Navigating Investment Choice Overload: Tips To Become a Better Decision Maker
Retirement Talk Podcast with Laura Stover
Release Date: 12/06/2023
Time Segmentation, a Smart Way to Invest Retirement Money
Retirement Talk Podcast with Laura Stover
Laura Stover, RFC® discusses the concept of time segmentation and its application in allocating retirement savings for a stable income during retirement. Time segmentation involves matching investments with the point in time when they will be needed to meet retirement income needs. This strategy provides clarity, comfort, and control over retirement income and helps mitigate the effects of market volatility. We cover the four buckets of money in a time segmented approach and emphasize the importance of purpose-based allocation. The benefits of time segmentation include flexibility,...
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This Four-Part Retirement Strategy Can Help Withstand Bad Timing
Retirement Talk Podcast with Laura Stover
Simple diversification used to be the go-to plan for a typical portfolio. A balanced plan of stocks, bonds, and cash would simply do the trick. But that type of diversification has been proven less effective in recent years with the abundance of market volatility. Today, Laura Stover, RFC® takes on financial guru Dave Ramsey’s version of a Safe withdrawal rule. As we approach retirement, our priorities begin to shift. While we still want to grow our money and stay ahead of inflation, protecting what we've accumulated and generating income become top priorities. Traditional...
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Navigating Investment Choice Overload: Tips To Become a Better Decision Maker
Retirement Talk Podcast with Laura Stover
Today Laura Stover, RFC® explores the concept of choice overload and how it can affect your investment behavior and retirement planning. With so many options and information available to us, it's easy to feel overwhelmed and unsure of the best path to take. But today we will provide you with tips and insights to help you navigate through this sea of choices and make informed decisions that align with your goals and aspirations. Having more choices does not always translate to better decisions. In fact, research has shown that too many options can lead to decision paralysis or option...
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What To Do About These High Interest Rates
Retirement Talk Podcast with Laura Stover
Laura Stover, RFC®, takes on the topic of interest rates today, and how they relate to your financial future. It is important to consider the historical context of interest rates. Over the past few decades, interest rates have been kept artificially low by central banks around the world. This was done in an effort to stimulate economic growth and prevent deflation. However, it was only a matter of time before rates began to rise. If we look back to the 1970s, interest rates were much higher than they are today, even 19% at one point. This was a period of high inflation and economic...
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Could an Israel- Hamas war change what the Fed does about interest rates?
Retirement Talk Podcast with Laura Stover
Laura Stover, RFC® looks at the ongoing Israel-Hamas war and how it might affect interest rates and your financial future.. With ongoing uncertainty about the economy, wars in Europe and the Middle East, and protests at home, it's no wonder that Americans are taking a closer look at their financial plans. In particular, we will explore the potential impact of the Israel-Hamas war on the US, the implications for interest rates, and the threat of inflation. So, let's dive in and unpack these important topics. One of the biggest questions on everyone's mind is how the escalation of the...
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'Not QE' Puts Fed Between A 'Rock And A Hard Place'
Retirement Talk Podcast with Laura Stover
Laura Stover, RFC® discusses the Federal Reserve's Bank Term Funding Program (BTFP) today, a topic that is often overlooked but has significant implications for our economy.This program, which was introduced in response to the failures of banks earlier this year, has the potential to create new money and impact the value of long-term securities. Let's dive deeper into this issue and explore its implications. To understand the BTFP, we first need to differentiate it from quantitative easing (QE). QE is a Fed open market operation that involves buying bonds out of the market to ease monetary...
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The Fed is still pushing to get inflation down. Do people feel it?
Retirement Talk Podcast with Laura Stover
Laura Stover, RFC® is discussing the recent decision by the Federal Reserve to leave interest rates unchanged and the potential implications for retirees and investors. We will also explore the ongoing efforts by the Fed to combat inflation and the impact it may have on the economy. The Federal Reserve recently announced that it would be keeping interest rates unchanged at its October meeting. While the market initially responded favorably to this decision, there is still uncertainty about the possibility of rate hikes in the future. The Fed will meet again in December, and if inflation...
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Consistency Is the Key to Investing When You're Retired
Retirement Talk Podcast with Laura Stover
Laura Stover, RFC is solo today for a special episode as we cover this week’s featured article from Kiplinger “Consistency Is the Key to Investing When You're Retired.” We need to focus on consistent returns rather than average returns or market fluctuations. While volatility may be advantageous during the accumulation phase, it can be detrimental to retirees who rely on their investments for income. We also are covering ongoing news events, such as the Israel-Mideast situation andthe debt ceiling. What effects could these events have on investing and retirement? As always,...
