Many people dream of becoming wealthy, but they don’t think carefully about what that really means. They incorrectly assume that being wealthy means having a large income. How much money you make is meaningless. It’s how much money you keep that matters. Rich people make lots of money. Wealthy people save lots of money. Which would you rather be?
Companies are designed to make money—that is their purpose for existence. They typically make money by offering a good or service that others find valuable, creating a win-win transaction. They solve a problem or fill a need, and we give them our money in exchange. Despite the benefits of a free market, not every business solves a problem well, and just like people, they can create more problems than they solve.
During the first half of 2023 financial markets defied the chorus of forecasters who anticipated that crippling interest rates would soon lead to earnings declines, recession, and investment losses. Overall, investors enjoyed better than usual returns despite relentlessly negative media headlines.
Last weekend my wife and I hosted a dinner for another married couple and their two young boys. For me, it's the holy grail of family friendships because all the sub-groups get along great: Our kids are buddies, our wives are longtime pals, and the husband and I enjoy each other's company.
The first quarter of 2023 generated positive returns for both stock and bond investors despite turmoil in the banking sector and the failures of Credit Suisse, Silicon Valley Bank, and Signature Bank. Inflation has drifted lower and the Federal Reserve has begun to tone down its hawkish language, suggesting an easing of monetary tightening with fewer and smaller interest rate hikes in the future. Corporate profits have remained strong, and the employment market has been surprisingly robust in the face of a gradually slowing economy.
Proxy season is the time of year when companies hold meetings to elect new board members, approve executive pay, and address the concerns of shareholders. For investors who care about the social and environmental impacts of their investments, this is an opportunity to influence company behavior for the better.
You’ve probably been reading about the collapse last week of Silicon Valley Bank (SVB) in California. Hopefully, the following commentary will answer questions that may have come up for you, and give you a sense of where things stand now.
Here are a few tips to help you win the tax game.
The longer the time horizon you have to invest, the more money you are likely to make. And the longer you stay in debt, the more money you lose.
Owning your own business isn't for the faint of heart, but if an entrepreneur is successful, they can create wealth for themselves and often for others too.
As we move into what is already a very eventful new year, we wanted to take a moment to look back and reflect on the positive things that happened for LongView in 2022.
Last week personal finance coach Bridget Jones shared her insights on the topic as the guest host for the first webinar in LongView's 2023 series on financial empowerment. Last week's webinar, "Cultivating a Positive Money Mindset - Moving From Fear to Freedom," was all about how to overcome our limiting beliefs and identify inherited family patterns around how we approach money issues.