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Saturday, May 9, 2026

Happy Mother’s Day! We are grateful for the mothers and women in our lives who have provided so much strength, goodness, and light in our lives. Markets rebounded in April, with the S&P 500, Dow, and Nasdaq all posting strong gains...

Saturday, May 2, 2026

First, some personal happenings: Joseph III will be interning with us through the end of the summer. He finished his first year at BYU and is applying to the finance program. He will be assisting with research and other tasks. We are...

Saturday, April 18, 2026

The markets have seen some calm this week, clearly reflecting hopes for a resolution to the Iran conflict. Our friends at Commonwealth have some thoughts on this and fundamental market indicators...

Saturday, April 11, 2026

The tax deadline is April 15th and so the deadline for IRA contributions will soon be here. Don’t delay reaching out if you have any questions...

Saturday, April 4, 2026

The 1st quarter of 2026 is in the books, and what a quarter it has been. We have been off for a couple of weeks and have some important reminders.Remember that you can text our office number (352)-333-7990 if you need to get a quick...

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Saturday, March 14, 2026

One of our clients recently turned 100 years old. Another turned 97 just the other day. Both of these individuals are great examples of the habits common to long-lived individuals. They spend time with their loved ones, never stopped...

Saturday, March 7, 2026

The last few weeks have been very eventful and we’ll try to provide some context on these important areas: Tariffs, AI, and the war with Iran. Our focus is on the investment implications of each and aren’t intended to cover every...

Saturday, February 21, 2026

This is an interesting item, something worth putting at the top of our Letter: Most people underestimate how long they live by 5-10 years. This can have big implications for retirement planning.We occasionally see this. Less frequently...

Saturday, February 14, 2026

We love our clients and hope you feel loved and appreciated on this Valentines Day! Whether or not we have a Valentine, hopefully we can all see the truth in this quote from Albert Camus:"My dear, In the midst of hate, I found there...

Saturday, February 7, 2026

We are now more than one month into 2026, and we like this thought from author James Clear: “What needs to happen for me to look back in December and consider the year a success?”As investors, we are frequently reminded that there are...

Saturday, January 24, 2026

This week’s letter comes to you from frigid Ontario, where Joe, Jr. is attending a small meeting of fellow business owners. We find it helpful to share ideas and learn from people in other fields, especially how they see trends in...

Saturday, January 17, 2026

For many of us, this will be one of the coldest weekends of the year. We hope you stay warm and enjoy time with people you love.In observance of the Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday, our office and the markets will be closed on Monday,...

Saturday, January 10, 2026

So far, 2026 has been a relatively mellow time in the markets. Chris Fasciano shares January Market Thoughts here as we look ahead...

Saturday, January 3, 2026

Happy New Year! It is a little surreal that more than 25 years have passed in the current century. There are many things to be excited about as we enter 2026.Later this year, currently scheduled for November, we will transition from...

Saturday, December 20, 2025

As a little Holiday gift to all of you, only good news in this week’s letter!-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------2025 is on track...

Saturday, December 13, 2025

This week we are focusing on just one topic, the new rule for “catch-up” contributions for workers over age 50. For many years, workers over 50 have been able to make additional contributions to their employer-sponsored retirement...

Saturday, December 6, 2025

We hope that you had a peaceful Thanksgiving holiday! Joe Jr’s family enjoyed trying a new burger place while visiting California- Tanner’s Prime Burgers in Oceanside, CA. It’s worth a stop if you are in the area. Commonwealth’s Chris...

Saturday, November 22, 2025

We love Thanksgiving. It retains the best parts of a holiday, family & food, without the commercial pressures of Christmas. We hope you have a wonderful experience. The Lowry Letter® will take a break next week. Also, please be aware...

Saturday, November 15, 2025

The big news this week is the release of 2026 Retirement Plan contribution limits. We break down key changes below (source: Planadvisor.com):...

Saturday, November 8, 2025

Undefeated BYU heads into a huge game against Texas Tech this morning. Go Cougs! In other news, AI-related content is proliferating at a very high rate, especially with newer tools like Sora 2. It is prudent to question any media,...

Saturday, November 1, 2025

We hope you had a Happy Halloween! With a couple of friends, we honored a classic 80’s comedy at a recent Church party....

Saturday, October 25, 2025

We attended the Commonwealth National Conference this week in Washington, DC. Unfortunately, the ongoing shutdown meant that historical landmarks and museums were closed. Our travel did not suffer, despite concerns about TSA and FAA...

Saturday, October 11, 2025

As we move through the 4th quarter, this is the right time to prepare for important year-end activities. These include: IRA Distributions: If you haven’t satisfied your required distribution, we will be in touch soon to take care of...

Saturday, October 4, 2025

As we enter the 4th quarter of the year, we feel very grateful for the trust and confidence you place in our team. We enjoy helping you remain on track to meet your goals and love to answer the questions that come up along the way....

Saturday, September 27, 2025

There are so many “holidays” today that it is impossible to keep track of them all. But we did want to point out “National Daughter’s Day,” which just passed on September 25, and the upcoming “National Son’s Day” on September 28th. So...

Saturday, September 20, 2025

Fall is a great time to enjoy cooler temperatures AND prepare for end-of-year financial planning to-do’s. We will be discussing some of those in coming Lowry Letters. Onto this week:...

Saturday, September 13, 2025

This week’s letter is a brief one. If you still haven’t seen it, our recent webinar is available on YouTube and the issues we discussed are still current as we consider the direction of the economy and the markets....

Saturday, September 6, 2025

The first week of the football season was a good one for Florida teams and for our favorite, BYU. This week brings new challenges, and the return of the NFL. Dave Barry has some thoughts here....

Saturday, August 23, 2025

Our “Ask the Joes & Cale” webinar is live on our YouTube channel. We discuss our decision to continue our relationship with Commonwealth as they transition to a subsidiary of LPL and what it means to you, as well as answering...

Saturday, August 16, 2025

If you missed Tuesday’s webinar, we will have the replay available next week on our Youtube channel and will send the link with next week’s letter....

Saturday, August 2, 2025

First- mark your calendars for our next Ask the Joes® Webinar, to be held on August 12 at 5pm. Meeting information will follow soon. One of our biggest concerns are increasingly sophisticated scams. AI tools have made it possible for...

Saturday, July 26, 2025

We are planning a client webinar and would love to answer your questions. Among other topics, we will discuss the purchase of Commonwealth by LPL and what it means for us (and for you). Reply to this email with your questions!...

Saturday, July 19, 2025

We wish Joe & Gladys a Happy 50th Anniversary! They marked the occasion with a family trip to beautiful Gatlinburg, Tennessee with their entire family (minus Joseph III who is close to completing his two-year church mission)....

Saturday, July 12, 2025

The “Big Beautiful Bill” is coming, with important changes. More on that in “Ask the Joes®.” In the meantime, we hope you enjoy some recent observations....

Saturday, June 28, 2025

The Lowry Letter will take a 4th of July vacation next week. As on all Federal holidays, our office be closed that day in observance of Independence Day. We hope you have a safe and enjoyable weekend! Let us know if you find any great...

Saturday, June 21, 2025

We are nearly halfway through 2025. We have seen a market correction and a market recovery, as well as major regional conflicts and significant policy uncertainty. For long-term investors, this is ultimately just noise. More on this...

Saturday, June 14, 2025

Short edition this week- the major news is of Israel’s attack on Iran’s nuclear facilities and Iran’s retaliation. As we write this, we don’t have a lot of information and certainly don’t know all of the implications. While a serious...

Saturday, June 7, 2025

Welcome to June! Summer is a busy time for many of us. Many of our clients prefer not to schedule meetings during the summer, but we are available when needs arise. Don’t hesitate to contact us with questions or concerns....

