Riverside Financial Group, LLC

In a recent conversation with one of our advisors, we asked him: “What’s the one thing you wish more people knew about financial security?” Here’s what he shared: "If there’s one thing we’ve learned, it’s that financial security isn’t just about how much money you have—it’s about having a plan. Many people assume financial security means hitting a certain number in their bank account or portfolio. While that’s part of it, true security comes from understanding your goals and taking consistent steps to achieve them." Here are three things I wish more people knew: 1?? A budget is freedom, not a restriction. Tracking your income and spending gives you the power to prioritize what truly matters. 2?? An emergency fund is your best friend. It’s not glamorous, but having savings set aside reduces stress and helps you handle life’s surprises. 3?? Investing consistently is key. Whether it’s a Roth IRA, a 401(k), or a brokerage account, making regular contributions over time can help you stay on track toward building wealth, even as markets fluctuate. Financial security looks different for everyone. Whether you’re just getting started or refining an existing plan, what matters most is taking that next step." What does financial security mean to you? We’d love to hear your perspective. #FinancialFreedom #WealthPlanning #MoneyManagement #InvestingTips #FinancialWellness

FOMO and Fundamentals: Insights into the Latest Market Rally Josh Schafer’s recent article featured in Yahoo Finance dives into the unexpected rise in stocks, fueled by investor FOMO and enthusiasm for policies under the new administration. Here are three key takeaways: 1?? Crypto and AI Booms: Bitcoin hit new highs, with crypto-related stocks like Coinbase up 70% in just five days. Meanwhile, stocks in AI (e.g., Palantir) and Tesla also saw significant spikes, reflecting speculative optimism across sectors. 2?? Active Manager Pressure: Wall Street strategists are boosting year-end targets as cash-heavy portfolios lag behind the S&P 500's impressive 26% YTD growth. This "chase" among managers signals mounting pressure to outperform. 3?? Valuations Are High – And Expected to Climb Higher: With the S&P 500 trading at historically high valuations, strategists like Evercore's Julian Emanuel predict that “expensive could get more expensive,” driven by policies and investor confidence. Analysis: Schafer argues that high valuations may persist, backed by a surge of “animal spirits” in the market. Strategists see potential growth despite high prices, with some even predicting a possible melt-up. This exuberance, however, could also set the stage for volatility, making vigilance key for investors. The Importance of Caution: With speculative fervor running high, thoughtful, personalized financial planning can help mitigate risks while taking advantage of strategic opportunities. RFG’s approach centers on guiding clients through market shifts with confidence and clarity. ?? Want to explore a disciplined approach to market participation? Reach out to our team at Riverside Financial Group, LLC to discuss your strategy today. #MarketTrends #InvestmentStrategy #FinancialPlanning #StockMarketInsights #InvestorEducation https://lnkd.in/ePUNDQRk

Year-End Tip: Understand Capital Gain Distributions and Their Tax Impact It’s the time of year to review potential Capital Gain Distributions from mutual fund holdings in taxable accounts. Mutual funds distribute capital gains when profits are realized from selling securities in their portfolios. While the distribution won’t change the value of your holding if shares are reinvested, it is taxable and may impact your overall tax liability. These distributions can arise from long-term holdings or short-term sales and are typically distributed at the end of the fiscal year. Shareholders receive these gains as cash or reinvested shares, depending on their preference. The tax impact of these distributions may vary based on individual circumstances, so it’s wise to consult with a financial or tax advisor to determine the right course of action. Mutual fund companies assist by publishing Estimated Capital Gain Distributions, along with the record, ex-dividend, and payable dates. Keeping abreast of these can be time-consuming, but it is a valuable end-of-year exercise that helps investors understand how these distributions could impact their tax obligations. #InvestmentPlanning #TaxSmartInvesting #EndOfYearFinancialTips #MutualFunds #FinancialAwareness

