Daniel Colston, CFP®
Economics, Financial Planning, Investments 0 Comment

A Huge Warning Sign for Stock Market Investors

In the third week of March, 2020, the stock market experienced its worst day since 1987. With fears of the global pandemic worsening, the S&P 500 Index was down 34% by March 23rd.[1] Investors lost a lot of money. While much of that has been recovered, the 2020 market drop leaves valuable lessons for investors about the future of their money. In the months after March 2020, I’ve fielded dozens of phone calls, emails, and texts from investors who were…

Daniel Colston, CFP®
Economics, Finance & accounting, Financial Freedom, Financial Planning 0 Comment

What to do With Your Investments in Light of the Coronavirus

Markets during Coronavirus

Much has changed in the world of investments since the coronavirus pandemic. The volatility in the stock market this February and March rattled investors before making a rocky recovery April-July. Added to the coronavirus fears are real economic issues of companies slowing down and small businesses shuttering their doors or finding it difficult to find work. While this has been a volatile time in the markets and no one can predict when things will get back to normal, there are…

Daniel Colston, CFP®
Uncategorized 0 Comment

Financial Planning During Coronavirus

Markets during Coronavirus

These are very interesting times we are living in, to say the least. The Coronavirus pandemic has upended daily life and economic activity all around the world. It is hard to believe that the Dow Jones Industrial Average was at an all-time high of 29,551 points on Feb. 12, 2020, and now it has sunk to trading below 20,000 points. This is a very fluid situation with COVID-19 beginning to make its impact on the US, as it already has…

Daniel Colston, CFP®
Economics, Investments 0 Comment

Coronavirus Fears Worsen, but not Fundamental Market Issue

Coronavirus and stock market

The stock market has taken a beating this week with the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) experiencing at least two quadruple digit loss trading days and a possible third today. The DJIA peaked earlier this month at 29,551 points, but is currently trading in the 24,000’s territory. While we are noticing and tracking these market moves, we are not yet concerned. We are still optimistic about investing in the 2020 stock market. Here’s why: The stock market does not behave…

Daniel Colston, CFP®
Uncategorized 0 Comment

How to Establish an Emergency Fund

how to establish and maintain an emergency fund

Once you’ve built a budget and started getting some extra monthly cashflow, you’ll want to establish an emergency fund. An emergency fund is exactly what it sounds like—it’s there for emergencies only. As such it should be put away in a savings account, CD, or money market account and forgotten about. The purpose of an emergency fund is to help you in times of unpredictable circumstances such as a job or car loss. If a home repair or car accident…

Daniel Colston, CFP®
Financial Planning for Healthcare Providers, Uncategorized 0 Comment

The 6 Best Credit Cards for Traveling Med Students

med school residency credit card

If you’re a medical student preparing for clinical rotations or residency then you’ll be traveling a lot. Finding the right credit card for your travels can make a difference in hundreds, if not thousands of dollars. Here are the top 6 credit cards I recommend for your travel expenses. For best travel point rewards: Chase Sapphire Preferred® Credit Card https://creditcards.chase.com/rewards-credit-cards/sapphire This card allows you to redeem points for travel expenses such as flights, hotel stays, and rental cars. This is…