Invest for Success

Join Keith Mooney as he talks through the newly passed legislation known as Secure Act 2.0 including changes to retirement savings and other critical topics.

Mooney Lyons is currently offering a complimentary review of your investment portfolio.  There's no cost or obligation.  You can find out more by reaching out to the team at https://mooneylyons.com/or by calling 847-382-2600.   You can also send an email to info@mooneylyons.com.

Securities offered through Triad Advisors, LLC. Member FINRA/SIPC. Advisory Services offered through Triad Hybrid Solutions LLC, a registered investment advisor. Mooney Lyons Financial Advisors and Triad Advisors, LLC are not affiliated.

It's hard to believe we've turned the calendar to November, but as the end of the year approaches, it's time to start thinking about year-end taxes.  Today, Jeff Scheider from Mooney Lyons briefly explains two strategies that can be advantageous to investors.

The first is tax loss harvesting.  This is the idea that if you sell certain securities at a capital loss, you can use those losses to offset capital gains in your taxes.  Jeff walks us through the process, including who and which investments are eligible, and what the restrictions are, including the Wash Rules.   We also look at pros and cons for this strategy.

Next, we cover direct indexing - what is it and how does it work?  Instead of buying an index through an ETF like Vanguard or eShares, for example, you buy the holding in the index directly, making sure you weight your investments by sector.   You may not have all 500 stocks in the S&P for example, but you can have a good representation.   And tax loss harvesting can work hand in hand with direct indexing.  

Of course, these strategies aren't for everyone, and we look at what criteria should be evaluated in using them.  The most important thing is to talk to an expert in the field.  That's where the team at Mooney Lyons comes in.

Mooney Lyons is currently offering a complimentary review of your investment portfolio.  There's no cost or obligation.  You can find out more by reaching out to the team at https://mooneylyons.com/

or by calling 847-382-2600.   You can also send an email to info@mooneylyons.com.

Securities offered through Triad Advisors, LLC. Member FINRA/SIPC. Advisory Services offered through Triad Hybrid Solutions LLC, a registered investment advisor. Mooney Lyons Financial Advisors and Triad Advisors, LLC are not affiliated.

Ted Buckley of Mooney Lyons walks us through the 6 big fears investors are facing right now, and how to handle them.  They include:

InflationLongevity RiskHealth and Long Term Care RiskStock Market and Home Price RiskTax Policy RiskGeneral Policy Risk

Mooney Lyons is currently offering a complimentary review of your investment portfolio.  There's no cost or obligation.  You can find out more by reaching out to the team at https://mooneylyons.com/

or by calling 847-382-2600.   You can also send an email to info@mooneylyons.com.

Securities offered through Triad Advisors, LLC. Member FINRA/SIPC. Advisory Services offered through Triad Hybrid Solutions LLC, a registered investment advisor. Mooney Lyons Financial Advisors and Triad Advisors, LLC are not affiliated.

Today, Keith Mooney of Mooney Lyons talks about what we should -and shouldn't - do during times of market volatility.  Before getting to specific advice, we take a look at where we sit, as of June 17, 2022.

Aggressive investments are dropping, but so are more conservative ones.  What is stagflation?  And with inflation on the rise, how likely are we to see stagflation?

The most important advice the Mooney Lyons team has for investors is this: Pull your emotions away from the investment decision process.  Emotions often lead to overreactions.   Focus on the cause of market volatility and use history as a tool to make informed decisions.

When reviewing strategy, answer these three questions.  

Why did I do it?Did it work?Do I need to change it?

On the client side specifically, think about these three questions:

How much time do I have for my investments?How much risk can I afford?What is my ultimate reward?

It's important to remember that the stock market is positive, on average, in 3 out of every 4 years.  And in the last 40 years, only 6 of them have been negative for bonds.

Keith leaves us with these key takeaways:

Don’t be emotional

Don’t panic 

Don’t make silly mistakes

Don’t try to time the market

Adjust your portfolio.

This way, you can weather the storm. But you have to stay invested over the long run to have success.

