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UNFILTERED FINANCE

This is a monthly podcast from Symmetry Partners focused on evidence-based insights, and perspectives, on markets, the economy, and investing.

 
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New Episodes


Screenshot 2024-01-09 at 11.10.16 AM

Welcome to the series finale! After more than six years, we are concluding the Unfiltered Finance podcast. It has been our sincere pleasure to inform both our investors, and financial advisors with this offering. Joining our host Tom Romano, for this proverbial curtain call, is Casey Dylan, Consultant from Story Market Services & the original host of Unfiltered Finance. We’ll be recalling some of our favorite memories, and discussing what this podcast has meant to the progression of our respective careers.

If you have any questions or would like more information, reach out to us at https://symmetrypartners.com/contact-us/


Recent Episodes


Global Market Volatility- Audiogram_Part2

Welcome to part two of our podcast episode - "Navigating Global Markets". Many investment professionals believe it is imperative for investors to globally diversify their portfolios, and not put all of their proverbial eggs into one basket. We are joined by Symmetry's Brendan Kruh, Investment Associate, to conclude our discussion on the necessity of global diversification in your investments.

If you have any questions or would like more information, reach out to us at https://symmetrypartners.com/contact-us/

Global Market Volatility- Title-1

With recent turmoil in the Middle East, the continued war in Ukraine, and global inflation, investors want their portfolios to feature more U.S. stocks. After all, domestic investments have performed well as of late. In this episode of Unfiltered Finance we are joined once again,  by Symmetry's Brendan Kruh, Investment Associate, for a discussion on the need for global diversification, even during the most tumultuous times.

 

If you have any questions or would like more information, reach out to us at https://symmetrypartners.com/contact-us/

Q3 Quarter in Review - Part 2 Audiogram - Social Media Post

Rising oil prices have animated market participant’s fears of reinvigorated inflation pressures, increasing the chances that the Federal Reserve will impose more interest rate hikes. Join Casey Dylan, CIMA®, Investment Communications Strategist (Consultant), and Tom Romano our Head of Strategic Relationships & Product Development, for a detailed recap of some notable market events from Q3 of this year.

Click here to watch the full quarterly review on YouTube

If you have any questions or would like more information, reach out to us at https://symmetrypartners.com/contact-us/


Q3 Quarter in Review - Part 1 - Audiogram

Markets were off to one of the best starts in decades during the first half of 2023—then came the third quarter. The Federal Reserve resumed increasing rates, bringing them to a 22-year high at the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) meeting at the end of July. This led to ongoing elevated interest rates through August, pushing bond yields higher and challenging lofty equity valuations. In this episode, Casey Dylan, CIMA®, Investment Communications Strategist (Consultant), and Tom Romano our Head of Strategic Relationships & Product Development, will provide timely insights, and analysis, on market activity from around the world this financial quarter. We will also discuss what this could mean for long-term term investors.

Click here to watch the full quarterly review on YouTube

If you have any questions or would like more information, reach out to us at https://symmetrypartners.com/contact-us/


Dejavualloveragain- Part 2 - Audiogram

"KEEP CALM AND CARRY ON." Not only is this a beloved motto, it's also a great rule of thumb for maintaining your portfolio allocations. Once again, we are joined by Symmetry's Brendan Kruh, Investment Associate, and Eide Bailly Wealth’s Brett Myer, CFA, CIMA®, Investment Strategy Director. In this second of two episodes, we'll be discussing why you should maintain growth and value positions during periods of market instability.

If you have any questions or would like more information, reach out to us at https://symmetrypartners.com/contact-us/


Deja Vu All Over Again_PartOne_Thumbnail

Once again, investors are faced with the same debate. Should I invest my money in large scale growth companies (e.g. Apple, Google), or, should I keep faith in the little guy and invest in some smaller companies (that seem poised to grow over time)? In this episode of Unfiltered Finance, we are thrilled to host not just one, but two special guests; our very own Brendan Kruh, Investment Associate, and Eide Bailly Wealth’s Brett Myer, CFA, CIMA®, Investment Strategy Director. Together, we’ll discuss present trends around both value stocks and growth stocks. Spoiler alert, it’s a more complex topic than you might think.

If you have any questions or would like more information, reach out to us at https://symmetrypartners.com/contact-us/


Evidence-Based Investing_Part2- Audiogram

There is risk involved in trying to time markets. We believe it's best to apply multiple decades of research when making investment decisions. Today we are joined by Symmetry's Dr. John B. McDermott, Executive Director of Investments, to conclude our discussion about Evidence-Based investing. This episode will feature a detailed overview of the resources available to investors (who are curious to learn more) and the academic professionals who have helped to develop this investment strategy over decades of time.

