What’s Your Quarterly Checkup?

How did your money perform in Q1? What kind of grade would you give yourself? Did you get a clean bill of health, or are you feeling a bit ill? In this week’s leadoff segment, I give you a few tips on how to give your money a quarterly checkup, as doing so correctly will keep your finances in top shape. 

How are Your Finances Structured?  

Do you have a lot of assets? Do you have a lot of liabilities? What kind of savings accounts do you have? What about rental property income, business interest, passive income, etc.? Getting a handle on the overall structure of your finances is a big part of making sure your finances are structured to minimize your overall tax picture. In this week’s second segment, we talk about how to structure your finances properly so that you can take full advantage of your money. Plus, why you should be using a Certified Financial Planner.

So, You Made it to 50… Part II 

If you’re in your 50s, congratulations! Now it’s time to make sure you get your financial affairs correct. There’s not much room for error here, so it’s imperative you get it right. In our final segment, I give you the Part II of the steps you need to take if you want to make the most of your money in this critical decade, including understanding the importance of estate planning and not being over-allocated to cash. This is the decade to get serious, and this segment is the way to do it. Plus, why you must sometimes “just say no” to your kids.

The Q1 Financial Scorecard

The first three months of 2017 are in the books, and so far, the “Trump rally” has had a material effect on many market segments. Perhaps most surprising has been the outsized gains in international stocks, bonds and gold. Find out how all the markets performed during Q1 in this week’s leadoff segment. 

How To Monitor Your Money  

Now that the first quarter is over, how did your money do? More importantly, just how do you monitor your money, and why is it so important to do so? In this week’s second segment, I give you a few guidelines as to how to monitor your money each quarter… and the best part is that doing so only takes about 30 minutes!

Estate Planning 101

This week, I have a special interview with Mercer Advisors estate planning expert Jeremiah Barlow. Hey, let’s face it, estate planning can be a complicated issue. That’s why you need an expert like Jeremiah’s on your side. In today’s final segment, you’ll hear about many of the critical issues to keep in mind when creating your estate plan. If estate planning has been on your mind (and it should be), then today’s final segment is a must.

“You are the master of your destiny. You can influence, direct and control your own environment. You can make your life what you want it to be.” 

― Napoleon Hill, Think and Grow Rich

Are There Rough Waters Ahead for Markets?

The political environment is getting murky, especially after last week’s failure of the GOP health-care bill. So, what should investors be doing now, especially if rough waters are ahead for markets? The short answer is to get mentally prepared, as bad investor behavior usually sabotages results. In this week’s leadoff segment, I offer a few tips on how to make sure you are mentally prepared so that you don’t fall victim to bad behavior.

How Much is Too Much Real Estate

In my opinion, there’s still a “cult of real estate” in America, as many people still have unrealistic expectations as to the pros and cons of real estate. In this week’s second segment, I provide you with a few considerations about the real estate market, such as timing, diversification and the cost to carry. If you own real estate, income properties or are considering adding to your real estate holdings, this segment is a must. 

So, You Made it to 50… Part I

If you’re in your 50s, congratulations! Now it’s time to make sure you get your financial affairs correct. There’s not much room for error here, so it’s imperative you get it right. In our final segment, I outline seven MUST steps to take if you want to make the most of your money. Hey, it’s time to get serious… and this segment is the way to do it.

Your Bias Is Holding You Back

Are your personal biases holding you back from attaining your financial goals? Mistakes such as confirmation bias, recent event bias and loss aversion bias can cripple your investment results, especially if you let them rule your decision making. In this week’s leadoff episode, I tell you how you can overcome the biases holding you back from achieving economic freedom.

How Old is Too Old to Manage Your Own Money?

I’ve been in this business a long time, and I’ve worked with investors of all ages. At some point, we all need a good advisor to help us navigate the financial landscape. Yet how old is too old to manage your money? In this week’s second segment, I tell you some of my personal experiences that I think will help you answer this question. 

A Listener Q&A

My listeners are the best, and they always send me great questions. In today’s final segment, I handle several questions regarding living trusts, estate planning, pensions and retirement planning. If you’re curious about what’s on your fellow listeners’ minds, or if any of these topics apply to you, then this segment is a must.

The Fed Hikes, and Markets Surge

This week, the Fed did what the market thought it would, and hiked interest rates. The central bank also signaled it would keep hiking rates this year at a “gradual” pace. So, how did the markets react to the Fed announcement? Hint: stocks loved it, bond yields and the dollar hated it. Plus, why international markets are surging.  

Tax Management Tactics

Tax season is here, and soon most of us will be facing a stiff bill from Uncle Sam. And while it might be too late to alter your tax situation this year, now is the time to prepare for future tax years. In this week’s second segment, I present you with several tax management strategies you can employ today.

So, You’re in Your 40s?

Your 30s are over, and now that you’re in your 40s, you should be hitting your stride professionally. So, what should you do now that you’re in your financial prime? Plenty! In today’s final segment, we look at the many key things you need to do to make sure you have financial freedom in your 40s, and what you should do to ensure the transition into your 50s, 60s, 70s and beyond.

