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As we reach the mid-point of the first quarter, the U.S. economy continues to show impressive resilience on the surface, even as underlying trends become more nuanced. Overall growth remains solid, supported by strong consumer activity...

When you see the word “forecast,” it should be closely followed by, “Forecasts are based on assumptions and are subject to revisions over time. Financial, economic, political, and regulatory issues may cause the actual results to...

“Adjusted for inflation” is a phrase you may think isn’t important. But when you see it in action, you might change your mind.Let’s examine how “adjusted for inflation” has affected a couple of tax rules and their impact on Social...

AI Is Powerful - But Wisdom Still Wins

Steve Cartwright, CFP^®

Friday, February 13, 2026

Artificial intelligence has quickly moved from a futuristic buzzword to an everyday tool. It can analyze data in seconds, surface patterns we might miss, and help us work faster and more efficiently than ever before. In financial...

As Valentine's Day approaches... whether you're celebrating with a long-time partner or spoiling your grandchildren with their favorite candy, today reminds us that love is all around us.From romantic partnerships to family bonds, the...

As we move into the new year, economic readings continue to show well above average U.S. growth, supported by solid consumer activity, particularly on the part of more affluent consumers. The economy is also benefiting from improved...

Physician Happiness Index 2025

Ronsey Chawla, MBA, CFP^®

Wednesday, January 28, 2026

I came across Medscape’s latest release, An Rx for Life: The Physician Happiness Index 2025. It provides a timely snapshot of how physicians are feeling about their careers and their lives. I was surprised to learn that roughly...

Download OutlookIn many regards, the fourth quarter of 2025 was a microcosm of the year as a whole. It was remarkable for its economic and geopolitical disruption, and perhaps even more remarkable for the ability and willingness of...

When the One Big Beautiful Bill (OBBB) Act was passed on July 4, the legislation left several unanswered questions that the IRS is now addressing. The IRS undergoes this process every year, but this time around, the OBBB has added to...

Once again, the year has flown by! In these final weeks of the year, our thoughts often turn to the comforts of home and family — of sharing good cheer with neighbors, friends, and loved ones. In that spirit, I would like to wish you...

November was a month of generosity and community spirit at Per Stirling. Together, we raised $1,050 for the Central Texas Food Bank and collected a full box of non‑perishables, helping ensure our neighbors had access to nourishing food...

November was an important month for both investors and economists, as it marked the end of the longest federal government shutdown in U.S. history, and restarted the flow of economic data from the federal government. While some...

I wanted to remind you that the Medicare Open Enrollment period is approaching its close soon. This is your final opportunity to review and make any necessary changes to your Medicare coverage for the upcoming year. Key Details: Open...

Remember the show Sex and the City? At one point, Carrie Bradshaw (the main character) admitted she'd spent $40,000 on shoes instead of saving for a down payment. Now economists use her name to track what it actually costs to live...

In October, our volunteer efforts centered on raising awareness and funds for the American Cancer Society, championing their mission to create a world without cancer. To inspire participation, the American Cancer Society launched a...

As we approach the end of the year, the domestic economy continues to show remarkable resilience despite some challenges. While there continues to be concerns about inflation and employment growth, recent trends suggest that many...

Per Stirling Capital Management Welcomes Eric Lian Austin, TX — November 2025 — Per Stirling Capital Management is pleased to announce that Eric Lian will be joining the firm as a financial advisor beginning November 17th, 2025. With...

Ever considered writing your own will? While you can draft a will on your own, there are plenty of reasons why you may not want to go that route. Most people do it to save money, but they may overlook or forget to take care of some...

When the One Big Beautiful Bill (OBBB) Act was passed on July 4, the legislation left several unanswered questions that the IRS is now addressing. The IRS undergoes this process every year, but this time around, the OBBB has added to...

If you dream of your financial legacy leaving a lasting impact on the world, there's a way you can make a difference. You can use your Required Minimum Distribution (RMD) to make charitable donations, a strategy that could benefit...

We were thrilled to welcome nearly 300 clients to this year's Client Appreciation Event for an evening of fun, good entertainment, delicious BBQ and unforgettable memories. County Line on the Lake provided the perfect backdrop for a Texas-s

The U.S. economy continues to show surprising resilience, despite clear signs of significant slowing in the labor markets. In addition to growth outpacing that of most other developed countries, the domestic economy continues to...

On Friday, October 10th, Per Stirling hosted our most successful shred event to date at the PS North office off Spicewood Springs Road. With over 70 clients in attendance, the turnout exceeded all expectations. Our community showed up...

Hardly a day goes by that someone doesn’t say to me, “I’m putting off a decision until the Fed changes interest rates.” But I’m quick to remind people that the “rate dominoes” don’t always fall as you may expect. Here’s what could...

