Getting Started Investing

“Every investment is the present value of all future free cash flow.” Everything Money

Many people want to learn how to get started investing, but they allow emotion, fear of loss, and doubts about making a mistake stop them from taking that initial step of purchasing stocks and bonds.

Some common concerns regarding investing, according to Phil Towns, founder The Rule #1, include:

  • “I’m afraid I’ll fail and lose all my money.”
  • “There’s no way I can make time for investing in my day! I’m busy!”
  • “I don’t have the skills to invest.”

These are all popular rationalizations for why you may be dragging your feet on investing in assets, particularly equity stocks, bonds, mutual funds and exchange traded funds ((ETF).

Yet, investing in the stock market continues to be the best way to grow your wealth and to achieve financial freedom. To begin, you might consider investing in well-known companies’ or blue-chips stocks that are less volatile, which can avoid big stock price swings.

Many people started investing for the first time during the COVID-19 pandemic. While some people prefer trading stocks over short periods of time, you might want to consider long-term investing. The stock market on average produces around a 10% annual return. While this may seem easy, not many people actually achieve such returns. And one of the main reasons is because investors don’t stay invested long enough. 

Admittedly, choosing the right stocks to invest in can be a time-consuming endeavor. This is true even for many seasoned investors. If you are new to the stock market, buying companies that you are familiar with, like Apple or Walt Disney, maybe a good place to start. It would be beneficial to have an idea of how the companies make its money. Besides, picking stocks with strong balance sheets and stellar growth prospects below its intrinsic value or worth could increase your chances of success.

Value investing

Great investors never stop learning

Value investing is buying companies for less than they’re worth…their intrinsic value. According to the Kenneth Jeffery Marshall, professor, value investor, and the author of “Good Stocks Cheap”, best value investing procedures to utilize include:

  • Do you understand the company
  • Is it a good company:
    • Has it been historically good
    • Will it be good in the future
    • Is it shareholder friendly
  • Is the stock price cheap or at what price will the company’s stock become cheap (margin of safety)

The secret of successful investing: Staying invested and patience. Stock prices can be volatile and can fluctuate unpredictably in the short term.  But the intrinsic values of companies stay relatively steady. Thus, you should chose to invest in companies selling for less than they are worth (intrinsic value) and not over pay for a company.

The reality is that some of your selected stocks will lose money. That’s why it is important to diversify your investments, so that losses in a stock may be outweighed by gains in other stocks.

If you had invested $1,000 in stocks like the S&P 500 or Apple (AAPL) 10 years ago, it would have grown and be worth $4,528.52 (S&P 500) and $11,149.68 (Apple) today, respectfully. Effectively, the S&P 500 rose 229.91% and Apple gained 1,062.82% gain. Theses returns exclude dividends but includes price increases.

Anyone can and should be invested in assets, but building a successful investment portfolio requires research, patience, and a little bit of risk. Thus, it’s essential to learn how to study and value companies to invest.

So, if you had invested in Apple ten years ago, you’re likely feeling pretty good about your investment today.

“The historic price of a stock does not determine the future price of that stock.” Kenneth Jeffrey Marshall,.

Additionally, according to the Kenneth Jeffery Marshall, there are four reasons in which a stock should be sold. The reasons are:

  1. When company’s stock price flies past intrinsic value,
  2. When a company thought to be good turns out not to be,
  3. In buyouts, or
  4. When a clearly better opportunity emerges.

Buy with a margin of safety means buying companies inexpensively which both increases investment returns and lowers risk. Basically, stocks tend to realize their fundamental value and potential in the long term. You have to be patient and stick with them.


References:

  1. https://www.nasdaq.com/articles/if-you-invested-%241000-in-apple-10-years-ago-this-is-how-much-youd-have-now-2021-06-23
  2. https://myfintalk.com/good-stocks-cheap-review/
  3. https://www.nasdaq.com/articles/15-best-stocks-to-buy-for-beginners-2020-11-12
  4. https://wtop.com/news/2021/11/9-best-cheap-stocks-to-buy-under-10/

Beware: Apple AirTags Being Used to Track and Stalk

Apple launched its AirTag product, a small chip that can help people track lost items. But it’s already being used to track and stalk people without their knowledge.

An AirTag is a 1.26-inch disc with location-tracking capabilities that Apple started selling as a way “to keep track of your stuff.” The AirTags were released to deter us from making the mistakes we all do of misplacing our keys, wallet, purse and even luggage by allowing us to track them.

