Fears surrounding the spread of a novel coronavirus and its resulting disease, COVID-19, have caused significant market volatility. The S&P 500 Index* is down by double-digit amounts since last fall. And, uncertainty about COVID-19 containment continues. Let’s consider some facts. At the time of this writing, global infections exceeded 118,000, leading to 4,262 deaths, according […]
Much has been made of the slowing global economy. I’ll comment on this, since I know several of you are concerned about the possibility of a recession. At the outset, just know that what we see happening thus far is part of a normal economic cycle. “Google it” There has been so much concern over […]
September 19th was a big day for me. It was the three-year anniversary of my buying Larry Bakerjian’s wealth management business. Not coincidentally, the 19th also marked the 21st anniversary of having fulfilled my Marine Corps duties and being honorably discharged. I mentioned having both anniversaries on the same day was not a coincidence. When […]
A SPECIAL MESSAGE I am excited to announce that starting today, June 17, 2019, I have become a member of the LPL Financial family, the number one independent broker/dealer in America*. I will provide you with more detailed information individually, but please rest assured that this new affiliation is an improvement and will positively impact […]
CHOOSING SENIOR CARE You may not be in a position to care for yourself at home one day, and making the transition to some form of daily care won’t come easy. That’s why it’s good to have this discussion now. Thoughtful selection of a care facility Dean, my friend’s father whose story I’ve been sharing […]
ESTATE PLANNING Most people would like to control how their money gets used as they get old and where they would like it to go after they pass away. Those wishes form an individual’s legacy intentions. It’s good to put them down in writing. This is Estate Planning. It’s Step 2 in planning for your […]
INVESTMENT PLANNING One day, you or someone you love may need daily living assistance or monitored medical care. Are you ready for that day? What can you do now to prepare for it? “I never would have imagined it,” says Dean, who is 84 and the father of a friend of mine. “I had a […]
SPECIAL BULLETIN The stock market is always ripe for drama. Last week, the Dow Jones Industrial Average* dropped 127 points on Monday. It sank 500 points early on Tuesday, due to some companies reporting gloomy results, but closed the day down only 126 points. “The market is fragile,” an investment manager told CNN. “But we’re […]
Every year, trustees of the Social Security trust funds issue an annual report. And every year, the media overreact and misreport to the American public what the trustees have to say. Here are a few headlines, which I feel are misleading: “The Social Security Trust Fund Goes Bust” — The Wall Street Journal, June 7, […]
It may surprise you to learn that many economists and politicians believe we should eliminate the penny and nickel from our currency. If you’re like me, you probably have fond memories tied to our smallest denominations. As a kid, I remember buying penny candy from my neighborhood Magic Mart. I appreciated the efficiency of the […]