Are We in a Stock Market Bubble?

market bubble?

Are you familiar with stock market bubbles? If you’ve been investing since before the housing bubble of 2008 then you are, but perhaps the 1999 dotcom bubble is a more poignant and painful reminder for you. In the runup to the dotcom bubble everyone believed that the internet was the future of technology. While that was true, it didn’t necessarily mean that every stock with a “www” in front of it was a winner. When the dotcom bubble finally burst…

What To Do With a 401(k) from a Previous Job

retirement account

The average American worker will change jobs 5-7 times throughout his or her career. This can sometimes lead to a menagerie of old retirement accounts that become too much to try to keep track of individually. It’s not uncommon for workers to forget their login credentials or forget about accounts altogether which can seriously derail their investment goals. If you’ve left a former employer where you were investing into a 401(k) or other type of retirement plan, then you have…

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…

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…

3 Long-Term Strategies to Slash $163,000 off Your Mortgage

mortgage

Read this article even if you don’t think your mortgage costs this much! Paying off your home faster gives you more money to put towards other activities and priorities in your life. Though it may be a challenging idea, you can do it with a little know-how and good old-fashioned grit! Here are three ways to help you shave off unnecessary mortgage interest allowing you to buy a new car, travel the world, retire earlier, or do whatever you want!…

5 Pitfalls To Avoid On Your Path To Financial Freedom

financial pitfalls

On your path to financial freedom there are several pitfalls to avoid. The following are the top 5 danger zones to watch out for on your way to achieving your goals and dreams. 1. Burdening yourself with debt. In its proper place, debt can be leveraged to help you achieve your dreams, such as when you’re buying a house, paying for education, or seeking to build credit. All too often, however, debt can also be a set of handcuffs keeping…

Is Your Portfolio Diversified Enough?

investments

The importance of diversification in investing cannot be emphasized enough. When divvying up all your investment eggs, it’s important not to put them all in one basket. So what does a well diversified portfolio look like? Different asset classes. An asset class is a different type of investment such as a stock, bond, or money market account. Each of these asset classes serves a distinct purpose according to its risk tolerance, duration, and rate of return. Limiting your investments to…