Unclaimed Funds
Published May 24, 2013 7033 Views
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...
401(k) Balances Reach Record Levels!
Published May 23, 2013 10462 Views
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...
Affordable Care Act Informational Seminar
Published May 20, 2013 7225 Views
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...
John Pomeroy of Franklin Templeton Visits Brighton Securities
Published May 17, 2013 7260 Views
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,...
When Nobody Loves You
Published May 16, 2013 7000 Views
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...
Dow 15,000
Published May 3, 2013 7192 Views
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...
Shred Day!
Published May 2, 2013 7519 Views
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...
Kodak Emerges
Published May 2, 2013 6823 Views
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...
Eastman Kodak
Published May 1, 2013 7197 Views
A re-emergence plan emerges, old shares of common stock are officially good for wallpaper, creditors will be issued all new stock, and executives miss their bonus bogey. Those are the main takeaways from last night's announcement.
Brennan R. Redmond, CFA Vice President
Brighton Securities
(Th...
The Cost of Spider-Man: More Than a $10 Ticket
Published April 30, 2013 6625 Views
Coming to you live from midtown Manhattan! Ok, that's not entirely true, but considering that for the next ten days parts of Rochester are being made to look like New York City while car chase scenes for The Amazing Spider-Man 2 are filmed here, it's not as big of a stretch as you'd think. The same...