The tiny $29 AirTags have proved popular, selling out consistently since their unveiling.

There is growing concern that the AirTags may be abetting a new form of tracking and stalking, which privacy groups predicted could happen when Apple introduced the devices

Researchers now believe AirTags, which are equipped with Bluetooth technology, could be revealing a more widespread problem of tech-enabled tracking. They emit a digital signal that can be detected by devices running Apple’s mobile operating system. Those devices then report where an AirTag has last been seen.

But AirTags present a “uniquely harmful” threat because the ubiquity of Apple’s products allows for more exact monitoring of people’s movements, said Eva Galperin, a cybersecurity director at the Electronic Frontier Foundation who studies so-called stalkerware.

“Apple automatically turned every iOS device into part of the network that AirTags use to report the location of an AirTag,” Ms. Galperin said. “The network that Apple has access to is larger and more powerful than that used by the other trackers. It’s more powerful for tracking and more dangerous for stalking.”

“AirTag Detected Near You.”

AirTags and other products connected to Apple’s location-tracking network, called “Find My,” trigger alerts to unknown iPhones they travel with. The AirTag product page on Apple’s website notes that the devices are “designed to discourage unwanted tracking” and that they will play a sound after a certain amount of time of not detecting the device to which they are paired.

After concerns about AirTag stalking and illicit tracking were raised, Apple instituted some security measures meant to discourage this practice. If an AirTag remains separated from its owner for eight to 24 hours, the AirTag will begin making a beeping sound to alert people nearby of its presence. When it does so within that time period is randomized, Apple says, to make it more difficult for bad actors to use AirTags to track others. However, people who said they have been tracked have called Apple’s safeguards insufficient.

If the person being tracked has an iPhone, their phone will notify them once it notices someone else’s AirTag has traveled with the person for some time, although Apple hasn’t specified how long that takes.


References:

  1. https://www.apple.com/airtag
  2. https://www.nytimes.com/2021/12/30/technology/apple-airtags-tracking-stalking.html
  3. https://www.wgrz.com/article/news/verify/technology-verify/airtags-strangers-unknown-can-track-location-even-if-not-your-own/536-11082147-7387-46e2-81c4-8327f839d735

Create a Personal Sinking Fund

Create Your 2022 ‘Sinking Fund’

A personal sinking fund can be used to accumulate the funds or a set amount of money for a specific purchase at a set future time. For this purpose, a sinking fund allows you to accumulate funds to prevent the occurrence of debt. The “sinking” in the term “sinking fund” refers to the reduction in net obligation.

Sinking funds are different from general savings or emergency funds because of their specific purpose.

Since not all personal savings accounts are created equal, you can create a savings account (or personal sinking fund) for any big-ticket items you will purchase in the upcoming year. A sinking fund can be used to set aside money to pay off debt, to save for a planned investment, like areal estate or a major home renovation.

Essentially, a sinking fund is set up for a particular purpose. Using a sinking fund, you can allocate savings for each major expense in its own separate account. A sinking fund can be used by anyone who wants to save up for a large, planned purchase. You can begin a sinking fund for a wide variety of reasons, including:

  • Vacation
  • Car purchases
  • Holiday expenses
  • Home renovation
  • Wedding expenses
  • Down payment on a home
  • Property taxes

“Your sinking funds are automatic savings accounts that are building for something you know you’re going to spend money on this year,” said Chris Peach, founder of Money Peach. “What will you spend on Christmas next year, what will you need for your vacation this summer, or how much will you have to save up for your sister’s wedding across the country in November? Divide the amount needed by the number of months remaining and create an automatic savings plan for when that day comes. Do this for each major expense coming up and then rinse and repeat.”

Summary

As you can see, planning and savings can go a long way in helping you manage your personal finances. A sinking fund is the perfect way to make sure you are putting away the money you need to accomplish your long-term goals and that it will still be there when you need it.

Sinking funds work best for known future expenses that don’t fit nicely into your monthly budget and help consumers avoid debt.


References:

  1. https://www.fortunebuilders.com/sinking-fund/
  2. https://centsai.com/must-reads/centsai-sensei/sinking-funds/
  3. https://www.gobankingrates.com/money/financial-planning/9-new-years-resolutions-successful-people-make-year/

Top Financial New Year’s Resolutions

“Knowledge is power, and I submit that financial knowledge is also security.” Elizabeth Duke, Member of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve

It’s time for you to say goodbye to calendar year 2021 and to welcome in the New Year. And, it is time to think about setting financial resolutions and goals for the New Year.

