Tag: Economy

Inflation Revisited

This edition of TGIF 2 Minutes originally ran on February 16, 2018 just after the (now) temporary 12% decline in the Dow Jones, which ended as a 6% decline for the month.

Typically, I do not get too far “into the weeds” of technical terms in my TGIF 2 Minutes messages. However – this has not been a typical last two weeks in the markets – at least not “typical” as defined by the past several years of gradually UP markets (and portfolios) month after month. Thus, a short walk into the weeds to talk a little about inflation is warranted – and may shed light on the volatility we have experienced lately with more likely to come over the next months and year or so.

Falcon Heavy 2-5
Photo by Jared Haworth, http://www.wehadtoday.com/jared

See this visual of a rocket launch* – and not just any rocket launch, the Falcon Heavy launch as photographed by a friend of mine with years of clearance for NASA rocket launches – as an appropriate comparison to what inflation can look like. Continue reading “Inflation Revisited”

Straw Hats in Winter

“TGIF 2 Minutes” was never meant to simply report current events. Rather, my intent is to highlight topics in personal finance – or a current topic – that affects your financial life and decision-making. BUT (there is always a “but”) certain pieces of news affect our mindset – both positively and negatively – and if I can comment on how to avoid letting the news sway you too far either way financially-speaking, then I believe it worth commenting!

federal-reserve

ECONOMIC TIMES ARE GOOD! This week the revised U.S. GDP report (the key measure of economic growth) revealed a strong, strong US economy. There is a reason I am mentioning this news as it relates to our mindset for making all sorts of major spending and savings decisions – decisions for us, our families and businesses in the short-term and longer-term.

Continue reading “Straw Hats in Winter”

Rocky Mountain High

As we sip our coffee and start our weekends or workdays there is a group of economists, Federal Reserve officials and finance ministers from the U.S. and around the world gathering in Jackson Hole, Wyoming for three days. Why is this worth mentioning?

Rocky Mountain

Continue reading “Rocky Mountain High”

Reflections From the Beach

Thank you to my friend and loyal reader, Bob, for the title of today’s edition. The idea of “reflection” came up last weekend while I was enjoying time in a wonderful Southern beach town where the restaurants and bars were full, the sidewalks hopping with people of all ages, the lovely (large) homes newly built or renovated, people enjoying relaxing time on the beach – even the dogs’ tails were wagging with joy! Times are GOOD in lots of places!

beach during sunset
Photo by b. on Pexels.com

These things are what we live for. These things also take planning and discipline – because good times come in cycles. Nearly everyone with whom I spent my weekend is engaged in a different and exciting line of work: from real estate finance, to “retired”, to the medical profession (both human and animal), to start-up tech… to owning or having sold their own businesses. Conversations were around “what’s next?” in terms of work, homes, vacations, kids’ camp, and kids’ college. Continue reading “Reflections From the Beach”

A Word on Inflation

Typically, I do not get too far “into the weeds” of technical terms in my TGIF 2 minutes messages. However – this has not been a typical last two weeks in the markets – at least not “typical” as defined by the past several years of gradually UP markets (and portfolios) month after month. Thus, a short walk into the weeds to talk a little about inflation is warranted – and may shed light on the volatility we have experienced lately with more likely to come over the next months and year or so.

Also, see this visual of a rocket launch* – and not just any rocket launch, the Falcon Heavy launch as photographed by a friend of mine with years of clearance for NASA rocket launches – as an appropriate comparison to what inflation can look like.

Falcon Heavy 2-5
Photo by Jared Haworth, http://www.wehadtoday.com/jared

Continue reading “A Word on Inflation”

Gut Check in Rocky Markets – 2018

Do we blame it on the Philadelphia Eagles winning the Super Bowl??  (just kidding- I am glad the underdogs won!)

From the archives of TGIF 2 minutes I found a very handy message – one that still holds true two years later for surviving the weakness we are currently experiencing in the stock and bond markets.  Here is the original article: click here. The title of the message was “‘Gut Check’ in Rocky Markets” (Jan. 2016).  As even as the most experienced savers and investors can tell you, down markets are not fun and they can be scary and stressful.  However, I try to remind my clients and friends NOT to allow short-term market moves (weekly, monthly, quarterly…even lasting the course of a year) to lead you to make poor decisions. Rather, make your investing decisions alongside a trusted adviser – and ideally far in advance of a market decline. (Hint: most of my clients can stop reading here and say “TGIF”.)

Market Correction
Source: Bloomberg Markets, February 8, 2018

Continue reading “Gut Check in Rocky Markets – 2018”

Let the Good Times Roll

“Let the good times roll.”  I am partial to this expression because my Dad used to say this a lot either as a toast or a statement when things were going well.

As I look at the last few years’ markets, the current economy and the lives and businesses of my clients the expression definitely applies.

Let the good times roll!

Concert

Continue reading “Let the Good Times Roll”

Even A Blind Squirrel…

Are you familiar with the saying, “Even a blind squirrel finds a nut every once in a while”?

The year of 2017 (and every year since 2009) in the stock markets could fall under this category – and prove dangerous to those not recognizing or admitting this reality.  In other words when the S&P 500, the index of the largest and most recognizable companies in America, rises every year (including dividends) for 9 years in a row (and was up over 13.5% in 6 out of those 9 years) we have been given a slightly false sense of security that investing is easy.

Stock Market

Continue reading “Even A Blind Squirrel…”

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”