If you have any questions or would like more information, reach out to us at https://symmetrypartners.com/contact-us/


Evidence-Based Investing - Dont Depend on Guesswork Thumbnail

Welcome back! This week, we work to define evidence-based investing, and explain some of the potential benefits of using this strategy. In part one of this two-part episode, our own Tom Romano, Head of Strategic Relationships and Product Development, is joined by Dr. John B. McDermott, Executive Director of Investments, for a historical retrospective on this fastidious investment approach.

If you have any questions or would like more information, reach out to us at https://symmetrypartners.com/contact-us/


Q2 2023 Quarter in Perspective - Part 2 - Social Media Post copy

In this final installment discussing Q2 of 2023, we dive into current events, and their potential effects on the Stock Market. Our hosts, Tom Romano, Head of Strategic Relationships & Product Development and Casey Dylan, CIMA®, Consultant sit down for a discussion of the "magnificent seven" growth stock winners, the current state of inflation, interest rates, heavily tilted tech stocks, changes among international markets, and the recent repeal of the Black Sea grain deal by Russia.

Click here to watch the full Quarter-in-Perspective

If you have any questions or would like more information, reach out to us at https://symmetrypartners.com/contact-us/


Q2 2023 Quarter in Perspective - Part 1

Despite a somewhat lackluster April and May, equities markets ended one of the better first halves of a year in quite some time by the end of June. The Nasdaq, S&P 500, and Dow were up 32.32%, 16.89%, and 4.94% for the year, respectively. It was the Nasdaq’s best first half of a year since 1983, primarily due to growth in tech stocks driven by the surge in artificial intelligence. In this first of two parts, we discuss quarterly returns for Q2 2023. Casey Dylan, CIMA®, Consultant, and Tom Romano, Head of Strategic Relationships and Product Development, will provide timely insights and analysis on what happened in markets and economies around the world in the second quarter and what this means for long-term term investors.

Click here to watch the full Quarter-in-Perspective on YouTube.

If you have any questions or would like more information, reach out to us at https://symmetrypartners.com/contact-us/


Women Investors - Part 2 - The Importance of Financial Planning

Today we conclude our discussion on women investors from AdvisorFest 2023. Symmetry's Andrea Loin, Associate Director of Marketing, leads a discussion along with financial advisors Diana Bacon, CFP®, CDFA®, MBA, and Joyce Bloomquist, CDFA® of Apella Wealth, on some of the critical factors, and life experiences, that should be incorporated into a woman's financial plan.

View our presentations from AdvisorFest 2023 here!

If you have any questions or would like more information, reach out to us at https://symmetrypartners.com/contact-us/


Women Investors - Second Social Media Pic
Two weeks ago, we held another successful AdvisorFest, an annual, week-long live-streaming event where we cover some of the most pressing issues Financial Advisors are facing today. We'd like to share one of those presentations with you today. In part one of this special episode on women investors, our very own Andrea Loin, Associate Director of Marketing, leads a discussion along with financial advisors Diana Bacon, CFP®, CDFA®, MBA, and Joyce Bloomquist, CDFA® of Apella Wealth. We’ll discuss some cautionary tales that can help investors learn which mistakes to avoid on their financial journey. We hope you find this episode to be insightful. Enjoy.
 
 

If you have any questions or would like more information, reach out to us at https://symmetrypartners.com/contact-us/


Fees and Transparency - Part Two - Audiogram
Financial Advisors don't work for free. Depending on how their practice is structured, investors will be charged an assortment of fees for a financial advisor's services. In this episode of Unfiltered Finance, we are joined by JT Lavery, Symmetry's Associate Director of National Sales, to discuss how fees are structured and how advisors can work to be transparent with their clientele.
 

If you have any questions or would like more information, reach out to us at https://symmetrypartners.com/contact-us/


Alternative Investments - Part Two Thumbnail
Alternative Investments are not just "cool" or intriguing products to own. In truth, they have the potential to help you endure tumultuous markets. In this episode, we are joined once again by Philip McDonald, CFA, CAIA, Managing Director of Research Investments & Portfolio Manager, to discuss how Alternative Investments can mitigate risk in your portfolio.
 

If you have any questions or would like more information, reach out to us at https://symmetrypartners.com/contact-us/


Alternative Investments - Part One-1
Today, we talk about an area of the market that many people have heard of, but haven’t chosen to invest in as of yet. Specifically, we’re talking about Alternative Investments - investment strategies that are different from, and diversifying to, traditional asset classes. In the first half of this two-part episode, our own Tom Romano is joined by Symmetry’s Phil McDonald, CFA, CAIA, Managing Director of Research Investments & Portfolio Manager, to further define what Alternative Investments are, and why you may want to consider their potential benefits.
 