There’s something for everyone in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act of 2025. In fact, the Tax Foundation calculated that the new law avoided a tax hike on 62 percent of tax filers in 2026. In dollars and cents, that works out to almost...

How’s Your Cash Flowing? By this point in your career, you understand there is more to your financial picture than your income and savings. But as time passes, it can be easy to lose track of what your money does for you daily,...

Download Outlook We commemorate the launch of our new Outlook format with the above sculpture of Janus, which we believe only makes sense, as Janus was not only the ancient Roman god of beginnings, endings and transitions, but also the...

Getting Started with Cash Flow: Your Financial Foundation How much money do you have left at the end of the month? It’s a deceptively simple question—and one worth answering. Whether you’re starting your career, buying a home, or...

As students head back to campus this fall, this month's chart reveals something fascinating: how we think about debt changes dramatically based on whether we're carrying it ourselves. About one-third of student loan holders ages 25 to...

As summer winds down, watch for communications from your plan provider. This is also the time of year when many ne’er-do-wells try their best to take advantage of Medicare recipients. Read on to learn more. If you’ve supplemented your...

The SECURE Act 2.0 has introduced catch-up contribution choices for those aged 50+, designed to help boost your retirement savings. These enhanced catch-up provisions are available if you're participating in workplace retirement plans...

At present, the domestic economy is an enigma. By most measures it is remarkably resilient. Capacity utilization is high, the unemployment rate remains low, consumer spending remains strong, and many measures show above-average levels...

September is College Savings Month— a perfect time to focus on preparing for future educational expenses. With many of our days filled with work, family, and more, college costs may not always be at the top of our minds. But remember...

Just before the July 4th holiday, Congress passed a domestic policy bill that extended the 2017 tax cuts that were set to expire this year while making some of the 2017 rules permanent. The bill also created several new tax laws for...

Military members and their families face one-of-a-kind challenges, such as deployment to conflict zones, overseas assignments, and the constancy of change, all of which make dedicating time to personal finance a challenge. Luckily,...

With all the talk around the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, understanding where our tax dollars go can help put the bigger economic picture into perspective—and this month's chart offers a breakdown of how the federal government...

Ever considered writing your own will? While you can draft a will on your own, there are plenty of reasons why you may not want to go that route. Most people do it to save money, but they may overlook or forget to take care of some...

Download Outlook “Stagflation” is an oxymoron. It is the economic equivalent of “jumbo shrimp”, “deafening silence” and “virtual reality”. It is a portmanteau of two words that should not coexist under “normal” circumstances, as they...

Are the ups and downs of the stock market leaving you unsettled? Feeling hopeful when the market rises and uneasy when it dips is natural. However, these emotions can sometimes lead to hasty buying or selling, and attempting to...

When disaster strikes, the heart of a community is revealed. This summer, devasting floods swept across parts of Texas, leaving many families facing loss and uncertainty. At Per Stirling, we believe in showing up for our neighbors,...

Summer break is here, and many young people will be working at a summer job or internship. While earning a paycheck is exciting, it can also be an excellent time to consider opening a Roth IRA and contributing a portion of their...

Summer is almost over, and August is nationally recognized as Make a Will Month. Although discussing wills may feel uncomfortable or seem far-off, it presents an important opportunity to reflect on our lives, our values, and the...

Just before the July 4th holiday, Congress passed a domestic policy bill that extended the 2017 tax cuts that were set to expire this year while making some of the 2017 rules permanent. The bill also created several new tax laws for...

Per Stirling was very excited to host its annual "Bring Your Child to Work Day" this month, which allowed the younger members of the Per Stirling family to see where their parents work, to meet many of their parent's co-workers, and to...

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Summer break is here, and many young people will be working at a summer job or internship. While earning a paycheck is exciting, it can also be an excellent time to consider opening a Roth IRA and contributing a portion of their...

Turning 50 isn't just a birthday milestone—it's when the IRS allows you to "catch up" on your savings with catch-up contributions. For those in their early 60s, their savings potential has been supercharged thanks to the SECURE 2.0...

The World Of Educational Funding No one likes the thought of taking on debt to fund a college education. That's why many savvy families seek funding that never needs to be repaid. While student loans often dominate the conversation...

Have you ever felt "sandwiched" between caring for your children and supporting aging parents? If so, you're not alone. This edition of Building Wealth is full of tips for discussing family finances and ways to maintain self-care even...

For a wide array of reasons, ranging from trade wars to military conflicts, and from mass protests to a spike in the price of oil, the second quarter was a period of conflict and volatility. However, while any one of these factors...