You, like many Americans, should establish New Year’s financial resolutions that are both within your reach and represent your top financial priorities and aspirations.

The most popular financial goals are paying down debt, saving for emergencies, budgeting better and saving more for retirement, a Bankrate poll found.

The problem is that most people fail to keep their New Year’s resolutions.

“Everyone wants to make more money, save more money, invest more,” financial expert Steve Siebold, author of “How Money Works”, said. “But when it comes down to it, we tend to react emotionally instead of logically and that is the downfall.”

To help people you get started, here are a few resolutions that can help put you on track to achieve your financial objectives and dreams in 2022. 

Determining where you are financially

Before you can begin saving for the future, investing for the long term, spending less and building wealth, you must first figure out what are your current financial circumstances. It’s essential to determine your current cash flow (income minus expenses) and net worth (assets minus expenses). That’s the first critical step to making a comprehensive — and realistic — plan to achieve your financial goals and financial freedom. With regards to goals, You must get as specific and detailed as possible in defining your goals.

Once you determine where you’re financially, the subsequent step is to consider what you hope to accomplish financially in the next year or two. For instance, is buying a house at the top of the list? Maybe finally taking a vacation after nearly two years is a priority. One of your kids might be driving soon or preparing to leave for college. Reviewing what you need to save for is useful as you start to prep your financial blueprint. 

Pay down debt

Debt or loans are an excellent way to use future income to pay for an important purchase today, such as a car, an education, or a home. However, a Fidelity survey found that 41% of survey respondents expressed a strong desire to prioritize paying down debt or their loans in 2022. Additionally, a recent study found 75 percent of adults carry a credit card balance from month to month. Among those who carry a balance, the average amount is $5,315.

While there are many ways to use credit cards, personal loans and other forms of debt strategically to earn rewards, finance a big purchase and ultimately build your wealth, debt can still be a financial and emotional burden for many borrowers. Those with student loan debt, for example, often cite that their high monthly payments make it difficult for them to save for other goals, like owning a home.

One popular strategy for paying down debt is called the snowball method. It entails paying more toward your debt with the lowest balance while paying just the minimum on all your other debts. Once that debt is paid off, you can move onto the second lowest balance and repeat the process until you’re debt-free. This allows you to knock out one debt faster, which can make you feel accomplished and more motivated to keep tackling the others.

Create a financial plan

Having a financial plan or strategy will help you to achieve your financial goals and increase your likelihood of being financially healthy and achieving your financial goals in the long run.

Without a long term plan, you’re living in the moment which puts you at greater financial risk and leaves you with a more limited selection of financial options.

Financial planning is a process. It provides an overview of personal asset-building strategies that includes setting financial goals, budgeting, saving and investing, managing debt, and achieving financial freedom.

From the experience of many Americans, making a plan and sticking to it brings real success whether in the form of a healthier lifestyle or in the form of a more secure financial future.

Conversely, planning is essential for a more secure and healthy financial future.

Automate your savings

Saving is important, and you’re going to need to increase your savings to manage your financial lives successfully. American families rely on savings and investments to achieve a secure retirement, save for their children’s education, buy homes, start businesses, manage financial emergencies, and pass on wealth and opportunities to the next generation. This not only makes financial sense, but there’s a growing body of evidence that families with savings and assets generally do better in life.

Most people have the ability to save if they plan accordingly. One of the easiest ways to build savings is by automating contributions, which alleviates having to think about how much money to set aside each month.

Think about your own 401(k). At one point, perhaps when you were hired, you made one decision to save, and the rest was done for you–automatic payroll deductions, investments, statements, etc. Automatic payroll deductions can also be established to build general savings, savings for college, and other critical pre-retirement assets.

Regardless of which option you choose, make it a priority to have your savings automated.

Start an emergency fund

Nearly half of all Americans consider themselves financially fragile, meaning that they would “probably” (22.2 percent) or “certainly” (27.9 percent) be unable to come up with $2,000 in 30 days to cope with a financial emergency, according to a Brookings report. Similarly, almost half of all Americans report having trouble making ends meet.

