Monday Morning Money

Halftime! A Wild Start to 2020

July 12, 2020

The Coronavirus interupted our lives. It disrupted the economy. And it had an impact on the investment markets. Today, we look back at how the major asset classes performed in the first half of the year.

We also provide an update to our asset allocation quilt. (For the full size image, visit the link below)

To see more, visit: https://flemingwatson.com/a-wild-start-to-2020/

Do you have a question we can answer on a future show? Ask it here: Click here to ask what's on your mind.

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Ask a CFP Pro: What Will Happen to the Stock Market if Trump Loses?

July 5, 2020

Welcome to our second Ask a CFP® Pro show. Today we talk about:

An update for the stock market for the first half of 2020. (0:46)
Some tax relief if you took your Required Minimum Distribution early in the year. (3:07)
A tax deduction created by the CARES Act (even if you don't itemize). (3:44)
And answer your questions.

Here are the questions:

The money in my checking account isn’t earning anything, and I probably have too much in that account anyhow. What can I do to earn a better return on my cash? (5:02)
Will the Charles Schwab – TD Ameritrade Merger affect me? (9:31)
If we are setting up a college account for a grandchild, do we have to open the account in the state in which they live? Can we set it up in Ohio even though they live in North Carolina? (11:28)
What are some of the things people with lower income, who are just getting started invest in? (13:41)
How do you select dividend producing stocks? (17:03)
What if President trump loses the upcoming election, What will this do to the stock market? (20:45)
What is the best way to invest for retirement about 10 years before you retire? Is it best to pay off your house before retirement? (23:59)

We have pictures. Click here to see them: https://flemingwatson.com/ask-a-cfp-pro-what-happens-to-stocks-if-president-trump-loses/

Do you have a question we can answer on a future show? Ask it here: Click here to ask what's on your mind.

Are you ready to retire? Learn how you can get you free Retirement Snapshot.

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3 Ideas to Help You Plan for Lower Returns

July 1, 2020

Many experts are forecasting lower future returns for both stocks and bonds. If they are correct, this can create a real problem for future retirees.

Today, we'll share 3 ideas to help you plan for lower future returns.

We talk about....

Delaying your Retirement
Tracking what you spend
Owning more stocks

To learn more visit our webpage: https://flemingwatson.com/3-ideas-to-plan-for-lower-returns/

Do you have a question about money? Get answers from a CFP Pro!. Click here to ask what's on your mind.

Are you ready to retire? Learn how you can get you free Retirement Snapshot.

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Is the 4 Percent Rule Dead?

June 21, 2020

Some experts are forecasting lower returns for both stocks and bonds. Does this mean the 4% rule for generating retirement income is dead?

What if future returns are between 4% and 5% per year for a well-balanced portfolio?
Why we believe in the 4% rule.
It works when you use historical return data.
What if rates are lower? Will it still work?
What are the challenges a low return environment provides?
What if you need more than 4%?

Be sure to check this out on our website: https://flemingwatson.com/is-the-4-percent-rule-dead?/

To listen to our Ask a CFP Show, visit: https://flemingwatson.com/are-you-pessimistic-or-optimistic/

Do you have a question about money? Get answers from a CFP Pro!. Click here to ask what's on your mind.

Are you ready to retire? Learn how you can get you free Retirement Snapshot.

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How Lower Interest Rates Affect Your Retirement

June 14, 2020

Lower interest rates create some obvious problems for retirees. Things like savings accounts and CD's just aren’t earning much. But there is a longer-term problem with these low yields. Today, I'll discuss how lower interest rates affect your retirement.

To learn more visit: https://flemingwatson.com/how-lower-interest-rates-affect-your-retirement/

To listen to our Ask a CFP Show, visit: https://flemingwatson.com/are-you-pessimistic-or-optimistic/

Do you have a question about money? Get answers from a CFP Pro!. Click here to ask what's on your mind.

Are you ready to retire? Learn how you can get you free Retirement Snapshot.

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What if Future Stock Market Returns Are Lower?

June 7, 2020

How many times have you heard this? "The long term average return of the stock market is 10% per year." What if future returns for the stock market are less than average? How would that impact your retirement?

To learn more visit: https://flemingwatson.com/what-if-future-stock-returns-are-lower/

To listen to our Ask a CFP Show, visit: https://flemingwatson.com/are-you-pessimistic-or-optimistic/

Do you have a question about money? Get answers from a CFP Pro!. Click here to ask what's on your mind.

Are you ready to retire? Learn how you can get you free Retirement Snapshot.

Other ways to listen to Monday Morning Money:

Ask a CFP: Are you pessimistic or optimistic about the future?

May 31, 2020

Today is the first episode of our Ask a CFP series. Each month we will answer your questions about money, investing, and retirement.

Today's Questions:

1. Are airline stocks a good buy? What's the best way to invest?

2. My employer stopped matching my 401k, should I stop my contributions, too?

3. Since my IRA has decreased in value, is now a good time to convert it to a Roth?

4. With businesses starting to reopen, is now a good time to buy stocks?

5. Do you think we've seen the end of the bear market? Are you pessimistic or optimistic about where we are going?

We'll give our answers to those questions on today's show.

Do you have a question? Ask it here: https://flemingwatson.com/askacfppro

To hear this episode on our website, visit: https://flemingwatson.com/are-you-pessimistic-or-optimistic/

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Are Credit Card Rewards Worth It?

May 25, 2020

Are credit card rewards such as cash back or travel perks worth it? Should you use multiple credit cards to get better rewards?

To learn more visit: https://flemingwatson.com/are-card-rewards-worth-it/

Do you have a question about money? Get answers from a CFP Pro!. Click here to ask what's on your mind.

Are you ready to retire? Learn how you can get you free Retirement Snapshot.

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3 Questions to Evaluate Your Cash Flow

May 20, 2020

The COVID-19 Pandemic forced a lot of major changes to our lives. IT has also created a unique opportunity to guage how we spend money. Today, we'll pose three questions to help you evaluate your cash flow.

To learn more, visit: https://flemingwatson.com/3-questions-to-help-evaluate-your-cash-flow/

Do you have a question about money? Get answers from a CFP Pro!. Click here to ask what's on your mind.

Are you ready to retire? Learn how you can get you free Retirement Snapshot.

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Creating Your Financial Safety Net

May 10, 2020

As America begins to reopen, we can set our sights on what we need to do to get our financial situation back in order. What should be at the top of your list? In my mind, Creating your financial safety net should be a high priority.

For more information, visit: https://flemingwatson.com/creating-your-financial-safety-net/

Do you have a question about money? Get answers from a CFP Pro!. Click here to ask what's on your mind. https://bit.ly/AskCFP

Are you ready to retire? Learn how you can get you free Retirement Snapshot.

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