Monday, June 2, 2025

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Saturday, May 17, 2025

Memorial Day is a little more than one week away. Do you have any favorite traditions for that holiday? It marks the end of the school year for many families. We hope the school year ends smoothly if you have students in your family!...

Saturday, May 10, 2025

As you know, it’s been an up-and-down year for the markets. Recent declines reflect weakening “soft” indicators, things like consumer confidence. Tariff proposals have contributed to those more pessimistic views. The “hard” data is...

Saturday, May 3, 2025

Brad McMillan provides his May 2025 Market Thoughts here, and the recap is helpful. Earnings continue to be positive for most reporting companies. Tariff talk continues to dominate, but there is other good news. April hiring numbers...

Saturday, April 26, 2025

As promised, here is our recent “Ask the Joes® & Cale” webinar from last week. We hope you enjoy it. We plan to do these more regularly, so please let us know if you have additional questions that you would like for us to review...

Saturday, April 5, 2025

Last week we said the first quarter had gone out with a bang. We guess the 2nd quarter didn’t want to be outdone, and this week has been a doozy. We’re going to focus on these issues below....

Saturday, March 29, 2025

The first quarter of 2025 has come and gone with a bang. We don’t know what the rest of the year will hold, but as we’ve said many times, sound investment principles haven’t changed. We are happy to discuss your specific needs and...

Saturday, March 22, 2025

We are spending part of this week chaperoning the Florida State Thespians Festival. 3 days with thousands of dramatic teenagers is a pretty entertaining experience. We gathered a few observations during our visit:...

Saturday, March 15, 2025

This has been a tumultuous period for the market. We think these words from our friends at Commonwealth are a good reminder: “During this period of volatility, returning to the tried-and-true rules of portfolio construction could be...

Saturday, March 8, 2025

We’re going to repeat the theme for the year- policy uncertainty will lead to more volatility that we have become accustomed to, at least since 2022. That year, inflation led to rapid interest rate increases that caused bond values to...

Saturday, March 1, 2025

Much of our success in life can be attributed to self-discipline. Author James Clear gives a great reminder of the importance of environment in good decision-making...

Saturday, February 22, 2025

Tax season is in full swing. If you do your own taxes, many providers will allow you to directly download tax documents into their software. Please let us know if you need help with that and we can provide step-by-step instructions....

Saturday, February 15, 2025

Valentine’s Day has come and gone. We thought this quote, from Roman philosopher Seneca, was applicable to all of us, regardless of our circumstances: “If you wish to be loved, love!” We love our clients and appreciate your...

Saturday, February 8, 2025

Many of you have heard the saying about the Chinese blessing (or curse) “May you live in interesting times.” There is no proof that it originated in China, but like many popular sayings, the story persists. And it continues to be true...

Saturday, January 25, 2025

We hope you are staying warm, wherever you are! For us, its an opportunity to break out seldom-used winter clothes. We need a new sweater or two.

Saturday, January 18, 2025

The fires in California are devastating and we are saddened by the suffering and disruptions experienced by so many. If you want to help, this article suggests credible and effective organizations that are in a position to provide...

Saturday, January 4, 2025

Happy New Year! 2025 seems like a significant number, the 25th year of the 21st century! What do you hope to experience in 2025?

Saturday, December 21, 2024

This will be the last letter of 2024, as we will take next week off. We hope your holidays are wonderful!

Saturday, December 14, 2024

We thought you would enjoy this picture of Joe Sr’s first great-grandchild, River. He was a big baby, over 9.5lbs! Leading off with a baby picture is always a good idea.

Saturday, December 7, 2024

We hope you had a pleasant Thanksgiving holiday! Christmas will be on us soon and if you need any ideas, a while ago we produced a video with some worthwhile gift options. Read on for more!

Saturday, November 23, 2024

We hope that you have a Happy Thanksgiving!

Thursday, November 21, 2024

Click to read the Lowry Letter® for 11/16/2024

Thursday, November 14, 2024

This has been quite a week. We offer Brad McMillan’s post-election commentary about what this means for the markets (for now).

Monday, October 28, 2024

The IRS has released adjustments for 2025. Many categories have been adjusted to account for inflation, including the standard deduction and marginal tax rates.

Friday, October 18, 2024

We’ve had some milestones to celebrate this month. Bea celebrated her 24th anniversary of working with us and Deb her 4th anniversary. Joe Sr. has a big birthday on Sunday.

Monday, October 14, 2024

The damage in much of the state is severe, especially where tornados spun off from the storm and hit areas that were otherwise mostly unaffected. These storms are a harsh reminder of the importance of preparation.

Saturday, October 5, 2024

We missed last week’s edition, and we’ll blame Hurricane Helene. The destruction wrought by the storm is staggering, especially in the Carolinas. We hope the remainder of Hurricane season is as boring as can be.

Monday, September 23, 2024

With the last quarter approaching, we are in a season of falling temperatures and falling interest rates (more on the latter below).

Saturday, September 14, 2024

This Lowry Letter® will be a bit different than others. It was written by our summer intern, Xavier.

Tuesday, September 10, 2024

We are in transit today, so the Lowry Letter® will be brief. We hope September is a great month for you and your loved ones!

Saturday, August 31, 2024

We hope you have an enjoyable Labor Day Weekend! The holiday has an interesting history, stemming from the 1800’s and intended to honor the worker for their contribution to society.

Monday, August 26, 2024

We nearing the last third of the year. There is still time to max out retirement savings contributions and make other positive moves for 2024!

Saturday, August 10, 2024

The markets had a very difficult start to August, and then quickly improved. We have been predicting greater volatility this year, especially prior to the election, and what we saw this week is no reason to panic.

Sunday, August 4, 2024

We are enjoying the Olympics. Do you have any favorite moments so far? These great photos captured some of the excitement. 

Saturday, July 27, 2024

Like many others, Joe Jr. and his family were affected by the Microsoft/Crowdstrike fiasco. We will have more to say about this, as such a consequential tech failure will be in the news for some time.

Saturday, July 20, 2024

We spent a little time reviewing old editions of The Lowry Letter® and thought this was interesting, from the year-end 2008 letter... read on for more!

Saturday, July 13, 2024

The middle of the year is a good time to assess progress on a number of financial matters. Read last The Lowry Letter® Weekend's Lowry Letter® for a few items worth reviewing!

Tuesday, July 2, 2024

This The Lowry Letter® Week’s letter is devoted to our nation’s Independence Day. We are grateful to be citizens of the United States of America and hope you enjoy celebrating the 248th anniversary of our great country!

Saturday, June 22, 2024

The markets have had a good year so far. We expect volatility to pick up with proximity to the election, but this is not a good reason to abandon sound, long-term financial plans.

Saturday, June 15, 2024

We’re excited to introduce our summer intern, Xavier Ayala-Vermont. Xavi (HAH-vee) is a student at Harvard University and just enjoyed being part of the school’s national championship-winning sailing team.

Saturday, June 1, 2024

Welcome to June! Congratulations to any high school and college graduates in your families. The transition from school into summer is something we have always enjoyed, and we hope you have some fun things planned.

Saturday, May 25, 2024

The Dow, S&P 500, and Nasdaq have all reached new highs within the past The Lowry Letter® Week. As of the writing of this The Lowry Letter® Week’s Letter, they have pulled back from those levels. Reason to panic? Absolutely not.

Saturday, May 18, 2024

Summer is coming and the blockbuster movie season has already begun. We really liked The Fall Guy. Has anyone see the new Planet of the Apes movie?

Saturday, May 11, 2024

On this Mother's Day The Lowry Letter® Weekend, we are grateful to all the mothers, step-mothers, grandmothers, aunts, and others who play such an important role in so many lives. We hope it is a peaceful day!

Saturday, May 4, 2024

If you want a helpful recap of recent market and economic activity, visit this Brad McMillan webinar, “Behind the Numbers.” We think you’ll find it a nice way to get past the noise generated by much of the media.