Almost half of all households surveyed in the 2009 Survey of Consumer Finances had less than $3,000 in liquid savings, and 20 percent had less than $3,000 in broader savings. Finally, in a recent Bankrate survey on the effects of unemployment and the recession, 70 percent of workers reported withdrawing funds saved in college and retirement accounts for present day needs, likely leading to a significant loss of wealth in future years. But an emergency fund is an important financial tool that can help deal with unexpected expenses, such as home or car repairs.

These circumstances emphasize the importance of savings that can be used for emergencies. Even a minimum amount of emergency savings can have a significant impact, especially among lower-income households. In fact, the Consumer Federation of America found that low-income families with $500 in emergency savings had better financial outcomes than moderate-income families with lower savings.

The new year is as good a time as any to start (or grow) your emergency fund. In general, experts recommend saving three to six months of living expenses. Start by opening a separate and dedicated high-yield savings account.

Boost your retirement savings

Saving for retirement is one of the most important aspects of a sound financial plan.

“Use [the new year] to boost or maximize contributions to 401(k)s or HSAs, plot out holistic retirement goals (e.g., Where will I live? Will I work? How much to budget for travel?) and, no matter your age or life stage, take meaningful steps to boost your financial wellness,” says Lorna Sabbia, head of retirement and personal wealth solutions at Bank of America.

There are a few ways you can boost your retirement savings. For one, if your employer offers a 401(k) match, be sure you’re contributing enough to get the full match since it’s essentially free money. Another thing to consider is looking at where your money is being invested. Many experts recommend investing in a diverse portfolio of assets to reduce your risk but still achieve attractive returns.

Finally, it’s important to remember that the only way you get the market’s long-term average return of 10 percent is by holding through all the tough times.

“Your retirement savings will grow quicker if you pick a solid long-term plan and then stick with it through the good and bad times, but especially the bad times,” says James Royal, Bankrate investment and wealth management reporter.

Royal says that investors should continue adding to the account and keep from selling, no matter how tempting it may be.

Invest more

Don’t limit your investing to only making tax-advantaged retirement contributions.

If you already have an emergency savings account, consider setting up an investment account for goals with specific time horizons, like early retirement or saving for a house.

“While it’s great to max out your tax-advantaged retirement accounts — $6,000 in an IRA and up to $20,500 in a 401(k) — you’re going to have even more opportunities if you save in a taxable account as well,” Royal says.

Royal adds that some of the biggest perks of investing outside of your retirement account include:

  • No limit to what you can save.
  • Tax deferral benefits on unrealized gains (stocks you don’t sell).
  • Immediate access to the cash without penalties or other restrictions.

If you’re just getting started, consider looking into a robo-advisor, which will do the investing for you after taking your risk tolerance and ideal earnings into consideration.

As we head into the new year, saving more money, spending less and paying down debt are all top-of-mind for many Americans. There are many ways to achieve these goals, but the most important step is considering what’s right for your personal circumstances. This will help set you up for success when working toward those goals.

Focus on physical health

Nearly everyone wants to lose weight after the holidays. However, health professionals contend that it’s not about shedding pounds, but managing your physical health that’s the most important.

Rather than focusing on losing weight, focus your energies on making a lifestyle change like resolving to eat something healthy every day. Or, if your gym routine has dried up, try new exercises to pique your interest.

There s a strong correlation and relationship between eating healthy and physical health to financial health. Aside from making sure your finances are in order, experts also recommended taking care of your physical health through exercise, nutritional diet and other healthy practices. 

By doing those things, you could decrease your health care costs and make wiser financial decisions focused more on the long term. 

Focus on increasing your net worth

A successful financial life isn’t about increasing your annual income — it’s about increasing your net worth, which is assets minus liabilities.

“Focus on your net worth before focusing on your income,” said Chris Peach, founder of Money Peach. “No one ever talks about how much Bill Gates, Jeff Bezos or Oprah Winfrey makes — they report their net worth. The reason is the true measure of wealth is not your income, but rather your net worth. Once you have your net worth on paper, set a goal to increase your net worth. To do so, identify ways you can decrease the amount you owe and how you can add to what you own.

And if any of this seems daunting, remember that one of the best ways to achieve a big goal is to break it down into smaller pieces. “Start with the end in mind,” said Peach. “Determine where you will be one year from now and then reverse engineer your goal to determine what it actually looks like.”

Almost everyone has that one big dream or big audacious goal they have filed away in the “someday” category of their brains. Make 2022 the year that you resolve to start accomplishing that goal.


