The past several weeks has seen the first pandemic in the era of social media. The last H1N1 Influenza pandemic was in 2009. In 2009, Facebook was young (founded 2004) and Twitter was in its infancy (founded 2006).
In addition to a handful of other major factors, the Covid-19 coronavirus is descending on the planet during: a US Presidential election year, a high-level fight over oil between the Saudis and Russia AND immediately following an almost 11-year UP stock market in the US.
What Emoji are you feeling these days when it comes to your financial life? Recall that an “emoji” is that little character that expresses an emotion using the keys on your computer or phone keyboard. Happiness, joy, confusion or sadness… there’s an emoji for it all. But just because the markets have been mostly joy … :o) … does not mean that your financial life is all joy and satisfaction. 
(That is the “uncertainty/confused” emoji.)
Did you finish your taxes? Technically you have until Tuesday, April 17th to file – and pay if you owe – because of Emancipation Day in Washington, DC on Monday, April 16th AND a Sunday being April 15th.
Last year was bitter-sweet for taxpayers and investors. The stock markets enjoyed gains, gains, gains in 2017 – almost the 9th year in a row – and the economy delivered mostly good things in the way of jobs and incomes. There are always exceptions, of course, but 2017 was mostly a great year economically and investments-wise. So even though you probably paid more in taxes and likely had less investment losses to offset gains, it was a positive year. Remember, rebalancing your portfolio is a critical tool but one that can create taxable gains — and an attentive, qualified adviser will guide you to minimizing inevitable taxes on a profitable portfolio. Continue reading “Onward to Tax Year 2018”
Welcome to 2018. In checking out Dictionary.com I found:
“No rest for the weary definition. You must keep persevering no matter how tired or overworked you are.”
This could be the mantra of my readers, no matter if you are in your first job, running a company, or retired. If you want to be successful and informed, it takes hard work to wake up – and keep up – in America today. Continue reading “No Rest for the Weary”
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.
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.
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”
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.
TGIF 2 Minutes with Kerrie Debbs, CFP 