I’ve never been a fan of New Year’s resolutions. It’s usually a last-minute, half-hearted attempt to do something different or better. Then, a week or two into the year, things are back to normal. There’s a few reasons for this.
First, there’s the idea that self-improvement can only start on January 1. What if I’m not serious about losing weight until May? Wait seven months? That’s one reason most fail. Our hearts aren’t 100% committed. We know we need to do it, we just don’t want to yet.
Second, most resolutions are about breaking old habits. You’ve been doing something for a decade or two (or five) and now you want to quit? It’s possible with a lot of hard work. Given the choice of breaking a habit or finding a way around it, I have a higher chance of success with the latter. We can take advantage of systems that simplify or automate things. For instance, if I have a habit of forgetting things, like paying the bills or making IRA deposits, I can automate it. Continue Reading…
Every year the predictive powers of Wall Street are put on display for all to see. What follows is a wild mix of forecasts for the next year. Some are outlandish, others obvious, but another main theme plays out. Skepticism at the thought itself.
Every year the market never fails to surprise us with big winners and losers. The S&P 500’s 22% rise was one winner, but it wasn’t the best and far from the worst. This is the third year for the best and worst market awards with the focus on finding this years best and worst performing investments across several categories.