References:

  1. https://www.bankrate.com/banking/top-financial-new-years-resolutions/
  2. https://www.cnbc.com/2022/01/01/how-to-keep-your-financial-new-years-resolutions.html
  3. https://www.cnbc.com/select/2022-financial-new-years-resolutions-americans/
  4. https://www.federalreserve.gov/newsevents/speech/duke20111022a.htm
  5. https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/technology/5-new-years-financial-resolutions-you-can-keep/ar-AASeI4p
  6. Annamaria Lusardi, Daniel Schneider, and Peter Tufano (2011), “Financially Fragile Households: Evidence and Implications (PDF), Brookings Papers on Economic Activity (Washington, D.C.: Brookings Institution , Spring)
  7. https://www.gobankingrates.com/money/financial-planning/9-new-years-resolutions-successful-people-make-year

Believe in Yourself and in Your Goals

“We are what we repeatedly do.” Aristotle

Belief in Yourself and in Your Goals are an essential first step and ingredient for living the life you dream. You must believe in yourself and have faith in your abilities if you ever expect to succeed and prosper.

The adage — Winners expect to win and successful people expect to succeed — remains true today as it has over the past several decades.

A shortage of belief causes many people to give up steps short of their intended destination or to never begin in the first place. In many cases, it causes one to quit and sabotage their success when right on the doorstep.

Many people simply don’t feel worthy of success. It’s based on an erroneous belief or mindset implanted when young and allowed to grow unchallenged. Nevertheless, it’s essential that you have find that belief in yourself and faith in your abilities in order to have the life you desire and deserve.

You deserve to be successful. There is no reason for you not to have what you want unless you ignore the principles of success, fail to take the first step and quit before reaching your destination.

Set goals that are specific and challenging (but not too hard).

When people followed two principles — setting specific and challenging goals — it led to higher performance and achievement 90 percent of the time. Basically, the more specific and challenging your goals, the higher your motivation toward hitting them.

When you have that much clarity around your goal, your chances of hitting the mark increase dramatically.

Be passionate about your goals and committed to the end.

Research says that successful people achieve their goals not simply because of who they are, but more often because of what they do.

Use a feedback cycle to track progress.

Align all your goals.

Psychologists have found that people who are mentally healthy and happy have a higher degree of ‘vertical coherence’ among their goals — that is, higher-level (long-term) goals and lower-level (immediate) goals all fit together well so that pursuing one’s short-term goals advances the pursuit of long-term goals.

Lean on trusted advisors.

Seeking out expert guidance and advice makes a big impact on achieving your goals. That’s why successful people are no lone rangers. They surround themselves with mentors and advisors who will support them on their journey.

Avoid multitasking

The most successful people are very patient and live by the motto “one step at a time.” They also avoid juggling many things. Multitasking is not a good strategy for success according to research. Multitasking splits your focus over many tasks, causing you to lose focus, lowering the quality of your work and taking longer to hit your goals.

work on several smaller chunks to complete a big goal. But they do it by knocking one down then moving on to the next one.

As you break the goal down into smaller chunks, each of those chunks should have their own deadlines. Amy Morin in Forbes calls these “now deadlines”

“….break the goal down into smaller chunks, each of those chunks should have their own deadlines.”


References:

  1. https://www.inc.com/marcel-schwantes/science-says-92-percent-of-people-dont-achieve-goals-heres-how-the-other-8-perce.html
  2. http://successnet.org/cms/goals/top-ten-reasons-people-dont-achieve-their-goals

Peace and Joy Be With You in Abundance

Share the Peace and Joy of Christmas

Peace is an inner state of well-being and calm. Peace is more than the absence of war and conflict. Peace means wholeness, peace of mind, quietness, or rest. Peace is being well, whole and complete. It means to be in the midst of noise, trouble, turmoil or hard work, and still be calm in your heart and mind. Peace comes when your mind, body and spirit are in harmony. It is the favor blessings from God over our lives.

Joy is a feeling of great happiness; an extreme sense of gladness and delight. A sense of contentment of where we are. It’s an emotion evoked by well-being, success, good fortune or by the prospect of possessing what one desires. Joy is the presence of hope, meaning and purpose in our lives. Spiritual Joy – can be only found in a relationship with God. And, it does not change with the circumstances of life. When Jesus was born, he brought joy into the world along with righteousness and peace. Spiritual joy is a deep cheerfulness and gladness of heart. It is happiness and a calm spirit.

