Blog

20 Jun 2014 If Life is a Highway . . .

Posted at 14:08h in General by Sam Bass Jr.

The analogy of life as a highway poses some interesting questions. Some are obvious, others less so, but all are interesting. As kids we continually asked our Dads, 'are we there yet?' But with little sense of time or surroundings, Dad's answer always fell short of providing us with any helpful information.

13 Jun 2014 Did You Know There Are Two Kinds Of Investment Risk?

Posted at 16:11h in The Friday Brief by Sam Bass Jr.

Risk in investing is generally understood to mean the possibility of losing money. But there is a more important distinction to consider. For instance, when you work with a broker or a money manager you complete a risk tolerance questionnaire. It basically asks you what is the maximum point of risk (loss of your money) you can stand before you spend sleepless nights and stomach-sick days?

06 Jun 2014 How Much Of Your Portfolio Will You Spend In Retirement?

Posted at 12:10h in The Friday Brief by Geoff Hall, CFP®, RICP®

When confronting the question of retirement spending, the most commonly used strategy is known as the 4% Rule. It is based on the premise that you can withdraw 4% from a well-diversified, balanced (60% equity/40% bond) portfolio and feel comfortable that your money will last as long as you...

06 Jun 2014 Skiing at Cape Lookout

Posted at 10:51h in General by Sam Bass Jr.

It's June and most of you are at the beach, the lake, or the mountains. The economy seems to be growing just fast enough to avoid stalling and not so fast as to spark inflation. Stocks and bonds are also behaving nicely. So with your indulgence, it's time once again for a Cape Lookout story.

30 May 2014 Three Steps to Hiring The Ideal Professional

Posted at 12:30h in Blogs, The Friday Brief by Sam Bass Jr.

The process of selecting a professional relationship is a daunting one, especially when we consider the cost of choosing poorly. Red Adair, famous in the 80's for extinguishing and capping blazing oil well blowouts put it best when he said, "If you think it's expensive to hire a...

23 May 2014 Why the market probably will not drop, and more serious matters

Posted at 09:22h in The Friday Brief by Sam Bass Jr.

Concerns over a big drop in the stock market are likely exaggerated. The Federal Reserve, under Janet Yellen, has shown continued willingness to prevent collapse. But a more troubling concern is being discussed in some circles; that the expectation the US economy will soon return...

09 May 2014 Does Spending Money Make You Uncomfortable?

Posted at 16:43h in The Friday Brief by Geoff Hall, CFP®, RICP®

We constantly hear that Americans are not saving enough for retirement. In fact, the constancy of the message likely causes worry for even the best of savers. These are the folks who reach their final years with a big portfolio wishing they’d traveled more, retired earlier or given more during their lifetime. Often, savers can find it difficult to spend joyfully. Here are some reasons why:

02 May 2014 Opportunity is Knocking. Can You Hear It?

Posted at 13:03h in The Friday Brief by Sam Bass Jr.

Do you find yourself running from one activity to the next, feeling further behind the faster you run? Are events more in control of your life than you are? Do you feel that you wouldn't know a good opportunity if it hit you squarely in...

25 Apr 2014 Should You Pre-pay Your Mortgage?

Posted at 16:01h in The Friday Brief by Sam Bass Jr.

The question of whether you should pay off your mortgage is a complex one and everyone has an opinion. Some radio talk show hosts say all debts should be eliminated as fast as possible, including your mortgage. Debt presumes on the future they say. Your ability to pay might be impacted by health, job, or other unforeseen factors.