Tag: financial planning

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Charlie High Income Pilots Retirement Mistakes

Trust Your Instruments, Not Your Gut, When it Comes to Flying AND Investing!

​As a brand-new pilot, one of the first things you learn is how to mitigate the risk of the potentially deadly physiological phenomenon known as spatial disorientation or spatial-D. In pilot speak, spatial-D is when your body is telling you one thing and your flight instruments (and airplane) are telling you something completely different. Sadly, spatial-D has claimed the lives of many pilots.

In this video, one of our newest Leading Edge team members and previous Marine F/A-18 fighter pilot, Mark Covell discusses just one example of spatial-D.  Mark shares how carrier pilots tend to feel like they are pitching up as they are launched off the carrier at night due to the massive acceleration from the catapult. During daytime, VFR conditions this is probably a non-issue. However, in weather, or at night, this type of spatial-D is potentially deadly.

What does spatial-D have to do with investing and retirement planning? Personally, I feel like all of 2020 could be compared to being catapulted off a carrier at night and not knowing what is up or what is down.

During the heat of the battle from February until the markets settled a bit in early April, investor emotions were all over the place. Years of stock market gains evaporated in days, even hours. Furthermore, many people thought, and the news media quickly suggested we were headed for the second Great Depression. And don’t get me wrong, anything was (and is) possible. Sometimes, the unknown can be truly scary.

One slightly humorous example of investor spatial-D was early in the pandemic when the shares of ticker symbol ZOOM shot up due to investors buying up shares as quickly as possible. Zoom Technologies, a so-called penny stock had risen more than 240% in the span of a month before the SEC suspended trading. Unfortunately, the traders failed to realize the ticker symbol ZOOM did not represent the Cloud Video Conferencing company Zoom they thought they were purchasing – Ticker symbol ZM.

Here is the headline from MarketWatch.com dated February 27, 2020.

In the airplane, pilots must fight spatial-D by cross-checking and TRUSTING their instruments. If, as an investor, you did not trust your instruments during 2020, it may have been very costly.

So, it’s a dark night and the weather is terrible.  What are the instruments you trust?  What is your primary and backup instrument? Here are four instruments that I think can save your investments as well as your financial sanity during uncertain times…

1. Cash reserves – Emergency Funds.

    • Having extra cash can prevent withdrawals from retirement accounts or excessive credit card debt in emergencies.  Studies also show having cash in a bank account makes people happy. In an article posted on PYMNTS.com,  “Can Cash Really Make You Happier”, Joe Gladstone, research associate at the University of Cambridge in the U.K. and co-author of two recent studies about money and happiness said,

“We find a very interesting effect: that the amount of money you have in your bank account right now is a better predictor of happiness than your aggregate wealth,” Gladstone explained. “Having more money in their bank account makes people feel more financially secure, which leads to an increase in happiness.”

2. Have a working knowledge of financial history.

    • You don’t have to be an expert or financial historian, but I believe being familiar with financial history is akin to training before you go on a flying mission.  Pilots call this chair flying.  Athletes and musicians use a technique called visualization that helps them prepare for uncertainty and reduce anxiety for a sporting event or concert.

3. Admit that times are scary, and you do not know what’s going to happen.

    • This may sound silly, but I’ve seen many people get themselves into a “square corner” because they assumed that something was going to happen when in fact there was no indication or possible way of knowing what the future may hold.  We have heard investors say “my gut tells me…” many times.
      • Some of the best investors in the world invest with the mindset of preparing to be wrong. That’s why diversification is not popular or “sexy” because it’s like admitting you don’t know what’s going to happen in the future, so you must prepare for multiple scenarios.  However, diversification can feel disappointing but prove to be a profitable strategy over the long term.

BlackRock Investment Management Company posted the graphic below on their investor education website about diversification and “S&P Envy” over the last 20 years.

4. Prepare and Plan by having a clear vision of your goals and priorities.

    • If you don’t understand the “why” behind your investments as well as why you’re investing and saving in the first place, you will most likely bail-out of your plan during difficult and uncertain times.  Changing your investment plan mid-crisis creates a very high likelihood that your investment returns will be significantly lower.
    • Simon Sinek started a movement by encouraging businesses to “Start with Why.” It’s a powerful mindset that leads to trust, inspiration and success.  I believe the same applies to your financial and investment game plan.

