Blog

US companies are sitting on record levels of cash. Many are choosing to use this surplus to unlock value to shareholders by raising dividends and authorizing stock buybacks. The dividend payout ratio, which is the percentage of earnings returned to shareholders, for the S&P 500 is at the highest lev...

The loss of a spouse is a very trying time. Grieving the loss of your loved one, handling funeral arrangements and saying goodbye can seem overwhelming. Unfortunately, dealing with your spouse's IRAs and investment accounts can be challenging as well. While there are several ways to handle IRAs f...

Being the executor for someone's estate can be a daunting task. I teach a class on this subject a few times a year for a local continuing ed program. One thing I run into every time is this: An executor finds old stock certificates in desk drawers and $20 bills hidden in the pages of books while cle...

Good news! 401(k) balances are at their highest levels ever, according to news. The average person's balance is now over $80,000, an increase of 75% since 2009, thanks in large part to the stock market rally that started in 2009 and has continued to this day. 401(k) plans can often seem like one...

Brighton Securities will be hosting an informational seminar at Basil Hall on the St. John Fisher Campus. Bond Financial Network, a local benefits provider, will cover The Health Care reform Act compliance and administrative concerns that every employer should understand. There are many things that...

This week we had the pleasure of meeting with John Pomeroy from Franklin Templeton Funds. Mr. Pomeroy is the lead portfolio manager of Franklin's tax-free funds since 1986. Below are my notes from our discussion. -Tax-free bonds generally offer higher yields than treasuries with less volatility,...

Earlier this year, if you'd asked a fan of the New York Yankees to forecast the team's chances for the upcoming season, you'd have seen nothing but dark clouds on the radar for the near future. With stars such as Jeter, Teixeira, and Rodriguez (Yes, A-Rod is counted as a "star") sidelined with injur...

Everyone at Brighton Securities is bringing home a bottle of champagne tonight in celebration of the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) crossing the 15,000 mark for the first time. Yes, yes, the DJIA is just an index of 30 stocks, a crude yardstick to measure the complex beast that is the US econom...

The time is now upon us for those two words that come around each time this year: spring cleaning. If you're like me, and brimming with excitement for this enviable task, you are no doubt looking forward to dusting, vacuuming, and figuring out what to do with the pounds of paper that have accumulate...

Looks as, if everything goes according to plan, Kodak may emerge from bankruptcy in July. After the latest round of announcements, the UK pension fund taking over imaging divisions as opposed to a cash settlement for its claim and the existing shareholders being wiped out our once proud company will...