Family. Friends. Peace. Joy.

Wishing you and family the best this Christmas holiday season.

And May Peace and Joy Be With You in Abundance!


References:

  1. https://wau.org/resources/article/peace_be_with_you/

Wealth and Financial Freedom Mindset

A major factor regarding effectively managing your money and achieving financial freedom is maintaining a positive and confident mindset. Maintaining a positive growth mindset takes effort and knowledge. Here are some ways to start thinking about financial matters and building wealth:

Focus On What You Want – And Take It! So many people are too timid to admit they want something and go for it. When there is something that you want to accomplish don’t think “I could never actually do that”, think “I could do that and I WILL do that”. Play to win, not to avoid defeat.

This doesn’t mean to have to become a selfish jerk. What it means is becoming more assertive and honest with yourself. You don’t have to grab off other people. There is a big pot of unclaimed gold in the middle of the table — why shouldn’t you be the one to claim it? You deserve it!

Confront closely-held beliefs. Spend some time dissecting and understanding the previously-held beliefs you have about money. You learn a lot about money from your family at a young age—either that money is good or money is evil, for example.

Some people may grow up believing that money is a scarce resource, while others understand money as a tool. There are many numbers of qualities that get assigned to money that are not objectively true.

If you have major fear or shame regarding money, you may want to consider working through these emotions with a financial therapist. Your feelings are valid—but that doesn’t mean you have to live with them.

Integrate affirmations into your daily routine. You may find affirmations to be a grounding part of your day. For example, affirmations such as “I am worthy of wealth,” “I am capable of managing my money,” and “There is money out there to be made by me” could act as helpful reminders that you are in charge of your money and not the other way around.

To develop a positive mindset and to become a person who is “good with money”, it is essential to understand that achieving financial freedom and accumulating wealth is a journey. So, consider taking it step by step. Start by building familiarity with your financial situation, and look for small ways to improve it and make it better every day.

Don’t Spend Your Money – Invest It. The reason you need to save your money is to grow it by investing it for the long term. Millionaires tend to be frugal people, and that’s because they know the true value of money is in investing. Being your own boss goes hand-in-hand with building wealth. You’ll want to quit your regular job at some point.

Bottomline is to stop working for your money and invest, which puts your money to work for you.

Rather than buying yourself a new iPad, that $500 could be used to invest in the stock market. Find the right shares (more on that later), and that money could easily double within a year.


References:

  1. https://www.lifehack.org/articles/money/develop-millionaire-mindset-6-easy-steps.html
  2. https://www.sofi.com/learn/content/am-i-bad-with-money/

Long-Term Investors Keys are Time and Patience

“The single most important factor for successful lifelong stock investing is your average holding period.” Tom Gardner, CEO and Advisor, Motley Fool

In investing, and in life, you should create and follow a comprehensive financial and investing plan. A plan helps define your money management, investing goals, and objectives while also delineating the risks associated with them. So when market hits the proverbial fan, as it inevitably will, you can revisit your plan to help provide clarity, calm and guidance to the situation. Simply put, a plan helps you navigate through both storms and sunny days; it provides balance. So the next time ominous-looking clouds begin to swirl in the horizon of the markets, check your plan, stay calm, and stay the course.

Planning to utilize a long-term financial strategy is the best way to achieve success. Finding ways to grow our money over time is a sure way to increase our financial health.

Interest rate hikes are bad for technology and growth stocks because:

  • Higher interest rates make materials and debt more expensive and reduce the future value of cash flows.
  • Higher rates also make safer assets like U.S. Treasury bills more profitable and therefore more attractive.

Long term investors have two critical advantages over Wall Street and traders: time and patience.

  • Time and patience are the two key edges long term investors have over most of Wall Street. And long term investors need to take every advantage of it.
  • Time and patience the true investor’s friends, teacher, and guardian all wrapped into one.

The single most important factor for successful long term investing is your average holding period. The primary reason why so many retail investors lose to the market’s average return: They trade too much. You are urged to hold your investments for at least five years or longer.

Pullbacks in stocks are a natural part of the ebb and flow of markets. The S&P 500 has fallen 10% on average about once per year, 15% every two years, and 20% roughly every four years. When the stock market pulls back, it sometimes throws out the baby with the bathwater, as the old saying goes. This presents savvy and patient investors with an opportunity to pick up shares of growth companies on the cheap.

And no great long-term stock that hasn’t fallen 50% at some point along the way to market-crushing returns over the long term.

