by Emilie Goldman | Jul 3, 2020 | Financial Life Plan
Break out the flags and the fireworks! It’s time to celebrate our country’s creation and our independence from British rule.
July 4 is a great time to think not just about barbecues but freedom. Why were a group of revolutionaries—the founders of our country—so determined to create an autonomous country? Ask any school kid: They wanted to be free. (more…)
by Emilie Goldman | Jun 26, 2020 | Investments
By Buckingham Team
It never feels great to see the stock market drop, especially by a lot, and then watch as your portfolio’s value falls with it. Fear, frustration, anger, anxiety, helplessness – each is a totally understandable and even appropriate response. But all circumstances, no matter what part of life they touch, come with context. And nothing about the context surrounding current market events happens to change what you can and cannot control. At an elemental level, for instance, we have no say in when the market inevitably will fall, and when the market inevitably will rise. Bear cycles will come, and bear cycles will go. That’s precisely why your long-term plan – the one tailored to your situation and created around your values – anticipates and prepares for such unavoidable occurrences. Even those as severe as the – in some respects – unprecedented events we’re living through now. And that’s why you so often hear from us to stay the course, because doing so gives you the best odds of realizing the benefits your plan is constructed to deliver. (more…)
by Emilie Goldman | Jun 19, 2020 | Goals
The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.
Eleanor Roosevelt
Happiness lies in the joy of achievement and the thrill of creative effort.
Franklin D. Roosevelt (more…)
by Guest | Jun 12, 2020 | Retirement
By Tim Maurer, CFP®
I have a proposition for you: I’d like to give you one of two gift certificates to your favorite restaurant. But first, please picture that inviting atmosphere, the thoughtful waitstaff, the right musical backdrop, and the perfect meal in front of you and your ideal dinner companion. Now, choose between a $100 gift certificate you would receive today or a $200 gift certificate you would receive 10 years from now. (more…)
by Emilie Goldman | Jun 5, 2020 | Investing and Politics
When compared against your overall investment horizon, a single presidential term is relatively brief. A single election cycle barely registers as a blip on the radar. The emotions that come with these events, however, can be expansive, consuming, visceral. Amid everything else that’s going on, we hope to put the campaign season between now and November into some financial perspective, because as the data shows, whoever is in the White House does not preordain doom or boom for stock returns. Stock market performance, when grouped by presidential party, historically has favored a Democrat in office, but it doesn’t tell the whole story (remember, correlation is not causation). In fact, stocks were up the majority of the time, regardless of who was in office. Even so, our political beliefs can color how we see the world around us – whichever party is in power – and so influence our investment decisions, often with less-than-ideal financial results. (more…)
by Emilie Goldman | May 29, 2020 | Investments
By Jonathan Scheid, CFA, AIF®
The COVID-19 coronavirus sent stock markets and interest rates dramatically lower in the first quarter. As reports of the disease spreading outside of China grew, so did concern – panic at times – about what this meant for people’s health and broader, everyday lives. Governments and businesses stepped up preventative measures, but investors were concerned that the disruption would lead to an economic recession. (more…)
by Emilie Goldman | May 22, 2020 | Happiness
For many years, the prevailing theory was that individuals have a genetically determined happiness set point.
In other words, scientists believed that each person could temporarily experience more happiness (depending on circumstances, relationships, and life events), but would then slide back to his or her “pre-programmed” set point. In fact, less than two decades ago, one researcher was quoted as saying, “It may be that trying to be happier is as futile as trying to be taller.” (more…)
by Guest | May 15, 2020 | Retirement
By Jarrett Simpson
When the subject of Social Security comes up during retirement planning conversations, both younger and older investors often greet it with a healthy dose of cynicism. Such discussions tend to include comments like, “Oh yeah, sure. If there’s even anything left for me” or “Isn’t Social Security going bankrupt?” Sometimes I hear a more draconian stance, like, “I just plan on it not being around when I’m retired.” This last viewpoint actually is quite common. According to a study by AARP, 65% of adults are not confident about Social Security’s future. (more…)
by Guest | May 8, 2020 | Investments
By Meir Statman
Predictions on November 7, 2016, the day before voters elected Donald Trump as our next president…
“As the historic 2016 U.S. presidential election approaches, major Wall Street analysts agree that the S&P 500 will likely sell off if Donald Trump wins, and at least hold gains if Hillary Clinton wins.” CNBC
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by Emilie Goldman | May 1, 2020 | Financial Life Plan
The journey to achieving your long-term wealth goals follows a road that is not always smooth, clear and free of debris. Sometimes the market and the world at large will litter our path with obstacles for us to overcome. Global markets have been experiencing increased volatility, which comes in stark contrast to the even, steady growth that we often expect. (more…)