Mooney Lyons is currently offering a complimentary review of your investment portfolio.  There's no cost or obligation.  You can find out more by reaching out to the team at https://mooneylyons.com/

or by calling 847-382-2600.   You can also send an email to info@mooneylyons.com.

Securities offered through Triad Advisors, LLC. Member FINRA/SIPC. Advisory Services offered through Triad Hybrid Solutions LLC, a registered investment advisor. Mooney Lyons Financial Advisors and Triad Advisors, LLC are not affiliated.

We've seen quite a bit of volatility in the financial markets in the first 5 months of 2022.  For those getting ready to retire, this can be quite frightening.  Today, Ted Buckley of Mooney Lyons and Jon Gay look at the small and big picture when it comes to starting your retirement.

Markets are often like headwinds and tailwinds - working with us or against us.  Obviously, we are now facing headwinds when it comes to inflation, interest rates, and the market itself.

At the time of this recording (May 16th), the various indices are either in, or near, bear market territory, or a drop of 20% from their previous highs.  While we can't predict the future, bear markets historically happen once every 5.4 years, and last just under 10 months. 

Conversely, bull markets (a gain of 20%) historically happen more frequently and last longer than bear markets.  They've occurred in 78% of the last 91 years, and last an average of 2.7 years.

With this knowledge in mind, the team at Mooney Lyons can help guide you through the various stages of wealth accumulation and retirement.  This includes the build, the transition to retirement (2-3 years before retirement), as well as retirement itself.

Ted and the team at Mooney Lyons will consider your time frame, risk tolerance, and investment objectives - including preservation of principal, income, growth, and tax benefits. 

Retiring in a down market can be difficult. It requires more strategy when it comes to funding your retirement, but also because of the psychological toll.   That's why it's important to develop a plan and stick to it.  This will help you avoid common pitfalls like chasing performance, reacting to headline news, loss aversion, and panic selling. 

Mooney Lyons is currently offering a complimentary review of your investment portfolio.  There's no cost or obligation.  You can find out more by reaching out to the team at https://mooneylyons.com/

or by calling 847-382-2600.   You can also send an email to info@mooneylyons.com.

Securities offered through Triad Advisors, LLC. Member FINRA/SIPC. Advisory Services offered through Triad Hybrid Solutions LLC, a registered investment advisor. Mooney Lyons Financial Advisors and Triad Advisors, LLC are not affiliated.

Ted Buckley at Mooney Lyons was looking for the perfect book to talk about all aspects of retirement planning - not just the money.  When he couldn't find it, he decided to write his own - "Retired – What do you want to do for the next 30 Years?"

Today, through the prism of what Mooney Lyons offers clients as fiduciary advisors, we talk about the non-financial aspects of retirement, and what Ted covers in the book.

When folks retire, they are often faced with the question of "now what?" That's why it's so important to have a plan for your life after your working years.  Ted walks us through the key points of the book and why it's important, including:

Need help with your retirement?

Mooney Lyons Phone Number: 847.382.2600
Mooney Lyons Website: https://mooneylyons.com/

Securities offered through Triad Advisors, LLC. Member FINRA/SIPC. Advisory Services offered through Triad Hybrid Solutions LLC, a registered investment advisor. Mooney Lyons Financial Advisors and Triad Advisors, LLC are not affiliated.

Today, Jeff Scheider and Jon Gay take stock of the market as of January 27, 2022.  Where are we, where are we going, and what does that mean for our portfolios?

Where are we?

Where are we going?

What does that mean for me and my portfolio?

Mooney Lyons Phone Number: 847.382.2600
Mooney Lyons Website: https://mooneylyons.com/

Securities offered through Triad Advisors, LLC. Member FINRA/SIPC. Advisory Services offered through Triad Hybrid Solutions LLC, a registered investment advisor. Mooney Lyons Financial Advisors and Triad Advisors, LLC are not affiliated.

Mooney Lyons Phone Number: 847.382.2600
Mooney Lyons Website: https://mooneylyons.com/

Long Term Care may not be a subject we enjoy thinking about or talking about, but it can be a critical part of your retirement and long term financial strategies.  Today, Ted Buckley of Mooney Lyons joins Jon Gay to cover 3 important things to remember about long term care.

