Category: Weekly Economic Update
Recently my 5-year-old son asked my wife and me why he had to turn off the lights when he was not using them. We explained that it costs money to operate the lights, and he was astonished, “we even have to pay for that!!??” We realized then that we have a lot to teach him...
We all work hard. Some of us work four 10-hour days. Some work five 8-hour days. Some choose to work 12-hour days all the time. But whatever you do… you put in labor and expect a fair return for your effort. You use that return to plan, budget, and live life to the fullest. Back...
Who do you think you’ll be in a year? 5 years? 20 years?
One of the big problems with setting goals, especially financial ones, is that we’re struggle with imagining our future selves.
Remember what you imagined you’d be as an adult when you were a kid. I’m guessing there are some gaps between that dream and your current reality.
When we talk about financial goals, we’re often talking about long timeframes.
By now, you have most likely heard about the announced three-part plan to help working and middle-class federal student loan borrowers. Are you confused by the myriad of information you’ve seen? Then let’s go over some details. The Facts on the three-part plan: The loan repayment pause has been extended until 31 December 2022, this...
What would Financial Peace look like in your Life? Financial peace is having the resources (time, health, money) to do the things you enjoy, with the people you love.
We only have so much time, energy, and attention. So how do we decide where to place our focus?
To figure out the answer to that question, think about what you are focusing on (fretting over).
Now ask yourself two questions:
1. Does it matter?
2. Can I control it?
The current episode of Fed tightening that we are living through is fundamentally different from all the others. Why? The excess money creation that fueled the surge in inflation over the past year was a one-off event that was tied directly to the trillions of dollars of fiscal "stimulus" that our politicians pumped into the economy in the wake of the COVID lockdowns. Two years ago, the renowned economist Scott Grannis said "The shutdown of the US economy will prove to be the most expensive self-inflicted injury in the history of mankind."
While market optimists are scarce these days and the list of investor concerns is long, there are several historical patterns that provide reasons for optimism as the second half of 2022 gets underway. First is stocks’ record of strong bouncebacks from big two-quarter drops. The average gain over the next sixth months after the biggest...