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Is Your Financial Adviser a Clown?
Tweet Share on Facebook June 29, 2012 CommentThere is no shortage of advice on the Internet that attempts to help individuals select a financial adviser, but a lot of it is centered on weeding out the crooks. This is great information, and certainly relevant given the buffoonery uncovered over the recent years.
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Can You Manage Your Future?
Tweet Share on Facebook June 28, 2012 CommentI don’t envy you, today’s retirees and soon to be retirees. I don’t think there’s been a more difficult and contentious time to retire within the last 100 or so years. With pensions disappearing, benefits being slashed, taxes set to skyrocket, real inflation soaring, incredibly correlated volatility in the global markets, and an obvious governmental intrusion into our daily lives, I think many have become envious of the previous generations of retirees.
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Time for a Mid-Year Financial Review
Tweet Share on Facebook June 27, 2012 Comment
With the second quarter almost in the books, 2012 is starting out to be no less of a roller coaster ride for investors than was 2011. In fact, the pattern of 2011 seems to be repeating itself. A strong first quarter was followed by a weak second quarter. Time will tell if the third quarter sees double-digit percentage losses among the major equity indexes, as in the third quarter of 2011, followed by double-digit gains in the fourth quarter. -
Europe and Your Retirement Strategy
Tweet Share on Facebook June 26, 2012 CommentThe European Union and its currency, the euro, have been splashed all over the news for months now. We’ve seen trouble in Greece, Ireland, Portugal, Spain, and Italy—and we may see other countries stumble. What does this have to do with your retirement investing strategy? There are many important ways the situation in Europe could affect U.S. monetary, fiscal, and political policies. Separately, but connected, there are also several ways Europe’s state of affairs could affect your retirement plan. Here are five considerations as you review your strategy.
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Real Estate as an Alternative Asset Class
Tweet Share on Facebook June 22, 2012 CommentThe use of “alternative investments” has increased significantly over the last few years. This trend began when investors and advisers started looking for ways to get a reasonable return on their investment dollars without using the traditional equity market. They are looking to try to get away from volatility that has become all too common.
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Focusing on the Right Financial Issues
Tweet Share on Facebook June 20, 2012 CommentRecently, I received a phone call from a prospective client. On the surface, she sounded like a good prospect. She is in her mid 50s with a portfolio in excess of $2 million.
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Balancing the Retirement Equation
Tweet Share on Facebook June 19, 2012 CommentWhen creating a retirement strategy, saving and investing for retirement are one side of the equation.
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100 Years to Live
Tweet Share on Facebook June 14, 2012 CommentAs I listened to the radio last week, I heard one of my favorite songs: “100 Years” by Five For Fighting. The song has a wonderful melody and some thought-provoking lyrics that speak to moving through life and how quickly the years can fly by. The song starts at age 15 and finally reaches 99; each passing age is a moment—just a moment—in time. Throughout the song, there is a beautifully repeated refrain: “…when you only got 100 years to live”.
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Do Not Make This Investing Mistake
Tweet Share on Facebook June 14, 2012 CommentIn my last post, I exposed the undeniable human traits that hold you back from making smarter and better investment decisions. My goal was to empower you with the tools necessary to identify WHY you are making the trading/investment choices that you are making.
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Another Summer Market Roller Coaster?
Tweet Share on Facebook June 13, 2012 CommentDriving to Milwaukee last week on our way to see the Cubs play the Brewers at Miller Park (one of my favorite sports venues), we drove past the Six Flags amusement park. From the Interstate, we could see many of the rides, including several of the roller coasters.
