Author: Richard Archer

Why you shouldn’t worry about who the next president will be

Posted on December 24, 2020 by - Investment

elections

Do you know what one of the number one causes of market losses during an election year is?

Fear.1

In fact, the uncertainty of the elections can stoke your fears. It may even encourage you to make rash, emotional decisions.1

That can lead to losses, but it doesn’t have to.

If you know the facts about the market during presidential election years, you can potentially avoid investing mistakes that so many others make.

When it comes to the market during a presidential election cycle, the election itself may not matter as much as you think. We explain why and look at some proven facts about the market and elections in this month’s Visual Insights Newsletter. Click here to see it!

No matter what party is in power, it’s important to remember that past results with one party in the White House don’t guarantee future results if that party wins.

Go ahead and click here to discover more facts about politics and the markets.

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Risk Disclosures: Investing involves risk including the potential loss of principal. No investment strategy can guarantee a profit or protect against loss in periods of declining values. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This material is for information purposes only and is not intended as an offer or solicitation with respect to the purchase or sale of any security. The content is developed from sources believed to be providing accurate information; no warranty, expressed or implied, is made regarding accuracy, adequacy, completeness, legality, reliability or usefulness of any information. Consult your financial professional before making any investment decision. For illustrative use only. Investing involves risk including the potential loss of principal. No investment strategy can guarantee a profit or protect against loss in periods of declining values. Past performance does not guarantee future results. The S&P 500 is an unmanaged composite index considered to be representative of the U.S. stock market in general. All index returns exclude reinvested dividends and interest. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Indices are unmanaged and cannot be invested into directly. For illustrative purposes only.

New tax saving opportunity for you?

Posted on December 23, 2020 by - Smart Money Tips

tax saving

With tax season approaching, I wanted to reach out with a few new tax saving opportunities that opened up due to the latest tax rules (the 2017 TCJA and 2019 SECURE Act) passed by the federal government.

This is a TIME-SENSITIVE opportunity, and to take advantage of your potential savings to the fullest you’ll need to act on this fast (before you file your taxes), so pay close attention.

These new tax rules can radically change your tax picture from now until 2025 when the 2017 rules are set to expire (unless a new administration changes them sooner).

For some people, these new tax rules could permanently lower the taxes they’ll pay for LIFE.

Remember, this is truly a LIMITED-TIME opportunity for two reasons:

#1 – The laws are set to expire in 2025, so you’ll want to take advantage to the fullest until then because you’ll probably pay more in taxes in the following years if the tax brackets return to pre-TCJA levels.

#2 – Some of the tax saving strategies in the free tax savings guide (below) need to be completed before you file your tax return, so it’s very important that you take action right now.

If you’re interested in saving more on your taxes under the latest tax rules, see this free guide to help you save every penny you can (including 6 “hidden” opportunities).

Please feel free to forward this email to a friend, business relation, or family member who may benefit from this tax saving guide.

Remember, this opportunity is time-sensitive; I highly recommend you read this now so you can take advantage to the fullest. If you have any questions, please “reply” to this email or call my office at 800-840-5946.

FREE Tax Savings Guide: The 6 “Hidden” Tax Saving Opportunities

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Risk Disclosures: Investing involves risk including the potential loss of principal. No investment strategy can guarantee a profit or protect against loss in periods of declining values. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This material is for information purposes only and is not intended as an offer or solicitation with respect to the purchase or sale of any security. The content is developed from sources believed to be providing accurate information; no warranty, expressed or implied, is made regarding accuracy, adequacy, completeness, legality, reliability or usefulness of any information. Consult your financial professional before making any investment decision. For illustrative use only. Investing involves risk including the potential loss of principal. No investment strategy can guarantee a profit or protect against loss in periods of declining values. Past performance does not guarantee future results. The S&P 500 is an unmanaged composite index considered to be representative of the U.S. stock market in general. All index returns exclude reinvested dividends and interest. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Indices are unmanaged and cannot be invested into directly. For illustrative purposes only.

How to give & get more from philanthropy

Posted on December 22, 2020 by - Smart Money Tips

philanthropy

We’re giving more to charity than ever before.1 One reason is that giving feels good. It gives us a warm glow that can inspire us to keep giving.2

That’s probably why charitable contributions have increased by 5% over the past few years1—and experts expect this trend to continue.3

That’s promising, but it could be even better.

That’s because about 2 out of 3 people say they want to give more, but they aren’t. Why?

Because they don’t have a giving strategy—and they don’t know what the impact of their giving will be.4

In this month’s Visual Insights Newsletter, we explore the concept of strategic giving and its essential role in maximizing the impact of philanthropy. Click here to see it!

