I read this article in the Globe & Mail last week for two reasons: 1) I love the Globe & Mail, and 2) I love reading about generations and their traits. This article deals with 2009 high school graduates. I found it a very interesting article, a great read so I suggest you take a look at it. Meet Generation Practical
From my own very limited study into the different generations, one thing that I have learned about this generation (namely, the tail end of Generation Y) is that it has some of the same attributes as its members’ grandparents (Traditionalists) and is not at all like its parents (Baby Boomers). Obviously the characteristics it shares with its traditionalist grandparents are updated for the simple reason that they have grown up in different worlds, but the foundation of our beliefs seem to be the same; family, friends and helping others is what are important. Careers and the "me-first" attitude more commonly portrayed by the baby Boomer generation is farther down the list of Generation Y’s values.
If you come across a Generation Practical in the next few days, give them a thumbs up and a pat on the back. They have a lot to do over the next 20 years.
Have a great week!
Matthew George
Monday, June 29, 2009
Monday, June 22, 2009
It Depends On When You Wake Up
I woke up this morning at 7:30 and, as per usual, I poured a cup of coffee and went through my morning computer bookmark routine. Check the sports scores from the day before, set my fantasy league lineups for the day, enter the bottomless pit called Gmail and graze through the news to see if the world is still stumbling along.
A lot of my attention lately has been directed towards the business section of the Globe and Mail. Usually, Monday morning is a fairly uneventful morning, the market also takes a weekend and is still on its way to work like everyone else. So I had a fairly easy read with the headline "The Return of Optimism" posted @ 7:28am. A fairly common theme I have been hearing over the last couple weeks is about how the market has bottomed out and people are beginning to feel optimistic about the next quarter. How quickly we forget....
I checked back in over some lunch at around 12 to see if ESPN had put up their power rankings for the MLB yet, hoping to find out what they had to say about our Blue Jays this past week, and then I went back over to the Globe and Mail. And before you could get a round of golf in, the market had dropped 350 points and a new report had been posted, now headlined "New Global Forecast Shakes Markets". At this point I would like to draw your attention to an article I first brought up earlier on this blog in the post "Riding the Emotional Roller Coaster".
Monday June 22 2009 sums up the last 12 months of the markets; one moment you're flying in your private jet, then your wings fall off and you turn into a missile carrying 13 different bottles of scotch, but you end off landing on a giant cloud that stops you softly and seems to carry you away to where there's no harm in sight... that is until that cloud turns into a thunder storm.
What I have been thinking about the most is whether the markets are turning into a different monster. Is the last 30 years of averages going to change? Is the ratio of 3 years of bull markets and 9 months of bear markets going to be a thing of the past? I don't really know, and I would have to be insane to try and give a conclusive answer to that. But it seems that some people do think they know.
What I do know, as of Monday June 22, is that if I want good news I should wake up early and get back to bed before noon. But where's the fun in that?
Have a great week!
Matthew George
A lot of my attention lately has been directed towards the business section of the Globe and Mail. Usually, Monday morning is a fairly uneventful morning, the market also takes a weekend and is still on its way to work like everyone else. So I had a fairly easy read with the headline "The Return of Optimism" posted @ 7:28am. A fairly common theme I have been hearing over the last couple weeks is about how the market has bottomed out and people are beginning to feel optimistic about the next quarter. How quickly we forget....
I checked back in over some lunch at around 12 to see if ESPN had put up their power rankings for the MLB yet, hoping to find out what they had to say about our Blue Jays this past week, and then I went back over to the Globe and Mail. And before you could get a round of golf in, the market had dropped 350 points and a new report had been posted, now headlined "New Global Forecast Shakes Markets". At this point I would like to draw your attention to an article I first brought up earlier on this blog in the post "Riding the Emotional Roller Coaster".
Monday June 22 2009 sums up the last 12 months of the markets; one moment you're flying in your private jet, then your wings fall off and you turn into a missile carrying 13 different bottles of scotch, but you end off landing on a giant cloud that stops you softly and seems to carry you away to where there's no harm in sight... that is until that cloud turns into a thunder storm.
What I have been thinking about the most is whether the markets are turning into a different monster. Is the last 30 years of averages going to change? Is the ratio of 3 years of bull markets and 9 months of bear markets going to be a thing of the past? I don't really know, and I would have to be insane to try and give a conclusive answer to that. But it seems that some people do think they know.
What I do know, as of Monday June 22, is that if I want good news I should wake up early and get back to bed before noon. But where's the fun in that?
Have a great week!
Matthew George
Monday, June 15, 2009
Rule Of 72
Short, sweet and so important that you're going to want to read this again.
Question: What is the number one reason to invest more aggressively and have a properly managed portfolio?
Answer: The rule of 72.
The rule of 72 is defined as this: A rule stating that in order to find the number of years required to double your money at a given interest rate, you divide the compound return into 72. The result is the approximate number of years that it will take for your investment to double. (Investopedia)
Are you only getting a 3% return on your money each year? If so, it will take you 24 years to double your money!
