Blog

Will Student Loan Re-Payments Weigh Down the Economy? Back in 2020, as part of the government’s aggressive efforts to combat the pandemic-stricken economy, the Department of Education paused payments on federal student loans,...

Last week, union workers’ contracts expired without an agreement between the union and company managements on a new contract. Lacking a resolution, UAW organizers made good on their threat to launch strikes at three different...

How flexible is my 529 savings plan? Life is full of surprises — your child may get a scholarship or decide to take a break from school. It’s all good. Your 529 savings plan can flex to meet your family’s changing...

In 2022, by some measures, it was easier for an American to find a job than it has been in over 50 years. Individuals were quitting their jobs at a record rate for higher paying positions. With fewer workers and more jobs,...

The Impact of Interest Rates on the Economy: How Long and How Variable? “Monetary actions affect economic conditions only after a lag that is both long and variable.”- Milton Friedman, winner Nobel Prize for Economic...

Though still over a year away, next year’s presidential election is already feeding into news stories and advertisements. Like every previous election, the state of the economy and financial markets will be a hot topic of debate...

With the introduction of ChatGPT and other tools that harness artificial intelligence, a new technological revolution has begun, like it or not. But it’s helpful to remember that, as much as the advent of AI is revolutionary,...

RS Will Wealth Management is accepting resumes for the following full-time position.Please submit resumes to thewillgroup@rswill.com - no phone calls or walk-ins will be accepted at this time.Client Service...

June 06, 2023Kara Murphy, CFAStaying disciplined and sticking to a financial plan during a bubble's upswing can take extraordinary discipline - even Isaac Newton couldn't do it! Read this week's How to Survive and Thrive During...

For the past three years, the financial markets and all things investing have felt like an intense rollercoaster ride. From a steep drop in stocks in 2020, a jaw-dropping rebound, and new all-time highs for the S&P 500 to sustained...

With the Fed rate hiking cycle potentially over, what’s happening elsewhere in the world? Kara takes a look at developed and frontier markets in this week’s Money with Murphy. 

While today’s debt ceiling debates seem to mark a new level of acrimony and discord in Washington, they are not unlike debates our founding fathers once had. Alexander Hamilton, charged with tackling debt of $80 million from the...

In this third installment of the "Fables" series, we look to Goldilocks for guidance on how to build the "just right" portfolio for clients.

The Three Little PigsEven though my kids are in or fast approaching their teenage years, we still read together every night. While the stories themselves have morphed from fairytales to solidly young-adult material, the purpose is the...

From Uber rides to cocktail parties, often, when I share with someone what I do for a living, they want to know what stock they should buy. Or perhaps they ask about crypto or commodities – whatever is soaring and making...

Oil prices plummeted in the early days of Covid, then soared and more recently stabilized. Yet, over the weekend, there was another twist in the oil story.  Kara shares how recent production cuts differ from past ones and...

Markets in a MinuteIs Commercial Real Estate the Next Shoe to Fall?March 28, 2023Kara Murphy, CFAAfter many years of accelerated growth backed by low-interest rates, easy credit, and competitive lending, commercial real estate has...

Kara draws on her experience as a bank analyst during the global financial crisis and reviews lessons learned 15 years ago and what makes this time different in this week’s Money with Murphy.

Markets in a Minute: Is the Banking System at Risk?March 13, 2023Kara Murphy, CFAOn March 10, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporate (FDIC) officially took over Silicon Valley Bank in order to protect depositors, marking a remarkably...

Markets in a Minute: Debt Ceiling Here we go again. Democrats and Republicans are locked in a pitched battle over what used to be a fairly routine matter: raising the debt ceiling. While previous incidents have always ended in an...

Turbulence Ahead: Market Review and Outlook2022 marked one of the most dreadful years for investors in recent memory. Yearly returns for stocks and bonds clocked in at -19% and -13%, respectively, marking the first time since 1969 that...

Watch a mash-up of the past year in this week's Money With Murphy.