Do I Need Long Term Care?What Types of Long Term Care Coverages Are Available?How Do I Pay For Long Term Care?

Ted walks us through the statistics of the likelihood we'll need long term care, and how much it costs.  Long term care coverage has come a long way in the 20 or so years since it was first available.

Securities offered through Triad Advisors, LLC. Member FINRA/SIPC. Advisory Services offered through Triad Hybrid Solutions LLC, a registered investment advisor. Mooney Lyons Financial Advisors and Triad Advisors, LLC are not affiliated.

Today, Jeff Scheider from Mooney Lyons is here to cut through the noise about all things related to "earnings season."

Jeff also explains why, as technology improves, we start to see fewer earning surprises.  We also cover the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on corporate earnings.

For more information about these or any topics related to your financial future, visit Mooney Lyons on the web at https://mooneylyons.com/

Or call Mooney Lyons at 847-382-2600

Securities offered through Triad Advisors, LLC. Member FINRA/SIPC. Advisory Services offered through Triad Hybrid Solutions LLC, a registered investment advisor. Mooney Lyons Financial Advisors and Triad Advisors, LLC are not affiliated.

It's hard to believe we are halfway through 2021.  Today, Keith Mooney of Mooney Lyons joins Jon Gay to take a look at the outlook for the second half of this year.

While COVID-19 still remains a worldwide threat, we are seeing the American economy emerging from its pandemic slumber.  Thanks to stimulus money and increased consumer spending, GDP growth is exceeding earlier expectations.  Also, pent up demand should help struggling travel and leisure sectors.

It's not just tech companies that have adapted over the last 18 months; many companies have innovated during the pandemic.  Keith explains, including an overall shift to digital.

We also cover the "elephant in the room" - inflation.  Keith examines the question of whether inflation is temporary or here to stay.

Finally, we look at what all this means for your investments.  While we look at individual sectors, diversification of your assets remains key.

For more information about these or any topics related to your financial future, visit Mooney Lyons on the web at https://mooneylyons.com/

Or call Mooney Lyons at 847-382-2600

Securities offered through Triad Advisors, LLC. Member FINRA/SIPC. Advisory Services offered through Triad Hybrid Solutions LLC, a registered investment advisor. Mooney Lyons Financial Advisors and Triad Advisors, LLC are not affiliated.

Today, Jeff Scheider of Mooney Lyons joins Jon Gay to break down a topic that's been in the news frequently lately - inflation.

We start by defining inflation - what is its textbook definition vs real world applications?

We also explain buzzwords like deflation, reflation, transitory, and runaway inflation.

Jeff explains where we are now, by looking at what the data say, what the markets say, and what the Feds say.

Finally, we look at what inflation in its current form means for the markets -GDP, earnings, and treasuries.

For more information about this or any topic related to your financial future, visit Mooney Lyons on the web at https://mooneylyons.com/

Or call Mooney Lyons at 847-382-2600

Securities offered through Triad Advisors, LLC. Member FINRA/SIPC. Advisory Services offered through Triad Hybrid Solutions LLC, a registered investment advisor. Mooney Lyons Financial Advisors and Triad Advisors, LLC are not affiliated.

No doubt you've read or heard about the insanity around GameStop stock lately.  The popular brick-and-mortar video game chain saw stock prices skyrocket, driven largely by day traders on Reddit and Robin Hood.

Today, Keith Mooney of Mooney Lyons joins Jon Gay to walk through this entire phenomenon and clear up any misconceptions around it.  We explain some of the terms (short sale, short squeeze, and more).  

Keith speaks to how the stock was devalued, then driven up in value, then had the Robin Hood app step in.  Turns out this is much more than a David vs Goliath battle between day traders and Wall Street.  Yes, hedge funds lost billions.  But if individual investors are careless during a craze, they will lose too.

Finally, Keith looks at the long term implications of the GameStop craze - what do regulators have to evaluate when thinking about what changes, if any, they want to make.

