Also, in July – actually on the same day – we welcomed Claire Olmstead to the firm as an Administrative Assistant; she is currently studying to pass the Series 7 and Series 66 exams to become an Associate Wealth Manager.  Claire also graduated from the University of Redlands with a Bachelor of Science in Global Business where she studied abroad in both Rennes, France and Florence, Italy.  Claire grew up in the small town of Sherman, TX and came to sunny southern California to play basketball for the Bulldogs.  Claire loves game nights with friends and loving on her two cats, Mango and Spooky.  You may see Claire in your next Goals and Planning session as she is being mentored by all our incredible Wealth Managers.

Speaking of cats, Wealth Manager Igor Nikachin, welcomed a new furry friend into his life recently when he rescued an abandoned kitten.  If you want to read more about Achilles, Igor wrote a great blog about pet ownership that can be found here: kwbwealth.com/blogs 

Partner and Wealth Manager Quentin Bubb welcomed a new addition to his family on December 9th. His wife, Brittney, gave birth to daughter Magdalena (Lainey for short).  Their son, Mason, also began preschool this past year; it’s been an eventful time at the Bubb household.

Speaking of Bubbs, Rachel Bubb recently completed her Certified Financial Planner (CFP®) certification.  This is the most prestigious designation in the field of financial planning and is a massive accomplishment for Rachel.  In even more exciting news, she is now deep into the final stages of planning her wedding to her fiancé, Stuart.  Next time you speak with Rachel, be sure to congratulate her on all the big things she’s done in 2021.

Finally, big news for our Client Service Manager, Jamie Vickery.  Her youngest child, Logan, just started kindergarten.  They grow up so fast.

TECHNOLOGY

While we don’t have any ‘new’ tech to talk about this time around, we want to mention something that we believe will make all our lives better/easier.  In the past, we were more focused and comfortable having social events (such as our semiannual market outlooks) and annual goals and planning sessions in person.  We also assumed that’s what you wanted as well.  Boy, were we enlightened.  

Turns out, you love having the choice of seeing us in person and/or connecting online.  We’ve worked hard to make sure that we can connect with you where it’s most convenient.  So, look forward to continuing to see our events in-person, online, or even recorded on our website.  And know that you have a choice when your next Goals and Planning session arrives, whether you like meeting with us in person, or enjoy the convenience of staying home and connecting via video chat.

THE MARKETS

Turning our attention to the markets, it’s safe to say it’s been a very good year thus far.  The S&P 500 index is up about 19% (including dividends) and with very little volatility.  We just had our first 5% pullback in September and we expect more volatility going forward as we have had a very quick 100%+ return since the bottom of the Covid recession.  However, that does not mean we expect a significant drop in the coming months.  Pullbacks of 5-10% are natural in the stock market as different participants are working with different timeframes, similar to how your chest moves up and down as you breathe.  

In situations where you don’t see pullbacks for long periods of time it can seem like the financial news media is searching/hoping for news that might spur a fall in the markets.  Inflation fears, supply chain fears, Chinese real estate company contagion fears, the list goes on.  It’s important to keep your risk appetite and investment timeframe in mind as we go through these breaths in the market.  And remember, if you ever need someone to talk to, never hesitate to reach out to your KWB Wealth Manager.

2020/2021 Semper Fi & America’s Fund Annual Golf Tourney

Thank you for a GREAT golf tournament! We really appreciate everyone for coming out, having fun, and most importantly, raising money for Semper Fi America’s Fund. With your generosity and support, we raised $67,000 for the 2020/2021 tournament.

The opinions voiced in this material are for general information only and are not intended to provide specific advice or recommendations for any individual.  To determine which investment(s) may be appropriate for you, consult your financial advisor prior to investing.  All performance referenced is historical and is no guarantee of future results.  All indices are unmanaged and cannot be invested into directly.

No strategy assures success or protects against loss.  The economic forecasts set forth in this newsletter may not develop as predicted and there can be no guarantee that strategies promoted will be successful. 

Investing involves risk including loss of principal.

The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index is a capitalization weighted index of 500 stocks designed to measure performance of the broad domestic economy through changes in the aggregate market value of 500 stocks representing all major industries.

Securities offered through LPL Financial, Member FINRA/SIPC. Investment advice offered through KWB Wealth, a registered investment advisor and separate entity from LPL Financial.

CFP Board owns the marks CFP®, CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™, and CFP.