 Will Santa Claus Be Coming to the Market?Over the past few weeks, American households across the country have been ramping up for the holiday season, which is both a wonderful and sometimes hectic time of year. From gatherings of...

Conversations and news stories about cryptocurrencies and Bitcoin have been hard to avoid over the past two years. You’ve probably heard it all from someone telling you that Bitcoin will eventually replace traditional reserve...

Investing against the tideIn November 1974, few people thought it was a good time to invest. The Dow had lost more than 40% from its high in January 1973. Jim Fullerton, former chairman of the Capital Group, however, offered some...

Inflation Cools During OctoberOvershadowed by mid-term elections last week, the latest tabulation of inflation was released. Despite its relative absence from the headlines, inflation is by far the more important near-term driver of...

Ever heard someone proclaim, “investing in the stock market is just like gambling in Vegas”? Last week, as I sat in a hotel lobby on the Las Vegas Strip a few hours before speaking at an investment conference, I was struck...

The results are in ...RS Will Wealth Management has been named the Best Financial Planning Company two years in a row in Frederick News Post's Best of the Best contest!Thank you to everyone who voted; we would not be...

In the third quarter of 2022, the S&P 500’s bear market clocked in at ten months old, the Federal Reserve continued to tighten monetary policy as inflation accelerated, and recession predictions filled news headlines. With stocks...

Last week the S&P 500 fell to fresh lows. Many factors contributed to market volatility including slowed manufacturing activity, stress on foreign banks, tightening monetary policy, an inverted yield curve, and more. We’ll keep a...

The Marketing and Client Relations coordinator is responsible for implementing, monitoring, and evaluating the digital and print communications strategy to maximize the firm’s positive brand exposure in local and regional markets...

Over the past few months, it’s felt like I’ve been on an extended road trip with a recession destination. Everyone from my friends, family, colleagues, and social media followers have been asking, “are we there...

Why Commodities and Housing Are Impacting Your Portfolio and the Global EconomyAs the S&P 500’s bear market completes its ninth month, two areas of the economy have experienced rapid changes: commodity price spikes coupled with...

SOURCE: HARTFORD FUNDS

KARA MURPHY, CFA | 09/01/2022Earlier this summer, my family and I took a long-overdue trip to Disneyland, where we rode more than our fair share of roller coasters. My kids usually gave the highest marks to whatever ride had the...

The Inflation Reduction Act about to pass the House has been heralded as a major legislative victory for the president and his party. The bill includes a long list of disparate agenda items including lower prescription drug costs,...

Last week, the Bureau of Economic Analysis reported that the US economy was estimated to have declined for the second quarter in a row, after adjusting for inflation. The data release prompted the word “recession” to spring...

KARA MURPHY, CFA | 07/19/2022There is no sugarcoating market performance in the first half of 2022. With the ongoing war in Ukraine, China’s zero-Covid policy, domestic political disputes, upcoming elections, and of course,...

5 Things to Know (printable version)

Market Flash Presentation

Rising interest rates have roiled stock and bond markets this year. But they’re also raising concerns about the outlook for the U.S. housing market, which has been a bright spot in the post-COVID economy. Having just sold and...

MARKETS IN A MINUTE: UPSIDE OF DOWN MARKETSKARA MURPHY, CFA | 06/07/2022“When you come to a fork in the road, take it.” – Yogi Berra After finishing 2020 and 2021 with robust gains, the S&P 500 index is down...

May 29th is observed across the United States as 529 Day or 529 College Savings day. It was introduced to increase awareness of these plans and encourage families to start saving toward future education expenses.Why a 529?Support a...

Climate action is front and center for both the Biden administration and many of the world’s largest companies. Read my latest Markets in a Minute for a look at the opportunities and obstacles in the race to a clean-energy future and...

KARA MURPHY, CFA | 11/30/2021 As the Federal Reserve Bank begins to dial back its pandemic-era stimulus measures, the risks of a policy misstep increase. But the central bank seems keenly aware that it must pull off a careful balancing...

