Posts by Barry Spencer
Benchmarks
Benchmarks May Not Be a Helpful Guide Making investment decisions based on a “benchmark” can lead to under-performance, ill-timed decisions, knee-jerk reactions, and excessive risk. For most investors, the common benchmark is the S&P 500 index, often due to simply being widely recognized. However, most investors do not own anything similar to this index that…
Read MoreIt’s Your Choice
Choose This Because You Can… It was Monday. Some dread it. Some love it. Some wait around to see what the day delivers before they decide what kind of day it will be. There are others who decide what kind of day it will be from the start. As I stood in the kitchen on…
Read MoreIf Only It Was Like This…
If Only Investing Worked Like a Highlight Reel Last week was busy, so I missed the Atlanta Braves high scoring 29 run game verse the outstanding pitching staff of the Florida Marlins. I pulled up on YouTube the seven-minute and 45-second game scoring highlights. It was amazing! It was a series of strategic and well-timed…
Read MoreWhat to Do Now
What to Do Now The pandemic continues, the economy is still struggling to get momentum, the market appears to be faltering, and the election – oh my, the election! These are just a taste of the uncertainties in which we live. These uncertainties are in the forefront, and don’t seem to be going away any…
Read MoreFrom Where to Who
Where Were You? The tragedy of 9/11 rocked the world, and rocked each of our worlds individually. I can tell you exactly where I was and what I was doing. I remember my wife’s frantic call begging me to get out of downtown Atlanta and back to our condo in Sandy Springs. Then, we sat…
Read MoreInvesting for a Lifetime
Investing for a Lifetime One of the simple rules of investing is to invest in what you know. When you know what you are invested in, and perhaps more importantly, why you own it, you can remain a long-term investor. Being a long-term investor is critical to achieving market (and possibly out-sized market) returns. This…
Read MoreBeware of Enemy #1
The #1 Enemy of Smart Investing I was determined to do it this time… climb to the top and make the leap! This last weekend was my annual father/daughter date weekend at Camp Highland. Camp Highland creates a meaningful environment for me to connect with my daughter, Avery Kate, at a heart level while enjoying…
Read MoreAsking the Right Questions Leads You Down the Right Path
Questions Matter More Often, I will be on the phone with a woman after one of our informational webinar briefings to answer her most pressing questions about retirement, taxes, and investing. As I ask questions to learn about what she wants and the concerns she has, I am often stopped with a statement like: “Thank…
Read MoreLooking for better answers?
What is often said to a person who appears lost? Nothing, other than, “Are you lost?” The person is left with few options. Saying “yes” requires admission of something that may be embarrassing. Ignoring the question is rude. Saying “no” requires the person to lie – which the questioner has often forced the person into…
Read MoreYour Ultimate Lifestyle!
For far too many the ultimate retirement lifestyle feels out of reach. Uncertainty… in the market… in the economy… and with health can do this. BUT, it does NOT have to be that way. Imagine… going where you want when you want. Imagine… being with those you want to be with doing what you enjoy.…
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