5. Remember that you are invested in companies – not politics.

    • Sometimes our politics clouds the investment and retirement planning picture.  This rule falls under the axiom; “control the controllable.”  If you’re allowing your politics to affect your investment game plan than you may want to see rule number 2 above.

Please remember that past performance may not be indicative of future results. Different types of investments involve varying degrees of risk and there can be no assurance that the future performance of any specific investment, investment strategy, or product made reference to directly or indirectly in this video will be profitable, equal any corresponding indicated historical performance level(s), or be suitable for your portfolio. Moreover, you should not assume that any information or any corresponding discussions serves as the receipt of, or as a substitute for, personalized investment advice from Leading Edge Financial Planning personnel. The opinions expressed are those of Leading Edge Financial Planning as of 12/09/2020 and are subject to change at any time due to the changes in market or economic conditions.

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Charlie Kevin Video

Retirement: Everything is Different Now!

Retirement

You may be the type of person that enjoys managing your own investments.  And there’s nothing wrong with that.  However, as you approach or are in retirement things can be very different.  In fact, when your investment goal switches from accumulation to producing retirement income it may seem as though everything is different now!  

 

In this video, Kevin explains why managing your own investments is different when you are retired, and why a fiduciary financial planner may be worth the investment.  

 

Key Points:

We believe a globally-diversified investment approach is still the best plan for capturing positive returns in the long run. Furthermore, chasing the top-performing asset classes and changing your portfolio based on news headlines or current events has been shown to produce lower returns over the long run.  In other words, if you find yourself wanting to change your portfolio as soon as investment headlines turn negative, having a fiduciary financial planner may help you stay focused on your goals instead of abandoning your investment plan during a downturn.  

 

Whether you manage your investments yourself or you have a trusted advisor, here are three things everyone should do to increase your chances of success in retirement.  

  1. Write down an Investment Policy Statement to help you stay focused on your investment goals when everything in the news is negative.
    • For example; “I will invest this way to reach my goals in retirement….”
  2. Be careful chasing the high performing asset classes.
    • A diversified portfolio should stay diversified.
  3. Have someone who will hold you accountable in order to help you focus on your long-term goals when the going gets tough.

 

We appreciate your feedback! Please leave a comment on the video or reach out at https://www.leadingedgeplanning.com/ if you have any thoughts on the video!

Please remember that past performance may not be indicative of future results. Different types of investments involve varying degrees of risk and there can be no assurance that the future performance of any specific investment, investment strategy, or product made reference to directly or indirectly in this video will be profitable, equal any corresponding indicated historical performance level(s), or be suitable for your portfolio. Moreover, you should not assume that any information or any corresponding discussions serves as the receipt of, or as a substitute for, personalized investment advice from Leading Edge Financial Planning personnel. The opinions expressed are those of Leading Edge Financial Planning as of 10/31/2020 and are subject to change at any time due to the changes in market or economic conditions.

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Charlie Education Kevin

How Financial Markets are Affected in Election Years

You can’t help but notice it’s an election year, and often an election year comes with serious concern that the financial markets will go haywire. So, is this worry justified?

In this video, Kevin summarizes the data of the last 90 years to uncover how the financial markets were affected during each presidential election year as well as what happened in the subsequent year. He discusses if the markets reacted differently based on which party won the election, if there are any patterns of market behavior and if you need to adjust your investment strategy in response to the election cycle.

We love hearing from you! Please don’t hesitate to call or email if we can help you, 865-240-2292.

 

Please remember that past performance may not be indicative of future results. Different types of investments involve varying degrees of risk and there can be no assurance that the future performance of any specific investment, investment strategy, or product made reference to directly or indirectly in this video will be profitable, equal any corresponding indicated historical performance level(s), or be suitable for your portfolio. Moreover, you should not assume that any information or any corresponding discussions serves as the receipt of, or as a substitute for, personalized investment advice from Leading Edge Financial Planning personnel. The opinions expressed are those of Leading Edge Financial Planning as of 01/17/2020 and are subject to change at any time due to the changes in market or economic conditions.  This video was filmed in December 2019.