What happens when your Social Security card goes missing or gets stolen? For many, a Social Security card is an important document, often kept in a safe place with other key documents like a birth certificate. The potential risks to...

Have you ever stared at a benefits package and wondered if your choices align with your financial goals? In this issue, we'll break down the world of employee benefits—from health insurance to retirement plans—and show you how to make...

Are you saving for the future? People often come to me asking for financial guidance. Some want to know how to invest or diversify the money they’ve saved, but others admit to me they’re just not sure how to save. If you’ve been...

When feeling threatened, a pufferfish can inflate itself to two-to-three times its normal size—an attestation that, in nature, things are not always what they seem on the surface. The same is sometimes also true of investment markets,...

Education Savings Reimagined: Inside the Proposed 529 Expansion

Steve Cartwright, CFP®

Thursday, June 26, 2025

As a financial advisor, the typical question or concern I hear from parents is, “Am I saving too much in my child’s 529 plan, or not enough?” It’s a fair question, especially as college costs shift and different career paths are chosen...

The SECURE Act 2.0 has introduced catch-up contribution choices for those aged 50+, designed to help boost your retirement savings. These enhanced catch-up provisions are available if you're participating in workplace retirement plans...

How Thieves Target Your Logins and Passwords Did you know that over a billion passwords were stolen in 2024? One of the tradeoffs of living in this time of incredible technology is the need to be security conscious. We keep so much...

The March consumer inflation report, which showed some prices at their lowest level in more than four years, was overlooked among all the tariff headlines. Core inflation, which excludes the volatile food and energy factors, rose at a...

Have you heard the expression, “Watch what people do, not what they say?” That’s important these days when it comes to the economic outlook. Some people are “saying” the word recession like it’s a foregone conclusion. But let’s take a...

The Fed’s May meeting was pretty much a humdrum event. Even Fed Chair Powell's post-meeting press conference was uneventful. “We are always going to do the same thing,” he said. “We are going to use our tools to foster maximum...

A Taxing Story: Capital Gains and Losses Chris Rock once remarked, “You don’t pay taxes – they take taxes.” That applies not only to income but also to capital gains. Capital gains result when an individual sells an investment for an...

Has Your Risk Tolerance Shifted? It Might Be Time to Check In

Steve Cartwright, CFP®

Thursday, May 29, 2025

If the last year has felt like a financial roller coaster, you're not alone. Market swings, interest rate shifts, and geopolitical headlines have all made for a bumpy ride. And while your long-term investment strategy might be sound,...

“Be fearful when others are greedy and greedy when others are fearful,” are the words of wisdom from Warren Buffett. There’s just one small catch—it may be the most difficult thing for an investor to do. Over six decades, Warren has...

Download Outlook Even after pausing its sky-high tariffs on China for 90 days, the U.S. still has a 13% effective tariff rate, which is the highest since 1941. Moreover, prior to last week’s at least temporary de-escalation of...

During the most recent round of shareholder calls, CEOs had one big question to answer: “What’s going on with tariffs?” In earlier quarters of 2024, the focus was on inflation and artificial intelligence. But this time, the spotlight...

How Retirement Income Planning Can Help You Build Your Ideal Future Picture your ideal retirement—mornings on the golf course, traveling the world, or simply enjoying time with family. Now, ask yourself: Do you have a retirement income...

Market pundits will often assign pithy nicknames to economic and/or market cycles. Recent examples include the “Dot-com Boom”, “the Global Financial Crisis”, “the Great Recession” and “the Great Reflation”. The most commonly repeated...

At Per Stirling, we’re always looking for ways to better serve our clients and friends, and that includes enhancing your online experience. That’s why we’re excited to announce our brand-new website. The new and improved site is live!...

In the March Per Stirling Capital Outlook, we cautioned that, while the equity markets were already approaching “correction” territory (generally defined as a decline of between 10% and 20%), and while many gauges of investor sentiment...

Should You Adjust Your 401(k) During Market Volatility? Read This First!

Steve Cartwright, CFP®

Thursday, April 10, 2025

Market swings can feel like a financial rollercoaster, and if you’ve been checking your 401(k) balance lately, you might be wondering if you should make changes. Should you move to cash? Shift to more conservative investments? Or just...

THOUGHTS: Advice from your future self!

Ronsey Chawla, MBA, CFP®

Wednesday, April 9, 2025

I recently read an article in the WSJ (behind a paywall) that made me reflect on my life in future years. Professors Christensen & Hershfield’s work here suggests that when we clearly visualize our future, we’re more likely to...

In March, Per Stirling team members gathered with neighbors and other volunteers at Brentwood Park for It’s My Park Day. This biannual event brings together volunteers from all walks of life to enhance our city’s green spaces. We were...

