I think everyone is saying it, but I’ll reiterate anyway, thank goodness 2020 is nearly over! What a “shit show” we’ve been through. Of course the Covid Pandemic, the stock market roller coaster, the presidential election, no international travel, family and/or friends contracting covid-19, and much more.
But in spite of shut downs, quarantines, and wearing masks, I still have much to be grateful for. In fact, that is how I choose to end 2020 with a “Gratitude List.” So on a personal note, I’ll share some of what I’m grateful for in 2020.
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- Due to Covid and my daughter losing her job, she moved in with me for five months. It was the BEST five months we’ve ever had together. We really got to know each other on a much deeper level, something I’m eternally grateful for.
- Trips to South Dakota to visit family and friends.
- Road trips to: Montana for family wedding; Yellowstone and Tetons National Parks where we “ran into” old friends; touring all five National Parks in Utah and glamping.
- Buying a home and moving to another state to live next door to my grandkids.
- Zoom meetings with friends.
- Dedicated clients.
- Good health and almost daily walks.
- Creating memories with kids and grandkids like weekly family dinners, decorating Christmas cookies, watching Christmas Vacation together, and much more to come!
- Not “messing” with my investments when the stock market plunged resulting in a full recovery to my portfolio.
And on that note, I’d like to leave you with a little financial advice as we look toward a prosperous 2021. When the market is down we buy and when it’s up we sell (or rebalance) if we follow John Templeton’s advice. Also, we’ve seen growth stocks leading the stock market most of this century. However, now may be the time to consider Value stocks, per Kiplinger.
This year I will be adding more ESG (Environmental, Social, Governance) focused funds to my portfolio. Why? Because “companies with superior corporate governance and better environmental and social practices than their peers display greater resilience and preserve long-term value more effectively during times of market stress,” according to Carlo Funk, Head of ESG Investment Strategy for State Street Global Investing.
I personally like Nia Impact Capital. If you’re looking for an ETF, consider iShares ESG Aware MSCI USA ETF.
For a diversified portfolio, I suggest looking at ETFs (Exchange Traded Funds) due to their low cost. Here’s Kiplinger’s List of the 21 Best ETFs to buy for a prosperous 2021 which cover a wide range of options for numerous objectives.
So I hope I’ve nudged you toward looking back over 2020 and finding the “gold” in your year and investing for a prosperous 2021.
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Wishing you a Wealthy, Healthy and Happy New Year!