If you have any questions or would like more information, reach out to us at https://symmetrypartners.com/contact-us/


SM_Posting_Q1 2023_Part2_Year In Perspective_Podcast Cover copy
Stories of historically atypical interest rate hikes, and multiple bank failures, concerned many advisors in the early days of 2023. Join us for the second (and final) part of our discussion with Casey Dylan, CIMA®, Consultant, and the host of Unfiltered Finance, Tom Romano, Head of Strategic Relationships, as we discuss some of the more prominent news events, and their effects, during Q1 of this year.
 

If you have any questions or would like more information, reach out to us at https://symmetrypartners.com/contact-us/


Q1 2023 Year In Perspective_Podcast Cover
The sudden failure of Silicon Valley Bank in March jostled investors' confidence in the market. But, the overall performance of various tech stocks in Q1, such as Tesla, Meta, Alphabet, Amazon, Salesforce, AMD, and Broadcom, served to revive optimism for the stock market's near future. Join Casey Dylan, CIMA®, Consultant, and our host Tom Romano, Head of Strategic Relationships and Product Development, in this first half of of our Q1 recap, as we discuss both market, and factor performance, in the first few months of 2023.
 

If you have any questions or would like more information, reach out to us at https://symmetrypartners.com/contact-us/


Choosing the Right Financial Advisor_Part 2_Thumbnail
Not all financial advisors are created equally. Some have certified credentials, some charge their clients fees, and others may get paid on commission (if they offer investment products). In part two of this podcast episode, our own Tom Romano, Head of Strategic Relationships and Product Development, is joined by Symmetry’s Michael Storer, Senior Regional Director, and a financial advisor from our sister firm, Apella Wealth, Peter Leppones, CFP®, to discuss the important credentials of, and differences between, financial advisors. 
 

If you have any questions or would like more information, reach out to us at https://symmetrypartners.com/contact-us/


Choosing the Right Financial Advisor
As financial professionals, we’re often asked one simple question: “do you know what I should buy right now?” In truth, we don’t believe it’s possible to successfully predict market behaviors most of the time. But, we do believe that a qualified financial advisor can help you devise a plan for long-term success. In this episode of Unfiltered Finance, our own Tom Romano, Head of Strategic Relationships and Product Development, is joined by Symmetry’s Michael Storer, Senior Regional Director, and a financial advisor from our sister firm, Apella Wealth, Peter Leppones, CFP®, to answer a more important question: “what should you consider when choosing a financial advisor?”
 

If you have any questions or would like more information, reach out to us at https://symmetrypartners.com/contact-us/


Reducing Your Tax Bill Part 2
In our last episode, we discussed the importance of a portfolio’s asset allocation, and, how that relates to “Reducing Your Tax Bill”. In part two of this episode, we are joined once again by Symmetry’s Managing Director of Research and Investments, Philip McDonald, CFA, CAAIA & Glenn Shirley, CAIA, Head of Investor Relations for Quantinno Capital Management, to discuss the methods by which you can “re-charge that tax benefit”.
 

If you have any questions or would like more information, reach out to us at https://symmetrypartners.com/contact-us/


Reducing Your Tax Bill
The “Tax-Man” cometh! As this tax season proceeds ever forward, many investors are asking themselves the same question - “am I going to take a large tax-hit this year?” We cannot say how much you’ll be taxed on your present investments. But, we believe it’s possible to structure your portfolio in a manner that mitigates tax-loss, and, leaves more money in your respective pockets. Joining us today is Philip McDonald, CFA, CAIA, Symmetry’s Managing Director of Research and Investments & Glenn Shirley, CAIA, Head of Investor Relations for Quantinno, to explain how investors can more effectively structure their portfolios and avoid an excess of taxation.
 

If you have any questions or would like more information, reach out to us at https://symmetrypartners.com/contact-us/


About Symmetry Partners

Founded in 1994 by financial advisors for financial advisors, Symmetry offers a complete business solution with best-of-breed, Evidence-Based investment strategies, including PrecisionCore ETF Models and Panoramic Funds & Models. To help Advisors deliver a better client experience, we also provide marketing, technology and operational consulting and support.


For Financial Professionals: Symmetry Partners, LLC is an investment advisory firm registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm only transacts business in states where it is properly registered, or excluded or exempted from registration requirements. All data is from sources believed to be reliable but cannot be guaranteed or warranted. Past performance is not indicative of future results. No one should assume that future performance of any specific investment strategy, product, or non-investment related content made reference to directly or indirectly in this material will be profitable. Please note that you should not assume that any discussion or information contained on this website serves as the receipt of, or as a substitute for, personalized investment advice from Symmetry Partners.