The Fed’s About to Hike

The market is pricing in a 100%, yes, a guaranteed, rate hike when the Fed meeting concludes on March 15. But why is the Fed about to hike rates, and what does it mean for your money? Find out the complete rate-hike rundown on stocks, bonds, commodities and other interest-rate sensitive holdings in this week’s leadoff segment.

When Investors Behave Badly  

Investors make a lot of mistakes, but many times they aren’t even aware of those mistakes, nor are they able to keep from making those mistakes even if they know they’re behaving badly. In today’s must-listen middle segment, I talk about some of the more common bad behaviors investors engage in, including behaviors that have caused most individual investors to woefully underperform. Plus, why you should turn off financial TV.

So, You’re in Your 30s?

You got through those wild 20s, and now it’s time to get serious about your career and your financial life. In this week’s final segment, I offer a few tips about how to approach critical life decisions that will shape your financial life—not just right now, but for the next several decades leading up to retirement. If you are in your 30s, or if you have children, family members or friends in their 30s, this segment is aimed directly at you. Plus, how to know when it’s time to buy a house.

The “Soft Market” Rally Continues  

The U.S. stock market is up, consumer confidence is up, and investors are more bullish than ever. Based on the sentiment, or what I call “soft data,” people are just feeling really good about the markets. Well, that worries me a bit, because when so many people rush into the market, that’s usually the time to start feeling like a contrarian. So, how do you approach this market? Find out my thoughts in today’s leadoff segment. Plus, is the Fed going to raise rates this month?

Repetition is the Mother of Skill

If you want to get good at something, you need to constantly repeat that something. For example, if you’re a musician and you want to get better, you must practice (repeat) all the time. The same is true with investing. In today’s second segment, I review some of the most important things you need to do as an investor to make sure you constantly add to your success formula. Plus, new insights from a Mercer colleague.

So, You Made It to 90

If you or someone you love has made it into their 90s, congratulations! Yet with age comes specific problems, and specific freedoms. In today’s final segment, I provide a few thoughts on financial considerations for those who are in their ninth decade of life… and for those who love and support them.

The 3 Reasons for the Trump Rally

The markets have been trading higher on the promise of President Trump getting his pro-growth agenda passed. But what are the three biggest reasons for the Trump rally? More importantly, what are the dark clouds on the horizon that could threaten the Trump rally? Find out my thoughts on these market drivers in this week’s leadoff segment. Plus, why the market now has gotten a bit ahead of itself.

Lessons Learned in Asset Allocation 

When it comes to income strategies, the current investing environment is changing rather rapidly. Bonds are great, but they aren’t likely to deliver the total return that many income investors have grown accustomed to. In our second segment, we look at a few real-life examples of what to do when inflation and normalized interest rates hit home.

Thinking in Terms of Decades

What’s important to you financially in your twenties is not as important in your thirties, forties and fifties. Conversely, what you care about most financially in your sixties has little to do what you cared about in your twenties. In this week’s final segment, I begin the first in a series of thinking about your money in term of life decades, and we start in the twenties. And even though you may not be in your twenties, I suspect you might have children, grandchildren or other relatives that can benefit mightily from a frank discussion on this topic.  

How to Take Action with Your Money  

Are you happy about the markets? Are you thrilled with the 13% post-election gain in the Dow? If you have money in the markets, then you are participating in the upside. Unfortunately, there are many people out there that have way too much cash in their portfolio, and hence they’ve missed out on a lot of gains. Well, don’t be passive anymore. In today’s leadoff segment, I give you a few thoughts, and one key question to ask, so that you can start taking the kind of action you need to take to make your money work for you.

“Doug, I Can’t Buy at New Highs!”

Yes, the market is at all-time highs. And unfortunately, many investors see that as an obstacle to putting their money to work. In today’s second segment, I give you a few thoughts on how to approach this market, and a few tactics on how to incrementally put money to work that makes you feel comfortable. Plus, why using the market’s current position is not a valid excuse for avoiding action.  

A Few Common Mistakes

Common mistakes are “common” because a lot of people make them. In today’s final segment, I review some of the more common “NIGO” mistakes (paperwork that’s Not In Good Order) that you can avoid by simply addressing a few general issues that will help you “take care of your stuff.”

Investors Should Be Elated About Markets Right Now 

Stocks are off to a robust start in 2017, and last week markets soared to all-time highs. Virtually every asset class in the market is up so far year to date, and you should be happy about that. Unfortunately, the only people who aren’t happy about the markets this year are those who are sitting on their hands in cash. In today’s leadoff segment, we look at how markets performed, and why investors should be pleased about it. Plus, do you have your asset allocation right?

It’s All About Alternative Investments 

Do you want to diversify your portfolio, decrease the overall risk in your portfolio, and give yourself the opportunity to smooth out the ride in your portfolio? We all do, but how do you do it? One great way is to use so-called non-correlated assets. These are assets that don’t necessarily move in the same direction as stocks. In today’s second segment, we look at alternative investments, or “alts,” and we explain what the category is, and how it works. Plus, what are “liquid alts,” and are they right for you?

Turning to the Mailbag…

In today’s final segment, I answer several reader questions about the markets, including questions on currency hedges, presidential executive orders, proper portfolio management and making sure your money is being properly taken care of.