At Apprise Wealth Management, we want to help people make better decisions about money. We also read constantly and like sharing some of the commentaries we enjoyed reading the most each week.
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Here are this week’s articles as well as a brief description of each:
1. Millennials Didn’t Kill the Economy. The Economy Killed Millennials. Oftentimes millennials are blamed for killing various fixtures of modern life. However, a new report by Federal Reserve economists found this may be far from the truth. Researchers compared the spending habits of Millennials and their counterparts from the past, such as Baby Boomers and Gen Xers. They concluded that “Millennials do not appear to have preferences for consumption that differ significantly from those of earlier generations.” They also discovered that “Millennials are less well off than members of earlier generations when they were young, with lower earnings, fewer assets, and less wealth.”
In short, millennials are not hurting the economy. The economy is hurting millennials. The American system has pushed them into debt, limited their wages, and made it hard for them to buy homes. It has also blamed them for much of what ails us. Millennials’ impact on our investment landscape may be much different than previously perceived.
2. 2019 Forecast: Predictions Will Be Wrong, Random or Worse. As we approach 2018’s end, pundits everywhere offer predictions for the year ahead. Based on their track record, one can say with a fair level of confidence that most of these predictions will be wrong. Some may be right, but there is no way to know which ones to rely on. This article also provides some of the more egregious examples of 2018 predictions gone wrong.
3. How to Configure Your iPhone to Work for You, Not Against You. Our cell phones can be incredible tools. They are far more powerful than the earliest computers most (if not all) of us first used. Unfortunately, they can also distract us and keep us from getting things done. This article shares numerous ways you can configure your phone that will benefit your productivity, improve your focus, and – seriously – help you live longer. Because the article is so long, it is written in a way that provides alternatives when reading it.
· You can read the headlines casually and figure out the details on your own.
· You can use it as a step-by-step tutorial.
· If you are a productivity nerd, you can read the behavior design implications that appear below the tutorial steps.
I have already implemented some of the suggestions. I’m pretty sure there is something in here that will help every iPhone user. Do you use a Droid? If so, you can likely find similar tools in your phone’s settings as well.
4. The 10 Best Apps to Help You Focus and Block Distractions. The end of another year is fast approaching. Time to think about our New Year’s resolutions. One of mine is to continue to increase my productivity, so I’m sharing another article to help with blocking distractions. This article provides apps you can install on your computer or phone to help you block distractions and maintain your focus when working. If you would like some thoughts on financial resolutions, please check this post from earlier this year.
5. The Pyramid of Success. Coach K and I arrived at Duke the same year. The team’s lack of success during his first three seasons (17-13, 10-17, 11-17) left many questioning whether he was the right choice. With hindsight, we know he was. He is far and away the leader in career wins. His success is often compared to that of UCLA’s John Wooden who said, “Success is peace of mind which is a direct result of self-satisfaction in knowing you did your best to become the best that you are capable of becoming.” In this, our last post of 2018, I share Wooden’s pyramid and wish everyone “Happy Holidays” and a successful 2019. I will resume publishing this weekly content in January.
We hope you find the above posts of interest. If you would like to talk to us about financial topics including your investments, creating a financial plan, saving for college, or saving for your retirement please fill out our contact form, and we will be in touch. We can schedule a call, a virtual meeting via Zoom, or a meeting at Apprise Wealth Management’s office in Northern Baltimore County.
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For firm disclosures, see here: https://apprisewealth.com/disclosures/
Phil Weiss founded Apprise Wealth Management. He started his financial services career in 1987 working as a tax professional for Deloitte & Touche. For the past 25+ years, he has worked extensively in the areas of financial planning and investment management. Phil is both a CFA charterholder and a CPA.
Located just north of Baltimore, Apprise works with clients face-to-face locally and can also work virtually regardless of location.