For more information on this trend, or to look at a plan for your individual future, reach out to Mooney Lyons at https://mooneylyons.com/

Securities offered through Triad Advisors, LLC. Member FINRA/SIPC. Advisory Services offered through Triad Hybrid Solutions LLC, a registered investment advisor. Mooney Lyons Financial Advisors and Triad Advisors, LLC are not affiliated.

Today, Ted Buckley of Mooney Lyons provides a look ahead to 2021.

We start by looking back at 2020. Despite how terrible a year it was for many reasons, it wasn't as bad for the markets as you might think. Ted explains.

Domestically, we have the Biden administration starting, with control of both houses of Congress.  Ted cautions against overemphasizing the results of an election, but the Democrats will set the agenda, at least for now.  This could lead to investment opportunities on the domestic side, such as municipal bonds if a large infrastructure bill is passed.

The biggest hurdle we all face in 2021 is, of course, COVID.  Both domestic and international markets will depend on how quickly we get get vaccines rolled out to the country and the world.  The gap between "haves" and "have nots" has been illustrated by the virus and which sectors have been hit the hardest.

We also look at emerging markets - with technology advancing and being adopted so quickly, there may be international opportunities that didn't exist decades ago.

Resources:
Call Mooney Lyons at: (847) 382-2600

Find Mooney Lyons on the web: https://mooneylyons.com/

2020 has been a tumultuous year for most of us, between market volatility, the pandemic, and the US Presidential Election.  For some, it may have resulted in a job loss, an early retirement, or other financial issues.  Today, Ted Buckley from Mooney Lyons joins Jon Gay to talk about the questions you should ask yourself as we (finally) wind down 2020 and look forward to next year.

Ted walks us through each of these, and how they can help your finances as we look ahead to 2021.

Contact Mooney Lyons:

847.382.2600

info@mooneylyons.com

Each individuals situation is unique. The information provided is for informational purposes and not investment advice. Speak with a financial professional before taking action. Investing in securities involves risk of loss that employees should be prepared to bear. No investment is free of risk; no strategy or risk management technique can guarantee returns or eliminate risk in any market environment.

Securities offered through Triad Advisors, LLC. Member FINRA/SIPC. Advisory Services offered through Triad Hybrid Solutions LLC, a registered investment advisor. Mooney Lyons Financial Advisors and Triad Advisors, LLC are not affiliated.

Jeff Scheider and First Trust Economist Andrew Opdyke discuss the following:

• Where do we stand heading into the election

• Economic consequences of election results

• Tax Consequences of election results

• Where to invest in the market based on election results

Resources:

Call Mooney Lyons at 847-382-2600

Visit online: MooneyLyons.com

Or email: info@mooneylyons.com

Securities offered through Triad Advisors, LLC. Member FINRA/SIPC. Advisory Services offered through Triad Hybrid Solutions LLC, a registered investment advisor. Mooney Lyons Financial Advisors and Triad Advisors, LLC are not affiliated.

Today, Jeff Scheider from Mooney Lyons takes a nonpartisan look at where the US Election stands 5 weeks out. 

Jeff begins by offering some historical perspective on the last 80 years, and where we stand today.

We are certainly in for an election like we've never seen, between a large number of swing states, record mail in balloting, and both sides lawyering up.

We break down the three likely outcomes of the election and what each result could mean for the market and your finances.

Finally, we dig into the data. Is there really a difference in market performance depending on which parties hold the White House and Congress?

Resources:

Call Mooney Lyons at 847-382-2600

Visit online: MooneyLyons.com

Or email: info@mooneylyons.com

Securities offered through Triad Advisors, LLC. Member FINRA/SIPC. Advisory Services offered through Triad Hybrid Solutions LLC, a registered investment advisor. Mooney Lyons Financial Advisors and Triad Advisors, LLC are not affiliated.

