Save On Your Electric Bill: Summer Update

It may be due to the heat we have had the last couple weeks or just the fact that many folks have been finally able to work on their personal "to-do" lists. Regardless of the reason, questions about switching electric suppliers have resurfaced in conversations.

Keep in mind that if you are in the middle of a "fixed rate" contract with your current supplier and you change suppliers, your current (and soon to be former provider) may back charge you for a higher rate (the difference you would have paid if you were on a "variable rate" contract).  This does not mean that you should not change, it just means you need to do the math and buyer beware.

For more information, see our previous blog from February 

Save On Your Electric Bill (February 2015)

Investment Update

The impact of our behavior on financial decisions is something that is getting more and more needed attention in the financial planning industry.  As volatility has picked up in the investment markets in recent days we thought it was a good time to re-address the philosophy we implement.

As we stated in a previous post, borrowing a line from a colleague: the “markets” tend to take the stairs up, and the elevator down.  Knowing this, and being prepared for how it will impact your investments, will help us all make better decisions when the elevator doors open.

During the past 5 years we have seen the U.S. stock markets follow the stairs up.  During this time we have continuously rebalanced your portfolios to ensure you are not taking on too much risk.  I am sure you have heard Tim or I say that the time will come when the “markets” will take that elevator ride down.  The question is not “if” an elevator ride down will occur, but, “when” an elevator ride down will occur.  Next week?  Next year?  In five years?

Sorry, but, we don’t know the answer to this question.  We do know that when the time comes we should take the same approach we have during the stairway up, to rebalance your portfolio to the appropriate level of risk.  It is during these times on the stairs that we should consistently be revisiting your goals and understanding the appropriate level of risk for your investments, whether they are traditional stocks & bonds, real estate, or private investment opportunities.  This will allow us to understand what we expect to happen to your asset values during the next elevator ride down, before it occurs.  Being prepared for this should help us make better educated, more rational, decisions when the time comes since the ride down may occur faster than the climb up.

To help us assess risk, we have asked many of you to complete a brief questionnaire from RiskAlyze that focuses on the dollar amount gains and losses you would be comfortable with in a 6 month period of time.  If you haven’t completed this yet, please expect to hear from us in the coming months.  This is an exercise we plan to revisit with you on a regular basis.

As always, we are here to answer any questions you might have.