?? Join Us Tonight for RFG’s Knowledge Series: Health Care Costs in Retirement ?? Curious about managing health care costs in retirement? Join us for tonight's Knowledge Series where we’ll explore the benefits of HSAs and Roth IRAs to help you prepare for these essential expenses. ??? Date: Tonight ?? Time: 7:00 PM (ET) ?? Location: Zoom (DM or email us for the link) Don’t miss this valuable discussion! Whether you’re planning ahead or already retired, learning how these tools can support your retirement can make a big difference. Contact us for the Zoom link and secure your spot! #KnowledgeSeries #RetirementPlanning #HSAs #RothIRA #HealthCareCosts #FinancialWellness #RFGInsights

As Halloween approaches, you might hear more about the "Sell in May and Go Away" approach to investing—an idea based on the Halloween Indicator’s historical claims of stronger winter market performance. What is the Halloween Indicator? This seasonal strategy suggests stock market performance is generally stronger from November through April and weaker from May to October. A seminal study by Bouman and Jacobsen (2002) found evidence supporting this pattern, observing better returns in the winter months across 37 countries. Is it Still Relevant? Recent discussions in finance, including insights from Mark Hulbert (2023), indicate that while seasonal effects, including the Halloween Indicator, have been observed, their significance may be limited. Notably, the indicator tends to show significant results primarily in midterm election years, with limited applicability in non-midterm years. Factors such as increased market efficiency and political uncertainty may play a crucial role in this phenomenon. Considerations for Investors: While the Halloween Indicator offers an intriguing historical trend, relying on it for investment decisions comes with risks. Market timing can lead to missed opportunities or losses, often influenced by emotional reactions to market sentiment. A more robust approach may be dollar-cost averaging (DCA), which involves consistently investing a fixed amount at regular intervals. This strategy helps mitigate the impact of market volatility, promoting disciplined investing and potentially leading to better long-term outcomes. Key Takeaway: Investors should be cautious when considering seasonal strategies like the Halloween Indicator. A balanced approach, focusing on disciplined investing methods like DCA, may be more effective in navigating market fluctuations. #MarketTrends #HalloweenIndicator #InvestmentStrategy #BehavioralFinance #DollarCostAveraging References: Bouman, S., & Jacobsen, B. (2002). The Halloween indicator, "Sell in May and Go Away": Another puzzle. American Economic Review. Hulbert, M. (2023). Why the ‘Halloween Indicator’ could trick stock investors this year. MarketWatch.

Strengthening Our Commitment to Client Success! Our advisory team at Riverside Financial Group, LLC, alongside our valued partners at Carlson & Carlson, Incorporated, recently attended the annual meeting with Premier Wealth Management?. It was a fantastic opportunity to connect with top financial professionals and sharpen our approach to better serve you. We were encouraged to see that some of the best practices they recommended are ones we’re already implementing—and we also walked away with fresh ideas and strategies to further enhance the client experience. From continuing education workshops to peer-to-peer roundtables and discussions on service improvements, we're always learning and evolving. As we apply these new insights, our focus remains on providing dynamic, adaptable, and seamless service to help you achieve your financial goals. Our advisory team: Ryan Breen (far left), Rowan Beaudoin-Friede,Charles Dear, CFP (center) Our partners at Carlson & Carlson, Incorporated: Tripp Freeman, CAPI, Peter Carlson, CIC, CAPI, CPRM #ClientSuccess #ProfessionalDevelopment #ContinuousImprovement #InnovativeStrategies #BusinessPlanning #FinancialPlanning

?? Exciting News at Riverside Financial Group, LLC! ?? We're pleased to announce that Rowan Beaudoin-Friede, our newest associate advisor, has passed his Series 65 exam on the first try! This achievement is a testament to Rowan’s dedication, hard work, and passion for excellence. Since joining our team, Rowan has made helpful contributions across the board—whether it’s on the investment committee, building stronger relationships with clients, taking initiative in marketing efforts, or ensuring smooth administrative operations. His fresh perspective and commitment to our mission are helping us better serve our clients and stay forward-thinking. We’re proud to have Rowan as part of the Riverside Financial Group family. Congratulations, Rowan, on this important accomplishment! We’re excited to see the future unfold with Rowan playing a key role on our team, and we feel confident that his contributions will continue to drive our firm forward. #FinancialPlanning #TeamSuccess #Series65 #WealthManagement #RiversideFinancialGroup #ClientFocused

