Single vs. Multi: Do multiple asset classes help smooth out your ride?

Investing in a single asset class is risky when you consider no one asset class consistently outperforms on a regular basis. Don't play the guessing game with your financial future.

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Are you the Average Seattle Coffee Drinker?

If you are a Seattlite, odds are you spend almost twice as much on designer coffee than residents of the next highest consuming city. Based on mint.com's analysis, Seattle users spent on average $674 on coffee in 2009. Las Vegas came in second averaging $391 per person for a cup of designer coffee.

Source: Journal of Financial Planning - August 2010

RockCandy Favorite Recipes: Veal Stuffed Kohlrabi

The old world sure knew how to cook. This dish was a favorite dish in Hungary in the 60’s. Kohlrabies are one of our favorite vegetables both peeled and sliced raw with ranch dressing or salt or cooked into the delightful old recipe that follows. The hard part is finding fresh kohlrabi; we have it easy because Candy’s mom, Fran Sweesy, grows them for us in her garden in Yakima.

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Specialists Outperform Generalists

When it comes to specific assignments, specialists typically outperform generalists. Consider the 2008 Beijing Olympics, when we compare the performance of the gold medal-winning decathlon champion with the individual event champions, the individual specialists won every time. Why should investing be any different? A manager skilled at managing investments in U.S. equities won't necessarily be best at managing a global bond portfolio. Russell not only combines multiple specialists in simple packages, but they constantly monitor their performance. We think it's an approach worth championing!

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Estate Planning for Medicaid and long-term care

Check out Professional Alliance member Sean Bleck’s article in the July 16-22 Puget Sound Business Journal for good tips on estate planning for Medicaid and long-term care. If you subscribe to the Puget Sound Business Journal you can read the full article here. If you would like us to send you a copy of the article send us an e-mail to nick@candyjlee.com.

Landmark Financial Reform

On July 21, 2010, President Obama signed into law the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010. The provisions are designed to help prevent problems that led to the 2008 financial crisis from recurring. In some cases, the legislation enacts specific measures; in others, it authorizes the creation of regulations that will be determined in coming months.

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Reverse Mortgages Look Better

Check out Wall Street Journal's article on reducing finance costs. PA member Conrad Wouters offers reverse mortages and is available to answer your questions in this area. They are often an attractive last option to increase income for those individuals with depleting income. The longer in life you wait to take out a reverse mortgage the better.
Click here for the Wall Street Journal Article.