Investments

How much will you save towards retirement in 2021? Do you know how much you should be saving? Here are the maximum amounts you can save into the most commonly used retirement plans in 2021: 401k Pre-tax or ROTH – $19,500 401k Catch-up if over 50 – $6,500 SIMPLE IRA – $13,500 SIMPLE IRA Catch-up…

I grew up playing baseball, and it was common advice that I needed to hear, “Don’t swing for the fences.” When trying to hit a homerun, you end up taking your eye off the ball, and usually miss hitting the ball entirely. In investing, there is similar wisdom. Yes, it’s alluring to find an investment…

We have covered this topic extensively leading up the the election, but here’s one more viewpoint. Some investors may consider making changes (sometimes drastic) to their investments in the month before or after an election. There is an idea that if Trump wins “ABC” will happen and if Biden wins “XYZ” will occur. In reality,…

If you are concerned about your portfolio leading up to this election, you are not alone. But I am here to bring good news. Since 1926, there have been 23 presidential elections. Out of those 23 elections, we have had 19 positive years (as measured by the S&P 500 index) and only 4 negative years.…

Some clients check their portfolios weekly. Others might only check it once or twice a year. Whenever you look at your performance, you’re really asking yourself: “How I am doing RELATIVE to some other benchmark?“ For example, if the Dow Jones Industrial Average is up 10% and your portfolio is also up 10%, you would…

Below is an excerpt from an article I thoroughly enjoyed reading. It captures the thoughts and emotions of several clients I’ve spoken to recently, and how/why the market can be so high right now amid all the uncertainty. From its record high on February 19, 2020 the S&P 500 Index1 fell 33.79% in less than 5…

Recently, I watched the video below with professor Kenneth French (he’s one of the smartest finance minds in the world!). In the short video, he compares successfully timing the market to the idea of sports betting. To be successful in betting on a game, you cannot simply know which team is going to win or…

Often, the largest market cap stocks are in headlines a lot. Today, some of the largest stocks in the US include names such as Apple, Microsoft, Amazon, Google, and Berkshire Hathaway (just to name a few). Since we hear about these companies so often, should we own more of these stocks? Yes and no. The…

Last week, Thad did a great job of illustrating why it’s in your best interest to stay invested during volatile times. We thought a word picture would also help! Have you ridden a roller coaster in a while? I bet you can still recite the safety instructions that are repeated over and over again as…

Let’s be honest. We’re in a weird place. COVID-19 seems to be getting better, but we are not out of the woods yet. With your investments, we are in a similar spot. The S&P 500 dropped from 3386 to 2237 (34% loss) from mid February until late March. In less than 60 days, the S&P…

20 Second Advisor: 2021 Retirement Contributions

20 Second Advisor: Don’t swing for the fences.

20 Second Advisor: Voting & Stock Advice?!

20 Second Advisor: What history tells us in an election year

20 Second Advisor: Jelly Beans & Performance

20 Second Advisor: Is the Stock Market Divorced from Economic Reality?

20 Second Advisor: Can you beat the spread?

20 Second Advisor: Should you buy the biggest stocks?

20 Second Advisor: Roller Coaster Safety

20 Second Advisor: Perils of Timing the Market…Again.