Why and How It Works – S&P 500

History Formed in 1957 the S&P 500 index is a considered a bellwether for the US economy and stock market. It includes the largest publicly traded companies headquartered in the United States. It’s roots as an investment vehicle started when the Vanguard group created the first S&P 500 index fund in 1976. The Vanguard 500 … Read more

There’s Always a Pessimist

Market analysts will always find reasons to report a bear market is coming soon. I found various articles over the 2010s pointing to an imminent downturn. Eventually, the market bears will be correct. They just weren’t in the last decade. In the 2010s, the S&P 500 generated average annual returns of over 13%. And 2020 … Read more

Compound Growth Series: Invest in Your Health

Financial capital is not the only important capital. This article examines another area of your life that needs attention and investment to thrive – your health. I review the current cost of healthcare and global life expectancies. And I analyze potential root causes for the United States’ declining life expectancy. I then outline a few … Read more

The Money Machine

This post begins where many great important things do, the heart… I love my kids. My daughter is 10 and son is 8 (the events of this post were 2 years ago). I want to engage them in financial planning conversations and action. I want to bring loved ones along with me without overwhelming them. … Read more

Being Rash Costs You Cash

This post details another learning opportunity for investors. Learn from my mistakes, so you don’t repeat them. It was late Summer 2020. We were several months into the Covid-19 pandemic and as I reviewed fund performance for the year, I couldn’t help but notice the wide disparity of returns between asset classes in the US … Read more