Saturday, April 27, 2024

We had a team activity at the excellent Easton Newberry Archery Center where we received some Archery instruction. The ladies beat the men, with “Dead-eye Deb” showing the most consistency with the bow. It was a fun experience!

Saturday, April 20, 2024

We had a wonderful time at our Client Appreciation Picnic last Saturday. The weather was great and the company better. We look forward to doing it again.

Friday, April 12, 2024

Congratulations to our own Nicole for winning our NCAA Tournament competition. She wins bragging rights until next year. We won’t say who came in last, except that their name rhymes with Shmoe Shmunior.

Monday, April 1, 2024

For those of you who observe it, we hope you had a Happy Easter!

Saturday, March 23, 2024

BYU’s disappointing loss in round 1 of the Men’s NCAA Tournament was an early setback for the Lowry Team. Most of our brackets aren’t completely busted, but Joe Sr.’s BYU title pick has him out of the running...

Saturday, March 16, 2024

One quick tax form reminder: Unless you made a contribution to, took a distribution from, or are required to take distributions from an IRA, you will NOT receive a form 5498. Read on for more!

Saturday, March 9, 2024

Spring is upon us and so is the pollen (so much pollen!). Also coming soon is the NCAA basketball tournament. We plan to set up a tournament bracket group and will send information next The Lowry Letter® Week

Saturday, March 2, 2024

Did you have a great Leap Day? At the last leap day, in 2020, we were starting to get a better sense for what the emerging COVID-19 virus meant for the world.

Saturday, February 17, 2024

Most tax documents have been prepared and are available. Occasionally, 1099s are corrected if information is amended by investment firms. We will let you know if you are affected.

Saturday, February 10, 2024

Hello friends! The most common question these days is about tax forms. We know many of you like to file your returns as soon as possible and getting your tax forms in a timely manner helps make that happen.

Saturday, February 3, 2024

These days, we are all inundated with robocalls. We are trying out a new phone prompt which will ask you to press ‘1’ to speak to one of us. Please let us know what you think. We hope it helps with the spam without being too annoying.

Thursday, January 25, 2024

We are almost one full month into the year! Do you have any success stories for any new year’s goals? Remember, if you have faltered in some aspect of goalkeeping, it isn’t too late to try again. On the administrative front, there...

Thursday, January 18, 2024

We went to see Wonka on Monday. It was quality family entertainment. The marketing has almost completely hidden that the movie is a musical. Also, be careful, as it will probably make you very hungry for chocolate.

Thursday, January 11, 2024

With a new year comes new opportunities. This includes making qualified charitable distributions and IRA contributions. It’s also not too late to make 2023 IRA contributions if you are eligible. Get in touch if you have any questions.

Thursday, January 4, 2024

Happy New Year! As we begin 2024, we thought this was an appropriate thought from Wilbur Wright. Wright, who worked with his brother Orville to create the first successful airplane, said this about predicting the future: "I confess...

Thursday, December 28, 2023

Our office will be closed on Monday, January 1, 2024, in observance of New Year’s Day. This is it- the last few days of 2023! You can make it productive with some simple steps to prepare for 2024 – continue reading the Lowry Letter® for...

Thursday, December 14, 2023

The economy continues a positive trend, evidenced by continued (though slowing) job growth. Inflation appears to be holding steady near 3%, still off of the Fed target. This is good news. Are we heading for a soft landing, meaning we...

Thursday, December 7, 2023

We have entered one of the busiest months of the year. Amid school performances, parties, and family gatherings, it can be hard to make sure that you have covered important areas. If you are wondering whether you have taken care of RMDs...

Friday, December 1, 2023

We hope that you had a Happy Thanksgiving! Time with family is a great reminder of what we value most, and we hope it was a nice experience for you.

Thursday, November 16, 2023

Next week is Thanksgiving and The Lowry Letter® will be on a break. We would love to hear what YOU are thankful for and we will share it in our next Letter. Please let us know! We are thankful for your trust and confidence. We are thankful

Wednesday, November 8, 2023

Retirement Plan contribution limits for 2024 have been increased, though by a smaller percentage than last 2023! More on this next week. Also, this is the final reminder for our “Ask the Joes®” webinar, taking place on Thursday, Nov 9,

Thursday, November 2, 2023

October continued a rough stretch for the markets. Brad McMillan explains that “this is a normal pullback that makes sense given financial conditions. From what we see right now, prospects for the market over time are still positive.” Eco

Thursday, October 26, 2023

Please join us at 4:30pm on November 9th for a webinar reviewing the most important aspects of the SECURE Act 2.0. This law, passed in December 2022, made some significant changes to retirement accounts and plans. We’ll cover the major chan

Thursday, October 19, 2023

Last week’s Commonwealth National Conference was a great chance to gather important information and review best practices in financial planning and investment management. In this week’s Lowry Letter®, we share a few of the things we learne

Thursday, October 12, 2023

This week we are at the Commonwealth National Conference, and we look forward to sharing with you what we learn.

Wednesday, October 4, 2023

As residents of Greater Gainesville, we enjoy many aspects of a college town. As is our tradition, our physical office will be closed on Friday for University of Florida Homecoming festivities. We will be answering the phone and checking me

Wednesday, October 4, 2023

September has continued a tough stretch for the markets, not an unusual pattern, but also not a fun reversal after the strong recovery we’ve experienced this year. It’s a good time to remember that we are in it for the long haul!

Wednesday, September 20, 2023

We are grateful that you have chosen to work with us through your life’s various transitions. It is our privilege to smooth out complex moments as much as possible, whether calculating an appropriate withdrawal rate or helping you map out t

Wednesday, September 20, 2023

Greetings from the middle of September! We are entering the season for Required Minimum Distributions and in-kind charitable giving. If you have any questions about either, please let us know.

Thursday, September 7, 2023

We hope you enjoyed the Labor Day weekend. We thought this chart showing annual working hours per worker was very interesting. American workers still labor more than most, but much less than we used to.

Thursday, August 24, 2023

Most of you receive letters when it is time to schedule a periodic review. Would you prefer to receive a reminder by email? Please let us know!

Thursday, August 17, 2023

We are halfway through the 3rd quarter of 2023. It’s a great time to make sure that your retirement plan contributions are on target. If you are wondering whether you are, we can review your paystub and let you know.

Thursday, August 10, 2023

A few weeks ago, we invited you to try the new version of Investor360 (the application used to review account balances, etc.). Starting Friday, August 18, the current version will be retired in favor of the new one.

Thursday, August 3, 2023

Happy August Greetings! There is a lot of good news out there. Even the Fitch downgrade of the U.S. credit rating is an echo of the 2011 move by Standard & Poor’s. We don’t think it has a meaningful impact or is telling us anything we...

Thursday, July 27, 2023

It’s hard to believe that kids all over the country are heading back to school soon. Florida’s sales tax holiday for school supplies is currently ongoing, ending August 6th. Don’t miss out on the savings! Eligible items are found here.

Thursday, July 20, 2023

Read this week’s Lowry Letter® for a info about features included in the new Investor360°® platform, news on inflation, PSLF updates, and more!

Thursday, July 13, 2023

We hope your Independence Day holiday was safe and enjoyable! We recently spoke with a client who shared the wonderful celebrations in their small college town. What is your favorite place to spend the 4th of July?

Thursday, June 29, 2023

Our office will be closed next Tuesday, July 4th, in observance of Independence Day. We hope you have a safe & enjoyable holiday! The Lowry Letter® will be on vacation next week.

Friday, June 23, 2023

At a recent meeting, the demographic and population shifts prompted by COVID-19 and everything that came with it were discussed. Florida is a leading state for growth, but not because of births. Texas leads the US in birth rates, while...

Thursday, June 15, 2023

Our office and the markets will be closed on Monday, June 19th, in observance of Juneteenth National Independence Day. This will be the 3rd year of its treatment as a federal holiday. Today’s letter covers a lot of ground, and we hope...

