IN THE KNOW
Monthly Newsletter
August 2020
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In this month's newsletter we have an article highlighting the hierarchy of a meaningful financial plan. We are also excited to introduce you to two new employees. As usual, we are also sharing helpful COVID-19 resources from our parent company, Maxwell, Locke & Ritter, and relevant investment articles and videos from Dimensional.
We are a firm that understands that managing your assets is about more than money. It is about empowering your future. At ML&R Wealth Management, we focus on you.
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Choosing Investments: Important? Yes. Meaningful? Not as Much as You Might Think.
I recently had the pleasure of meeting with a couple that had never spoken to a Financial Advisor before. From our initial talk, I gathered they have been good savers, have managed to stay out of debt, and have saved as much as possible within their respective 401(k)’s. After all, these are things that we all pick up along the way as the sure path to financial success. While I agree that this is the foundation, being financially successful in the long run requires much more than that. Regardless of how you come into your wealth, either over time or through a windfall, being financially successful really boils down to understanding what is meaningful within a proper financial plan versus what is important. We run across this concept all the time in life. There are a lot of important moments through the years, but are they meaningful? In other words, if at the end of your life you were given the opportunity to say what you are most grateful for, are you going to say, “I am so glad I paid off that car back in 2020” or, are you going to say “I am so glad I was able to spend so much time with my grandkids”. While it is important to pay off the car to help with your overall budget, it isn’t near as meaningful as being able to spend so much time with the grandkids.
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Employee Spotlight
We are excited to spotlight two new employees that have joined our firm recently. Below are some fun facts to help you get to know them better!
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Birthday: October 31
Tell us about your pets: Lexie who is a Labrador
Favorite TV Show? The Big Bang Theory
Favorite Sports Team?: University of Texas football
Introvert or extrovert? I am an ambivert, smack dab in the middle
If you could visit anywhere in the world, where would you go?Australia/New Zealand
What was your dream job as a kid? Doctor
What is your favorite part of working at ML&R? The culture and people are amazing!
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Birthday: June 15
Tell us about your pets: I have a sweet border collie named Scarf.
Favorite movie? La Vita E Bella (Life is Beautiful)
Favorite Hobbies? I love salsa dancing and miss it dearly!
Where do you find inspiration? Listening to podcasts and TED Talks
What is your favorite part of working at ML&R? My colleagues and the firm's core values.
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Financial Wellness Q&A
In this section we will address common personal finance questions. Email wealth@mlrpc.com if you have a question you would like answered.
Question: How do I know if I need a Financial Advisor?
Answer: Most people could use the help of a Financial Advisor. It becomes even more important as big life events take place. Any time something changes or is about to change in your overall financial picture, it is important to seek out professional advice. A good Financial Advisor can steer you in the right direction and help you think through various outcomes so that you can prioritize your financial decisions and protect your nest egg.
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As the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) continues to spread in the U.S. and across the world, our priority at Maxwell Locke & Ritter is the safety and well-being of our people, clients, families, and community. We are monitoring daily updates and recommendations from the CDC. Additionally, we are minimizing the impact that COVID-19 could have on our services and are staying abreast of all filing deadline adjustments. We understand that in this time of uncertainty you may have growing concerns for the financial health of yourselves and your businesses, employees and families. We have curated some helpful resources for you and will continue to update this page as new information and updates occur.
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If studying financial markets for 50 years teaches you anything, it’s to keep things in perspective.
During times of great uncertainty, like we’re experiencing now, investors may feel tempted to project today’s headlines forward or forget the useful lessons we’ve learned from the past.
I’ve been thinking about this a lot lately in the context of the growth vs. value stock debate.
Too often, news headlines distract us from taking the long view. They create a sense of urgency around what’s happening in the market right now. But we have nearly a century’s worth of data, and decades of financial science, to look to for guidance. That evidence reveals many investment lessons. For example, over long periods of time, stocks have generally outperformed bonds. This makes sense when you think about it. Stocks are riskier than bonds, so you expect to earn a premium return.
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What does a century of economic cycles teach investors about investing? Our interactive exhibit examines how stocks have behaved during US economic downturns. Markets around the world have often rewarded investors even when economic activity has slowed. This is an important lesson on the forward-looking nature of markets, highlighting how current market prices reflect market participants’ collective expectations for the future.
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Investors often wonder whether the market will rise or fall based on who is elected president. The data show that capturing the long-term returns of the capital markets does not depend on which party controls the White House. In a recent webcast, Dimensional’s Mark Gochnour and Jake DeKinder offered lessons from history.
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Crisis brings out the best — and worst — in people. Some dishonest people have already turned the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic to their advantage by preying on unsuspecting victims and exploiting their fears.
“History has shown that criminals take every opportunity to perpetrate a fraud on unsuspecting victims, especially when a group of people is vulnerable or in a state of need,” said IRS Criminal Investigation Chief Don Fort.
Here’s an overview of six COVID-19-related scams and practical advice on how to avoid them.
1. Fake Charities
When a catastrophe like COVID-19 strikes, philanthropists flock to donate cash and other assets to help relieve the suffering. But, before making a donation, be aware that opportunistic scammers may set up fake charities to benefit from your generosity.
Fake charities often use names that are similar to legitimate charitable organizations. So, be sure to do your homework before making a contribution. Donors aren’t the only victims to these scams — those in need also lose out.
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Subscribe to our 401(k) Plan Services Quarterly Newsletter |
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Are you responsible for administering your company's 401(k) plan?
Would you like more insight and resources regarding the retirement plan services industry?
If so, please subscribe to our 401(k) Plan Services Quarterly Newsletter. You can check out the last few issues below.
See our latest Retirement Plan Services articles:
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What's Happening in Austin This Month
While we know there are no in-person events for the next month, we wanted to share virtual events and activities.
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About ML&R Wealth Management: |
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At ML&R Wealth Management, we take investing personally. Your ML&R Wealth Management advisor will work to develop a lasting relationship with you, keeping in touch to understand your changing goals and to provide an asset management strategy to help achieve them. Whenever you need sound financial advice, you have a direct line to a trusted advisor.
For over 20 years, we have served individuals, families, businesses, and nonprofits with wealth management services, custom retirement and 401(k) plans, and portfolio management.
We believe in accountability and transparency and operate as a fee-only advisor with fees calculated solely on assets under management.
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