Your kids are no doubt noticing the changes in the world, and maybe your family’s own financial situation, because of COVID-19 — as well as your reaction. Here’s your chance to empower your children with lessons for their future.
Do you watch the weather channel all day when you see sun and clear skies for the weekend forecast? My guess is probably not. Why am I asking you this? Because similarly in the financial world the TV talking heads, magazines, fund managers, guest economists on the CNBC panel, and the like, have no vested interest in sharing the sort of behavior driven and common-sense financial planning tips that we share with our clients.
Gideon Drucker, CFP® was a guest on the radio station The Voice of New York where he discussed his book How To Avoid HENRY Syndrome: Financial Strategies to Own Your Future. Click to listen to the full interview!
It’s a good idea to have a will so any assets left behind go to the people or organizations you choose – and not to legal fees, taxes, and heirs chosen by a probate judge. Take control of your future and make a plan. Read this week's blog to learn how working with a professional advisor can help you with the process of creating your will.
Many of us are living through our first REAL stock market meltdown. For myself & most of my 30-40 year old clients, we either weren't out of college yet or we weren't making enough money (and didn't have enough money certainly!) for the pain to really reach us on a physical and emotional level. So this all feels new...which makes it feel even scarier and more unnerving. I get it...and you're not wrong...it is both of those things! But, please, take the time to ask your parents what they did in 2008...and knowing what came after, what they would have changed in their investment behavior if they could? And read my post below...because, trust me, it seemed like the world was coming to an end back then...and then it didn't. This too shall pass.
Where do you set aside the money you’re saving for retirement? You likely save for retirement primarily through an employer’s retirement plan. Unfortunately, less than one-half of private sector employers sponsor retirement plans. In part, that may be because of a misconception among smaller employers that think sponsoring a retirement plan is too expensive.The fact is there are workplace retirement plans developed specifically for smaller employers.
The past 7 years the markets have been so consistently positive with little volatility that any downturn now seems apocalyptic. We’ve gotten too comfortable. Market volatility is normal. From 1980 through 2016, as an example, the S&P 500 has had an average inter-year swing of 14% annually! In other words, stuff goes up and down, a lot.