The Lowry Letter®

Week of 4/23/2020

This week we are going COVID-free! Here are some interesting items to enjoy and uplift this week.

We learned: about the adaptation that allowed plants to live on land. 470 million years ago, algae picked up a gene from soil bacteria, and that's how we got salad.

We think : that the first person ever to receive a speeding ticket was Walter Arnold, who was stopped for going 8 mph in a 2 mph zone back in 1896. Later that year, the speed limit was raised to 14 mph.

We read: a little about Tycho Brahe, who discovered the supernova. He could possibly be history’s most eccentric astronomer. He once owned 1% of all the money in Denmark, wore a gold nose because he lost his during a drunken duel, and had a pet moose.

We've been: enjoying author James Clear’s weekly emails and thought this recent item was great:

"Balance is timing, not intensity. It is not doing multiple tasks at 80%, but developing the skill of turning it on and turning it off. Sleep fully, then work intensely. Focus deeply, then relax completely. Balance is 'when to' not 'how to..

Taking a moment each day for mindfulness (prayer, meditation, journaling) is one way to proactively handle these challenges."

We recommend: The Last Dance, a new ESPN documentary about Michael Jordan’s final season with the Chicago Bulls. We have always been huge fans of MJ (greatest player of all time) and the first two episodes have us eagerly awaiting the next 8. It airs 2 episodes per week and is also available on the ESPN app.

Q: The market got hit pretty hard and has rebounded pretty quickly. Are we out of the woods??

A: We don’t know. The initial market decline was the fastest bear market drop in history. The resulting bounce was also the fastest move back into a bull market in history.

We often refer to the importance of company earnings to determine appropriate market valuations. We don’t know what earnings will be in the 2 ^nd quarter, because we don’t know how long economic restrictions will continue. As a result, forecasts for earnings next year are guesswork, albeit educated by history. Brad McMillan explains this issue in greater depth here .

As always, the most important considerations are your specific needs and the timing of your goals

Advisory Services offered through Lowry Financial Advisors, Inc., a Registered Investment Adviser. Securities and additional advisory services offered through Commonwealth Financial Network®, Member FINRA/SIPC, a Registered Investment Adviser. Advisory services offered through Lowry Financial Advisors, Inc, are separate and unrelated to Commonwealth. Lowry Financial Advisors, Inc. is located at 12921 SW 1st Rd, Suite 215, Tioga, FL 32669. 352-333-7990

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