Month: March 2019

Tax Time… The Home Stretch

With it nearing the “home stretch” of tax time – probably most people’s least favorite time of the year – I figured I would pass along a couple of things that have helped take the edge off and keep me smiling. The caveat: everyone’s sense of humor differs, so what makes me laugh may or may not make you laugh.

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Free Solo, Greenwich Entertainment, 2018

The Movies. A cool way to “get away from it all” can be either to go to the movies or rent a movie at home – or binge-watch TV which has become more and more popular. Under the topic of movies, a well-done documentary can be especially funny or entertaining.

  • “FREE SOLO” – Recently this film deservedly won the Oscar for Best Documentary. The story of rock-climbing the world’s tallest and most dangerous rock walls – without ropes. Totally fascinating, breathtaking… and painful all at the same time.

Continue reading “Tax Time… The Home Stretch”

Is Good Boring?

Does it seem to you that with the stock market rebound since late December that you feel “good” or “better” today than you felt in early January?

If you DO feel good, that “good” feeling today may not be as strong as the “pain” you felt in January following December’s big decline.

If you do NOT feel “good” or “better” today, is it attributable to the markets? (Unlikely) A job or the economy? Family? The political environment?

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The reason I ask is that good and bad feelings – especially related to the stock markets – come and go. However, extensive research* says that “bad” or “painful” times are felt more strongly than “good” times. Maybe good is boring but I would rather have good than bad. Continue reading “Is Good Boring?”

Happy 10th Anniversary?

“10th Anniversary of what?” you may ask. Well, it appears you are not the only one in a state of ignorant bliss – no offense intended! I thought it may have been a bigger deal in the news, but very little has been written or reported about this 10-year milestone.

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Photo by PhotoMIX Ltd. on Pexels.com

Newsflash: Things are (mostly) GOOD in the economy, businesses and peoples’ financial lives in the US these days. Don’t take my word for it. Just this week The Wall Street Journal ran an article leading with: “The job market doesn’t get much better than this.”* The title of the article was, “Inside the Hottest Job Market in Half a Century.” Wages on average in the US are rising modestly after “long-term stagnation” (their words not mine), and unemployment is the lowest in 50 years – with women experiencing some of the greatest gains in workforce participation.

BUT – it was 10 years ago this weekend on March 9, 2009 that the US stock market hit its low, with the S&P 500 index ominously touching 666, only to settle around 2750 this week. Ten years ago, the US (and global) economy was in “The Great Recession” and it was ugly. But then, yes, the S&P 500 took its time and has risen in value over four (4) times in roughly 10 years. There have been a few bumps – amidst higher interest rates – but stocks in the US and globally are materially higher which has created and grown wealth along the way. Continue reading “Happy 10th Anniversary?”

Tuning Out the Noise

Time for a short video – literally 2 minutes!

Even if you listen only to the first 60 seconds you will get the message. Therein is about 10 seconds of a crazed voice you may have heard on TV of a host shouting stock picks –but then you will be rewarded in the final 30 seconds when you may want to play the video over and over for a bit of “peace.” Turn up the volume, follow the bouncing dot and read along.

Less than two minutes. (Click below.)

 

 

Continue reading “Tuning Out the Noise”