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5 Predictions For An Economic ‘Soft Landing’ That Were Totally Wrong
Retirement Talk Podcast with Laura Stover
Laura Stover, RFC® is joined by guest co-host Darlene Tucker, CFP® today. This week’s weekend brief comes from Forbes: “5 Predictions For An Economic ‘Soft Landing’ That Were Totally Wrong.” With a lot of uncertainty in the world, and now 2 wars going on, investors are asking what that means for their futures. Are we in for a soft landing? Before we answer that, Darlene and I look at some history - 5 times that media called for a soft landing, but got it totally wrong. This happened in 1973, 1980, 1981-1982, 1989-1991, and of course in 2007-2009....
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What is a Major Advantage of Separately Managed Accounts?
Retirement Talk Podcast with Laura Stover
In this week’s Retirement Talk podcast, with Laura Stover, RFC®, and Michael Wallin, CFP®, we delve into the major advantages of separately managed accounts (SMAs), a topic that doesn't often make its way into the podcasting world. SMAs can be a game-changer for those nearing retirement or already in retirement. SMAs offer direct ownership of investments, reduced transaction costs, and the potential for tax harvesting. These benefits set them apart from traditional mutual funds or ETFs, which are more commonly discussed in the financial world. Mutual funds, for example, are...
info_outlineToday Laura Stover, RFC® explores the concept of choice overload and how it can affect your investment behavior and retirement planning. With so many options and information available to us, it's easy to feel overwhelmed and unsure of the best path to take. But today we will provide you with tips and insights to help you navigate through this sea of choices and make informed decisions that align with your goals and aspirations.
Having more choices does not always translate to better decisions. In fact, research has shown that too many options can lead to decision paralysis or option paralysis. When faced with a multitude of choices, we tend to become indecisive and unsure of which path to take. This phenomenon has been observed in studies conducted by Stanford University, where researchers found that customers were more likely to make a purchase when presented with a limited selection of options compared to an extensive selection. Humans are simply not good at making decisions when they are overwhelmed with choices.
As investors, we are bombarded with information and tools that promise to help us make the best financial decisions. However, this abundance of choices can complicate rather than simplify our decision-making process. It can lead to biases and traps that hinder us from making sound investment decisions. Let's explore some of these traps and how to avoid them.
The first trap is inertia. When faced with too many choices, some investors choose to avoid making a decision altogether and do nothing. This can be detrimental to your financial well-being, as doing nothing is still a decision in itself. To overcome this trap, it's important to have a clear understanding of your goals and the purpose behind your investment decisions. By aligning your choices with your overall plan, you can overcome inertia and take action towards achieving your financial goals.
The second trap is naive diversification. This occurs when investors spread their assets among all available investment options without considering their goals, asset allocation, or cost. Naive diversification can lead to a hodgepodge of investments that may not align with your risk profile or financial objectives. To avoid this trap, it's crucial to have a well-defined asset allocation strategy that separates your safe investments from your growth investments. This strategy should be based on your risk profile and long-term goals, rather than simply picking a little bit of everything.
The third trap is opting for attention-grabbing investments. It's easy to get caught up in the latest buzz and choose investments based on what you recently saw on the news or heard from friends and family. However, this can lead to impulsive decisions and overspending on investments that may not be suitable for your unique situation. To avoid this trap, it's important to do your own research and seek advice from trusted sources. Look for content that is backed by reputable research and consider how the investment aligns with your overall plan and risk tolerance.
To navigate through the jungle of choices and make the best financial decisions, it's important to start with a process. This process should involve unpacking the industry jargon and deciphering the content of the information presented to you. Look for trusted sources and limit the number of options available to you. Focus on a few top options that align with your goals and consider the full range of alternatives. By narrowing down your choices and understanding the purpose behind each investment, you can make informed decisions that are in line with your financial objectives.
It's also important to have a strategy call with a financial advisor who can guide you through the decision-making process. A trusted advisor can help you unpack the information and provide you with a vetted selection of options that align with your goals and risk profile. They can also help you understand the implications and potential impact of each choice, ensuring that you are making decisions that are appropriate for your unique situation.
In conclusion, choice overload can be overwhelming and lead to poor investment decisions. By starting with a process, understanding your goals, and seeking advice from trusted sources, you can navigate through the sea of choices and make informed decisions that align with your financial objectives. Remember to focus on the purpose behind each investment and consider the implications and potential impact on your overall plan. With the right guidance and a clear understanding of your goals, you can make the best financial decisions for a successful retirement.
The future outlook for investors is promising, as technology continues to provide us with more tools and information to make informed decisions. However, it's important to stay grounded and focused on your goals. Don't get caught up in the hype or the latest buzz. Instead, rely on a well-defined process, trusted sources, and the guidance of a financial advisor to help you navigate through the choices and make the best financial decisions for your retirement.
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