Supporting Our Florida Families During Hurricane Milton As Hurricane Milton approaches, our thoughts are with the communities in Florida preparing for the storm’s impact. At Riverside Financial Group, LLC, we believe that financial planning goes beyond numbers on a page—it’s about protecting and planning for every aspect of your life, including the unexpected. For our clients and their families in Florida, we’re here to support you not just through financial decisions but in navigating life's challenges with resilience. If you’re facing uncertainty, remember that we’re here as a resource for guidance—whether it’s reviewing your emergency fund plans or discussing the importance of safeguarding what matters most. Reach out to us if you need any support during this time. We're committed to helping you plan for the whole picture, ensuring that your financial and personal wellbeing are equally cared for, now and in the future. Stay safe, and we’re here for you—every step of the way. #HurricanePreparedness #CommunitySupport #LifePlanning #FinancialResilience #StaySafeFlorida #HurricaineMilton

Is Now the Time to Look East for Growth Opportunities? Chinese growth stocks traded in the U.S. have surged recently after the Chinese Central Bank cut reserve requirements to stimulate economic activity. The CQQQ ETF, which tracks these stocks, rose +44.7% in the last two weeks. However, Chinese equities have underperformed U.S. large-cap growth stocks since the 2022 recovery, with companies like Alibaba, JD.com, and PDD lagging behind. Meanwhile, China has experienced significant declines in manufacturing and property values, and CQQQ remains down -0.5% since January 1, 2023 -- even with this recent rally. We believe this rally could present opportunities. China remains a key player in the global economy, with one of the largest consumer markets worldwide. As U.S. equities approach full valuation and growth prospects become limited without an earnings recovery or price correction, Chinese stocks may offer growth potential in a sector that has underperformed. That said, investing in Chinese stocks can be complex. We recommend exploring diversified funds managed by experienced professionals who specialize in this region. Whether allocating a portion of your long-term portfolio to a concentrated Asia innovation growth fund or a broad-based emerging markets fund with substantial exposure to Chinese equities, now may be the time to look East. Interested in learning how international markets might fit into your long-term financial plan? Schedule a meeting with us to discuss how you can incorporate these opportunities into your portfolio. Let’s work together to align your investment strategy with your goals. #EmergingMarkets #GlobalEconomy #InvestmentOpportunities #PortfolioGrowth #ChinaStocks

Navigating Market Rotations: Is It Time to Diversify? To tennis and golf athletes, rotation means turning your core through the hitting zone. To an auto mechanic, rotation means better tire life. To an orthopedic surgeon, rotation means revenue. To an investor, rotation refers to a shift in market leadership, where dominant market trends may fade in favor of new ones. Recent market data suggests we may be seeing the early stages of such a rotation, so let’s take a closer look. Over the last two years, the Technology Sector SPDR Fund (XLK) gained +71.6%. Over the same period, the Russell 1000 Value Fund (IWD) is up +33.7%, the Russell 2000 Small Cap Fund (IWM) is up +30.0%, the Health Care Sector SPDR Fund (XLV) is up +28.1%, and the IShares Real Estate Fund (IYR) is up +20.9%. The dominance in technology stocks has been notable. In early July, the market shifted. Since 07/10/24, the XLK has declined -7.52%. Over the same period, the Russell Value Index has gained +6.8%, the Russell 2000 Small Cap Index +6.4%, the Health Care Sector SPDR Fund +6.3%, and the IShares Real Estate Fund a notable +17.1%. At the point of this shift, value stocks such as financials, industrials, health care, and real estate, in both large and small-cap forms, were cheaper and receiving less attention than the tech sector. Now the market’s strength appears to be broadening. While no one can predict future market trends with certainty, diversification into different sectors, including defensive groups, could offer opportunities in the evolving landscape. Diversification and valuation continue to be important considerations for investors. #FinancialInsights #WealthPlanning #MarketRotation #PortfolioManagement #InvestmentStrategy