update on the Department of Labor’s Fiduciary Duty Rule

You may have heard reports in the news that President Trump has issued a presidential memorandum pertaining to the Department of Labor’s (DOL) Fiduciary Duty Rule or “Conflict of Interest” Rule. The memorandum...
Read MoreFIFS Capital Advisor Group Hosts Students from Indian Crest and Indian Valley Middle Schools

A group of Indian Crest and Indian Valley Middle School students recently visited the FIFS Capital Advisor Group office for a presentation by Tim Swartley on Investments and Financial Planning. During the presentation the students...
Read MoreWalk this way....to the FIFS Fitness Challenge
Tuesday, April 25, 2017We are well on our way! It is approximately 32,000 steps from our FIFS office in Telford to SEI Investments in Oaks and with only 5 days into the challenge look how many of us have arrived already! A huge thank you to SEI for the cool...
Read MoreAn Eclectic Evening at SEI Investments with FIFS Capital Advisor Group

On Thursday, April 20th a crowd, primarily composed of clients new to FIFS Capital Advisor Group, gathered to tour SEI’s unique campus and the art works of emerging artists throughout. The event included lite fare and culminated...
Read MoreFIFS Capital Advisor Group named as an approved 403(b) service provider by the Souderton Area School

FIFS Capital Advisor Group is pleased to have recently been added to the Approved 403(b) Vendor list for the Souderton Area School District. FIFS Capital Advisor Group Financial Advisors Sidney J. Ruth, CPA, CFP® and Timothy V....
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