Blog

Our blog contains information that we believe will explain financial planning in a simple and informative way.  

Friday, September 22, 2023

Superman battled Lex Luthor who was armed with Kryptonite.  Long-term, goal focused, planning driven investors battle something much worse. Many may believe that I do not like the financial media, as evidenced by my articles, blog...

Thursday, July 6, 2023

Why would someone do that?  Why would someone – this is the average person looking to retire and never (hopefully) outlive their income – go through life throwing away dollars to pick up quarters?  Again, why...

Wednesday, June 14, 2023

In the year 2020, Warren Buffet’s net worth was $84.5 billion. Now, as staggering as a concept that may be, it pales in comparison to the following fact – $81.5 billion of his net worth came after his 65th birthday. ...

Tuesday, May 30, 2023

Can we all agree that estimates are just that – estimates? Or we could call them an educated guess – some more educated than others but all the same.

Thursday, May 4, 2023

How is this fable comparable with the average equity investor? Let me explain.

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Wednesday, March 29, 2023

Since the year 1950. Every crisis, every catastrophe, and every unknown. Every predicted crisis, catastrophe, and unknown. In every personal, financial, political and economic area of life – throughout our country and the world.

Thursday, January 12, 2023

Secure 2.0 Changes to Workplace PlansBy Ian Berger, JDIRA AnalystIn our December 28 and January 2 Slott Report articles, we focused mostly on the provisions of the new SECURE 2.0 law that apply to IRAs. But many of the law’s...

Thursday, January 5, 2023

The year 2023 has arrived. It is a new year, and we have new rules for retirement accounts thanks to SECURE 2.0 which Congress passed in the waning days of last year.

Monday, December 12, 2022

The end of the world is coming…soon – and let me explain why (keep reading).  These types of prognostications have become more common in the financial media.  And if this is the case, which it is, then one would...

Tuesday, November 22, 2022

As I was searching through the investment/behavioral finance section of my Kindle for a book to download over the holidays, I noticed there was no shortage of “expert” advice on investing and how to get rich. ...

Wednesday, November 9, 2022

There has been a lot of debate lately on whether the United States is currently in a recession. Using the “old” standard of experiencing two quarters of negative GDP growth, I would say that we are. But whether we are or...

Monday, November 7, 2022

In life – no matter the decision – it is difficult to do what we need to do and easy to do what we want. However, there is no magic pill.

Thursday, September 29, 2022

Much of the historical discussion about risk – when it pertains to investing - has been centered around stocks (although I don’t believe the word is used correctly, but I digress). 

Tuesday, September 13, 2022

And to those who don’t have a plan, the crisis of the day – which the financial media will always have ready and waiting - becomes their plan.

Friday, August 12, 2022

So, what is contrarian investing? It is the belief that the worse things seem, the better the opportunities are for longer-term profit.

Friday, July 29, 2022

Whether you are planning for your business’s growth or personal growth for your family’s longer-term lifetime income, confidence is critical but only if backed up by data-driven written plan. Everything else is just false confidence.

Monday, May 16, 2022

In finance, there is a dreaded word that when heard makes many cringe, curl up into a ball and hide - due to the fear that comes with it. That word is…Recession.

Tuesday, May 3, 2022

Are you skilled at guessing where the market will go on a monthly/yearly basis? Have you had the “gut feeling” - lured by the siren song of the financial media – that this time is different and it is time to get out?...

Friday, March 18, 2022

What I will describe is focusing on the Unknowable vs. Knowable - a key to long-term investor success.

Wednesday, March 16, 2022

There are 5 different services that need to be looked at when discussing the value of a planner. And according to research from an independent source, if they provide these on a consistent basis they are absolutely worth their fee.

Friday, February 18, 2022

My interest, for this essay, is in the determination of the process or the causes of the Fixed Income investor’s mindset. Simply stated – I ask, why would they do that?

Wednesday, February 9, 2022

The difference between the two can be difficult to understand (it even confuses people in our industry) and may not be immediately apparent to most people.

