Month: June 2020

The Corona Purchase

This past week, at a neighbor’s drive-by 11-year old birthday gathering, I learned a new term: The Corona Purchase. The term refers to money spent on a larger one-time purchase amidst the sadness of being forced to stay home for the past three months. The concept also confirms an observation mentioned in a recent edition of TGIF 2 Minutes about families experiencing lower spending overall the past several months – so therefore possibly accumulating extra savings here and there.

Items reported to have been purchased or installed include:

  • Cars
  • Boats
  • Home gyms
  • Swimming pools (think: kids missing swim teams)
  • Outdoor landscaping
  • Small- and medium-sized home remodeling projects.
close up photography of white poodle
“Corona Purchases” may have added value to a home or saved money or monthly expenses in the long-term (in the case of a home gym) which is positive.

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Check Your Beneficiaries

Another quick note this week – but important!

Whatever, whoever you want to call them: Beneficiaries, “Bennys”, Heirs… make sure to check who is listed as Beneficiary or Beneficiaries on your retirement accounts, insurance policies, IRAs or in your Will (if you have a Will).*

Inevitably, time flies. Loved ones pass away or important loved ones, well, change. (Think: divorce, relationship changes). On the positive side, new beneficiaries, or heirs, are born or enter the picture! In the busy-ness of life, often the accuracy of beneficiaries goes unchecked.

angelic statue and sunset scenery
NO ONE enjoys talking about their death, but bottom line, after your death, it is too late to change beneficiaries.

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Silver Lining to Spending

Quick note for your weekend thoughts.

As difficult as it has been to find a silver lining to the pandemic, there have been one or two recurring themes that could be classified as positive, or at least opportunistic. One theme is that a fair number of people with whom I have spoken have reported far lower overall (or at least discretionary) spending in the past couple of months compared to “normal” times. Think:

  • Going out to dinner & drinks
  • Travel… whether weekend or vacations
  • Hair color & hair cuts
  • Nail salons
  • Massage & spa appointments/memberships
  • Traditional Gym memberships
  • Kids’ camps & activities
blue and white sorry we re closed wooden signage
As long as we are stuck with the coronavirus for a little while longer, there are ways to use this time to come out on the other side smarter and more aware of spending

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Portfolios & Mental Health – Part 2

Re-running this edition due to popular demand… Younger and less experienced investors (new college grads, younger workers buying a first home or saving in a 401k for the first time) can especially benefit by learning these steps, but really anyone can be better off:

If anything has been important since mid-February 2020 it has been being mentally strong and resilient – or having friends and family who are mentally strong to lean on. Believe it or not, this has nearly always been the case with investing.

green typewriter on brown wooden table
Pay attention to the present moment while knowing it is necessary that you and your adviser also consider the long-term.

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