Quadrant #2 of Saving: Personal Vision

Last week we explored Quadrant #1 of Saving, or Personal Vision.  This week we take the next step beyond vision to build a portfolio that attempts to bring the vision to life… at some point in the future.

portfolio

This is what “Quadrant #2 of Saving” is all about:  Building a Portfolio.

Unfortunately, this step is often mistakenly addressed first (prior to the vision step) by investors and less-qualified advisers alike.  Why?  Because the portfolio is the part everyone likes to talk about!  Of course, the portfolio is essential; but success depends first on Quadrant #1 and addressing the “Commonly Overlooked” items (see last week’s edition).  plan must be in place to build the savings that go into the portfolio — no savings, no portfolio. Continue reading “Quadrant #2 of Saving: Personal Vision”

The 4 Quadrants of Saving

What are you saving your money for??  Or maybe I should take a step back and ask, ARE you saving?
Saving
Life is a lot easier with savings in the bank (no ####, Sherlock).  However, the act of getting around to saving money may be one of the hardest tasks to achieve in life.  It can help first to figure out for what — and when and with whom — would we even save in the first place?  Accumulating savings can be much more attainable after asking yourself these questions.  From here, a “savings plan” can begin to form.

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Hawaii 5-0: A Clarification

Clarification:

I received a number of inquiries regarding my comment highlighted below in green.  

  • The reason I said, “…I am working on ALL of them except #3 & #4…” is because I was able to achieve #3 — maxing out on retirement contributions to a 401k and IRA — long ago in my late 20’s.  Being able to achieve this goal was often at great sacrifice involving less leisure travel, not owning car for the first 10 years after college, and choosing small (VERY small – and cheaper) apartments in New York City.  I have remained committed to maxing out my retirement contributions over the years into the present and I pass along this advice to “max out” at every appropriate opportunity.

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Hawaii 5-0

Turning the “Big 5-0” is something that can be celebrated or dreaded.  For me, I chose celebration — in Hawaii just recently!  I truly believe that life keeps getting better with the turning of every year.  Perhaps someday the experience will change, but so far so good.

hawaii

Various milestones whether it be reaching a certain age, job position (change/ promotion/ retirement), family stature (marriage/ parent/ grandparent), or even sporting achievements…deserve to be recognized. Then, along with recognition comes reflection. Of course, for me, having chosen to manage peoples’ financial lives as a profession, reflecting a great deal on the future comes naturally.  My husband may even say that I drive him nuts “reflecting” on the things we need to be doing today and over the next 10-15 years to make retirement a reality. Continue reading “Hawaii 5-0”

Don’t Dismiss Reverse Mortgages Outright

“No way.”  That is the #1 response I hear around the topic of reverse mortgages.

reverse_mortgageBut we are coming to the end of tax time — when the idea of having access to a little extra cash would come in real handy!  At some point in our lives sooner or more likely later — due to needing to pay for healthcare, caring for an aging parent, investing in a business or simply wanting a more secure “cushion” or “rainy day fund” — we will seek out ways to get our hands on more cash.

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Warren Buffett Letter 2017

What a week for people named Warren and Trump.  Did you catch the Oscars Best Picture mix-up with Warren Beatty??  The bottom line for me was: when you are unsure whether you understand something important, ask.

Exclusive Portraits Of Berkshire Hathaway Inc. Chief Executive Officer Warren Buffett

As for people named Warren Buffett this week yielded yet another annual letter of wisdom and perspective from the “Oracle of Omaha”.  Striking was that Mr. Buffett’s letter reflected several similar sentiments (some not) to those expressed by Mr. Trump in his Presidential address to Congress on Tuesday evening. Another week in America. Not always perfect but still good–even great.   Continue reading “Warren Buffett Letter 2017”

Caring for Aging Parents

Grandma moving in??  Traveling to help mom and dad from time to time? Sharing tasks with your siblings to help out your parents?

Elderly Parents

“Caring for Aging Parents” is an emotional and involved topic that takes FAR longer than 2 minutes to cover.  However, it is a critical topic and one that comes up daily in my conversations with friends and clients. Think about it: how many times have you been part of this conversation in the past several months alone… among friends/family?? I bet more than once!

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Money and Therapy

Money and Therapy.  Two things that people may love or hate talking and thinking about.  However, among other things in life, money and therapy help.  

The NumberHere is where I am going with this.  Recently I read a must-read book for young and old, wealthy or building wealth, married or single.  Anyone who wants to have a “life” someday…or even have a life NOW.  The book is called The Number* and was written by Lee Eisenberg nearly 10 years ago, but it reads like he wrote it yesterday.

Here are some of the titles of the chapters:

  • “Welcome to Numberland”
  • “Debt Warp”
  • “Alone at Sea”
  • “Covering Your Assets” (nice play on words)
  • “Night Sweats”
  • “Deep Breathing”
  • “Bottom Lines”

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Gut Check in Rocky Markets – 2016

In times of stock market weakness – like we are seeing over the past month – we can tend to get scared.  We are human.  However, I stress to my clients and friends NOT to allow short-term market moves (monthly, quarterly…even yearly) to lead to poor decisions.  Why?  Please read on…

The following chart reads like a cartoon so not to worry that I am sending you a complicated graph.  The RED DOTS = how much the market went down sometime during each year.  The BLUE LINES = where the market finished at the end of the year.

Greatest Chart Ever

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Gut Check in Rocky Markets

Have you asked yourself lately…

  • “Is this the ‘Big Dip’ in the markets they have warned about?”
  • “Should I be selling my stocks?”
  • “Should I be selling my bonds?”

Although I stress to clients and friends NOT to listen to the Talking Heads on TV, radio & internet—and then make rash investment decisions – when these media personalities comment on dramatic market moves (they LOVE down markets for hype), we are human!  It is nearly impossible to ignore completely what is going on daily in the markets.  And the stock markets have crept down a bit over the past few weeks. Continue reading “Gut Check in Rocky Markets”