Blog
Sometimes I have something to say that is longer than a social media post, so I will use this blog space to offer ideas and thoughts. Check back often and I'm glad to have you reading along.
Is Your Budget Leaking?
71% of respondents to a 2021 survey estimated they waste at least $50 per month on unwanted or unexpected recurring charges. Pull out your recent statements and look for recurring charges leaking from your financial plumbing.
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Scams and How to Protect Yourself
Scammers create a sense of urgency to create confusion and break down your natural defenses. Take the steps outlined here and approach each interaction with a healthy dose of skepticism to reduce the chances of falling victim to a scam.
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When will we hit bottom?
One of the skills that long-term investors build is to manage your emotions through market cycles. You learn to be a contrarian who gets more optimistic the further the market goes down since we are closer to that elusive bottom.
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In All of Time
Perspective matters when we think about current market movements and it is often helpful to look back at history to keep a cool head.
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Volatility is Back!
If you were watching the first half of 2021, it wouldn’t be hard to assume that the stock market only moved in one direction – up. Sure, it had an occasional down day, but those were few and far between and relatively muted...
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OMG! Social Security will run out of money by 2034!?
There have been a lot of media reports recently with headlines like “Social Security will be insolvent by 2033” (Washington Post 9/3) and “Social Security won’t be able to pay full benefits by 2034” (CNN,...
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Should you be concerned about rising taxes?
There has been a lot of talk recently about current proposals in Congress around tax policy. The administration has proposed targeted tax increases as a way to fund the various spending bills they have put forth. Anytime Congress talks...
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Is your advisor your financial “Primary Care Provider”?
My wife and I have been helping an extended family member through some health issues and we have been learning a lot about our healthcare system. I know I am a complete process-nerd, but three things became abundantly clear over the...
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Is a steering wheel a "feature"?
As a financial advisor, I don’t consider myself an advertising or marketing expert. I have been seeing a TON of ads from a certain financial firm and I found myself wondering how common it is to take standard features of a...
Read MoreIs the market on an irrational ride?
Back in June as the market was just beginning its rapid recovery from the March Covid dip, I wrote a piece explaining how the market could be going up when the world seemed to be crashing around it. Fast forward to September and after...
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Life is change - adapt and Invest With A Plan (sm)
Four years ago this month, I was writing about my feelings about becoming an empty nester. Four years later, my daughter has graduated and is embarking on the next chapter in her life as a PhD student at Columbia in NYC. Every one of...
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“He is the richest man in the cemetery”
My family and I were driving South on I-81 recently on our way to visit some relatives. One of the greatest perks about your kids growing up is their ability to share in the driving – fantastic for long trips! Now, this benefit...
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Changing spending habits
There is no doubt that the global pandemic has ushered in massive changes to how we have all been spending our money. Especially for our neighbors who have lost their jobs or had their hours cut back, this health event has had a...
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Markets Driven Lower by Anxious Investors
The U.S. markets on Wednesday, June 24, experienced more volatility as nervous investors reacted to a host of new data, including a growing number of reported COVID-19 cases, and a grim outlook by the International Monetary Fund (IMF)...
Read MoreWhich is right, the stock market or the economy?
Which is right, the stock market or the economy? It is easy to see why I have been getting this question a lot recently. Over the past couple of months, the stock market has been booming. Yes, it lost 34% peak to trough as the...
Read MoreEconomic impacts of Covid: Individuals and the System
Everyone is trying to figure out what the full impact of the Covid pandemic will be and there is no doubt life will change in ways we cannot fully predict right now. We know there will be permanent changes; for example, how businesses...
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