How To Build A Good Investment Portfolio

investment portfolio

A good handyman has many tools on his belt and even more in his truck. He can complete various jobs with these tools, but different tools have different functions. For some jobs, he will need a screwdriver; other times, he’ll need a hammer, saw, paintbrush, or lawnmower. Your portfolio is the same way. You will have many assets in your investment toolbelt such as stocks, bonds, mutual funds, CD’s, government bonds, and ETFs. Within these you will also want to…

Investing In An Election Year

investing during election year

2020 has been a train wreck so far to say the least. Added to all the chaos of 2020, this year is also an election year, which could have a large impact on your finances. The stock market tends to behave a certain way in election years. Depending on who gets elected, there could be huge tax implications on your income and your investments. Added to all of this is the black swan event of the coronavirus and unemployment, Congressional…

The Quintessential Key to Building Wealth: It’s Not What You Think

Anyone can create the lifestyle and legacy they want—even you, especially you! The good news is that if you want to experience prosperity, you don’t have to time the markets perfectly, make a six-figure income, or inherit a fortune from your deceased uncle. The bad news is that it’ll take work and you’ll have to do the exceptionally boring, yet all-important task to get you there: budgeting. I know it’s not fun or cool to talk about, but we must…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

Avoid This Costly Mistake When Investing in the Stock Market

As a financial advisor I’ve seen hundreds of investors ranging from inexperienced to advanced. I’ve seen people lose money and I’ve seen even novice investors make a lot of money because they got lucky. I’ve seen average investors make great gains throughout their earning years only to later make a mistake. Stock market gains seem to be non-discriminatory. Anyone can make money in the markets. Success in investing is shared by both young and old investors, those who read investment…