Today, Joe Lyons and Jon Gay are joined by a valuable resource in the Mooney Lyons network, attorney Heather Kroencke of Zanc, Coen, Wright and Saladin in Crystal Lake.  Now, more than ever, it's important to have an estate plan.   Heather answers many questions, including:

Resources:

Call Zanc, Coen, Wright, & Saladin, P.C. at 815-459-8800

Or visit online at https://www.zcwlaw.com/

Call Mooney Lyons at 847-382-2600

Visit online: MooneyLyons.com

Or email: info@mooneylyons.com

Securities offered through Triad Advisors, LLC. Member FINRA/SIPC. Advisory Services offered through Triad Hybrid Solutions LLC, a registered investment advisor. Mooney Lyons Financial Advisors and Triad Advisors, LLC are not affiliated.

What makes Mooney Lyons different is their value proposition. Today, Keith Mooney explains the Mooney Lyons Wealth Management Formula.

Wealth Management = Investment Consulting + Advanced Planning + Relationship Management.

Specifically,

Advanced Planning = Wealth Enhancement + Wealth Transfer + Wealth Protection + Charitable Giving.

Throughout today's episode, Keith will explain each of these terms and how Mooney Lyons has cultivated a vast network of professionals - inside their firm and out - to take care of their clients' unique needs.

For more, call Mooney Lyons at 847-382-2600

Visit online: MooneyLyons.com

Or email: info@mooneylyons.com

Securities offered through Triad Advisors, LLC. Member FINRA/SIPC. Advisory Services offered through Triad Hybrid Solutions LLC, a registered investment advisor. Mooney Lyons Financial Advisors and Triad Advisors, LLC are not affiliated.

Walt Czaicki, Senior Equity Strategist with AB Global, joined us to discuss investing in stocks and the market through the current pandemic. This visit we will discuss the following:

• Thematic Investing through the pandemic

• What role ESG (Environmental and Social Governance) plays in the portfolio

• What the results of the election mean for the economy

For more, call Mooney Lyons at 847-382-2600

Visit online: MooneyLyons.com

Today, Ted Buckley discusses 5 moves to consider with your 401k.

Finally, we explain why it's important to work with a fiduciary financial consultant, that, by law, must put your financial best interest first.

For more, call Mooney Lyons at 847-382-2600

Visit online: MooneyLyons.com

Or email: info@mooneylyons.com

Securities offered through Triad Advisors, LLC. Member FINRA/SIPC. Advisory Services offered through Triad Hybrid Solutions LLC, a registered investment advisor. Mooney Lyons Financial Advisors and Triad Advisors, LLC are not affiliated.

While a global pandemic may be a first for most of us, there have been traumatic events in our history that have caused wild market swings.  Today, Joe Lyons of Mooney Lyons joins Jon Gay to offer some perspective, and how these events can help us through the current situation.

We also take a look at how technology is being leveraged in our new normal.

Click Here for a free copy of Mooney Lyons' ebook, Unphased.

For more, call Mooney Lyons at 847-382-2600

Visit online: MooneyLyons.com

Or email: info@mooneylyons.com

Securities offered through Triad Advisors, LLC. Member FINRA/SIPC. Advisory Services offered through Triad Hybrid Solutions LLC, a registered investment advisor. Mooney Lyons Financial Advisors and Triad Advisors, LLC are not affiliated.

Today we meet the newest member of the Mooney Lyons team, Lucas Wandell. Lucas holds his CRPC® designation and is currently working toward his CFP. He joined Mooney Lyons from Merrill Lynch this past December.

When Lucas came over, he began working on new process for ML clients that will help streamline interactions with the team, creating a blueprint for items that will be discussed in each meeting and simplifying the process, especially in our current climate of virtual meetings which  has been well received by clients and advisors alike.

Lucas also explains some of the common threads he's seeing in client conversations - from those panicking over market volatility to those who see an opportunity.  The most important thing is to have a plan and stick to it.  

Finally, as the new person in the office, Lucas explains what he loves about his new team - the wealth of knowledge and sense of cooperation he's experiencing at Mooney Lyons.

For more, call Mooney Lyons at 847-382-2600

Visit online: MooneyLyons.com

Or email: info@mooneylyons.com

Securities offered through Triad Advisors, LLC. Member FINRA/SIPC. Advisory Services offered through Triad Hybrid Solutions LLC, a registered investment advisor. Mooney Lyons Financial Advisors and Triad Advisors, LLC are not

Mooney Lyons was joined by Andrew Opdyke, an economist with First Trust.

