The Signature Blog
Practical tips and resources on building your ideal life.
Choose a topic you need help with or scroll through the posts below and explore our approach to money and life.
January 2021 Market Update
Happy New Year, and welcome to 2021! I hope that this year brings to all of us less upheaval than the last. We were busy at the end of 2020, trying to reduce capital gains tax exposure for our clients. …
Read More
Navigating The Unpredictable in Your Retirement Routine
You wake up in the morning, get yourself a healthy breakfast, and sit down to check in on the daily news of our world. Even after leaving the workforce, our days and our lives still find a way to develop…
Read More
Market Update December 2020
November stock market returns were for the record books, as the S&P 500 rose nearly 12%, the Dow Jones Industrial Average had its best month since 1987, and the Russell 2000 was up 18% for its best month ever. The…
Read More
2020 Charitable Giving Guide
Giving builds positive change in people. It can also help lower your tax bill. Giving creates positive change in people and communities. It sustains a multitude of worthwhile organizations. It launches innovative new programs and services. Plus, it makes us…
Read More
Post-Election Market Update November 2020
Election Day has come and gone (my house is pleasantly quiet now that the political calls have stopped coming in!) and, although the results aren’t completely in, we have a much better feel for what government will probably look like…
Read More
Better Together: Essential Small Business Survival Tips for Right Now
The stunning beauty of a Maidenhair tree is matched only by its remarkable resilience to survive all sorts of environmental challenges that topple less hardy species. The tree agelessly defies strong winds, pollution, and drought. The secret of how a…
Read More
Market Update September 2020
There is a lot of buzz around IPOs recently, the initial public offering of privately held companies that are becoming publicly owned. It reminds me a lot of the IPO heyday of the late 1990s, which proved to be the…
Read More
The Top 7 Social Security Myths (and How To Get the Most from Your Hard-Earned Benefits)
Social Security seems simple. But this retirement benefit is in fact quite nuanced, with many variables to consider–including when to start collecting, how to maximize your benefit, and what to do if you choose to go back to work. Here,…
Read More
Market Update August 2020
Around my house, we’re starting to get ready–although very slowly–for the return to school for our kids. We love summer, so it’s a bit sad that it’s coming to a close. But, autumn is becoming my favorite season, since…
Read More
Why Rethinking Retirement Can Lead to a Healthier and Happier Life
Picture this… what’s the first thing that enters your mind with these words? Flower Friend Retirement Music Anyone can quickly imagine a flower, a friend or music. But, retirement? What does retirement look like? Most of us think about retirement…
Read More
Market Update July 2020
2020 is halfway over, and I hate to wish time away, but I think most folks are glad to see it over with. Remarkably, with all the turmoil, the S&P 500 closed out the first half with a loss of…
Read More
7 Critical Reasons a Financial Partner is the Key to Growth for Your Small Business
“Most small business owners decide to start a business because they love what they do. Typically, what they love doesn’t have anything to do with business tax structure, employee benefits, or employer regulations. I happen to love doing the things…
Read More
Market Update May 2020
I’ve seen a lot in 27 years in the investment business, but I don’t recall anything like this. This was one of the fastest, if not THE fastest, bear market declines in history, followed by one of the fastest…
Read More
Carla Souther Hauser Financial Services Joins Signature Wealth
Florence, SC – Signature Wealth Group (an independent organization aligned with Raymond James Financial Services, Inc., member FINRA/SIPC) has opened an additional office in North Wilkesboro, North Carolina that specializes in assisting long-term investors in creating comprehensive financial strategies. In early…
Read More
[ Podcast ] Seasons of Uncertainty, Side Hustle Advice, and a Real-life Approach to Retirement Planning, with Wes Gay
Join Chip Munn, CEO of Signature Wealth Group and Senior Wealth Advisor with RJFS as he interviews Wes Gay, CEO and Chief Guide of Wayfinder, a StoryBrand Certified Agency. Wes believes clarity is king. With it, he helps organizations reach…
Read More
Market Update April 2020
Man, what a month! March came in like a bear, and went out like a bear. It was one of the most astounding and frustrating markets I have ever dealt with in 27 years as a financial advisor/investment officer.…
Read More
[ Podcast ] Consulting in Retirement, When Leaving the Workforce Doesn’t Mean Quitting Work, With Gary England
Join Chip Munn, CEO of Signature Wealth Group and Senior Wealth Advisor with RJFS as he interviews Gary England, General Counsel and Human Resources Consultant. Gary considers himself “an HR guy who went to law school”, rather than…
Read More
A Crisis Is A Terrible Thing to Waste
I’ve been reading a book called, “The Road Less Stupid” by Keith J. Cunningham and the title of this blog is taken from one of his chapters. When I turned the page and saw those words, I had to stop…
Read More