I know – we have a volatile stock market, global tariff wars, an inverted yield curve, recession talks – it all makes me feel a bit more on edge than usual.  But, I tend to follow my own advice here… let the dust settle and continue to have a long-term view.  

Times of uncertainty can also bring about creativity and the desire to do things that are insulated from the news around us. In fact, these times also bring about the desire to be bold and do things that you wouldn’t normally do. I got this feeling recently after watching the new Netflix documentary, Brene Brown: A Call to Courage. The short Netflix special showcases researcher, storyteller, and author, Brené Brown as she discusses what it takes to choose courage over comfort in a culture defined by scarcity, fear and uncertainty. Just so you know, I have a girl crush on Brene Brown – I think she’s lived into her calling and it’s attractive!

The documentary is surely worth a watch if you want to step up your wealth game and be bold in all aspects of your life. I do not want to ruin the fun for you, but I will say that there is no time like the present to rethink how you want to live your life. In the last newsletter, I asked you “what motivates you?,” and this film might just be what you need to give a little nudge to take action in your life.

In the meanwhile, here’s the news that caught my attention over the past two weeks, and my tips surrounding the news. If you have an opinion or something to add, leave a comment below:

• New Retirement Bill. There are several critical elements of the recent retirement bill that you do not want to miss. These changes will affect you more than you might think on surface. Two important and less-talked-about changes that you should bear in mind are that the legislation: (1) Allows penalty-free withdrawals from retirement plans to pay for the costs related to the birth or adoption of a child, and (2) Permits small businesses to band together to create retirement plans for their workers. I narrowed in on these two changes because these could potentially affect your out-of-pocket expenses related to childcare and starting a business. The NYT breaks down all the main changes here.

• A Financial Checklist for Your Newly Minted High School Graduate. Do you have any recent high school grads in your life? Send this article to them, and I’m sure there are tid bits in here for you too. Author Ron Liber offers a great rundown of what he or she needs to know to get them on solid footing into adulthood. My favorites are: getting a Roth IRA, securing an authorized user credit card for your child,  and utilizing a mobile payments platform that suits your family’s needs. Get moving!

• The Meatless Craze – An Investment Opportunity? Have you tried an Impossible or Beyond Burger lately? My husband and I have been eating these meatless products for the last two years. Yummy! Like many, I was skeptical at first but when one of my clients introduced me to them, there was no turning back. According to this WSJ article, Burger King and White Castle are racing to offer this food for the masses. Therefore, one must wonder if these new offerings will change their revenue and profits. I will be watching closely to see how these offerings affect the fast food industry overall, as well as which companies will see their stock prices benefit. Pay attention in the months to come, and see if an investment opportunity exists!  

And, a happy early Fathers day to you if you’re a dad or hold a father-like role in the life of a child.