LIFESTYLE DRIVEN ADVICE
FEBRUARY 2023

Hello,

There are a few investing rules of thumb that everyone knows, but by far the most common one is “buy low and sell high.” One way to evaluate the current pricing is by using relative valuation: comparing a current price to its own historical average. In a recent edition of “Wealth Insights,” XML President Curtis Congdon explains this relative valuation factor and gives insight into where asset classes are currently.

The bear market and economic downturn are especially concerning for people approaching retirement. Will the down market affect how long their retirement savings will last? Will they have to delay retirement until things pick up again? In a recent blog post, we discussed how soon-to-be retirees can still enjoy the retirement they deserve, even if market conditions are less than ideal. And speaking of less-than-ideal market conditions, you might assume that the bear market had a dampening effect on charitable giving in 2022, but as it turns out, that wasn’t the case. We discussed why—and what we might expect from 2023—in a recent blog post.

Women face a variety of unique financial planning challenges, but the most significant challenge is the fear of making a mistake. Too many women lack confidence, and that can make it difficult for them to take control of their financial lives. On Thursday, March 23 at 12 PM ET, Senior Wealth Advisor, Shawna Bieda, CFP®, will be joined by Lauren Slavin, CIMA®, from Goldman Sachs Asset Management for a must-see discussion on the gender gap and the importance of empowering women investors. To register for this important webinar, click here.

As always, if you have any questions about the information shared in the newsletter, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.

Webinar Replay: Navigating the Senior Living Landscape

It’s a topic that keeps many up at night: What will I do if I need care? Where will I go? How much will it cost? On February 15, we tackled this vital topic of retirement. Senior Wealth Advisor, Lauren O’Brien, CFP®, CPA®, led us through a conversation with senior living specialists, Kristina Pare (The Mather) and Leila A. Orndorff (Shenandoah Valley Westminster-Canterbury) on the considerations of evaluating your options, how to talk about it with family members, and how to arm yourself with information and the questions to ask as you proactively design this stage of life. 

Blogs

How to Retire in a Slowing Economy

Capital markets and the economy have experienced a significant amount of volatility over the past year. While conditions may be less than ideal, with some careful planning, you can still enjoy the retirement you’ve been preparing for.

Charitable Giving Trends for 2023

Despite the economic challenges in 2022, charitable giving was strong throughout the year, and Giving Tuesday donations reached their highest volume ever. What drove charitable giving in 2022 and what will the charitable giving landscape look like in 2023?

Webinars

Empowering Female Investors

Women are a powerful financial force—yet when it comes to investing and financial planning, many women lack confidence, particularly when it comes to investing and financial planning. To mark Women’s History Month, XML Financial Group is hosting an important webinar to discuss the challenges women face in investing and how they can take control of their finances. 

On Thursday, March 23 at 12PM ET, Shawna Bieda, CFP® (Senior Wealth Advisor) will be joined by Lauren Slavin, CIMA® (Vice President & Regional Director at  Goldman Sachs Asset Management) for a must-see conversation aimed at empowering women investors.

XML Team News

Virtual Wine Tasting Experience

On January 26, Michelle Cooper and Shawna Bieda co-hosted a virtual wine tasting experience for a group of women. This event was led by Duckhorn Portfolio Sommelier, Ann Nevero, and a batch of four wines was shipped to all registrants as part of the experience. A lot of fun was had by all so stay tuned for more fun experiences like this in the future!  

News Features

XML CEO & Co-Founder, Brett Bernstein, was featured in a Financial Advisor piece titled, How To Help Clients Who Own Businesses In Declining Industries. In it, Brett advises that having difficult but necessary conversations with clients is what makes a professional so valuable and that honesty and compassion are most important when interacting with a client who is a business owner in a declining market.

In a Financial Planning article, XML President, Curtis Congdon explains how tax-loss harvesting with ETFs “is the easiest way for investors to produce better after-tax returns” as they allow similar exchanges without triggering a wash sale.

Guest Speaker

On January 27, XML CEO & Co-Founder, Brett Bernstein, who is an Entrepreneur in Resident at the Bullis School, spoke to the Honors Entrepreneurial Capstone class.  Brett shared his experiences of being a wealth advisor, co-founding XML, how he has grown the company, and listened to the class' business as they prepare for their Shark Tank competition. The winning team will be awarded $10,000 by XML to continue their business.

Hoop Culture Capital Classic Presented By Events DC

XML Financial Group is proud to be the official wealth management sponsor of this year’s Hoop Culture Capital Classic, presented by Events DC, which will be played on April 29 at the Entertainment & Sports Arena in Washington, D.C. The Hoop Culture Capital Classic – the nation’s first high school basketball All-American game – annually features the top 10 high school basketball players in the capital region (D.C., Maryland and Virginia) versus top student-athletes assembled from across the country. 

This communication is for information and educational purposes only. This is not a recommendation for the sale or investment in any product or strategy nor should it be perceived as individual advice. Information presented has been prepared from sources believed to be reliable but is not guaranteed and does not represent all available data necessary for making investment decisions. Economic and market forecasts presented herein reflect a series of assumptions and judgments as of the date of this presentation and are subject to change without notice. Forecasts do not consider the specific investment objectives, restrictions, tax and financial situation or other needs of an individual. Actual data will vary and may not be reflected here. Accordingly, these forecasts should be viewed as merely representative of a broad range of possible outcomes. The opinion expressed by this individual is based on facts and circumstances known at this time, is subject to change and does not reflect the opinions of all financial professionals of XML.