Thursday, June 8, 2023

The passage of debt ceiling legislation removes a major political worry. Inflation returns to the fore as the dominant concern, as Brad McMillan explains in a helpful June Market Update.

Thursday, June 1, 2023

We hope that you enjoyed Memorial Day weekend. We enjoy the annual National Memorial Day concert, which can be viewed here. We are forever grateful for the sacrifices of many in the service of our country.

Thursday, May 25, 2023

As Brad McMillan explains, there continue to be reasons for optimism in the debt ceiling impasse. There is enormous incentive for lawmakers to make a deal, especially as the consequences of a true default can have electoral consequences.

Thursday, May 18, 2023

We have a new face around the office. Anish Jha is a student at Emory University and will be interning with us this summer. We’re excited for this contribution! Also- many of you use Investor360 to link outside accounts. The provider...

Thursday, May 11, 2023

As we gear up for a summer of adventure, we've got some important travel tips to share with you: read on for more!

Thursday, May 4, 2023

We like Star Wars, so in honor of May the 4th (as in May the “Fourth” Be with You), a Star Wars-themed edition of The Lowry Letter®.

Thursday, April 27, 2023

Many of you are aware that account aggregation, the tool that allows you to link outside financial accounts with Investor360, can be a very helpful tool. We are happy to announce that in early May, a new aggregation application will...

Thursday, April 20, 2023

Tax season is over, for some. For self-employed taxpayers who have filed an extension on their business return, some retirement account contributions remain available, such as SEP IRAs. Please let us know if you have any questions.

Friday, April 14, 2023

Today’s Letter is devoted to the dollar. We are often asked about the implications of debt, inflation, gold, the rise of cryptocurrency, and how all of these relate to the US Dollar and more broadly to our economy and markets.

Thursday, April 6, 2023

Spring has sprung…for some. While warm temperatures cover Florida, many western states expect even more snow in what has been a record season. Regardless of the weather, we hope that you and your families are well. Also, the markets and...

Friday, March 31, 2023

We once learned a helpful definition of wisdom: the correct application of knowledge. What do we know? We know that our personal goals and needs should continue to be the overriding factor for our investment choices. Difficult periods...

Thursday, March 23, 2023

Many of you use the Investor360 web and mobile apps. We are excited to let you know that our Investor360° overview video has been revised to include recent updates, such as multifactor authentication, that we’ve made to the platform...

Thursday, March 16, 2023

Many people are on Spring Break this week. In rare coordination, all of our local public schools and higher education institutions are on the same break. If you are traveling, we hope things go smoothly for you! If you need any...

Thursday, March 9, 2023

Market pressure continues, as Federal Reserve policies weigh on investor expectations. During times like this, it is important to remember that the working life of your money is much longer than the current period of uncertainty. 10 or...

Thursday, March 2, 2023

Our Client Appreciation picnic is on Saturday. The weather may be a little uncooperative, but we’ll be there, rain or shine! We have reserved large pavilions and will have great food. We hope to see you there. Until 2017, The Lowry...

Thursday, February 23, 2023

Check out this week's Lowry Letter® to see how the yield curve inversion works, and why it matters.

Wednesday, February 15, 2023

We were pulling for the Kansas City Chiefs and enjoyed the game. We have a nice contingent of KC-area clients and congratulate their team for another Super Bowl victory. Super Bowl ads were a little underwhelming, though we did like...

Wednesday, February 8, 2023

Some interesting research from the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology shows a strong correlation between couples that pool their money in joint bank accounts and higher levels of relationship satisfaction. Pooled resources are...

Thursday, February 2, 2023

One of our favorite movies is Groundhog Day. Living in Florida, the predictions of the Punxsutawney Phil don’t feel like they have a lot of relevance, but we hope the predicted 6 more weeks of winter aren’t too taxing for our cold...

Friday, January 27, 2023

It’s hard to believe that January 2023 is almost over. Modest improvement in stock and bond markets has been welcome, but we expect short-term volatility to continue (see Ask the Joes below). A reminder: It’s not too late to adjust your...

Thursday, January 19, 2023

Many of you are anxiously awaiting tax statements for 2022. Every year, NFS requests a 30-day extension from the IRS’s initial mailing deadline of February 15 to mail tax forms because some investment issuers are unable to submit final...

Thursday, January 12, 2023

Many of you use Investor360 to review account values and activity in your investment accounts. If you have investor360.net bookmarked in your browser, please change it to investor360.COM. The .net address will not forward any longer. Our 4

Wednesday, January 4, 2023

Happy New Year! We hope the holidays have been good to you and your loved ones. We have previously mentioned a new SECURE Act and provisions of that legislation were signed into law by President Biden on December 29, 2022 as part of the...

Thursday, December 22, 2022

For those of you who celebrate Christmas, we hope you have a peaceful and happy holiday. As the Lowry Letter® will be on vacation next week, we also wish you a Happy New Year!

Wednesday, December 14, 2022

First, some housekeeping: Joe Jr. will be out of the office from December 19th until January 3rd for an extended family adventure. Joe Sr will be available during that time, as will Cale and the rest of the team. The November market...

Wednesday, December 7, 2022

2022 is in the homestretch. Now is the time to handle any remaining charitable contributions, required retirement account distributions, and other tax and calendar-related adjustments. From our standpoint, this means some tax-loss...

Thursday, December 1, 2022

We hope that you had a pleasant Thanksgiving holiday. We enjoyed the time with family and some excellent food. Pellet grill users may enjoy trying this turkey recipe, which we made for the second time for our family dinner. One housekeepin

Tuesday, November 22, 2022

This week’s letter is a short one. We love Thanksgiving and are looking forward to reflecting on the many things that bless our lives.

Friday, November 18, 2022

Last week, we attended Commonwealth’s annual national conference, held in-person for the first time since 2019. Our relationship with Commonwealth continues to be very important to our firm and the way we serve you, our valued clients. Co

Wednesday, November 9, 2022

The late-season emergence of Tropical Storm Nicole is a great example of the kind of unexpected challenges that we often face in life. We hope that you and your families will avoid harm from this storm. We don’t anticipate interruptions...

Friday, November 4, 2022

We thought it would be good to make sure you are aware of updates to retirement plan contribution limits. We shared them last week and will include the same graphic at the bottom of this week’s letter..

Friday, October 28, 2022

Tax adjustments are live for 2023. Tax brackets have moved up by 7%, meaning that you can earn more money before your income pushes into a higher bracket. The percentages applied to each bracket remain the same. Contribution limits have a

Thursday, October 20, 2022

Inflation remains high when prices are measured compared to the same month last year. The rate is not increasing markedly month-to-month, which is a positive development. Because monetary policy (what the Federal Reserve does) takes 6-9 mon

Friday, October 14, 2022

Last week, Joe Jr. took his kids to help with church group hurricane clean-up activities in Port Charlotte. While the damage is significant, we were impressed by the mobilization of emergency personnel, utility workers, and other key people

Thursday, October 6, 2022

While we were spared serious effects from Hurricane Ian, many in our state were not. There are a number of good agencies providing support, including the American Red Cross. In other news, most investors are thinking about continued pressu

Tuesday, September 27, 2022

Hurricane Ian is heading to Florida, so the Lowry Letter® is earlier than usual so we can brief you on our Emergency Procedures. The storm is likely to make landfall Wednesday night/Thursday morning, though that may change. Floridians...

Friday, September 23, 2022

The Federal Reserve raised interest rates, as expected. Brad McMillan previewed the move in this post. Looking ahead, he wrote: “Current betting is on another 75 bp hike at the next meeting, then a slowdown to 50 bps each, with the...

Thursday, September 15, 2022

Tuesday saw the worst day for the stock market since 2020. Inflation remains high and the implications of that on interest rate policy weighed on the market.