With time and patience, long term investors have been able to look past short-term market pullbacks to secure long-term outstanding portfolio returns.

It can be jarring when shares tumble, especially if you’ve just started a position. But, it’s essential that you ask yourself: Has anything fundamental changed with the underlying company, or is this just market noise? If you find that fundamentals remain, you can stay the course.

Periods of significant market volatility are a great reminder to double-check that your portfolio’s asset allocation is in line with your overall risk tolerance and financial goals. Once you are confident that your portfolio has an appropriate long-term equity exposure, you can rest assured that any short-term volatility won’t be a meaningful factor. This helps investors avoid one of the most damaging of investing mistakes: making inopportune market-timing decisions.

Putting together a successful investment portfolio takes a combination of research, patience, and a little bit of risk.

Save. Invest. Hold. Repeat. As best you can, over time.


References:

  1. https://www.fool.com/premium/stock-advisor/coverage/4056/coverage/2021/12/01/your-most-powerful-investing-edge-in-volatile-time/

Life Coaching

“Crystallize your goals. Make a plan for achieving them and set yourself a deadline. Then, with supreme confidence, determination and disregard for obstacles and other people’s criticisms, carry out your plan.” Paul J. Meyer

Life Coaching is focused on nurturing, advising, building and on win/win for both the coach and the recipient of the coaching. If you are a coach, you are a builder of men and women. It is a grand responsibility and opportunity! It is a chance to postively impact countless people’s lives for the better! It is a chance to become the leader and a builder of men and women you were meant to be!

In Coaching, coaches may discuss the negative thoughts and energy from their client’s in order to assist their client move forward, but they do not analyze, diagnose, or attempt to treat these behaviors or disorders. If these are observed, or concern is raised regarding these areas, the coach’s will encourage the to seek professional counseling.

In Coaching, the coach understands that the client has the answer. Thus, the coach will nudge or partner to help the client discover it. Even though the coach may have had a similar experience, they are not the client, so the coach’s solution may not work for the client. In short, the coach may share her or his experiences to show empathy with the client or to point out possibilities, but there is no premise that is the solution for the client.

Coaches work hard to be objective. Their advice is not influenced by their relationship so advice is not flavored with that in mind. Coaches know from experience and research that people who write down their goals and create an plan of action to reach those goals, are much more likely to achieve what they desire in life.

“Enter every activity without giving mental recognition to the possibility of defeat. Concentrate on your strengths, instead of your weaknesses… on your powers, instead of your problems.” Paul J. Meyer

Paul J. Meyer’s Personal Success Plan proposes you:

  • Crystallize your thinking. Know what you want. Determine a specific goal, and dedicate yourself to its attainment. You can’t move forward until you know what you’re moving toward.
  • Develop a plan for achieving your goal and a deadline for its attainment. The first step is to plan. Plan your progress carefully, in small, achievable steps that won’t overwhelm you, and choose a deadline. A time limit is a greater motivator for success than you realize.
  • Develop a sincere desire for the things you want in life. Develop a sincere desire for those things you want is a motivator for your activity. It’s what pushes you to do what you need to do. Focus on creating a habit of success, and doing what successful people do to have success.
  • Develop supreme confidence in yourself and your ability. The #1 reason that people aren’t as successful as they want to be, is because they lack confidence in themselves. Concentrate on your strengths, focus on your power. Remember what you’re good at, and focus on it. Ignore the rest.
  • Develop a “dogged determination” to follow through on your plan regardless of obstacles, criticism, or circumstances or what other people say, think, or do. “Construct your determination with sustained effort, controlled action, and concentrated energy. Opportunities never come to those who wait, they’re captured by those who dare to attack”, states Paul J. Meyer

“Dogged determination” can be called, “Guts, Courage, a Raw Refusal to Quit.”

  • 90% of all failure comes from quitting. As a result, the secret to success lay in the fact that you must refuse to Quit!
  • Focus your confidence and desire on your strengths and power and against the mental enemies (the 5 de-motivators of… fear, doubt, worry, indecision, and negative thinking). We like to make excuses and say we can’t do it, but that’s exactly what holds us back from reaching our potential.

  • Pay attention to your self-talk. Are you telling yourself that you’ll be successful? Are you telling yourself that you can do it? Do you believe that you will accomplish your goals? When you can overcome that self-defeating, degrading self-talk, tremendous things will happen.
  • If you are experiencing negative thoughts or any negative emotions it’s usually because you are focusing on – – fear, doubt, worry, indecision and negative thinking.

