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Use these tips to be more mindful about fully embracing time completely outside of work. 

Our culture likes to fixate on investments. We are constantly being manipulated by advertising from the investment industry and the media.  Have you ever noticed that, on a day-to-day basis, the market has "surged" or "plummeted"?  This language is intentional to illicit an emotional response.

Every year I go on a Three Day Silent Retreat based on St. Ignatius of Loyola's Spiritual Exercises.  We go to Mass every morning, pray the Rosary, do the Stations of the Cross and we hear talks throughout the day given by the retreat master (who is a very wise priest).  

How much cash should you have on hand? The answer is: "Enough to accomplish your short and long-term goals".  Here are several factors we take into consideration with our clients in determining how much cash reserves they need to hold:

1. Are you retired or still working?

Our job is to help our clients make smart choices about their money so they can accomplish their goals for the reasons that are important to them.  When we get caught up in the day-to-day silliness of the market, it hinders our ability to make smart long-term decisions.  

For the first time in 40 years, the US is an exporter of oil again. With the passage of legislation barely a month old, Big Oil is once again free to ship the surplus to the highest bidder, and they aren’t wasting any time.

For investors, 2015 went out with a groan, but unfortunately, the start of 2016 hasn’t given anyone, anywhere, anything to cheer about. And just as was the case last year, the culprit and the catalyst for the market’s stumble, is China.

At the moment, I don’t believe we’re going to slip into a recession.  Our economy is growing. It doesn’t feel like it if you’re one of the millions of workers that is “underemployed”.  I hate that word.

A few days ago we posted a blog post talking about the possibility of a market correction.  We don't know if it's starting now or not, but we are going to see more volatility in the coming months.

We're six years into a surging bull market in U.S. equity markets. Bull markets usually last five to seven years. The stock market is valued above its historical average.  We're due to have a correction in the stock market.  Will it happen in August, September, or next year?  Nobody knows.