Thursday, September 8, 2022

Technically, the “dog days of summer” took place between July 3 and August 11. The rise of the star Sirius (the “Dog Star”) in proximity to our sun was believed to produce the hottest days of the year. The weather of the past few weeks...

Friday, September 2, 2022

If you missed our recent webinar, you can view it here on our YouTube Channel. We hope you enjoy it (and the questions are still pretty timely).

Friday, September 2, 2022

As we sit with you for periodic meetings, we feel continually grateful for your trust and confidence. 2022 has been a challenging year for the markets and has tested our collective patience. We receive excellent questions about the best...

Thursday, August 18, 2022

Don’t forget about our live webinar, this Thursday at 5pm Eastern.

Thursday, August 11, 2022

Don’t forget that our next live edition of Ask the Joes® (& Cale) will be held on August 18th at 5pm eastern time. You can register at this link.

Thursday, August 4, 2022

Our next Ask the Joes® & Cale webinar is coming soon! We hope you can join us. Please send us any questions you would like us to discuss. You can register at the link below. When: Thursday, Aug 18, 2022, at 5:00 PM Eastern Time

Thursday, July 28, 2022

We really like this quote from historian Howard Zinn (via James Clear, source: You Can’t Be Neutral on a Moving Train):

Thursday, July 21, 2022

We hope that you are enjoying the summer season and that you enjoy this week’s Lowry Letter®!

Thursday, July 14, 2022

The Joes® are out of the office this week for an extended Lowry family get-together, but the Lowry Letter® carries on.

Thursday, July 7, 2022

We think David Kelly has some wise words about the state of the economy and financial markets. We especially like this part: “While media reports will continue their frenzied jump from one economic crisis to another, it is important...

Friday, July 1, 2022

First, a reminder that our office will be closed on Monday, July 4, in observance of the Independence Day holiday. We hope you have a safe and enjoyable long weekend!

Thursday, June 23, 2022

Recession concerns weigh on many investors’ minds, but in many ways the economy is doing okay. This may sound crazy, given market declines this year, but it is a good time to remember that the economy and the markets are not the same.

Friday, June 17, 2022

The market downturn entered a new phase this week. Fears of an inflation/Fed-led recession are increasing, leading to broad selling and an official bear market. There are some important success skills to maintain during times like this...

Wednesday, June 8, 2022

It feels like 2022 just started, yet we are almost halfway through the year. The Cliffs Notes version is that May was not great for the markets generally, with some silver linings showing in the...

Friday, June 3, 2022

Last week saw some relief from the declines that characterized a very rough May for the markets. Here is our periodic reminder that, for long-term investors, maintaining your current allocation is often the correct approach. Changes to...

Thursday, May 26, 2022

This week’s letter is a short one, owing to some business travel for The Joes®. We are seeing encouraging signs of stability in the bond market and will discuss more of that next week. Do you have any questions you would like us to...

Thursday, May 19, 2022

Investment declines remind us that there are many things that we don’t control about the economy and the markets. What can we do during challenging times? Continue regular investment into appropriately diversified portfolios. Revisit...

Wednesday, May 11, 2022

We’re going to pause our normal format and speak about recent market volatility. An important concept is “risk premium.” Formally, it is a measure of excess return that is required by an individual to compensate being subjected to an...

Thursday, May 5, 2022

Our webinar from last week is available at our YouTube channel. We cover a number of topics and fortunately, the information is still pretty current!

Wednesday, April 27, 2022

Given the recent volatility in the markets, we decided to schedule a live webinar on Thursday, April 28, at 4pm. Here is the link to register: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_P1hp58jxT92sskk1KEE1TA

Thursday, April 21, 2022

We are planning our next live “Ask the Joes®” event for early May. If you have any questions you would like for us to review, please let us know. We hope you enjoy this week’s edition!

Thursday, April 14, 2022

The markets and our office will be closed on Friday in observance of Good Friday. We wish a Happy Easter to all who observe the holiday! The First Quarter 2022 Market Recap is available here, a concise summary of a turbulent 3 months!

Friday, April 8, 2022

Welcome to the 2nd quarter of the 22nd second year of the 21st Century! March saw the S&P 500 break its 2-month losing streak for returns. Bonds continued to feel the pressure of expected continued rate increases. Inflation and the war...

Thursday, March 31, 2022

We hope you’ll forgive our Spring Break-induced lapse in the Lowry Letter®. We made the most of a quick trip to UT with Joseph III. Arches National Park does not disappoint.

Friday, March 18, 2022

For those of you who missed our webinar last week, the link to the replay is below. We were reminded this week of the prevalence of identity theft. One of our clients had fraudulent accounts opened at a credit union and an online...

Wednesday, March 9, 2022

We are very close to the 2-year anniversary of one of the key inflection points in the beginning of the pandemic - on March 11, 2020, the NBA suspended its season due to COVID-19. We were at a conference in New Orleans and remember the...

Friday, March 4, 2022

We hope you will join us next Thursday, March 10th, at 5pm for a live “Ask the Joes® (and Cale)” about the state of the markets and other current events...

Friday, February 25, 2022

We don’t know the exact origin of the saying, but “Things are never as good (or as bad) as they seem,” is as correct today as ever. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is deeply distressing. We’re going to review the financial implications but...

Friday, February 18, 2022

Russia may invade Ukraine and there is uncertainty about the direction of interest rates in the United States. In other words, uncertainty is still part of an investor’s daily experience. Remaining diversified and focused on your...

Thursday, February 10, 2022

Remember last week’s letter, when we predicted that the Friday jobs report would be bad? Well, it wasn’t. As Brad McMillan shares, it wasn’t a bad thing to be wrong about. He surmises that companies are paying workers even when in...

Friday, February 4, 2022

Welcome to February - we’re keeping it short and sweet this week!

Thursday, January 27, 2022

This week sees more market turbulence. For some perspective on the current situation, Brad McMillan has recent posts that provide clarity. We often say that your personal economy is even more important than the real economy. In other...

Thursday, January 20, 2022

Each residential U.S. address can order 4 at-home Covid tests from this address: https://special.usps.com/testkits Many areas of the United States are seeing potential peaks in the Omicron wave. It seems like everyone you know has...

Friday, January 14, 2022

This seems to be the week when everyone got Covid-19 (or when everyone you know did). Local schools continue to deal with many absences (student AND teacher) and most people are trying to figure out what the right quarantine protocol is. A

Thursday, January 6, 2022

Welcome to our last Lowry Letter of 2021! Do you make New Year’s resolutions? Here are some tips for more successful goal-keeping: Be specific: Don’t just say “get more sleep,” but have a certain target that can be tracked. Related...

Thursday, January 6, 2022

Happy New Year! 2022 is certainly starting out in an interesting way, with the omicron variant causing significant upheaval for many people. It’s not all bad news, as our first item explains.

Tuesday, December 21, 2021

We will be open but working remotely on Dec 23rd and December 31st. We will be answering the phone and emails as needed. Our office will be closed on December 24th, as will the markets, in observance of the Christmas holiday. We hope...

Monday, December 20, 2021

It is hard to believe that only 2 weeks remain until 2022. We hope you are anticipating a positive end to your year. Time is almost up for any tax-related actions, so please get in touch if there is anything on your mind. We are glad...

Thursday, December 9, 2021

The November Market recap is live and available here. Commonwealth’s Sam Millette has some other economic data releases showing a fairly typical mix of data. Don’t forget about our webinar, 10 Estate Planning Mistakes to Avoid, taking...

