Two Months Remaining in 2018 - Finish the Race

It’s the start of November, and you’ll need all the energy you can get to finish the year strong. Remember those financial goals you set in the beginning of the year? Well, it’s not too late to still achieve them. Com’ on, you can do it – please do not give up and finish the race with two months to go in 2018! If you need a little inspiration, here’s a pic of me finishing my 5K this morning in cold Chicago. Even if you must walk, like I did, the important thing is that you finish strongly. Your wealth journey is not a sprint, it’s a marathon!

And, if you haven’t done so already, please go out and vote on Tuesday – we need every single ballot. Remember that politics, wealth, and money are very intertwined. It’s more important than ever for us to put in office those who will serve our interests, not their own. If you want to learn more about the intersection of money and politics, check out Jane Mayer’s Dark Money:  The Hidden History of the Billionaires Behind the Rise of the Radical Right, where she tackles core questions such as:

·      Why is America living in an age of profound and widening economic inequality?

·      Why do hedge-fund billionaires pay a far lower tax rate than middle-class workers?

Now, here are a few articles and reflections to keep you motivated about your own money:

·      The robots are coming, and are you prepared? A week ago, I called guest services at the Westin hotel and asked if they could send me up a toothbrush after realizing I forgot mine at home (yes, you can do this and it’s quite lovely). I was floored when 5 minutes later my phone rang to tell me my toothbrush was at the door. Then, when I opened the door, a robot appeared with a courtesy toothbrush.  Don’t believe me? Take a look at this pic:

Although I checked around, there were no humans in sight, and I even watched the robot roll itself away down the corridor. Keep your eye on this robot revolution, and get prepared to see how you can take advantage, albeit as an investor or consumer. The Wall Street Journal recently reported several private and public companies’ decision to dedicate many more resources to improving how robots invade (oh, I mean improve) our lives. Wow!

·      Three 401k mistakes that could hurt your retirement.  Have you checked out your 401k statements recently? Well, there’s no better time than now. With the market all over the place in the last month, make sure you’re properly invested in your retirement account. I couldn’t agree more with the these three common mistakes that Motley Fool highlights:

1.     Not contributing to your 401k

2.     Borrowing from it

3.     Not moving funds to a better account when you change jobs

And, I am adding two more to the list:

4.     Forgetting to rebalance your 401k

5.     Not taking advantage of an employer match

Make sure you avoid these common mistakes. Have you been successful in managing your 401k? Share your story on my blog.

3. What would you do with $1.4 billon? I really want to know. The lucky South Carolina $1.4 billion Mega Millions lottery ticket winner is probably planning several trips at the moment. Unfortunately, none of my South Carolina family or friends claimed the prize. If they did, I probably would not be writing this blog – just joking, I would still show you some love! 

Nonetheless, I came across this great article – “What Investors Can Learn From Gamblers,” which shared some reflections on the psychology of those who purchased a ticket, and its implications for you as an investor. My favorite takeaway:

“For investors, too, figuring out what other people are likely to do, and then persisting in doing the opposite, is the best way to come out ahead in the long run.”

I want you to be reminded that as an investor, you must run your own race – you’ll benefit in the long run.