Planning with Uncertainty

by Bill Parrott on

Zero Dark Thirty is a thriller about the global pursuit of Osama Bin Laden. A CIA operative determines he is living in a compound in Pakistan, but few believe her analysis, until the meeting scene. During this scene, the power players assess the likelihood that Bin Laden is living at the compound...

My Fitbit

by Bill Parrott on

My wife and daughter own Fitbits. I didn’t want to be left out, so I bought one too. The main reason for getting our Fitbits is our healthcare plan will give us points we can use to purchase gift cards. Of course, we want to get fit, but our real motivation is to rack up the points.

My Fitbit...

It Still Works

by Bill Parrott on

After the Great Recession, a friend asked me if diversification still made sense. He followed up with another question before I could answer. He asked, “If my assets are diversified, how come I’m losing money?” I said diversification still works, but it doesn’t protect you against a loss...

The Beauty of Cash

by Bill Parrott on

Cash is wonderful. Simple. Humble. It never boasts when times are good, nor complains when times are tough. Cash is an asset like stocks or bonds or real estate, but it doesn’t get any respect – like Rodney Dangerfield, but it should, particularly when the stock market and economy are struggling.

...

Who Needs Prayer?

by Bill Parrott on
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My bible study group has been meeting virtually for the past few weeks because of the Coronavirus, and last night we prayed for twenty-five people from a list (see below) that has been circulating on social media. We incorporated it into our meeting, and it was powerful.

It is a tough time for...

Seniors in high school are pouring over acceptance letters trying to decide which college to attend in the fall. It’s an exciting time for students and parents. College is a fabulous experience, full of pomp and circumstance, football games, fraternities, sororities, student government, homecomings...

We try to maintain a balanced life, eat a balanced diet, and, of course, we need balance to ride a bike. Balance is harmony. Investors should pursue balance; unfortunately, they rarely rebalance their portfolios, and they get too aggressive or too conservative at the wrong time.

Rebalancing is...

What Do You Cherish?

by Bill Parrott on
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The Coronavirus is stripping us of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. We have been knocked to our knees, delivered a standing eight count. It’s a challenging time for all, regardless of age, race, or wealth. Difficult times do not discriminate.

During this lockdown, what has been...

Grandma B

by Bill Parrott on
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My Grandma B was born in 1900. In Iowa. She dressed to the nines and did not appear to have a care in the world. She loved playing the piano, singing songs, and visiting with her family. Her sources of income were modest, relying on Social Security and rental income from a building that housed a...

Desperate times call for drastic measures. As the Coronavirus shuts down the planet, you may be looking for ways to save a few extra dollars. Now is an excellent time to review your spending habits and create a budget. However, creating a budget is about as fun as getting your wisdom teeth pulled...

The Coronavirus is spreading. Countries and cities are in lockdown. Our government and businesses are encouraging their employees to work from home, and senior citizens are advised not to leave their houses. It’s a dark and dire time for the global community, so how can you make the best of a bad...

Can You Afford a 50% Loss?

by Bill Parrott on
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Global stock markets are selling off, oil is crashing, and the Coronavirus is spreading. Year-to-date, the Dow Jones is down about 15%, and things can get worse before they get better.

No one wants to experience a significant drop in stocks, but they do occur. Over the past fifty years, there...