Balance & Harmony

01/22/2022

Yes, a few lucky folks may win the lottery or be born into wealth, however most of us have to work diligently to achieve financial success.

It appears that achieving wealth comes easy for some people, but we haven't seen the dedication, discipline, and focus it took to get there. The iceberg pictured shows an illusion. We only see the 10% above the water. We don't see what lies underwater, which of course, are the good habits and the time it took to get to the vision above water.

What is your financial vision? What do you want to see above the water? What steps do you need to complete to achieve your financial vision?

Click on the link to obtain more information or to speak to one of our advisors. https://www.corinthianwealth.com/

01/10/2022

Hope you enjoyed your holidays. Here is the Corinthian Market Perspective for 2022. Stay tuned for more Corinthian Market Perspectives.

Click on the link to read our current blog, “Corinthian Wealth Management Market and Economic Perspective” for January 2022.

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/market-perspective-corinthian-wealth-management

Visit our website for more information on Corinthian Wealth Management. https://www.corinthianwealth.com/

02/01/2021

A question I like to pose when discussing the markets: “What is the single most important factor in determining whether markets rise or fall.” Is it earnings, housing, unemployment, GDP (gross domestic product), etc.? These fundamentals are undoubtedly important; however, one concept stands head and shoulders above everything else-supply and demand. If more folks are buying (demand), prices go up. If there are lots of people selling, prices will go down. This principle applies across the board, from stocks and bonds to houses, automobiles, etc. It seems almost too simple; however, this concept has been with us for a long time. And yes, even the same forces that move prices in the supermarket move the stock market. If more buyers are willing to buy than sellers willing to sell, prices go up. If there are more sellers than buyers, prices go down. An example, a company comes out with a new product that everyone thinks they need. That company’s stock price will go up due to demand created by this hot new product. Of course, if the product is a flop, the stock will probably go down due to less demand and more supply. Another example, a stock is trading around $10.00, and there are few buyers. The price falls to $8.00. All of a sudden, buying (demand) picks up. So the demand for our stock increased at a lower price.
For 2021, what is your method for screening and selecting investments? We have a rigorous process to run each asset at CWM before it is added to our portfolios. Stay tuned to our next market update, where we will delve more into what moves the market. Until then, stay safe!

01/29/2021

2021-a new year, a new president. Something to ponder -Why is money important? Or why does money matter? Why build wealth? The obvious answer is money buys things -food, clothing, shelter, medical care, to name a few. Have you ever considered what is important about wealth to you? A few days ago, I listened to someone talking on the radio, emphasizing that experiences give us far more happiness than possessions. The speaker mentioned that experiences result in longer-lasting happiness, whereas a new possession can create temporary euphoria, and then the “newness” quickly wears off. The experience of spending time with family, a child’s birthday party, an intimate gathering of close friends (with masks, of course, & socially distanced) tends to offer some variety and unpredictability. Looking back, I reflect on fun, happy times (experiences) rather than the last car I purchased. We tend to be active participants with an experience, whereas possession is a “thing” that probably will either wear out sometime in the future or be discarded or replaced. Happy experiences are not tossed aside but stored and drawn upon at leisure. When considering a new possession, it is common to “shop around” for the best price & product. There is no shopping for experiences-we; all have them, and they are personal & our own.

01/28/2021

Clutter in your financial life mirrors clutter on your desk. Cleaning up clutter gives us breathing space. If there is too much “stuff,” it can appear overwhelming as the question is where to start. Take a small portion-maybe even a corner of your desk, table, etc. and categorize it into two piles-shred & re-cycle and file. Shredding is a great way to put clutter out of sight and out of mind. Do make sure your filing system is kept up to date, as often we hold on to paperwork that needlessly.
When it comes to investments, look at your portfolio for “clutter”-are there investments that may have been appropriate at one time no longer serving you? Has your view of risk changed? Your risk number-how much risk do you want, how much risk you need to take to reach your goals, and how much risk you have in your portfolio.? Yes, everyone does have a risk number, obtained through a simple questionnaire. Once we determine your risk number, we then analyze your portfolio and see how much risk you currently have. Is there a match? Risk numbers run from 1 (very low) to 100 (very aggressive). Risk number assessment is a free service and a great way to start the new year. Whether it’s your workspace or your portfolio, getting through the clutter can be a big sigh of relief and give you space to focus on the things that are important to you.

