GMB #135: A Longer Look at Inflation & Monetary Policy With Kirk Chisholm

In recent months we’ve seen the highest inflation rates in the United States since the 1980s. As a result, many people seem to be concerned about the ripple effects of inflation and what the Federal Reserve is doing to handle it. This week on Grow Money Business, we’re joined by Kirk Chisholm, an expert in inflation, monetary policy, self-directed IRAs, and 401K. Kirk is also the wealth manager & principal of Innovative Advisory Group, which reshapes the wealth management industry via innovation. In this episode, Grant and Kirk dive deep into inflation and the current state of the markets.

Show Notes

[02:27] Background – Kirk describes his background and his journey thus far.

[05:54] Risk Management – Kirk provides a thorough overview of risk management from a portfolio perspective and how he applies it in his firm.

[15:59] Inflation – Kirk offers comprehensive perspectives on the current state of the markets.

[24:31] Deep-dive Into Inflation – Kirk and Grant dive deep into how rising interest rates will impact the United States economy

[48:22] Banking Systems – Kirk discusses the impact inflation has on banking systems, as well as his unique approach to investing money.

[01:00:40] Federal Reserve – Kirk shares his opinions on the Federal Reserve.

Resources

Is a Self-Directed 401(k) Right for You?

Contributing regularly to a 401(k) plan is the foundation of retirement savings for many people. You determine the percentage of each paycheck you want to contribute, and you either select a target-date fund based on your expected year of retirement or pick from a relatively limited selection of mutual funds.

But what if you had more control? Suppose you’re a do-it-yourselfer in other areas of your investment plan. In that case, the limited options in a 401(k) can be very constraining – especially when it is often your most significant investment pool. If you prefer to have someone else manage your investments, you may be able to find an advisor that will make recommendations inside your plan, but again, they will be limited.

If you have multiple plans from different employers or a concentrated stock position, it can be difficult to line your 401(k) investing up with your risk tolerance and overall financial picture.

There is another option for investors whose employers offer the ability to self-direct your 401(k).

Continue reading→

It’s Not About Inflation, It’s About Volatility

Inflation is driving the headlines and wreaking havoc on budgets. But for long-term investors – mostly everyone – short-term inflation isn’t the biggest risk to financial plans. Volatility is. It’s being fueled by the Federal Reserve’s efforts to balance bringing down inflation with keeping the economy out of recession.

The Fed is raising the key short-term interest rate to slow economic growth. This makes money more expensive, which you know first-hand if you have a credit card account or you’ve tried to buy a home or refinance an existing mortgage.

The reason this is generating volatility is that markets hate uncertainty. Markets are forward-looking and attempt to price into stocks and bonds today, things that will likely happen in the future. The issue is that the Federal Reserve can’t tell the markets in advance exactly how much and when they will raise interest rates because it’s a delicate task depending on a lot of ever-changing economic data. And let’s be honest, probably some guesswork.

Fed Chairman Powell, and the Fed governors, have been examples of message discipline. They’ve been doing everything they can to reassure markets. But while markets may be rational, investors aren’t.

So, as an investor, how do you cope with volatility? We have some pointers.

Continue reading→

What Just Happened? The Fed Increases Velocity and Accepts Reality

The Federal Reserve raised the key short-term interest rate by 75 basis points in response to the release of the May headline CPI number, which increased to 8.6%. This marked the first 75 basis point increase in the Fed funds rate since 1994. That wasn’t the most unusual thing about the announcement. All year, Fed Chairman Powell has been striving to telegraph to markets exactly what the Fed’s intentions are with rates. Clarity and allowing time for markets to adjust has been the strategy for minimizing disruption.

The CPI inflation number release came at the tail end of the “blackout” period the Fed observes around communications before an FOMC meeting. Without the ability to communicate the Fed’s thinking to the markets, the Fed Chair had to weigh the possible loss of credibility such a surprise announcement would cause against the urgent need to combat inflation aggressively.

Continue reading→

GMB #134: Crowdfunding Opportunities in Real Estate With Craig Cecilio

Historically, if you wanted to purchase a private investment, you had to qualify under the SEC’s standards as an accredited investor. After 2012, certain regulatory modifications made private investments accessible to non-accredited investors. This week our guest is Craig Cecilio – CEO and cofounder of DiversyFund Inc. DiversyFund is a crowdfunding platform that enables everyday investors to generate wealth by democratizing alternative asset investment.

Show Notes

[03:36] Background – Craig explains what caused the regulatory changes that opened up private investments to non-accredited investors.

[11:37] More Opportunities – Craig shares his thoughts on why opening up investments makes the most sense.

[15:16] Craig’s Story – Craig describes how his real estate investing background led to the founding of DiversyFund, Inc.