    Attitude is everything! Attitude is a habit of thought and a conscious choice. Who you are now is a function of specific choices that you have made and habits you’ve embraced. You are where you are and what you are because of the dominating thoughts that occupy your mind and habits that dominated your day. You have the power to change, to be, and to do anything … so use it!

    • They want to do business with me.
    • I got what it takes!
    • I do all things through Christ who strengthens me! Christ is my Savior and Lord of my life.
    • Anyone can become financially independent and free.

    Coaches help clients create healthy and effective habits, not restrictions!


    References:

    1. https://thewellnesssociety.org/wheel-of-life-coaching-exercise-a-step-by-step-guide/
    2. https://lrsuccess.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/Personal-Success-Workbook.pdf
    3. https://www.lornarasmussen.com/paul-j-meyers-million-dollar-success-plan/
    4. https://www.icfaustin.org/Resources/Documents/

    Wealth Blueprint

    If building wealth and financial freedom are your destination, the journey always starts with your financial mindset, attitude and habits. Jeff Hayden

    T. Harv Eker, author of “Secrets of the Millionaire Mind”, is convinced that anyone can be build wealth and become financially free. But, he opines that what holds most people back from accumulating wealth is an internal mental script or “money blueprint” that tells them that they can’t or shouldn’t.

    In his bestselling book, Eker teaches people to identify their internal money blueprint and revise them. However, many critics rightfully argue that his focus on personal psychology as the sole driver of success ignores very real economic and systemic factors such as inequality, sexism and racism which can be possible determinants of one’s income bracket and net worth.

    “If your subconscious “financial blueprint” is not set for success, nothing you learn, nothing you know and nothing you do will make much of a difference.” T Harv Eker

    Yet, Eker argues that you have a personal wealth blueprint already ingrained in your subconscious mind that will determine your financial life and overall success. What he means is that you can know everything about saving for the future, investing to grow your money, and accumulating wealth, but if your subconscious wealth blueprint isn’t preset to a high level of life and financial success, you will never amass a large amount of wealth or achieve financial freedom.

    What people have to realize is that we are all subconsciously taught and conditioned in how to deal with money and wealth, according to Eker. Unfortunately, many of us were taught by family members and acquaintances who didn’t own a lot of assets and did not have a lot of money, so their way of thinking about wealth became your natural and automatic way to think. And since you are a creature of habit, your internal thoughts and beliefs about wealth and money will determine your external results of net worth and cash flow.

    “If you want to change your results, you have to start by changing your thoughts.” T. Harv Eker

    Your wealth blueprint single-handedly, according to Eker, determines your financial life, because your thoughts lead to feelings, which lead to actions, which lead to your results. Thought is the ‘Mother of all Results’. It’s about a process of manifestation, that your thoughts lead to your feelings, which lead to your actions, which lead to your results.

    Thoughts → Feelings → Actions → Results

    The reason you think the way you do about money is conditioning. You were taught how to think about money. You weren’t born with money thoughts and beliefs. You learned them. You were conditioned around money, success, and wealth by:

    • Verbal programming – what you’ve heard,
    • Modeling – what you’ve seen,
    • And specific incidences and experiences you’ve had.

    No personal wealth mental blueprint is true or false or right or wrong, says Eker. It’s just how you’ve been programmed. Some people are savers. Others are spenders.

    There are several important question to ask yourself: What is your current wealth and success blueprint, and what results is it subconsciously moving you toward? Are you set for working hard for your money or are you set to have your money work hard for you? Are you programmed for saving money or for spending money? Are you programmed for managing your money well or mismanaging it?

    Bottomline, your wealth blueprint, meaning your thoughts and beliefs, will determine ultimately your financial life and net worth – and can even determine your personal life, according to Eker.

    “The vast majority of people simply do not have the internal capacity to create and hold on to large amounts of money and the increased challenges that go with more money and success. That, my friends, is the primary reason they don’t have much money.” T. Harv Eker


    References:

    1. https://www.selfgrowth.com/articles/what_is_your_money_blueprint.html
    2. https://www.knowledgeformen.com/podcast-t-harv-eker/
    3. https://www.tonyrobbins.com/mind-meaning/a-new-blueprint-for-happiness
    4. https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/lifestyle/weekend-interview/t-harv-eker