Beyond the Bell

Fear

Fear, Greed, and the In-Between

“Let me be clear on one point: I can’t predict the short-term movements of the stock market. I haven’t the faintest idea as to whether stocks will be higher or lower a month or a year from now. What is likely, however, is that the market will move higher, perhaps substantially so, well before either sentiment or the economy turns up. So, if you wait for the robins, spring will be over.” – Warren Buffett in the Fall of 2008

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Answering the tough questions, yellow telephone hanging on the wall

Answering the Tough Questions

When each of us became an investor, whether we realized it or not, we entered into a deal of sorts with the market. It wasn’t a contractual obligation per se; it was more like a handshake deal with a friend we’ve known for many, many years. We trusted that based on our friend the market’s past behavior (since the 1920s, if you’re referring to the chart below), we had no reason to believe our friend the market would not keep up its end of the deal: to deliver us a return on our investment over the long haul. But in order for the market to do so, we needed to uphold our end of the bargain which was to not throw in the towel early; to not give up on it, despite it weaving off course at times. The handshake deal we entered is just that: we will get a return on our investment if we don’t cut the deal short. When the going gets rough, we have two very important things to rely on: trust and history. And therefore, in order to be fit for investing in the market, we need to in fact be people who are willing to rely on both and, therefore, uphold our end of the deal.

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The Importance of Starting a Roth IRA Before You Retire

It’s common knowledge that Roth assets are a powerful savings tool that provide tax-free income in retirement. But a lot of people don’t understand the difference between Roth IRAs and Roth 401k and 403b plans. If you have a large Roth 401k or Roth 403b balance and you don’t have a Roth IRA yet, you’ll want to listen to the rest of this video.

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One Foot in Front of the Other

With another volatile week nearly behind us, I think it’s worth revisiting some words I penned at the beginning of this year about my time in the US Army’s Ranger School.

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I-Bonds

In the face of rising rates and inflationary pressures, inflation-protected US Savings bonds have become more mainstream.

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European Energy Crisis

European Energy Crisis

Earlier this week the Nord Stream 1 pipeline was completely shut down by Russian gas company Gazprom. This pipeline is the largest source of natural gas to Europe.

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Business Sale

A Few Considerations to Help Prepare for a Business Sale

In today’s episode we are going to be discussing a few key items that might prove useful when preparing to sell a small business. When developing an exit strategy, the first recommendation is always to start early. It takes time, energy, and capital to create the right exit plan for your business. Having “enough room to run” will certainly help you in this endeavor.
The area which business owners generally fixate on, for good reason, is the “sales price”. So, what can a business owner do to finesse a more desirable selling price? Let’s talk about a few simple strategies to employ.

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Top 5 Reasons to Have a Will

Top 5 Reasons to Have a Will

Having a will is one of the most important things you can do to avoid added stress on families during an already emotional time. Not only can a will legally protect your spouse, children, and assets, but it specifically outlines how you would like your estate distributed and ensures your estate will not end up in the wrong hands

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Credit Card Rewards

Credit Card Rewards and How to Think About Them

If you are using a debit card, you’re spending money and not getting anything back in return. It’s like paying with a check. When you use a credit card though, every time you pay for shopping online, eating at a restaurant, groceries, or other day-to-day expenses, you’re likely earning valuable points and miles that can be used in a variety of ways!

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Market Outlook Summer 2022

Market Outlook Summer 2022

Double, double whammy. After two years of endless concern from a once-a-lifetime pandemic (let’s hope), and the clouds just starting to part, barely, we get hit with an unruly market bent on testing our already fragile mindsets; Double Whammy #1.
If this isn’t enough, let’s toss in inflation exhibiting the endurance of a marathon runner, coupled with rising interest rates increasing borrowing costs to businesses and consumers with higher rates on mortgages, car loans, credit cards, home equity and improvement loans, and personal loans of all types. When you can’t buy a new home, or a car, because of limited supply, now you can’t afford them from a budget perspective. Double Whammy #2.

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