Hi Reader, Today, I’m sharing five of my favorite investing & economic charts from the past month. These charts cover topics such as: Market volatility Investing in gold Inflation...and more! Before we dive in, did you catch this week's podcast episode? Retirement, Taxes, and Investment Underperformance In this episode, I provide key takeaways from three of the BEST retirement articles I read this month. One of the articles makes a strong case for why taxes will be HIGHER in the future....
9 days ago • 3 min read
Hi Reader, When you hear the term "financial freedom," what comes to mind? Frugality. Sacrifice. Success. Independence. In my experience, this term is loaded with broad misunderstandings that cause many people to misappropriate their time, money, or sometimes both. Before I explain, I just want to extend a quick thank you and welcome to all of our new readers! If you want to catch up and read past newsletters, click here. And if you want to introduce yourself and say hello, just hit reply to...
16 days ago • 2 min read
Hi Reader, My wife and I reveiwed and updated our estate plan recently. We go through this process every five years unless we experience a life-changing event or the estate/tax laws change. One of the must-have estate documents for most people is a Power of Attorney (POA). This document can have significant implications for both you and the person to whom you grant this authority. To help you understand these implications, I'm sharing the following in today's email: What is a POA (+ what are...
24 days ago • 3 min read
Hi Reader, Just like that, volatility is back! Or maybe it’s gone again. Or maybe it’s not. Regardless, the volatility index (VIX)—often considered a measure of investor fear—reached 65 this week. The VIX has only been at this level three times in its history: Black Monday (October 1987), the Global Financial Crisis (08/09), and the "COVID crash" (2020). Keep in mind that the VIX recently spiked to this extreme level, with the market only down 8% from its all-time high. Not to mention, U.S....
about 1 month ago • 3 min read
Hi Reader, Today, I’m sharing five of my favorite investing and economic charts from the past month. These charts cover topics like: Market volatility Inflation Fed rate cuts...and more! Before we dive in, did you catch this week's podcast episode? Your Retirement Questions...Answered! Tune in to get answers to big questions like: Why should I do Roth conversions just to help my kids? Are closed-end funds a good investment? ...and more! Listen Now → Favorite Charts (July 2024) Here are my...
about 1 month ago • 3 min read
Hi Reader, The U.S. stock market is down just over 3% since the recent peak on July 16th. The media is having a field day. The truth is that, on average, the market drops 3% or more ~7 times per year. In other words, the recent market volatility is "normal" and should be expected by investors. 😊 In today's email: How ideas compound Why progress is hard to predict What innovation teaches us about investing Let's dive in! Looking to Hire a Retirement Planning Expert? My firm specializes in...
about 1 month ago • 3 min read
Hi Reader, The U.S. stock market just hit another all-time high. Every time this occurs, many investors inevitably assume that a decline must be around the corner. However, this belief stands in complete opposition to the entirety of our investing lives. In today's email: S&P 500 Price History Frequency of market corrections Risks of all-time highs (short and long-term) Let's dive in. It doesn't matter if you're still working or already taking RMDs. If you want to reduce taxes and improve...
about 2 months ago • 2 min read
Hi Reader, We are officially halfway through 2024. 🎉 To celebrate, in today's email, I'm sharing some updates and commentary on: The State of Consumers The State of Companies The State of Investing I'm also sharing two reasons investors should remain optimistic. Let's dive in. 👇 The State of Consumers 1. Household Net Worth Is at All-Time Highs After rising by more than $12 trillion in 2023, household net worth growth continued its torrid pace in the first quarter of 2024 (this is the most...
about 2 months ago • 5 min read
Hi Reader, Happy 4th of July! When this email hits your inbox, I'll be drinking cervezas shirley temples on the beach in Mexico with the family. It's not the most patriotic way to celebrate, but I won't say no to warm weather, tacos, and surfing with the kids. Mexico, 2023 Thank you for continuing to read and support my work. I appreciate you, and I hope you have a great holiday! Stay safe, and wealthy. 😊 ~Taylor Concentration Risk When negative news is scarce, the media often manufactures...
2 months ago • 2 min read