The market decline of early 2016 was not anywhere near the magnitude of a bear market such as we experienced in the year 2000 or in 2008. Yet it had some of the same feel as past events. Times like that are never easy for investors, who must confront their concern that maybe this time […]
In the latest edition of The Plan, Jamie mentioned the 4% rule of thumb for withdrawal rates. To delve a bit deeper, the 4% rule hails from the 1994 Trinity Study which looked at past returns for a “moderate” investment portfolio. This study determined that an initial withdrawal rate of 4%, annually adjusted for inflation, […]
Many years ago when I was just beginning my budding career, an older and wiser financial advisor told me that “the only rule of thumb is that there is no rule of thumb”. My experience has taught me to believe it. Take savings rates for instance. Many have heard the rule of thumb: “Save 10% of […]
In February, my youngest son Gabriel graduated from Saybrook University in Seattle with a Master’s Degree in Industrial Psychology with a focus on Organizational Systems. In March, he and his wife Jaimee (who has trouble spelling her name correctly) moved to Bellingham to escape the big city and be closer to family. Gabe’s extensive and […]
If you’ve been with us long enough, you know that we value efficient diversification on a very large scale. True diversification decreases your risk without decreasing your expected return over long periods of time; an invaluable component of a robust financial plan. Not only do we invest in thousands of different securities, but we also invest across […]
After 17 years in our downtown office, Financial Plan is moving to a new office location. Beginning October 1st, 2014 our office will be on Barkley Blvd. Our new address is: Financial Plan, Inc. 2115 Barkley Blvd, Suite 101 Bellingham, WA 98226 Our telephone and fax numbers remain unchanged, as […]
As a Financial Plan client you often receive simple advice that is easy to follow. Your first impression might have been similar to this: You came in and let us know you would like to retire. After a couple of meetings of being poked, prodded, and answering every question under the sun, you left with […]
Harry S. Dent Jr – Best-selling author, founder of economics research firm HS Dent, predictor of the 1980 Japanese market bubble and the US Bull Market of the 1990s, MBA of Harvard Business School, top 5% in his graduating class… the accolade list goes on and on. When someone like Harry S. Dent Jr. speaks, […]
For quite a few years now, faith in the markets has been sorely tested. After severe bear markets, confidence in the market’s ability to recover is often lacking. Now for the first time in many years, we have the opposite problem: The markets have recently hit all-time highs: Aren’t we at a “top” now? Shouldn’t […]
Most investors tend to have a high level of angst regarding their stock and stock mutual fund investments. When the investing public is euphoric, investors buy stocks, driving the market higher; and when they panic, they sell stocks, causing it to plunge in value. Over short time frames of one, five, and even ten years, […]
