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.

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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).  A 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.

Continue reading “The 4 Quadrants of Saving”

Market at Record High: 5 Theories

How about the recent article I read in The Wall Street Journal titled, “Why Do U.S. Stocks Keep Hitting Records? Here Are Five Theories.”* There are at least five reasons for the recent (mostly) strength in U.S. — and global — stocks. Based on historical returns, a nod toward cautious optimism is always healthy as well.  For my long-time readers, this means I will also reference “The Greatest Chart Ever”! Read on…

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Continue reading “Market at Record High: 5 Theories”

What Jordan Spieth Can Teach Us About Investing

For the non-golfers you may ask, “Who is Jordan Spieth?”  But like Michael Jordan and Derek Jeter, Jordan Spieth is one of those characters who nearly everyone now knows, golfer or not…sports fan or not.

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Jordan Spieth is, of course, the 23-year old professional golfer who is nearly topping the record books with his winning of three major professional golf tournaments before the age of 24.  His win at “The Masters” back in 2015 (at age 21) was almost as publicized as the Cubs winning the World Series.  At the end of that same season, he won the season-long (nearly 11 months) “FedEx Cup” which comes with a bonus of… $10 million. Continue reading “What Jordan Spieth Can Teach Us About Investing”

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.

Continue reading “Hawaii 5-0: A Clarification”

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.

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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”

Robo-Advisors: The Amazon of Investing

What is Robo-Advising?  And why would I call this article “The Amazon of Investing?”

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Last week saw the news of Amazon bidding for Whole Foods Market in an attempt to combine the earth-shattering capabilities of online with something as everyday as food shopping. In last week’s edition, I mentioned that there are far-reaching implications for a tech company bidding for a grocer.  One of these implications involves technology having moved full-force into the world of investing…and beyond. Continue reading “Robo-Advisors: The Amazon of Investing”

Balance Between Online and B&M Shopping

Very short note today due to various Father’s Day festivities, oh, and golf’s US Open with an exciting weekend ahead!

The news yesterday of Amazon looking to buy Whole Foods Market (home of “Whole Paycheck”) has a multitude of far-reaching aspects, all worth expanding upon in future “TGIF 2 minutes” editions. Continue reading “Balance Between Online and B&M Shopping”

On Other Than Politics, II

Here we go again…. Just three short weeks ago I wrote an article under a similar heading which led to positive feedback including relief and appreciation for the simpler things in life.

The article started,

“Trump, Comey, Mueller, Twitter, Fox News, CNN….it is all getting more than a bit chaotic.  Even the stock and bond markets jumped into the fray…”

This week is more of the same, but amidst the weighty, media-driven current events several key economic news items were released with decent implications for ours and our family’s financial lives:  namely HOUSING DATA and JOB NUMBERS. Continue reading “On Other Than Politics, II”

Marketing Insurance as an Investment to Young Adults

Every once in a while, there are topics in the realm of “investments” that pique my interest, or even cause me concern.  Over the past year or so one of these is the topic of marketing insurance as an investment to young people.

Young ProfessionalsFor those of you who watch college sports on TV — or at live games — you may have picked up on what I am talking about. Obviously, college sports, especially football and basketball, are BILLION dollar industries.  The industries surrounding the picking of teams and players are also beyond lucrative.  And the advertising opportunities on television and at live games are immense.  In walks my concern:  all or most of the major insurance companies have become primary, big dollar sponsors of either or all:

  • today’s college sports games,
  • the schools competing
  • the stations carrying coverage.

Continue reading “Marketing Insurance as an Investment to Young Adults”