July 2022 Mid-Month Recap

by | Jul 19, 2022 | Monthly Updates

Higher interest rates are not only hitting stock and bond markets, they are also hurting the housing market. Thirty-year fixed mortgage rates are off the recent high of six percent, but mortgage applications are plunging, consistent with an outright collapse in sales...

June 2022 Mid-Month Recap

by | Jun 21, 2022 | Monthly Updates

While earnings growth has held up (analysts still project 10.4% growth in calendar 2022 according to FactSet), it hasn’t been enough to offset the collapse in valuations.  Are valuations now cheap enough to attract persistent buying and end this bear market?  Probably...

May 2022 Mid-Month Recap

by | May 18, 2022 | Monthly Updates

This year is the worst bond market we have seen in 30 years.  And April was the worst month ever for bonds.  60/40 balanced investors could be down double digits YTD (based on common benchmarks) unless they have strategically positioned themselves to avoid some of the...

March 2022 Mid-Month Recap

by | Mar 15, 2022 | Monthly Updates

Not long after Vladimir Lenin returned from exile in Switzerland to lead the Russian revolution in 1917, he was credited with saying, “There are decades where nothing happens, and there are weeks where decades happen.”  The current Russia-Ukraine war isn’t even three...

February 2022 Mid-Month Recap

by | Feb 15, 2022 | Monthly Updates

The sharp drop in share prices last Friday was attributed to the expected invasion of Ukraine by Russia. Although that prospect is a disturbing geopolitical event, any U.S. stock market reaction is likely to be limited and short-lived.  The U.S. stock market typically...

January 2022 Mid-Month Recap

by | Jan 19, 2022 | Monthly Updates

The S&P 500 may be only 5% below its all-time high (the NASDAQ, 10%), but the average stock is doing much worse. For example, the average stock in the Russell 3000 (a broader index than the S&P 500 that includes mid and small caps) is down 27% from its high,...
Knowledge – Results

Experts in Risk Management

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Knowledge – Results

Experts in Risk Management

Are you prepared for the next market correction or financial crisis?

Let us Help
Knowledge – Results

Experts in Risk Management

Are you prepared for the next market correction or financial crisis?

Let us Help
Knowledge – Results

Experts in Risk Management

Are you prepared for the next market correction or financial crisis?

Let us Help
3

Real Retirement Solutions

designed to improve
  • Wealth Preservation
  • Management of Risky Assets
  • Peace of Mind

This is achieved through an ongoing assessment of market risks given your specific financial situation and goals.

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Professional Expertise

Leadership Team

Richard Furmanski

Richard Furmanski

CFA

has been a portfolio manager and analyst for over 35 years. He manages conservative, tax-efficient portfolios for both pre-retirees and retirees. His lower risk approach appeals to investors who want less volatility and competitive risk-adjusted returns.

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Mary Ellen Adam

Mary Ellen Adam

Director of Operations

has been in office administration for over twenty years. Her experience includes customer service, firm operations, and office administration. She interacts with our clients on a day-to-day basis and handles any requests that may arise.

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Frequently Asked Questions

If you can't find the answer to your questions here, feel free to give us a call at 847-847-2505

Do you manage both stock and bond portfolios?

Yes. We build a portfolio of conservative, high-quality stocks and hold them for the long-term. The average holding period is 4 – 5 years. Our focus is on stocks that are suitable for retirement portfolios.

Our high-quality bond portfolios are designed to provide both income and stability of principal. Bonds provide the anchor for balanced accounts (those holding both stocks and bonds).

What is your investment philosophy?
We take great care in purchasing only high-quality stocks and bonds intent on a multi-year holding period. Portfolio turnover and taxable realized gains are modest in comparison to other active managers. We do not time the market but will become more defensive, in terms of stock holdings, when market conditions warrant.
Will the portfolio be managed in accordance with my financial goals?
Yes. Each of our clients has a custom-tailored portfolio. These custom portfolios are designed to meet specific client objectives with a thoughtful approach to specific constraints such as risk tolerance. And as each client’s situation changes, the portfolio does as well. There is no cookie cutter approach.
What kind of expertise do you have and how can that help me in difficult markets?
We have been working with high-net-worth clients like you since 1982. Over that time we have helped them to navigate several bear markets and financial crises (including the stock market crash of 1987). We hold the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) and Certified Financial Planner (CFP) designations.
Are you sensitive to taxes when managing portfolios?
Yes. Our holding period for an individual stock averages 4 plus years which means our turnover is low and realized gains can be carefully managed. Further, where possible, we tax loss harvest small losses as a way of offsetting gains taken elsewhere in the portfolio.
How have you performed?
Results will differ by client and the level of customization but we have provided competitive investment returns for many years.
How do you charge for your services?
We charge a management or consultant fee based upon the size and level of customization of the account. As the account grows, we benefit together.

Recent Commentaries

Stay up to date with all of our latest comments and analysis.

August 2025 Market Commentary

This earnings season (Q2) is still very young, but beat rates in both revenue and profits are well above average. Yet...
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March 2024 Market Commentary

Mar 1, 2024

The main section in last month’s February commentary was titled “The Tech Bull Market Rolls On.”   Tech stocks continue to lead the charge and exploded to the upside after NVIDIA reported stellar results last week.  AI continues to be the driving theme in the stock...

February 2024 Market Commentary

Feb 8, 2024

The Q4 earnings season is about halfway over and it has been mixed at best, in our view. Companies are beating EPS estimates at a normal clip, but revenue growth has been disappointing.  This can lead to both lower profit margins and slower earnings growth ahead. ...

January 2024 Market Commentary

Jan 3, 2024

  TURN THE PAGE:  HELLO 2024!   We will start with an executive summary of economic and market factors we think are important as we gauge the chances for another good year in stocks in 2024: DOMINANT THEMES:  Inflation, the Fed, and artificial intelligence...

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Monthly Updates

June 2024 Mid-Month Recap

Jun 18, 2024

We got a favorable CPI print for May last week. Core CPI decelerated to the slowest monthly pace in almost three years.  Core CPI ex-rent dropped month-over-month and is now below a 1% annual rate of change on both a three month and 12 month basis.  This was arguably...

May 2024 Mid-Month Recap

May 15, 2024

Barron’s Big Money Poll is a must read for us. Large institutional money managers are an important source of demand for equity shares.  So the poll gives us insight into what a key group of investors are thinking and doing.  They make up part of Wall Street’s...

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