Category: College Saving

When You Don’t Win A National Championship

We have all been there. Whether it is not getting the promotion or appointment to the C-suite, not hitting the jackpot with a start-up company investment or hedge fund or not reaching a savings goal in order to buy a fancy new car or retire by a certain year. We miss winning our own, personal “national championship”.

The keys to recovery are resilience and focus (2 weeks ago’s TGIF 2 Minutes talked about focus, as well). In Atlanta this past Monday, resilience and focus were on display in the CFP National Football Championship between Notre Dame and Ohio State, as well as an economic mismatch… but more about the economic mismatches of college sports in another edition.

As for resilience and focus, these two concepts figure heavily into personal finance, saving and investing.

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The Markets Are UP

At this time of the year, clients and friends love asking the question, “What do you think of the markets?” Long ago, I learned not to answer with what I believe the markets will do – because no one knows for certain what the markets will do – but rather to respond with a handful of “data points” about what events are taking place currently and what near-future events truly figure in to investor expectations.

So far this year, markets are UP. To be exact, in the first 11 trading days of 2025 the markets have been up, down and then up. On balance markets are UP 1% to 1.5% year-to-date with small companies marginally leading the way. Small companies tend to be more volatile and react positively when there is perceived value in stock prices.

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Optimism & Caution Wrap Up 2024

Anything could have happened in 2024. The uncertainties were immense:

  • Outcome of the US Presidential election
  • Trajectory of US interest rates and inflation
  • At least two active wars with an element of US involvement
  • Trajectory of US stocks in this environment
  • The US Fed’s interest rate policy (did I say interest rates twice?)
  • Numerous other personal and world economic and social events.

The results – to date – in several of these categories have been positive or on-the-way-to-becoming-positive.

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Top of Mind Issues in US Presidential Transition

Today’s edition could be a risky one to write, as anything related to the recent US Presidential election can stir up division. BUT – there are a healthy handful of issues that unite all Americans. These issues, ironically, are similar to those facing the 2016 version of President-Elect Trump.

Below are excerpts (in italics) from a November 2016 edition of TGIF 2 Minutes with thoughts on updates for 2024 (in bold) –

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Fraud is Trending

If you clicked on and are reading this edition of TGIF 2 Minutes, give yourself credit for being smart! Awareness of the following is of paramount importance.

Fraudsters are targeting high-net-worth people and non-profit organization accounts.

A “fraud trend” (yes, there is such a thing) currently taking place is with bad actors using social engineering tactics to collect personal information and then using that information to open new credit card, investment, and bank accounts in a person or organization’s name. The fraudster then attempts to use these new, false accounts to take over high net worth people’s existing accounts and withdraw those accounts’ funds.

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Greatest Chart Ever 2024

It’s time for “The Greatest Chart Ever”, updated for 2024.

Please make sure the chart above shows on your screen! If not, please ask me to email you a copy.

Long-time TGIF 2 Minutes readers know this particular chart truly is a great chart* with data illustrating reasons to invest in stocks – and stay invested – for the short-, intermediate- and especially long-term. The information focuses on US stocks, namely the S&P 500, and lends to globally diversified stock investing, as well.

“The Greatest Chart Ever” offers needed perspective in times of volatility and uncertainty. Over a period of more than 40 years of intra-year stock market performance, the chart illustrates valid reasons NOT to allow short-term market moves (monthly, quarterly – or even yearly) to lead to poor investment decisions. Why? Please read on.

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Kids Driving Cars & Inflation

Most kids (over the age of 20) of my friends and clients have cars, but a handful of the most resourceful ones do not. OR, by necessity and affordability of car insurance, certain kids – in discussions with parents – have made the smart decision to forego owning a car until a future date. This situation may continue to happen especially in families, even wealthier families, with multiple kids under the age of 25.

Car insurance is expensive and becoming more so. The number of uninsured drivers (why is that even legal?) ramps up the cost of car insurance for all – even drivers with impeccable driving records. In addition, lingering inflation is contributing to exorbitant increases in auto insurance premiums.

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Beyond the Magnificent Seven

It’s summer and it’s HOT. Today’s will be a short and sweet edition of TGIF 2 Minutes.

The title for today was almost simply, “Beyond the Magnificent”. But a quick note on the “Magnificent Seven“ is in order.

The seven companies are, of course, Amazon, Apple, Meta (Facebook), Microsoft, Nvidia, and Tesla. This week – and the past several weeks – have seen volatility and shifts of short-term leadership in the stock markets from the Magnificent Seven growth companies to smaller and more value-oriented ones.

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Elections, Debates & Markets

As this edition of TGIF 2 Minutes was written prior to the first US Presidential debate, one piece of the “proof” will already be in the pudding for readers post-debate on Friday morning. Though not much should matter to markets related to the debate.

For the sake of thought and discussion elections can matter to stock and bond markets in the short- to intermediate-term. Debates – and State of the Union speeches – may (and may not) matter in the short-term as well. Big-picture policies like taxes, healthcare (drug prices and insurance coverage), social security, Medicare policy, government spending and more… these are all mentioned in presidential debates and speeches.

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Mid-Year & Critical Decisions

Mid-Year is an important time to review several significant saving and spending decisions, possibly affecting taxes too. There are slightly over 6 months remaining in the tax year – enough time to make a meaningful difference. Consider:

  • Amounts being deferred from compensation pre- or post-tax into 401k and other retirement accounts (and whether to max out?)
  • Savings goals versus reality
  • Savings goals in need of formation from scratch
  • College savings account contributions
  • Creating and funding Trusts

These and other important decisions can be evaluated and adjusted with just over half a year remaining to accomplish goals or mini-goals.

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