Friday, December 3, 2021

As promised, we will hold our next educational webinar on December 9 at 5pm, 10 Estate Planning Mistakes to Avoid. You can register here. Joe Jr and family recently traveled to California to visit Lacy’s family for Thanksgiving...The Lowry

Friday, November 19, 2021

Thank you for your responses to our webinar poll. Unfortunately, there is no perfect day, but we plan to hold it on Thursday, December 9th, at 5pm. We will make any materials available after the webinar. To register, visit this link: 10 Est

Thursday, November 11, 2021

Joe Jr. was recognized by the Community Foundation of North Central Florida as the 2021 Professional Advisor of the Year*, “recognizing outstanding work in promoting philanthropy.” Both Joes have a passion for education and financial litera

Friday, November 5, 2021

It has been said that the proverb, “May you live in interesting times,” was intended as a curse and not a blessing. Regardless of the intent, here we are. We have some interesting items for you this week and hope you enjoy them!

Thursday, October 28, 2021

October has been National Financial Planning month, and we were recently reminded of an exchange between Alice and the Cheshire Cat, in Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland: "Would you tell me, please, which way I ought to go from here?" "That

Thursday, October 21, 2021

At a conference we attended last week, Brad McMillan shared an update on Covid and the economy. Many of the thoughts he shared are available here. The bottom line is that Covid cases continue to improve, but that seasonal issues may lead to

Thursday, October 14, 2021

Washington is slowly resolving some of the questions we have been discussing with many of you, involving the debt ceiling, future spending, and the increased taxes that will accompany it. The next few months will provide further clarity and

Friday, October 8, 2021

It’s hard to believe that we are in the 4th quarter of 2021. This is the season of required minimum distributions, charitable contributions, and tax planning. You will receive communication from us on the first item, and we are glad to talk

Thursday, September 30, 2021

We had a great update from our friend Dru with Guggenheim Investments last Thursday. They see continued economic growth and low recession risk for the foreseeable future...

Thursday, September 23, 2021

We hope you can join us for our Economic & Market Update with Guggenheim Investments Thursday September 23rd at 12pm Eastern.

Friday, September 17, 2021

As you know, the 20th Anniversary of 9/11 was last Saturday. We watched a new documentary, 9/11: One Day in America, and it was harrowing, tragic, uplifting, and many other emotions. It is not easy to watch but feels like a comprehensive...

Friday, September 17, 2021

Our hiatus last week was partly due to our visit to Seattle, WA, where we formally welcomed August Michael to the Lowry family and enjoyed time with his parents, Chris & Erin. It was a real blessing to be able to spend the time with...

Friday, August 27, 2021

Please mark Sept 14th as the date of our next webinar, this time with Guggenheim Investments. They will provide a market update and be available to answer questions as well. They are one our preferred fixed income managers, and we look...

Thursday, August 19, 2021

The Covid-19 situation continues to be tragic. We are not medical professionals, infectious disease experts, or epidemiologists, but every conversation we have had with experts in those areas strengthens the case for vaccines as the...

Thursday, August 12, 2021

First, our congratulations to Bea on the birth of her granddaughter several weeks ago! She visited the office for the first time yesterday and we were happy to meet her. This summer, the Joes have visited several National Parks...

Thursday, July 29, 2021

The Lowry Letter will take a break next week before the school year begins in our county. It has been a short summer!

Thursday, July 22, 2021

We can only speak anecdotally about what we have learned about our own community, but the surge in COVID cases is real. Hospital resources are being stretched in many places and unvaccinated persons make up the vast majority of...

Friday, July 16, 2021

We are grateful to have been spared the worst of Elsa (though the bad Frozen jokes were harder to avoid). Now is a great time to get prepared for the next storm. We speak a little more on that below.

Thursday, July 8, 2021

The arrival of Tropical Storm Elsa (hours away as we write this) is a reminder of the importance of planning. By the time an emergency arrives, it is usually too late to do the small and simple things that make all the difference...

Thursday, July 1, 2021

It is hard to believe that we are halfway through 2021. In many ways, this year has been better than we might have imagined The Covid vaccines are a tremendous success story, with the daily death rate numbers telling a very compelling...

Thursday, June 24, 2021

First, a reminder that we will be having an off-site team meeting on June 28-29. Our office will be closed for meetings but we will be checking messages and emails at regular intervals. There may be a slight delay in processing requests...

Monday, June 21, 2021

School is out in most of the country, and we join many parents and grandparents (and kids) who are glad to put this strange year behind them. We hope conditions continue to improve and look forward to returning to normal school patterns...

Thursday, June 10, 2021

We had a great webinar with Justin Duft regarding potential tax law changes. Among the key takeaways are these: The most effective estate plans are a team effort Complex solutions are not always the best solutions Our loved ones should...

Thursday, June 3, 2021

Changes to various tax laws have been proposed and are of concern to many. We’ve scheduled a webinar with Commonwealth’s Justin Duft to discuss these and other important matters related to estate planning. Justin is the director of...

Thursday, May 27, 2021

Our office will be closed on Monday, May 31st in observance of Memorial Day. We hope that you enjoy the holiday weekend. We express our profound appreciation for the men and women who have given their lives in service of our country.

Thursday, May 20, 2021

We remain encouraged by continued vaccinations and hope the trend continues. We enjoyed Brad McMillan’s story of his return to in-person work at Commonwealth and imagine it mirrors many other people’s experiences. We realized that we...

Friday, May 14, 2021

We enjoyed an excellent webinar on Tuesday, with Brad McMillan from Commonwealth and the Independent Market Observer. We will share some of Brad’s key insights below and have attached his slides from the presentation. If you have any...

Tuesday, May 11, 2021

Welcome to May! Please remember that our special webinar with Brad McMillian is scheduled for this Tuesday, May 11th at 4pm. Please register in advance by using this link...

Monday, May 3, 2021

Continuing with April’s Financial Literacy theme, we wanted to share this interview with Commonwealth’s Becca Hajjar. She shares her own experience learning about financial topics and some basic tips on helping kids become more literate.

Monday, May 3, 2021

Some big news this past week was the potential increase in the capital gains tax rate for individuals with more than $1 million of taxable income. It is important to remember that this is just a proposal. If it does become law, and you...

Thursday, April 15, 2021

Most of you know that we often cite the work of Brad McMillan and the investment research team at Commonwealth. They are important partners to our firm, and we are excited to announce that Brad will join us for a webinar on Tuesday, May...

Friday, April 9, 2021

The first quarter of 2021 is in the books and it was an interesting one for the markets. Indexes saw gains, but as with any period not all stocks participated in the improvement. Tech stocks were a drag for the Nasdaq and the Dow Jones...

Thursday, April 1, 2021

No April Foolin’ here- just the eclectic mix of information that you enjoy. Please note: The stock market and our office will be closed on Friday, April 2nd in observance of Good Friday.

Thursday, March 25, 2021

Last Saturday marked the official beginning of spring. As with the new year, we have an opportunity to make new goals and recommit to old ones. Brad McMillan discusses some of the economic news we can expect as we move into the new...

Thursday, March 18, 2021

We continue to be encouraged by the progress of Covid vaccinations across the United States. Recent positive movement in consumer confidence and better-than-expected jobless claims are signs that the economic recovery will proceed apace.

Thursday, March 11, 2021

We have a diverse group of clients and we love hearing what you think of The Lowry Letter®. If there are areas where you would like more information, please let us know.

Wednesday, March 3, 2021

It’s time to change up our format just a little bit, which you may notice below. We may still do the occasional “Ask the Joes®,” but will shift many of those questions toward our new YouTube series “Ask the Joes® (and Cale)”

Thursday, February 25, 2021

We’ve established a YouTube channel to provide periodic, short videos on interesting topics. Please subscribe to receive updates and let us know if you have any ideas for future topics.

Thursday, February 18, 2021

This is the time of year for tax preparation and we often receive questions about the timing of tax forms. Investment custodians like National Financial Services (NFS) have until February 15th to provide preliminary 1099s showing...

Thursday, February 11, 2021

Don’t forget that Sunday is Valentine’s Day! It’s not too late to find a winning way to show appreciation for your significant other. Locals can find something tasty from our @Bearkery friends at theplantshoppe.com. The major market...