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Charlie Education Kevin Pilots

No Regrets: Plan for Tomorrow so you can Live in the Moment TODAY

In the last few days I learned about three fellow pilots that have lost or are losing their battles with cancer.

A good friend of mine from the Air Force will be put on hospice care soon to make his last days here on earth as comfortable as possible.  His doctors recently determined he cannot handle any more chemo treatments.  It’s been four years, around 90 rounds of chemo, radiation and several surgeries.

Another UPS pilot I know is battling a rare form of cancer called esthesioneuroblastoma and the stark reality of this cancer is that he will likely lose his vision entirely within 6-12 months.  Furthermore, his life expectancy is perhaps two to three more years barring a miracle.

Just recently, a pilot I know passed away from cancer.  A friend of mine was by his bedside during the last moments of his life.  Fortunately, he died in peace knowing that he did all he could to make sure his family was taken care of after he was gone.  He was happy and had no regrets my friend said to me.

I didn’t write all of this to depress or upset anyone.  These situations are difficult to comprehend and it’s hard to know what we can do for our friends and loved ones in these difficult moments.  I wrote this article because I know there are things our friends would want us to learn from their terrible circumstances.

For starters, (and I am preaching to myself here) I think they would want us to slow down a little, spend a little more time trying to create special moments, maybe spend a little less time working and striving.  I’m very much a planner in everything I do and sometimes I struggle with being “in the moment.”  I have a fear of possibly missing out on that next achievement, the next goal, and sadly, maybe even the next dollar.  Maybe I should trade in my next three-day trip for a lesser paying “two-day” so I can see my daughter’s homecoming festivities at her school.  What is it worth in dollar numbers to see my daughter during this special moment?  Which is more valuable to her?  I’m pretty sure I know how my friends battling cancer would answer that question.

Of course, there are other practical things we must do now in order to make sure that if we were in similar circumstances we could also leave this world with no regrets:

1. Work to create special moments and great memories.
Many people believe the quality of their relationships and memories created are a better measure of wealth than their money. I tend to agree. No one on their death bed ever wished they would have spent more time working!
2. Get the appropriate amount and the right type of life insurance for your circumstances.
I think it’s a safe generalization to say that most people do not have enough life insurance.  The amount of life insurance depends on several variables; your net worth, family dynamics, age, etc.  Additionally, there is rarely a need for any other type of life insurance than term life.  Do the math on the amount of life insurance you need and consult someone you can trust to help you determine what type of life insurance is right for you.
3. Make sure your Last Will and Testament and your beneficiaries are up to date.
A new client mentioned to me the other day, “Every time I get in the car with my wife for date night, I wonder what would happen to our kids if we died in a car accident.”  This is a terrible feeling.  Let’s not wonder anymore and make sure we clearly articulate in our will what needs to happen in case of our untimely deaths.And yes, we do know of someone that died and their ex-wife was the beneficiary on their life insurance.  “We’ll never know if that was intentional or not,” said one of the family members.
4. Get a financial plan.
We end almost every article we write with this advice.  The reason I think this is an important step in this context is that almost every family, including my own, struggles with the following question; “How do we balance preparing for the future and still enjoy our time now while our kids are young and we’re healthy?”Financial planning will help clarify the answer to this question.  Planning will help bring balance and confidence to our daily lives because we’ll know that we are doing our best to enjoy our time now, staying in the moment, while still giving ourselves the best chance at achieving our financial goals for the future.

Finally, I am going to give up my three day trip for a two-day in order to go to my daughter’s school homecoming festivities.  It’s the right thing to do and when my time on this earth has come to an end, I want to be able to say, “I don’t have any regrets”.

 

All the best,
Charlie

Please remember that past performance may not be indicative of future results. Different types of investments involve varying degrees of risk and there can be no assurance that the future performance of any specific investment, investment strategy, or product made reference to directly or indirectly in this article will be profitable, equal any corresponding indicated historical performance level(s), or be suitable for your portfolio. Moreover, you should not assume that any information or any corresponding discussions serves as the receipt of, or as a substitute for, personalized investment advice from Leading Edge Financial Planning personnel. The opinions expressed are those of Leading Edge Financial Planning as of 11/25/2019 and are subject to change at any time due to the changes in market or economic conditions.

December 9, 2020