RMD

An informal conversation with Laura Drain about the American Dream, family values and how to teach kids about personal finance. 

Finances are important but understanding them are more important. Some terms can be tricky, but never fear! G.S Woods Financial Solutions is here to help.  Here are five key finance terms that you should know: 

1. Cash Flow 

JL 18-12-06.pdf

On October 3, Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell said that “we’re a long way from neutral at this point.”  By “neutral,” he meant an interest rate level that is consistent with price stability and has no significant impact on the economy via credit expansion or contraction.  Tags:

• RMD
• Younger Next Year

The I.R.S. has announced higher retirement plan contribution limits for 2019. Forbes notes the changes @ https://tinyurl.com/ydhwk2pe

By Jeff Bernier

For pilots, the pre-flight checklist is 100% mandatory. To be sure everything is in working order before leaving the ground, pilot and co-pilot work as a team. Together, they walk through each item on the checklist and verbally verify that every step has been completed. “Landing gear.” Check. “Flaps and slats.” Check. “Spoilers.” Check. “Autobrakes.” Check. Each of these items is carefully checked and crosschecked to keep the plane—and everyone onboard—safe and sound from takeoff to landing.

From a financial perspective, a detailed pre-flight checklist is just as important.

In a recent survey by JumpStart Coalition for Financial Literacy, only 26 percent of those between the ages of 13-21 said that they had been taught how to manage money. Yet, when they turn 18, kids are signing contracts for student loans, opening credit card accounts, and in many instances, living away from home with little financial guidance available.

Benjamin Graham, the father of value investing and mentor to Warren Buffett, liked to refer to “Mr. Market” as having bipolar disorder. The stock market tends to behave much more like a human being than a financial instrument. The market can be euphoric one moment and despondent the next. John Keynes, the famous economist, described the market as often being driven by “animal spirits” which could frequently seem irrational.

Unfortunately for investors, when the market starts to act erratically, it can be quite stressful. It causes people to go through similar emotional swings. We feel great when the market is up and believe all is right with the world, and then the moment the market has a down day or two, to immediately thinking we are on the verge of economic collapse.

As of my writing this, the S&P 500 is officially in “correction” territory, which means a 10% pull back from the most recent high. During these times it is beneficial to readdress some very common investing myths that will start to creep into our thoughts and emotions, potentially pushing us to make a poor decision. Below are two of the most common I see:

The importance of considering how the 5D’s (death, divorce, disability, departure and disagreement) will challenge the future of your company and your family.

The psychology of planning for the future can be a tricky process and not one many of us like to face head on given how busy our daily lives are.  As an entrepreneur, planning for your exit and yo