Thursday, February 4, 2021

We enjoyed a very informative presentation on Social Security last week, courtesy of Blackrock. Social Security can be hard to understand and is critically important. We are glad to discuss ideal strategies for your specific situation...

Thursday, January 28, 2021

An abbreviated version this week, as both Joes are visiting clients out of the area. Please remember that tomorrow is our webinar on Social Security, Thursday, January 28th at 4pm Eastern time. If you have any family or friends who...

Friday, January 22, 2021

We hope you can join us for our next remote event, taking place on Thursday, January 28th at 4pm Eastern time. We will hear from Jennifer Taboada with Blackrock Investments about how to make Social Security a more effective part of your...

Thursday, January 14, 2021

It has been said that the proverb, “May you live in interesting times,” was intended as a curse and not a blessing. Regardless of the intent, here we are. We have some interesting items for you this week and hope you enjoy them!

Friday, January 8, 2021

Welcome to 2021! A New Year is an interesting event. Like the stock market hitting a notable number or reaching a birthday, there is nothing inherently magical or transformative about the milestone outside of the psychological impact.

Wednesday, December 30, 2020

The new year is a great opportunity to make changes to improve our lives. If you have any resolutions, we would love to hear them. We are often inspired by the interesting and uplifting things that our clients accomplish.

Wednesday, December 23, 2020

Last week we held an informative webinar on cybersecurity. We have attached a helpful list of steps you can take to improve the security of your information and your money. This is especially important given how frequently all of us...

Wednesday, December 23, 2020

Our final event of this year is a Cyber Security Webinar presented by Dave Allen with Goldman Sachs. We hope you can join us!

Thursday, December 10, 2020

Next week we will host our final event of this year, a Cyber Security Webinar presented by Dave Allen with Goldman Sachs. It will take place at 12 eastern time via Zoom. For those who are unable to attend we will provide a helpful summary.

Thursday, December 10, 2020

Welcome to December! We hope you had a peaceful and safe Thanksgiving. In spite of the unusual circumstances, we look forward to the holiday season and hope it provides some enjoyment to all of you.

Tuesday, December 1, 2020

We hope that you and your loved ones have a safe and Happy Thanksgiving! Our office will be closed on Thursday, November 26 th in observance of the holiday. We will be working remotely on Friday, November 27 th, checking phone messages and

Wednesday, November 18, 2020

We want to celebrate Nicole Cothern’s 5 year anniversary with our firm. As our planning associate, Nicole focuses on the creation and maintenance of financial plans. Her attention to detail and enjoyment of the work are a great asset. We ar

Wednesday, November 11, 2020

We really enjoyed Mac Stone’s talk last night. We hope to make a replay available to you as we know many of you could not watch due to other commitments. During his talk, he mentioned a film that was made to record their search for the poll

Wednesday, November 4, 2020

This letter is always prepared a day or two before sending. As we write this, the day after election day, we wait with many of you to see who will be president of the United States for the next four years. Just as important as the presidenc

Thursday, October 29, 2020

Happy Halloween! Whatever the conditions in your area, we hope that you and your loved ones have a safe and enjoyable time with whatever adaptations or new circumstances are required.

Wednesday, October 21, 2020

We’re very excited to announce our next virtual event, scheduled for Nov 10th at 6:30pm. We will hear from gifted photographer and long-time friend Mac Stone about some of his more recent adventures. Some of you may recall that we sponsored

Thursday, October 15, 2020

We wanted to start this week by recognizing a very important milestone. Bea Caldwell, our Client Relationship Manager, recently reached her 20th anniversary as a member of our team! We sometimes joke that she is the “Cuban Mom” of our offic

Friday, October 9, 2020

We had a great discussion with Mark Seaman and Tom O’Neil of American Funds on the state of the economy in light of the pandemic and upcoming elections. We’ve included a brochure in the Lowry Letter® that we shared during the webinar that c

Thursday, October 1, 2020

Next week we will have an interesting talk about investing in an election year with a great speaker, Mark Seaman from the Capital Group. Capital Group is the parent company of American Funds...

Thursday, September 24, 2020

As we mentioned last week, we will hold 2 webinars on investing and the markets on October 8th. One will be at noon and the other at 6pm. If you have questions for our speaker that day, please let us know. More info about him and the...

Wednesday, September 16, 2020

Finally, please mark your calendars for our next online client event, to be held October 8th. We will discuss investing & elections with commentary from American Funds. We will hold it twice that day, noon and 6pm, to accommodate...

Wednesday, September 9, 2020

After a strong August, September has led with a string of declines led by the tech-heavy Nasdaq. While declines are never enjoyable, they are a normal aspect of the markets and should be expected after the recent positive movement...

Wednesday, September 2, 2020

As with all Federal holidays, our office will be closed on Monday in observance of Labor Day. We hope you can find some rest and relaxation during the long weekend!

Thursday, August 27, 2020

A few weeks ago, our friend Joni Youngwirth gave a presentation about mindful retirement. For those of you who were able to participate, and those who could not, we’ve attached a template related to her discussion.

Friday, August 21, 2020

Our apologies for the two-week gap between Lowry Letters. As many of you prepare for school to begin (in one form or another), our hope is that you find a smooth transition, whether pursuing in-person or remote learning. It is not an...

Friday, August 7, 2020

As the start of the school year nears for many, we hope that uncertainty about these decisions does not overwhelm you. These experiences will provide valuable opportunities for learning and adaptation and we believe that many young...

Tuesday, August 4, 2020

We had an excellent seminar from Joni Youngwirth and will share a few highlights with you below. Unfortunately, regulations do not permit us to provide replays of the webinar but we hope to have some related materials available to share...

Thursday, July 16, 2020

Please mark your calendars for our July 28th presentation by Joni Youngwirth on Mindful Retirement. We will provide the Zoom link for the 4pm talk by separate email next week. We have known Joni for many years and admire her professional...

Thursday, July 9, 2020

We hope that you enjoyed a safe and healthy holiday weekend! We are planning a Zoom seminar on “Mindful Retirement” with an excellent presenter and friend, Joni Youngwirth. It is hard to find a date and time that will work for everyone...

Thursday, July 2, 2020

We wish you a Happy Independence Day and hope that you enjoy a safe and peaceful holiday weekend. Continued Many of you will have received a document called Form CRS in the mail. It does not require any action, but is an explanation of...

Thursday, June 25, 2020

Team Lowry Financial competed in Junior Achievement of Alachua County’s first-ever Team Trivia Bowl, AND WON. We had a great time and look forward to a second online trivia event for friends and family this Thursday (June 25th). This...

Thursday, June 18, 2020

We hope that this finds you safe and well. Joe Jr recently enjoyed a visit to Watts Bar Lake in eastern Tennessee. It was a quiet place to enjoy family time and we hope you are able to enjoy some semblance of normal summer activities...

Thursday, June 11, 2020

Thank you to everyone who responded to our brief survey. Here is the link again in case you were unable to participate: Webinar Availability Responses have been quite varied, but we will do our best to make them accessible to as many as...

Thursday, June 4, 2020

As the pandemic continues and civil and political issues are at the forefront, we will continue to respond to any concerns about how these events may impact your financial present and future. We are planning several informative and...

Thursday, May 28, 2020

As we continue to wade through the effects of COVID-19, many of our clients are entering Hurricane Season next week. We remind Florida residents of the sales tax holiday for storm preparation taking place from Friday, May 29 - Thursday...

Thursday, May 21, 2020

In our daily work, we try to read and talk to people who have a different perspective on current events. It reminds us of this quote from a favorite author, Louis L’Amour: "One thing has always been true: That book or that person who can...

Friday, May 15, 2020

We held our first “Ask the Joes® Live” on Wednesday and were glad to be able to connect with some of you in that way. This week’s Lowry Letter® will look at what we shared during that call. We will host another one soon, on a different...