Dear friends and clients, Thanksgiving is a wonderful reminder to pause from our day-to-day and reflect on all that we are grateful for in our lives. We are very blessed to share that our team and our families are healthy and thriving....

KARA MURPHY, CFA | 11/10/2021 With interest rates at historic lows, inflation fears rising and credit spreads tight, it’s shaping up to be a potentially challenging time for fixed-income investors, leading some to wonder whether...

Money with Murphy – Energy Prices Crude oil, heating oil, natural gas, propane – are all at levels not seen since 2014. To learn more about what’s driving the increase in energy prices watch this short video.

KARA MURPHY, CFA | 10/26/2021 Many of us usually give little thought to how things like sneakers and refrigerators end up in stores. Not so lately. Problems with the global supply chain are blamed for having depleted inventories and...

Thank you to those who were able to attend our Understanding Medicare webinar. We found the the presentation informative and have received great feedback from those in attendance. For those unable to attend last week, our partners at...

What do Octoberphobia, bear killer, and Santa Claus all mean for your portfolio? Watch this short video to learn more about the seasonal patterns of the fourth quarter.

The Will Group is pleased to announce Frank Jarboe and his wife, Olivia, welcomed a healthy baby girl, Vivian Sophia Jarboe, on Wednesday, October 6th. Vivian joins older siblings, Frankie, Jr. (5) and Josephine (2).

MARKETS IN A MINUTE: CRYPTOCURRENCY KARA MURPHY, CFA | 10/12/2021 Is it wise to invest in Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies? The question has been hotly debated across kitchen tables, institutional boardrooms, and even among financial...

With over $300 billion in debt, the Evergrande Group is the second largest real estate developer in China. After missing a bond payment and the fear of continued distress, how will this effect the global market? Watch this short video...

The Will Group is happy to announce Alex Kelly welcomed a healthy baby boy, Jude Francis Kelly, on Thursday, September 23rd. While Alex is on maternity leave, please call our office for any assistance.

On Saturday, September 25, 2021, the House Budget Committee voted to advance a $3.5 trillion spending package to the House floor for debate. The House Ways and Means Committee and the Joint Committee on Taxation had previously released...

Markets in a Minute: Debt Ceiling As many of us know, regularly spending more than you earn is an easy way to jeopardize your financial health by amassing too much debt. So, it can be hard to watch the national debt grow at a rate that...

The Will Group Foundation was named amongst the top 11 funders in providing grant money to local nonprofits and community organizations in 2020. It's our honor and the foundation's honor to give back to the community and assist those...

On Thursday, September 16, 2021, The Will Group hosted a ribbon cutting ceremony to celebrate their first year in their new headquarters in Downtown Frederick, Maryland. Following the ribbon cutting, The Will Group held an open house...

Learn about how legislative changes can help you finance your loved one's education. Provided by RS Will Wealth Management As a parent or grandparent, you know firsthand the challenges of funding a child's education. TheFree...

Jeff Lanza Handout

We hope you are well and staying healthy. We want to take a moment and update everyone on our in-office practice with regard Covid-19 and keeping our team and visitors healthy. As you know, we are a small, close-knit family office with...

RS Will Wealth Management is pleased to announce Ian Eversull has joined the firm as a Financial Advisor. Ian joins RS Will Wealth Management after spending 3 years at Merrill Lynch in North Bethesda, MD where he excelled in their...

The Will Group is very proud to share with you that Josh Donofry, Portfolio Manager, has been selected to serve on the Investment Committee of the Community Foundation of Frederick County, MD. The Community Foundation is dedicated to...

Laurynn Burks joined The Will Group in November 2020 to assist with client services. Laurynn is a Maryland native and graduated from the University of Maryland College Park with a B.A. in Criminal Justice. Laurynn currently resides in...

The Will Group is growing, and we are happy to announce our newest team members, Frank Jarboe, Sr. and Laurynn Burks, who are looking forward to introducing themselves to you. Frank Jarboe, Sr. joined The Will Group in October 2020....