Posts by Thad Gilliam, CFA, CFP®
20 Second Advisor: Trading Stocks Just Got A Lot Cheaper.
This week Charles Schwab announced that they will no longer charge for online trading of stocks, ETFs, and options. Prior to the announcement, Schwab was charging $4.95 per trade. Just this morning, TD Ameritrade also announced that they will cease charging customers trading commissions for online trades of stocks, ETFs, and options (see the official…
Read More20 Second Advisor: Time to Refi?
Mortgage rates have dropped in the last month to the lowest rates since 2016 (see chart below). At the same time, many homeowners have seen their home value increase over the last few years. Now could be an advantageous time to refinance your mortgage to pay down debt, renovate your house, get rid of PMI,…
Read More20 Second Advisor: “The Worst Day Of The Year” & How You Should React.
I was reading the financial news this afternoon. The headline said, “Dow Plunges 800, Worst Day of 2019.” For many investors, that headline will cause some anxiety. Ultimately, every year will have a “worst” day as well as a “best” day. Below is a list of the best and worst days since 2008. Despite all…
Read More20 Second Advisor: Investing near an all-time high in the stock market.
Investors should not be surprised by market highs; in fact, they should happen fairly regularly if stocks are gaining value over the long term. For some investors (especially those close to retirement), a market high can feel more like an indicator to “get out” rather than to celebrate rising prices. If you feel anxious when…
Read More20 Second Advisor: 4th of July & Wealth Creation
As we celebrate the 4th of July this week, please enjoy the hamburgers and hotdogs, the fireworks, and, yes, the ability to create wealth in United States. The Declaration of Independence argues that all people are entitled to “Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness.” The United States provides an incredible place for citizens to…
Read More20 Second Advisor: Vacation Home – Rent or Buy?
It’s summer time. And that means vacations. Families feel the draw of buying a 2nd home while they’re on vacation. On the trip to Florida, couples may think, “Wouldn’t it be great if we had a beach house?” Before you dig into the financials of buying a 2nd home, here are the top non-financial questions…
Read More20 Second Advisor: My private investment is fancier than your public investment! Or is it?
I often hear of investors (or even other advisors) who want to buy private equity investments with the hope of achieving better returns. Private equity is owning a company that is not publicly traded (ie it’s private). Private equity usually has little liquidity (b/c there is no public market for the shares). Private companies often…
Read More20 Second Advisor: Wild Returns – Why You’ll Rarely Have A 10% Return (in a given year).
I often try to gauge a client’s understanding of investing by asking, “What is your return expectation/hope for your portfolio?” Conservative investors will often want 4-6% returns. Aggressive investors may hope for higher returns (maybe 8-10%). Unfortunately, it is VERY rare to get returns in this range. Investing is all about bearing the UNCERTAINTY of…
Read More20 Second Advisor: Fear of Markets? The Cost of Not Investing.
Most of the time we discuss the risk (or uncertainty) individuals take when building their portfolios. Some clients have life experiences that lead them to a very conservative portfolio. Other clients don’t want to take risk AT ALL! We may not immediately think about it, but there is also a cost of NOT investing. For…
Read More20 Second Advisor: Tax Hike? What to do for 2019.
A lot of taxpayers will see their taxes drop as a result of the tax law passed in 2018. However, some families will see an increase in taxes. One of the main triggers for a tax increase is the new cap on the state and local tax (SALT) deduction. Previously, families could deduct an unlimited…
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