Thursday, May 7, 2020

We are now almost 2 months into restrictions imposed due to the COVID pandemic and our meetings with you have been limited to phone or video conference. We miss seeing you!

Wednesday, April 29, 2020

This week we are going COVID-free! Here are some interesting items to enjoy and uplift this week.

Thursday, April 23, 2020

This week we are going COVID-free! Here are some interesting items to enjoy and uplift this week.

Monday, April 20, 2020

We read this week that humans “are pattern-seeking, story-telling animals.” As a rule, we don’t like uncertainty. This makes it easy to adopt absolute views on the challenges we face. We want to identify the best way to handle the...

Thursday, April 9, 2020

Our office will be closed on Friday April 10th, as will the financial markets, in observance of Good Friday. We hope that you have a peaceful weekend! Keep Your Head Up A few weeks ago, we visited New Orleans for a conference not...

Friday, April 3, 2020

Welcome to the 2nd Quarter of what has been an unforgettable 2020. At this time, our direct experience with COVID-19 itself has been limited, for which we are grateful. To our knowledge, no one in our personal acquaintance has been...

Monday, March 30, 2020

We hope this week’s letter finds you safe and healthy. We are impressed by the way that many Americans have adjusted to the current situation and hope you are finding ways to care for your mental, physical, and spiritual health.

Monday, March 23, 2020

We continue to be in a fluid and challenging environment. Among the greatest challenges is how difficult it has become to escape- to the movies, away for a weekend trip, or even to a restaurant with friends and family. It is more...

Friday, March 13, 2020

We have some important information to share in this week’s Lowry Letter®. Many times we have expressed the importance of focusing on the things that we can control. This means how much we spend, save, and (for most of us) how long we work.

Tuesday, March 10, 2020

A tumultuous period continues as uncertainty about COVID-19 rules the headlines. Our feelings remain the same as last week and we are happy to discuss this further with any of you.

Friday, March 6, 2020

We’re going to focus this week on the key issue on many minds- the recent market declines due in large part to the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19).

Thursday, February 27, 2020

We are very happy to congratulate our own Nicole Hadley on her marriage to Brent Cothern! The happy couple was married last Saturday. The coronavirus continues to be a leading cause of concern. The long-term effect on the market...

Tuesday, February 18, 2020

This week’s edition brings a few helpful items on the current investment climate, as well as some non-financial topics. We hope you enjoy it!

Monday, February 10, 2020

February marks the 128th consecutive month of economic expansion in the United States (National Bureau of Economic Research). Many economists think that economic growth will continue, but at a slower pace. At the risk of sounding like...

Monday, February 3, 2020

The big news of late is the coronavirus affecting (mostly) mainland China, specifically Wuhan. It has had some impact of late on the markets, but we agree with our friend Brad McMillan who advises, “Pay attention, don’t worry.”

Tuesday, January 28, 2020

The first month of the 20’s comes to an end this week! While the year has started on a quiet note for the markets, we remain focused on the following when we meet with clients: What are your specific goals, and how can your resources...

Thursday, January 23, 2020

This week’s edition is devoted to the SECURE Act, so we have tweaked the format a bit to cover some of the most important things.

Thursday, January 16, 2020

We’ve written before about Joe, Jr and Lacy chairing the 2020 Gainesville Heart Ball. If anyone is interested in attending or participating, more information on tickets and support are available at the following link: 2020 Gainesville...

Monday, January 13, 2020

We are excited to begin the New Year in earnest this week, after what seems like a very long (and enjoyable) run of holiday activities.

Monday, January 6, 2020

A more contemplative Lowry Letter® to being the new year, and some 2020 resolutions.

Friday, December 20, 2019

Welcome to the final Lowry Letter of 2019! First, some housekeeping: our office will be closed on Dec 24th, though we will be checking messages if any urgent needs arise. Of course, we will be closed on Dec 25th, resuming normal...

Friday, December 13, 2019

We know that not all of our clients observe Christmas, but for those that do we think you will enjoy this beautiful new depiction of the Nativity (18 minutes via YouTube). We hope that you enjoy the remainder of this week’s letter!

Wednesday, December 4, 2019

The final month of the year is upon us. We recommend considering the following steps, if applicable to you: ·Charitable giving: If you have any donations to make, consider using Qualified Charitable Distributions if over 70 ½, or...

Monday, November 25, 2019

We have much to be grateful for. We live in a prosperous time. Many of the dangers that were commonplace for our ancestors are far from our personal experience. We face other challenges they did not have to deal with, but as another...

Monday, November 18, 2019

We have a few IRS-related items in this week’s letter (including in Ask the Joes®) and hope you find them helpful. Tax revenues hit an all-time high during the most recent fiscal year, but spending continues to increase.

Monday, November 11, 2019

National Financial Services is making a more comprehensive annual statement available to clients who request one by November 15th. This statement is of greatest value to those of your who use brokerage accounts for cash management and regul

Monday, November 4, 2019

We love November. The weather finally gets a littler cooler in Gainesville and Thanksgiving brings all the best aspects of a holiday- extra family time and good food, without some of the stress of the other special days...

Tuesday, October 29, 2019

We do enjoy Halloween, and hope that everyone has a safe and enjoyable experience. Fortunately, we would say that this year has had more treats than tricks (speaking of the market of course). The fourth quarter is the ideal time to cle

Tuesday, October 22, 2019

We’ve ordered our 2020 pocket calendars and would like to know who would like to receive one. More of you have transitioned to electronic calendars, so it is a little harder to gauge demand. Just let us know if you are interested and we wil

Friday, October 18, 2019

We're going to shed our normal format this week to hit some quick points and takeaways from our time at Commonwealth's national conference.

Thursday, October 10, 2019

We continue to hear of various phone and email scams. The persistence of the IRS scam in particular is troubling. Like most criminal endeavors, the goal is to catch us at a bad time, or on a bad day, and take advantage of that to extract th

Friday, October 4, 2019

Fall has arrived, though for some of us little has changed. As we look forward (anxiously) to cooler weather, we will brave the heat to address item #2. This week we head to Colorado for Commonwealth's annual conference. It's a great...

Thursday, September 26, 2019

The end of the 3rd Quarter is upon us, and it is hard to believe that so much of 2019 has come and gone! We hope you enjoy this week’s edition.

Tuesday, September 17, 2019

This week finds the Joes® in Gainesville, looking forward to another year of sponsoring the September Membership Lunch of the Builders Association of North Central Florida. The Joes® family was involved in the building industry for...

Friday, September 13, 2019

We share the relief of many Floridians that Hurricane Dorian left Florida largely unscathed. As the damage in the Carolinas is assessed, and the dreadful situation in parts of the Bahamas continue, we are reminded of how risk affects our...

Tuesday, September 3, 2019

As we prepared this week’s edition, we were watching the path of Hurricane Dorian. Thanks to modern technology, we have the ability to work away from the office when necessary. We also appreciate our relationship with Commonwealth...

Tuesday, August 27, 2019

We hope that you have a great week and an enjoyable Labor Day weekend! Our office, and the markets, will be closed on Monday, September 2nd in observance of the holiday.

Thursday, August 22, 2019

School is back in session and we welcome a return to the routine that accompanies it. We hope those of you with kids at home have had a smooth transition!

Thursday, August 8, 2019

This has been a turbulent period in the markets, due in large part to the President’s continued aggressive trade policy action toward China. The market volatility we are seeing is not unprecedented in any way, and reflects concerns about...

Thursday, August 1, 2019

How do you like them Apples? If you like them as much as we do, you’ll find our 4th item to be a good one!

Tuesday, July 23, 2019

A mysterious cheeseburger (item 2) had us thinking about our favorite fast food option. What is yours? More on that below. Enjoy!

Tuesday, July 23, 2019

This week’s edition is a potpourri of information, from current events to the NBA. We found our third item to be especially thought-provoking. We hope you like it.