The “Retail Trader” has become a story in 2020 with analysts trying to understand their exact impact on the market, and if he or she is the reason behind the elevated volatility and current relatively high valuation. The story originated with online brokers going to $0 commissions in the fall of 2019 and intensified this year, as the pandemic kept people at home with limited outlets for excess energy. The volume of retail trades increased from 137 billion in the 1st quarter to 264 billion in the 2nd quarter -…

The Most Important Election …. 2020 began with a hotly contested primary between a large field of traditional and more progressive candidates. Soon after former Vice President Biden secured the nomination, the novel Coronavirus interrupted the normal political process.  There have been almost no in-person events during the year and the candidates and their surrogates have waged media driven campaigns.  As with every election, passions are high, and many prognosticators warn that this is the most important election in the country’s history. While the political stakes are high, we do…

For the second consecutive year, Eagle Ridge raises funds for cancer research through participation in a Swim Across America event These times are filled with uncertainty, but one thing remains true: groundbreaking cancer research needs funding to save lives. Despite the enduring Global pandemic, Swim Across America Fairfield County forged ahead to “make waves to fight cancer.”  Rather than the traditional large group swim, this year’s participants completed a “Personal Challenge 2020” either individually or as part of a small group. Eagle Ridge and Team Wave Riders rose to the…

Eagle Ridge Investment Management, LLC is very pleased to announce that Lynn R. Najman, CFP® will be joining the firm as a Personal Financial Strategist. Lynn comes to Eagle Ridge after many years of successfully running her own firm, LRN Associates.  She will continue to be directly involved in client relationships, providing financial planning and portfolio management.  Additionally, Lynn looks forward to the added flexibility that working with a larger team will allow.  She plans to deepen her commitment to helping empower women through financial education and mentoring.  With more…

Two forces suggest that tax rates will increase in the coming years.  First, the economic impacts from the Coronavirus have caused fiscal budget deficits at the national and state/local levels to explode.  To prevent a deterioration in services, tax revenues will have to increase.  The second force pushing taxes higher is social: income and wealth disparities between the wealthy and poor have increased to levels not seen since the gilded age.  Many believe the way to correct this imbalance is to tax the wealthy at higher rates and distribute the…