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.

market update

February 2022 Market Update

January was a rough month for stocks, as the S&P 500 index of large, U.S. stocks was down more than 5%.  That was the worst start for the index since 2009.  That’s an ominous start–historically there is some correlation between…

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Making a career pivot

FAMILY & LIFESTYLE Need to change jobs? Read five tips to help you redesign your work life. The past year led many of us to reflect on a tough question: Am I doing what I really want to be doing,…

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market update

January 2022 Market Update

Happy New Year! I hope 2022 is off to a good start for you. I am optimistic that it will be a great year! My indicators are still positive for the stock market and the economy. We are enjoying loose…

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Helping You Plan Today For The Tomorrow You Envision

Longevity is here to stay. But it’s quality – not just quantity – of life that truly matters. Fortunately, we’re here to help you with both. According to the World Health Organization, global average life expectancy has risen by more…

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Market Update

December 2021 Market Update

At the end of November and in early December volatility has bounded back into financial markets.  A couple of reasons have been cited for this, namely the introduction of the new COVID variant, Omicron, and recent comments by Federal Reserve…

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signature wealth strategies market update

October 2021 Market Update

October has gotten off to a rocky start, as concerns of government shutdowns, COVID, debt ceilings, inflation, supply chains, and infrastructure bills have dominated the news.  While all of these certainly can create volatility, I believe that stocks will continue…

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market update

September 2021 Market Update

Summer is officially winding down, but you’d never know it from all the heat and storms we’ve had. The very low volumes on the New York Stock Exchange recently are a reminder of all of the investment professionals that are…

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retired couple sitting on beach

“Retirement Rules”: Why You Shouldn’t Wait to Start Living the Life You Deserve

If you could retire from work today, what would you do with your time? Would you travel, spend more time with your families, volunteer or pursue a favorite hobby? Well, what if I told you that you could do all of…

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Market Update

July 2021 Market Update

Amazingly, the year is already halfway over. It’s been full of events so far: a new President, battling COVID, vaccinating for COVID, Tom Brady winning another Super Bowl, meme “stonks,” genetically modified mosquitos (yikes!), and the gas pipeline hack and…

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Real estate investing

Home, Sweet Home(s): Investing in Real Estate

In his celebrated 1822 song, Home, Sweet Home, playwright John Howard Payne profoundly and firmly holds his own home as a more revered spot than a royal palace (even if the said home is a “lowly thatched cottage”). While you…

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Signature Wealth Market Update

May 2021 Market Update

There has been an impressive rotation out of technology stocks and into industrial, basic materials, and financial stocks in 2021, and the first couple of weeks of May have seen that rotation continue. Basically, the stocks that outperformed in 2020…

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Preparing for loss with a living will

Inspiring Confidence: Persevering Financially After the Loss of a Loved One

Many of us don’t want to think about our own mortality, much less that of those we hold dear. But death is something we all will face eventually — and sadly, it can happen at any moment. While the topic…

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Market Update

April 2021 Market Update

The first quarter has wrapped up, with the S&P 500 finishing higher by nearly 6%, making it the fourth consecutive quarter of positive returns for the index. The underlying stocks remain very strong with almost all of S&P 500 stocks…

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selling a business essential checklist

The Essential Checklist for Selling Your Business

Congratulations! The due diligence is done, and you and the buyer are satisfied with the deal. You’re getting ready to schedule a closing date where you and the buyer, along with your advisors and other professionals, will dot the i’s…

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market-update

March 2021 Market Update

February saw stock markets regain their footing, as optimism over vaccinations, stimulus, and loose monetary policy propelled markets higher.  The S&P 500, a broad measure of the stock market, was up nearly 3%, and small-company stocks rose even more.  Volatility…

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Social Security benefits age timeline with Early vs. Late Social Security election

When It Comes Time To Claim Social Security, Do You Know All of Your Options?

You know Social Security and retirement go hand in hand, but do you realize just how important it is to make the right claiming decisions? One Social Security misstep could leave you missing out on hundreds of thousands of dollars…

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Florence Office Opening Party

Signature Wealth Strategies Celebrates 5 Years of Expansion across the Southeast

Florence, South Carolina, February 5, 2021 — Signature Wealth Strategies (SWS) is marking its fifth anniversary this week by recognizing the dedicated service of its employees and branch offices and by taking time to reflect on the massive growth that…

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Market Update

February 2021 Market Update

After a pretty lethargic January (the S&P 500 was down about 1%), stock indices have rocketed upward so far in February.  The big news over the past few weeks has been the wild ride of some heavily-shorted stocks, although a…

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