bea@lowryandlowry.com

Week of 9/15/2023

Greetings from the middle of September! We are entering the season for Required Minimum Distributions and in-kind charitable giving. If you have any questions about either, please let us know.

Retirement overspending can be a common challenge (just like pre-retirement overspending) and this article has some tips on getting a handle on your finances.

The discovery of The Titanic in 1985 was actually an elaborate cover for locating 2 missing nuclear submarines!

Look! A flying puffin.

Lab grown diamonds have been available for many years, but are just starting to have a meaningful effect on the price of rough diamonds.

Q: The S&P 500 index has done so well this year. My portfolio has hasn’t been able to match that performance. Should I be doing something different?

A: This is a good question, especially in recent years where the performance of that specific index, among others, has been so strong. The difference between it and potentially more diversified portfolios comes in part to the issue of concentration. Over time, as a small number of companies have grown more quickly than others in market value, they have become a larger and larger percentage of that index.

As of June 30, 2023, the top 10 stocks in the S&P 500 comprised 31.7% of the market weight of that index. This high concentration is even higher with some of the other indices. This means that their good performance has had an outsized impact. Likewise, their negative performance would be a bigger factor. The post linked above makes some good points about what investors should think about with regard to their own investments. Different forms of diversification and strategies like rebalancing, which we use, can help mitigate the risk of high concentration.

What works today may not work tomorrow, so ongoing vigilance and attention to YOUR specific needs and situation remains paramount.

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

Lowry Financial Advisors is the only advisory firm that helps its clients reach their goals through The Achieving Simplicity® Experience™, providing clarity and confidence in their personal and financial lives.