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We hope this message finds you and your loved ones safe and healthy!  We wanted to check in to let you know we are all doing well and are available to talk if you need us.  For now, we are conducting our normal reviews via video calls or through screen sharing phone calls. 

The Coronavirus triggered the fastest decline in stock prices we have seen since the Great Depression.  While high volatility is likely to remain, what things should you be doing to ensure the economic impact from this doesn’t derail your retirement?

Fear over the impacts of coronavirus, a sharp drop in oil prices, and government bond interest rates hitting historic lows are shaking markets.  What is happening, and what does it mean for you and your investments?

The stock market has had a rough week. As you are likely aware, concerns of a global spread of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) are mounting and are impacting the markets. 

As you are likely aware, 2019 was a great year for investors.  After a dip at the end of 2018, both conservative and aggressive investors profited as stock and bond markets were up well over their historical averages for annual returns.  

We are big believers in life insurance and its role in creating a successful financial plan.  However, selecting the right type of insurance can make a huge difference in creating wealth over time.  

When we walk into a bank and want to invest our money safely by buying a CD (thereby lending the bank money for a fixed time period), we expect a higher interest rate for a 10 year loan than a 2 year because we’re giving them our money for a longer time period.  In the same way, we as borrowers pay a higher interest rate for a 30-year mortgage than a 15-year.  It’s normally the same way for government bonds (loans to the US government).  Today, for the first time since 2007, that expectation is not the reality.  Investors now get a lower rate of interest on 10-year government bonds than 2-year bonds.  That has traditionally been a bad sign for the economy - an indicator of a possible recession coming in the next year or two.

There is a little-known strategy in working with your company’s retirement plan that may allow you to save significant amounts in tax on your retirement savings.  

“The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second-best time is now.” – Chinese Proverb.  Meet Sam Saver. Sam is 14 years old and just finished 8^th grade.

Many investors are attracted to high dividend yield stocks for the income they produce.