SPENDING – AN AMERICAN ADDICTION

How much do you charge? It is a common question for financial advisors. No one wants to overpay for advice, but underpaying can even be worse. Rather than asking, “how much do you charge” perhaps the question should be, “how much is your advice worth?” I am often asked for referrals to other professionals such as…

WHAT DOES YOUR ADVISOR CHARGE?

How much do you charge? It is a common question for financial advisors. No one wants to overpay for advice, but underpaying can even be worse. Rather than asking, “how much do you charge” perhaps the question should be, “how much is your advice worth?” I am often asked for referrals to other professionals such as…

THE DANGEROUS SPORT OF MARKET WATCHING

I love a good football game but sometimes get really annoyed with the non-stop analysis by the supposed experts who spend two weeks before any big game trying to explain all the reasons why one team or another will win. Once the game begins the sportscasters call the game in real time, and proceed to…

THE TIME TO INVEST IS NOW

I was in a store on Christmas Eve when a long time reader asked if I was having a heart attack over the record market loss for that day. I responded that if stock market movements gave me a “heart attack” then I am definitely in the wrong business. We talked about the difference between…

A GIFT FROM SANTA FOR INVESTORS?

As investors have been hoping for a little something from Santa Claus this year, a 1983 Anne Murray song, “A Little Good News” might seem appropriate. In her song she complains about the daily barrage of media negativity and suggests how nice it would be if just one day the headlines read, “Not much to…

TEMPORARY TRADE WARS

When I was quite young I read a great book by Robert Ringer, “Winning through Intimidation.” The book contained some amazing information about negotiations, and how to win them. As I have watched President Trump over the past two years I wonder if perhaps he may have read Mr. Ringers book as well. One principle Ringer…

DON’T GET OVERWHELMED BY INFORMATION

Up until 2013, the two leading causes of small airplane accidents were LOC (Loss of Control) and CFIT (Controlled Flight Into Terrain). CFIT is when a pilot is flying along normally and suddenly he finds the earth at his same altitude. These “under control” accidents happen largely in poor weather or when there is diminished…

STICK WITH QUALITY

We visited our two daughters in Dallas last week and went out one night to find some good old fashioned southern cooking. We headed to a highly recommended restaurant but were disheartened to find the place packed. As we considered our options we noticed a similarly themed restaurant right next door with only a few…

MORE IS NOT ALWAYS BETTER

This week I came across the original contractor’s design for our yard layout. The landscape architect really took his job seriously as I counted over 300 bushes and trees in his plan. At the time I thought he did a pretty good job and as we were moving in couldn’t help but be pleased with…

HOW TO SURVIVE MARKET VOLATILITY

Many who have come into my office have asked about a small green sweater that is framed and hanging on my wall. It seems a strange item for a financial planning firm, but the story behind it plays a significant role in my philosophy towards investing. In 1921 my grandpa Jones opened a small knitting mill…