Indicators, Fed-speak, and short-term sentiment trackers are helpful directionally and at times can play a part in asset allocation and planning. The much larger and more significant consideration is how you plan to spend your time and use your money.

The U.S. unemployment rate is 3.7%, a decrease from the previous month's 3.9%. This unexpected increase in employment is a double-edged sword, as it brings with it potential wage-price pressures.

Planning ahead empowers us to face unafraid the [financial] plans that we've made. Also, Santa rallies and cyclical trends. (video)

Stock quote: “Invention, my dear friends, is 93% perspiration, 6% electricity, 4% evaporation, and 2% butterscotch ripple.” Well Balanced Vol. 25 is a round-up of topics helping you get today right.

5 Strategies for Giving. Your charitable giving means a lot to those who need it. At the same time, no one said giving can’t benefit you as well, so remember to take advantage of financial benefits like tax deductions.

While we value short-term, high-quality bonds for a portion of the portfolio, it’s important to consider the total percentage owned in one’s portfolio. We discuss how taxes and inflation can affect “real” returns and how historically, a diversified portfolio has compared to bonds.