01/27/2021

As 2021 gets underway, the subject of taxes becomes a familiar topic. Those who are employed make sure that you are having enough taxes withheld to avoid receiving a tax bill. For those of you who are self-employed, do stay current with your estimated taxes. While it’s always in your best interest to pay as little as possible, be aware of the terms tax avoidance and tax evasion. What’s the difference? The difference is about seven years, as the joke goes. Joking aside, the IRS continues to warn about con artists posing as IRS agents. One of the most common scams is through a telephone call. You are told you owe back taxes and or penalties. Unless payment is made immediately, lawsuits, a call to the police, or even federal law enforcement involvement may occur. These calls are all scams! Please, if you ever receive one of these calls, hang up immediately. The IRS does not reach out and call taxpayers. (need a closing statement).

01/26/2021

Dave’s Market Update: In real estate it’s all about location, location, location. In the stock market, it’s all about rotation, rotation, rotation. As an example, Large Cap Growth domestic stocks had a great 2020, although they began to give way to mid-cap and small cap growth towards the end of the year. Now, when we look at domestic stocks, mid-cap and small-cap are beginning to lead the pack. So what does this mean for your portfolios? Sometimes money managers will tilt the portfolio towards what is in favor. Rather than employing short term trades they focus on long term trends. So as an example Small Cap Growth and Mid Cap Growth may have more emphasis in portfolios going forward. Is the market truly rotating out of Large Cap Growth into Mid & Small Cap Growth? Time will tell. Also, as the dollar weakness continues international stocks have been picking up.
Stay tuned, next time we will talk about removing “clutter” from your portfolio.

01/01/2021

Happy New Year! ✨

12/31/2020

Market Update: The S&P 500 closed up slightly Dec 18, 2020 from the previous week while volatility as measured by the underlying volatility index fell slightly. Volatility is often referred to as the “fear index.” As this fear index rises, markets tend to fall and become more volatile. Last Friday, the volatility index closed in the lower end of its trading band. On March 18th 2020 the volatility index spiked as the pandemic was taking hold. This means that the volatility index fell significantly in a short period (from the end of March to Dec 18th) while the market rebounded. While these extremes are very unusual, the markets did the expected, rising significantly as volatility was falling.

With the announcement of a new stimulus bill and progress with the vaccine, these factors are helping to give the market support and hopefully keep volatility down. As President Franklin Roosevelt said, “the only thing we have to fear is fear itself.”

12/31/2020

As 2020 winds down, I would like to take this time to reflect and express gratitude for many things. For me, it's been an incredible year to connect with family and loved ones. I am grateful for my continued excellent health. And, of course, I am most grateful to work with amazing folks like you who have endured these challenging times.

As we look ahead to 2021, I remember that a new year means a fresh start and new commitments. A new start often means re-stating some of our 2020 goals from diet, exercise to saving more. Consider charitable donations-these often come from the heart, with the tax benefits being a secondary consideration. Just like cleaning out a storage unit, garage, etc., and getting rid of "stuff'' you don't need, Charitable Donations are a great way of passing on funds to folks who can use them.

I find putting my thoughts and goals in writing brings them to life and makes them real and tangible. Thoughts and ideas written down become a commitment and keeping them in a place where I can regularly refer to them is a constant reminder. Even something as basic as exercising-putting this in my calendar reminds me to avoid excuses and prioritize health.

What are some of your 2021 goals? How do you turn your goals into commitments?

12/30/2020

As we countdown the days for 2020 to officially be over, let’s look ahead to 2021.

Getting organized maybe not the most fun activity; however, it sure feels good once accomplished. A starting point can be to develop a filing system. Some folks like to use spreadsheets; others stick with paper and perhaps a filing cabinet. Consider discarding or filing old mail and paperwork and even organizing a junk drawer- you know, that place you toss things that you are not sure whether to keep or discard can get things rolling. Clear off that counter, as starting with a “blank canvas” opens up lots of possibilities.

Taking these steps can help you stay organized and maintain Balance & Harmony in your life.