[27:28] Best Practices – Craig shares some important considerations when it comes holding or selling properties.

[29:18] Communication Cycle – Craig describes what it’s like to report to 30,000 investors and how he considers their needs when making decisions.

[35:29] Communication Transparency – Craig stresses the significance of transparent communication.

[39:26] Process – Craig outlines the steps required to acquire his company’s services.

[43:43] New Strategies – In addition to expanding geographically within the multifamily industry, Craig reveals his plans to offer new and alternative strategies.

[46:19] Lifecycle of Funds – Craig shares when it makes sense to collect money from investors in relation to the lifecycle of the funds.

[48:32] Challenges – Craig discusses the most challenging aspects of business expansion.

Resources

GMB #133: Retirement Income Planning in 2022

Managing income after retirement is one of the most important things a retiree needs to plan to make the best of their savings, and with the rising interest rates and stock market volatility, there are many factors that need to be considered. This week on Grow Money Business, Grant dives into several key aspects of retirement income planning, including how to minimize tax impact, prioritizing different sources of income, planning for social security benefits, making strategic tax decisions, and more.

Show Notes

[02:36] Recent Developments – Grant shares his thoughts on some of the recent changes in the economy and policies that affect the way people should approach retirement planning.

[05:24] 401k Plans – How to maximize tax benefits while utilizing a 401k.

[11:33] Expenses After Retirement – Grant explains how to best manage your after-retirement expenses

[16:11] IRAs & Tax – Grant explains the tax differences between traditional and Roth IRAs and what retirees should keep in mind when taking money from these accounts.

[21:00] Strategic Tax Decisions – Grant shares a strategic move that allows retirees to minimize the tax impact on their retirement accounts while taking advantage of the gap years between the age of 65 and 72.

[29:17] Deferring Tax – How to decide whether it is beneficial to defer tax based on life expectancy

[32:46] Medicare Premiums – How to plan for minimizing Medicare premiums after retirement.

[39:06] Social Security – Grant shares his take on maximizing the social security benefits after retirement.

Resources

Financial Fitness – Mid-Year 2022 Check-In

Summer will officially be here soon, but before kids get out of school and all the vacation planning you did begins to come to fruition, it can be a good idea to take stock of your financial picture and make updates where necessary. Below are a few things you should consider to keep your plan in shape. We’ve organized them by life stage, from having small kids to being closer to retirement. We’ve also included charitable giving, as that happens at every stage.

Continue reading→

Tax Planning For Retirement: The Long Game

Tax planning for retirement is different from the strategies you deploy to minimize taxes while working. You’ll be using your investments for income, and the way they are taxed is different depending on the type of account you hold assets in. In addition, at age 72, you’ll begin taking required minimum distributions from your tax-deferred accounts, and these amounts can quickly push you into higher tax brackets.
Does it matter? According to research done by Morningstar, tax planning can add up to 4% to retirement income.

Continue reading→

June Market Commentary: Lions, Tigers, and Bears, Oh My!

May Recap and June Outlook

The Fed lion has found the courage to increase interest rates drastically, the inflation tiger is still ambushing the economy, and now the stock market is flirting with bears. The question for investors is: Are we still deep in the forest? Or is that the Emerald City on the horizon? To extend the metaphor – that wizard wasn’t much help, and the solution to the problem turned out to be a liquidation.

Just to be clear, they melted the witch. We’re not suggesting melting your portfolio.

Continue reading→

GMB #132: From Tech Founder to Venture Capital & Real Estate Investor with Zain Jaffer

The world of real estate is full of opportunities for investors who strive to build wealth using innovative strategies. This week on Grow Money Business, we have a fascinating conversation with Zain Jaffer. Zain is a tech entrepreneur, a real estate investor, and the founder of Vungle, which was sold to Blackstone for $780 million in an all-cash transaction in 2019. Today, he invests in real estate and real estate technology businesses through both venture capital and private equity funds.

Show Notes

[02:15] Zain’s experience – Zain describes what he finds so appealing about real estate investing.

[09:58] Investment Opportunities – Zain shares what he looks for in new investment opportunities and how he assesses whether or not they are a suitable fit.

[16:54] Institutional Impacts on Real Estate – Zain and Grant discuss the argument that institutional interest in residential real estate is making it more challenging for individuals to purchase their own homes.

[22:15] PropTech Startups – Zain describes his future career goals and plans to continue investing in PropTech startups.

[26:33] More on Real Estate Investing – Zain shares some common themes he hears presented from startups seeking investments.

[34:09] Zain’s Journey – Zain outlines his professional journey, starting with the founding of Vungle, to his eventual $780 million exit.

[41:05] Cryptocurrency – Zain shares his thoughts on cryptocurrency.