We discussed several facets of the economy including investing internationally both during and after the COVID-19 pandemic and what the economy looks like moving forward.  We will also discussed timely topics like oil, unemployment, recession and inflation.  

First Trust is not affiliated with Triad Advisors or Triad Hybrid Solutions.

The opinions expressed during the session are those of the guest speaker.

Mooney Lyons hosted Recovery Watch - Presented by Dr. Bill Lloyd May 8th.  It was a unique discussion on the COVID - 19 Outbreak. Dr Lloyd is a board-certified surgeon and pathologist. As Health Director for Transamerica Advanced Markets, he provides valuable medical expertise for Transamerica’s Wealth + HealthSM thought leadership initiative.

Transamerica is not affiliated with Triad Advisors or Triad Hybrid Solutions.

At Mooney Lyons, we are committed to providing valuable resources to help you during these uncertain times. Experts from AB Global offer market insight into how COVID-19 has affected the economy and what you can expect to see as the market recovers. Learn investment tips and strategies to help you come out on the right side of change in the weeks and months ahead.  

AB Global is not affiliated with Triad Advisors or Triad Hybrid Solutions.

For more, call Mooney Lyons at 847-382-2600

Visit online: MooneyLyons.com

Or email: info@mooneylyons.com

Securities offered through Triad Advisors, LLC. Member FINRA/SIPC. Advisory Services offered through Triad Hybrid Solutions LLC, a registered investment advisor. Mooney Lyons Financial Advisors and Triad Advisors, LLC are not affiliated.

In our previous episode, Keith Mooney broke down the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act and how it will affect individuals.  Today, Greg Scheider of Mooney Lyons joins us to explain how the CARES Act will affect businesses.

For more, call Mooney Lyons at 847-382-2600

Visit online: MooneyLyons.com

Or email: info@mooneylyons.com

Securities offered through Triad Advisors, LLC. Member FINRA/SIPC. Advisory Services offered through Triad Hybrid Solutions LLC, a registered investment advisor. Mooney Lyons Financial Advisors and Triad Advisors, LLC are not affiliated.

Today, Keith Mooney of Mooney Lyons breaks down the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act - and the major provisions of it.

Who does it help?

Economic Impact Payments 

Employee Sick and Leave Benefits

Retirement Accounts

Student Loans - which ones are affected and how?

Affects on business - a brief overview

In our next episode, we will go into more detail on how businesses will be affected by the CARES Act.

For more, call Mooney Lyons at 847-382-2600

Visit online: MooneyLyons.com

Or email: info@mooneylyons.com

Securities offered through Triad Advisors, LLC. Member FINRA/SIPC. Advisory Services offered through Triad Hybrid Solutions LLC, a registered investment advisor. Mooney Lyons Financial Advisors and Triad Advisors, LLC are not affiliated.

The world is changing very fast, thanks to the global pandemic of Coronavirus (COVID-19), and the resulting market volatility.

Today, Ted Buckley from Mooney Lyons covers three areas:

What's HappeningWhat's Causing ItWhat To Do About It

For more, call Mooney Lyons at 847-382-2600

Visit online: MooneyLyons.com

Or email: info@mooneylyons.com

Securities offered through Triad Advisors, LLC. Member FINRA/SIPC. Advisory Services offered through Triad Hybrid Solutions LLC, a registered investment advisor. Mooney Lyons Financial Advisors and Triad Advisors, LLC are not affiliated.

In today's episode, Mooney Lyons investment strategist Jeff Scheider talks about the investment process:

Steps to realizing a successful Investment Process

For more, call Mooney Lyons at 847-382-2600

Visit online: MooneyLyons.com

Or email: info@mooneylyons.com

Securities offered through Triad Advisors, LLC. Member FINRA/SIPC. Advisory Services offered through Triad Hybrid Solutions LLC, a registered investment advisor. Mooney Lyons Financial Advisors and Triad Advisors, LLC are not affiliated.