Like it or not, the Federal Reserve's actions (and sometimes just words) hold tremendous sway over the stock market and the economy. Their influence over the markets birthed the saying, “Don’t fight the Fed.” Recently, they released a statement about what they believe to be the future of their monetary policy in support of their stated goals: maximum employment and price stability. This post will examine what it means to investors in the coming year.

My wife turned to me and said, “I wouldn’t know what to do if you died.” I had just gotten off the phone with my father who was simultaneously mourning the sudden loss of his brother and trying to sort out his finances. Talk about a wakeup call.

With so much recent focus on this country’s all-too-regular debt ceiling drama, I want to spend a moment to make a proclamation: debt is not a bad thing.

A football coach will meticulously prepare a game plan for their upcoming opponent to ensure that every situation is accounted for. In that same vein, your finances deserve the same attention with focus on the fundamentals.