Most people don’t realize their retirement plans are vulnerable—until it’s too late to fix it.
In this episode of the WWM Podcast, we expose the quiet threats that can unravel even the most carefully crafted retirement plans. Whether it’s an unexpected illness, a sudden divorce, or a market downturn just as you leave the workforce, these moments don’t send a warning. But with strategic planning, what could be financial catastrophe becomes a controlled pivot. Tune in to learn how foresight, not fear, gives you the upper hand.
Don’t wait until the cracks appear. At WWM Financial, we help clients anticipate the unexpected—before it becomes irreversible. If you’re navigating uncertainty or simply want to fortify your financial plan, schedule a consultation today at wwmfinancial.com.
WWM Financial is an SEC Registered Investment Advisor
The opinions expressed in this program are for general informational purposes only and are not intended to provide specific advice or recommendations for any individual or on any specific security. It is only intended to provide education about the financial industry and how we may be able to assist. To determine which investments may be appropriate for you, consult your financial advisor prior to investing. Any past performance discussed during this program is no guarantee of future results. As always please remember investing involves risk and possible loss of principal capital. Tax considerations presented may not be appropriate every individual circumstance. A tax professional should be consulted before making any decisions about your tax liability. wwmfinancial.com | 760.692.5190
Click on the image above to view this Savvy Minute video.
In today’s Savvy Minute we’ll answer the question. “Can you roll over an old 401(k) to another 401(k)?”
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Certified Financial Poetry
Since taxes are on our minds because Tuesday is the deadline for getting your income tax filed and since the stock market has been jostled around due to talk and tweets about tariffs these days, I am reminded of the outcome of one country’s undertaking dealing with this subject…
Today’s Certified Financial Poem is titled…
Tariffs, Taxes and War
By Steve Wolff – The Certified Financial Poet
Tariffs are nothing new,
Here’s a history lesson for you.
The American Revolution was fought,
Due to taxes the British brought.
In 1765,
the Stamp Act was derived.
And with that law set in stone,
The seeds of revolution had grown.
Taxes supporting Brits’ forces?
Their guns and ammo and horses?
From Boston to Philly they said,
These guys are nuts in the head.
Soon the Townshend Act came to be,
Taxing paper, glass, paint and tea.
That was in addition to the Sugar act,
Make no mistake, that’s a fact.
“No way,” the Colonists said,
This feeling, it quickly spread.
“These taxes are an abomination,
And we have no representation.”
But it was the Tea Act of ’73,
that was truly the real key.
The Colonies said, “No more,”
And hatched a plan from the Eastern Shore.
Let’s disguise ourselves at night,
We’re ready for an all out fight.
Board their ships and cause commotion,
Then throw their tea out in the ocean.
The Brits reacted with scurrilous rage,
But the Colonists mood they poorly gauged.
They passed the Coercive Acts bill of ’74.
And set the wheels in motion for the revolutionary war.
The act said no more governing yourselves,
Put that idea back on your shelves.
Hey Boston, your now part of the Crown,
And seriously, we don’t care if you drown.
“IT’S WAR,” said the Bostonian in its largest font
And we’re ready to fight if that’s what they want.
Your tariffs and laws, we know we don’t need ‘em.
It’s now time now for us to fight for our freedom.
Newton said that for every single action,
There’s an opposite and equal counter reaction.
That’s why a tariff can be a sticky thing,
Cause you never know what the outcome will bring.
By the way, there’s a fun song about this topic that I found called “The Boston Tea Party Song” that’s a parody of the Pharrell Williams song called “Happy.”
Here’s the link….
I hope you enjoyed today’s poem and will share it with others.
You can find more of my Certified Financial Poetry by going to WWMFinancial.com.
And remember poetry fans, “Always take the road less travelled.”
Steve Wolff is a Financial Advisor and Managing Partner at WWM Financial in Carlsbad California. Steve can be reached at 760-692-5190 or Steve@WWMFinancial.com.
The markets have returned to volatility lately. Every time the market looks like it’s headed down, we see people on TV start predicting that this is the start of a down market.
So here is how we see things right now.
First, the stock market has not had a big correction for a long time, so we all know that at some point it will correct. There are a lot of global events going on that are causing angst in the markets. Russia and Ukraine is probably the greatest of these issues, but certainly not the only issue. Israel and Hamas, Isis, Iran, Italy sinking into a recession and more are all adding to investors’ fears.
On the other hand, earnings reports have been generally pretty good. On Monday morning, August 5th, Bob Pisani of CNBC reported that of the 76% of the S&P 500 companies that have reported so far for the quarter, on average, earnings are up by about 9.7% and revenues up about 5%. Those are actually fairly decent numbers.
The bears (those who believe the market is going to go down) believe the companies’ earnings are going to slow down. The bulls (those who believe the market is going to go up) say the companies’ earnings are strong, the interest rates are still low, so stocks are the place to be.
The bears say that rising interest rates will be a competitor to dividend paying stocks so stocks will get sold off. The bulls say that if interest rates go up, then bonds will go down in price, so you want to remain in stocks.
So the pessimists and the optimists are both trying to figure out where the market should be, hence the volatility. For the year, the stock market has been hovering around the flat line, with some months good and some months bad. So there has not been a real direction one way or the other.
We have heard several prognosticators say it looks like we are heading for a growth rate of about 3% to 4% in the U.S. for the year. If that growth rate is accurate, that is normally not the underpinning of a major bear market. But that does not mean there can’t be corrections along the way.
As we have said many times, no one knows with certainty where the market is going to go. We certainly don’t know if the bulls or the bears are going to be right in the short term. So we say that now is a good time to look at your portfolio, make sure you are in the proper asset allocation, and then be sure it is something that will not cause you to panic if the market goes down by 15 or 20% (which is a normal market correction). As most of our clients have heard us say, it is panicking out of the market at the bottom that causes the most damage to investors’ returns.
If you are not sure of where you are or just want to review your account, please call us. We are always here for you.