Today is sunny and bright, spring is in the air, and I feel excited! What a difference sunshine makes in my outlook! How about you? What makes you feel happy and content? Maybe it is a good run, the smell of coffee, walking on the beach, a good glass of wine, skiing down a mountain, […]
Every day as I prepare breakfast, and then again at lunchtime, I watch parents drop off and later pick up their preschoolers at a church near our house. The little ones hop and skip to where their friends are playing, even if there is a foot of snow on the ground. They are always happy,
SAVING FOR EDUCATION Read More »
“Numbers, numbers, numbers! Everywhere I look there are numbers! I hate math, I hate numbers!” Wow! Does that sound like you? Maybe not every day, but some days? Right now, I am trying to put together all the forms and records needed to file my income tax and, I will tell you, there are days
NUMBERS, NUMBERS, NUMBERS! Read More »
Mutual funds and exchange-traded funds have many similarities. A previous blog this month covered mutual funds, and now it’s time to talk about the newer kid on the block—exchange-traded funds or ETFs. I was part of the institutional sales force at Vanguard when that company decided to expand its offering of ETFs and market them
EXCHANGE-TRADED FUNDS Read More »
Last week my blog covered risk because we deal with risk in our lives every day. It described the different kinds of risk and mentioned that financial risk is a part of investing. We sometimes become complacent when the stock market goes up and up and up, but there is inevitably a downside, and we
DIVERSIFICATION VS. CONCENTRATION Read More »
Risk is defined as a situation involving exposure to danger, harm, or loss. You experience risk and deal with it every day in many ways. You get in your car or truck and put on a seatbelt. You go to a pharmacy and buy toothpaste and mouthwash. You wear safety googles or glasses in your
I am thousands of miles away from my family—they are in Arizona and Florida, and I am in the Midwest. The holidays can be difficult but, thanks to FaceTime, I can watch them opening presents, baking and decorating cookies, playing with their pets, and eating a holiday meal. We can sing carols together and I
WHAT IS YOUR INVESTING STYLE? Read More »
I just opened a local magazine and came across an editorial with this focus: rest is productive. Boy, did I need to be reminded of that! Today is not a good day. I feel overwhelmed with all the tasks associated with marketing my recently published book along with getting ready for the holidays and six
REST IS PRODUCTIVE, EVEN FOR YOUR INVESTMENTS! Read More »
I need a new dress for the party! I want a new phone for Christmas. Need to stop at the grocery store? Do you want to build a snowman? Heard any of those? Of course you have! When you hear “need.…” or “want….,” do they feel different? If you heard your friend say, “I need
THE BATTLE OF NEEDS VS. WANTS Read More »
Do you like to cook? Have a favorite recipe? Fall is here and one of my favorite things to make in the fall is chili. If you think about chili, there are three main ingredients—sauce, meat/beans (protein), and seasonings. You may make your chili from scratch or buy it from the deli or in a
ASSET ALLOCATION = INVESTMENT CHILI Read More »