To paraphrase Sir John Templeton, “Bull markets are born in despair, grow in pessimism, mature in optimism, and die in euphoria”. Stock market declines can be a wonderful thing. It just does not feel like it when you are in the midst...

The month of January has traditionally been given some element of special consideration by more tactical investors for a variety of reasons. One of those is the so-called “January Barometer”, which holds that, as January goes, so goes...

Are You On Track to Retirement? Retirement might feel far away when you’re busy with kids, growing your career, or paying off a home, but creating a retirement savings strategy early can make all the difference. The sooner you begin,...

Download Outlook In the 1990s, political strategist James Carville offered one of the most colorful of all economic witticisms when he said: “I used to think that if there was reincarnation, I wanted to come back as the president or...

Financial independence isn’t about hitting a magic number. It’s about developing sustainable money management skills. Being able to budget smartly, avoid unnecessary debt, and consistently save for the future can establish healthy...

Download Outlook Economist Joseph Schumpeter is probably best known for his commentaries on “the gales of creative destruction”, a term which he used to describe the impact of the kind of essential innovations in strategic thinking and...

Although most of us recognize the importance of sound retirement planning, few of us embrace the nitty-gritty work involved. With thousands of investment possibilities, complex rules governing retirement plans, and so on, most people...

If you’re asking this question, you probably have a 401(k) or other retirement plan through a former employer. The short answer is yes — most retirement plans allow you to roll your plan funds over into an IRA after you’ve left your...

A couple of federal personal tax credits are available for the installation of certain energy efficient or clean energy property in your home. Expenditures must be for items that meet various energy efficiency standards (e.g., Energy...

A couple of federal personal tax credits are available for the installation of certain energy efficient or clean energy property in your home. Expenditures must be for items that meet various energy efficiency standards (e.g., Energy...

The Elephant in the Room We live in a world that is heavily influenced by macroeconomic factors and, whether it be the growing array of both current and potential future wars, the historically large stimulus programs in China, the...

This Thanksgiving season, we’re reminded of how grateful we are for you! Our success is built on your trust and partnership, and we’re honored to help you reach your goals. As we count our blessings, we count ourselves incredibly...

The answer depends first on your financial objectives and then on other factors that will influence those objectives. Trusts are frequently used to minimize estate taxes, get professional management of assets, and control funds while...

If you are 50 or older, or you will reach age 50 by the end of the year, you may be able to make contributions to your IRA or employer sponsored retirement plan above the normal contribution limit. Catch-up contributions are designed...

Simple Ways to Help Optimize Your Parents’ Budget

Steve Cartwright, CFP®

Thursday, November 7, 2024

This month’s topic was inspired by a recent “ah-ha” moment I had while reviewing my phone service plan and that of my parents. What started as a simple check on their plan led me to dig into their other monthly expenses, like cable and...

If you own a small business and you haven’t set up a retirement savings plan, what are you waiting for? A retirement plan can help you and your employees save on taxes while saving for the future. Tax advantages A retirement plan can...

Election Day is fast approaching, and there seems to be a growing consensus that the presidential election, in particular, could be the most important of our respective lifetimes. There is certainly some justification for this...

Handling your finances can be overwhelming. It can be hard to separate your money from emotions, potentially leading to issues such as overspending and ignoring debt. Many people also lack the knowledge and experience to make the most...

Does your ideal retirement include exploring new places, playing endless rounds of golf, or visiting family? Maybe you dream of starting a business or buying a second home. A fulfilling retirement can also mean enjoying a slower pace...

The Benefits of Custodial Roth IRAs: Setting Your Children Up for Financial Success

Steve Cartwright, CFP®

Wednesday, June 5, 2024

The Benefits of Custodial Roth IRAs: Setting Your Children Up for Financial Success The other day, I had a phone call with a long-time friend of mine from Louisiana. He was sharing a common parenting struggle: teaching his teenage son...

What’s on your schedule today? A Hike? Meeting up with friends? Spending time with your family? Working on all the books you bought but never read? Packing for your dream vacation? Retirement dreams often conjure images of endless...

Tis the season for everything Pumpkin Spice! From pumpkin spiced coffee and milk shakes, to candles and yes, trash bags. I can’t say that I’ve embraced the trend fully, but again I’ve never been one to turn down a tasty slice of...

Young Physicians: How Financially Prepared Are They?

Ronsey Chawla, MBA, CFP®

Wednesday, November 11, 2015

The insurance subsidiary of the American Medical Association recently published a study detailing the financial state of young physicians in America today, aptly titled “2015 Report on U.S. Physicians’ Financial Preparedness: Young...