Can you get 8% on your money each year somewhere else? If so, it will only take you 9 years to double your money!
What does that really mean in time and dollars?
Let's say you're 25 years old and you have $25,000 to invest. If you are getting 3% a year on your portfolio, by the time you retire at 60 years of age you will have approx. $70,000.
If your portfolio with the same $25,000 starting point gets 8% a year, at age 60 you will have approx. $200,000.
Which do you want to have?
$70,000 or $200,000?
The choice is up to you, but I think I already know which one you want.
Achieving maximum benefit from your investments is dependent on doubling your money as much as you can in your investing lifetime. Talk to me to find out how many doubles you can get.
Have a great week!
Matthew George
Question: What is the number one reason to invest more aggressively and have a properly managed portfolio?
Answer: The rule of 72.
The rule of 72 is defined as this: A rule stating that in order to find the number of years required to double your money at a given interest rate, you divide the compound return into 72. The result is the approximate number of years that it will take for your investment to double. (Investopedia)
Are you only getting a 3% return on your money each year? If so, it will take you 24 years to double your money!
Can you get 8% on your money each year somewhere else? If so, it will only take you 9 years to double your money!
What does that really mean in time and dollars?
Let's say you're 25 years old and you have $25,000 to invest. If you are getting 3% a year on your portfolio, by the time you retire at 60 years of age you will have approx. $70,000.
If your portfolio with the same $25,000 starting point gets 8% a year, at age 60 you will have approx. $200,000.
Which do you want to have?
$70,000 or $200,000?
The choice is up to you, but I think I already know which one you want.
Achieving maximum benefit from your investments is dependent on doubling your money as much as you can in your investing lifetime. Talk to me to find out how many doubles you can get.
Have a great week!
Matthew George
Sunday, June 7, 2009
Best Doctors For Everyone
I decided to draw our attention to this report which was sent to me last week: 1 in 5 breast cancer tests wrong.
"Am I getting the right diagnosis from my doctor?" That is something I have certainly thought about when going to the doctor. I have all the respect in the world for doctors. My doctor is a very intelligent woman and she has been my family doctor since I was born. But I have always understood that it is not possible for her to be an expert in all medical fields, so quite often family doctors refer to specialists. As much as I would like to believe that what I am being told is correct, I have heard many examples along the same lines as that news report from Quebec; misdiagnoses are prevalent in the medical community. What's the answer to this problem then?
Well, I would like to address your attention to an organization that I feel is life-saving: Best Doctors . Their vision: "When you need to be absolutely sure, Best Doctors is there." Take a look at the website and read a little about them. It really is a fascinating organization. A quick explanation of what they do is this: when you get a diagnosis from a doctor you are able to send your file to the Best Doctors organization and they will review it. Then they have the ability to both change the diagnosis and treatment.
You may ask, "How do I know I am I getting credible advice?" Well, according to the Best Doctors website, the physicians in the Best Doctors database have been identified by their peers as being the ‘best’ in their specialty areas. They seek "doctors whose reputation for clinical excellence places them in the top 5% of their specialty."
If there is anything to get a second opinion on, is it not your health? I am a huge supporter of Best Doctors and I have made sure that I am a member so I can take advantage of this service in the future should it be necessary.
If you want to learn more about how you can become a member for no membership charge, please let me know. Being part of Best Doctors could save your life one day.
Have a great week!
Matthew George
"Am I getting the right diagnosis from my doctor?" That is something I have certainly thought about when going to the doctor. I have all the respect in the world for doctors. My doctor is a very intelligent woman and she has been my family doctor since I was born. But I have always understood that it is not possible for her to be an expert in all medical fields, so quite often family doctors refer to specialists. As much as I would like to believe that what I am being told is correct, I have heard many examples along the same lines as that news report from Quebec; misdiagnoses are prevalent in the medical community. What's the answer to this problem then?
Well, I would like to address your attention to an organization that I feel is life-saving: Best Doctors . Their vision: "When you need to be absolutely sure, Best Doctors is there." Take a look at the website and read a little about them. It really is a fascinating organization. A quick explanation of what they do is this: when you get a diagnosis from a doctor you are able to send your file to the Best Doctors organization and they will review it. Then they have the ability to both change the diagnosis and treatment.
You may ask, "How do I know I am I getting credible advice?" Well, according to the Best Doctors website, the physicians in the Best Doctors database have been identified by their peers as being the ‘best’ in their specialty areas. They seek "doctors whose reputation for clinical excellence places them in the top 5% of their specialty."
If there is anything to get a second opinion on, is it not your health? I am a huge supporter of Best Doctors and I have made sure that I am a member so I can take advantage of this service in the future should it be necessary.
If you want to learn more about how you can become a member for no membership charge, please let me know. Being part of Best Doctors could save your life one day.
Have a great week!
Matthew George
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