Ep 57: A Tale of Two Decades
Proper investment diversification works … even when you don’t want it to. With the US stock market and particularly large technology stocks having the wind at their backs recently, many are eschewing diversification to chase these high flyers, rhyming with the Tech boom and bust of the 1990s.
As the saying goes, if we forget history, we are doomed to repeat it. In that spirit, hear Kevin tell an investment tale of the last two decades. Continue reading
Ep 56: Should The Election Influence Your Investing Strategy?
Biden or Trump? Republicans or Democrats? Who will be better for the economy and your investments? These are questions many are asking with the election quickly approaching.
Many let their political beliefs influence their investment strategy, but should they? Hear Kevin discuss what the evidence shows and how our political beliefs may influence our perceptions of reality. Get ready to check your alternative facts at the door and get real. Continue reading
Ep 55: Roth Conversion: Why 2020 Could Be The Best Year
Paying a lower tax rate today vs. what you would otherwise pay in the future on pre-tax IRA/401k dollars is a good move. They way you can do so is by converting money to a Roth IRA and paying tax in the year of the conversion.
2020 may be the last best year for conversions. Hear Kevin discuss these considerations in detail to empower you to take action to reduce your tax risk and improve your after-tax, spendable wealth. Continue reading
Ep 54: Should You Delay Retiring?
Some 24% of those 56 and older say the pandemic has caused them to push back their planned retirement date, according to a survey conducted by The Harris Poll.
Hear Kevin discuss key variables you should consider as you plan through the COVID-induced uncertainty, including items that may nudge you to retire now and others that result in waiting. Continue reading
Roth Conversion Reconsidered
Chances are you know the difference between a traditional IRA/401k and a Roth. The gist is that contributions to a traditional IRA/401k are pretax but fully taxable upon distribution. Conversely, contributions to a Roth are made after taxes, but distributions … Continue reading
Ep 53: Investing Vs. Speculating Part 2
65% of Institutional Investors surveyed in late June believe the market is factoring in the long-term impact of the coronavirus “too little” while only 5% said “too much,” implying the market is overvalued. Yet, the market has continued to go up. Has it come too far too fast?
Hear Kevin discuss the topic in detail and explain why our brain function predisposes us to make investing mistakes, including blindly chasing investment returns and firmly entering the world of speculation (while abandoning principled and process-based investing). He even attempts to work in stories about Homer Simpson, Halloween, Thanksgiving, and pre-modern man to illustrate his points. Quite a feat to attempt. You won’t be disappointed. Continue reading
Homer Simpson The Stock Market Speculator
I remember watching the Simpsons when their first episode aired as a Christmas special in 1989. I watched it religiously for years, laughing primarily at and with Homer. A recent article I read triggered a memory of Homer and his … Continue reading
Ep 52: Investing Vs. Speculating Part 1
Investing should be scientific and process-based. Speculating is more akin to gambling and lacking fundamental support. At extremes, it is easier to discern the two but can be shades of grey in between. Hear Kevin discuss the forward-looking nature of the stock market and times why it can make investing sense (not speculating) to look through bad economic news. Continue reading
Ep 51: Case Study: Retiring Before Age 60 & Before You Ever Thought You Would
Hear Kevin share a story of a client who retired in her late 50s. She was in a state of disbelief after her retirement plan showed she could retire in her 50s. The sheer thought of retiring was new and a bit scary.
Be sure to pay attention to the end to hear how things are going for her now four years retired and how she has defined phases and varied strategies to her retirement distribution planning. Continue reading
When Stocks Diverge From The Economy
Do you find it puzzling when a bleak economic report emerges from the press, only to be accompanied by a positive surge in the stock market? Or good news is reported and stocks sell-off?
If you said yes, you’re certainly not alone… Continue reading