Thursday, January 27, 2022

As this current year’s volatility continues, remember when you listen to them you are allowing the voice of insanity to direct your long-term retirement plans and in doing so, you have now transformed from Dr. Jekyll to Mr. Hyde.

Tuesday, November 30, 2021

Do these two sets of numbers mean anything to you? 71 and 4500 / 3.37 and 200. For many they can be a source of panic, uncertainty, or stress – driven by the financial media’s persistence to sell investors their emotions...

Tuesday, November 23, 2021

Over the past twelve (12), almost thirteen (13) years, starting on March 9, 2009, the S&P 500 has compounded at approximately 17.5% per year. Let that sink in. If one were to have invested in the market, for example the S&P 500, on...

Thursday, November 4, 2021

You should question any title or designation to find out how it was received and what it really means.

Tuesday, October 26, 2021

The Godfather. If you recall, there is a scene in the garden when Vito is talking to Michael and says, “Now listen, whoever comes to you with this meeting, he’s the traitor, don’t forget that.” Fast forward to...

Thursday, October 14, 2021

It was the late 1970’s: Inflation was in the double digits, fuel prices at record highs, Kent State University massacre, Jimmy Carter was President, a hostage crisis in Iran, tensions escalate in the Cold War, and the Soviet...

Friday, July 16, 2021

Many industries (especially the financial industry) love to show you charts. Why? Mainly, they provide an easier way to understand more complex ideas - and as humans we tend to grasp a concept with pictures and colors much better (i.e....

Tuesday, June 29, 2021

It’s funny to think that whenever we watch or read the financial news, we never find ourselves moving from a storm (or crisis) into calm open waters. Instead, we find the media bouncing around from one crisis to the next always...

Wednesday, May 5, 2021

Have you ever thought to yourself “I knew that was going to happen” when it comes to your investments? Thinking that you should have invested at that exact moment in that one fund because you knew it was going to skyrocket...

Wednesday, April 14, 2021

When you look at the financial advice-giving landscape, there can be a lot of confusing titles given to individuals. The industry has done a terrible job of explaining to the public what each of those titles mean and what they do. For...

Monday, March 29, 2021

When people think about working with a financial advisor, they usually think of one thing - investments. But many people usually do not realize that there are more important factors to focus on besides what investments can provide the...

Tuesday, March 16, 2021

“If only I’d waited.” How many of us have whispered that phrase – in your mind – at some point in our lives? Although this phrase can cover many areas of life, when it pertains to planning and investing it...

Thursday, March 4, 2021

Declines in the markets may be frightening to many who do not view their investments in the proper perspective. Many have a short-term mindset and think they are “losing” their money because the markets have dropped...

Thursday, March 4, 2021

Recall the year 1999. It may seem eons ago, but just a mere over 20’ish years (to those too young to have experienced the markets, this is your history lesson). This was the glory days of the tech bubble. These dotcom companies,...

Sunday, February 21, 2021

When you think about safety in retirement and preserving your nest egg you have created throughout your working life, what comes to mind? Bonds, Cash, or Money Markets Funds? For many people - this is where they feel safest. This used...

Monday, February 8, 2021

The seeds of economic growth have been sown – will you reap the benefits or will your emotions, ever corrupted be the media, allow them to be squandered? Before we delve into the data - fact driven and void of persuasion –...

Wednesday, February 3, 2021

Last year brought the need for a financial plan to the forefront of many people’s minds. Even stars like Anthony Anderson from ‘Black-ish’ are partnering up with major companies to spread the word on how important...

Monday, February 1, 2021

As we look back at the year 2020, I believe there are great lessons that can be learned as investors that show the importance of having a long-term, goal oriented financial plan. None truer than the only certainty in the world is...

Sunday, December 13, 2020

Most believe the COVID-19 Virus pandemic has been devastating to our country and the world (which it has), however there has been a more severe virus lurking undetected for decades. A virus that continues to expand-...