With the right charitable giving strategies, you can feel more fulfilled and make a greater impact on the world.5

Go ahead and click here to discover more about strategic philanthropy.

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P.S. Donors cite philanthropy as the number one way to make an impact on the world.6 Make sure your charitable gifts are making the greatest impact by checking out this month’s Visual Insights Newsletter.

1https://www.charitynavigator.org/index.cfm?bay=content.view&cpid=42

2https://www.pitt.edu/~vester/whydopeoplegive.pdf

3https://philanthropy.iupui.edu/news-events/news-item/new-study-predicts-charitable-giving-will-increase-in-each-of-next-two-years-.html?id=287

4https://www.fidelitycharitable.org/about-us/news/study-finds-64-percent-of-donors-want-to-give-more.html

5https://www.hbs.edu/faculty/Publication%20Files/10-012_0350a55d-585b-419d-89e7-91833a612fb5.pdf

6https://philanthropy.iupui.edu/news-events/news-item/2018-u.s.-trust-study-finds-high-net-worth-donors%E2%80%99-average-giving-amounts-increased-since-2015.html?id=277

Risk Disclosures: Investing involves risk including the potential loss of principal. No investment strategy can guarantee a profit or protect against loss in periods of declining values. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This material is for information purposes only and is not intended as an offer or solicitation with respect to the purchase or sale of any security. The content is developed from sources believed to be providing accurate information; no warranty, expressed or implied, is made regarding accuracy, adequacy, completeness, legality, reliability or usefulness of any information. Consult your financial professional before making any investment decision. For illustrative use only. Investing involves risk including the potential loss of principal. No investment strategy can guarantee a profit or protect against loss in periods of declining values. Past performance does not guarantee future results. The S&P 500 is an unmanaged composite index considered to be representative of the U.S. stock market in general. All index returns exclude reinvested dividends and interest. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Indices are unmanaged and cannot be invested into directly. For illustrative purposes only.

What’s your money mindset?

Posted on December 19, 2020 by - Smart Money Tips

No matter what they are, they’re guiding your financial choices. And they’ve already shaped your financial habits.

This month, we’re exploring the importance of your money mindset and sharing some exercises to help you understand more about it. Click here to check it out!

The more you know about your money mindset, the more you’ll know about yourself — and how your mindset affects your financial decisions and your overall financial health.

Go ahead and click here to learn more about your money mindset.

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Risk Disclosures: Investing involves risk including the potential loss of principal. No investment strategy can guarantee a profit or protect against loss in periods of declining values. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This material is for information purposes only and is not intended as an offer or solicitation with respect to the purchase or sale of any security. The content is developed from sources believed to be providing accurate information; no warranty, expressed or implied, is made regarding accuracy, adequacy, completeness, legality, reliability or usefulness of any information. Consult your financial professional before making any investment decision. For illustrative use only. Investing involves risk including the potential loss of principal. No investment strategy can guarantee a profit or protect against loss in periods of declining values. Past performance does not guarantee future results. The S&P 500 is an unmanaged composite index considered to be representative of the U.S. stock market in general. All index returns exclude reinvested dividends and interest. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Indices are unmanaged and cannot be invested into directly. For illustrative purposes only.

Unconscious, self-sabotaging impulses of investors and how to spot your own

Posted on December 18, 2020 by - Smart Money Tips

Did you know that humans are twice as concerned about avoiding losses as they are about achieving investing gains?

That means investment losses hurt a lot.

You’ve probably heard that the worst thing you can do during a downturn is sell, but did you know the psychology behind that impulse? It’s called loss aversion.

It’s one of the reasons why people can sabotage their investments by selling when they get scared, missing the recovery, and then buying back in once they feel “safe” again.

Understanding and leveraging human psychology is one of my most important jobs as an adviser.

My approach uses the Risk Number®, based on Nobel Prize-winning research. Together we can quantify how much risk you want, how much risk you currently have, how much risk you need to reach your goals, and how much risk you should take on.

Your Risk Number® is like a speed limit. Some people are comfortable driving fast while others want to go slower.

I’d like to help you determine your comfort zone and use it to manage your investments so you can rest assured that your investment strategy truly reflects your Risk Number®.

Discover Your Risk Number® and find out if your current investment strategy truly reflects your risk tolerance (and for many people, it doesn’t).

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Risk Disclosures: Investing involves risk including the potential loss of principal. No investment strategy can guarantee a profit or protect against loss in periods of declining values. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This material is for information purposes only and is not intended as an offer or solicitation with respect to the purchase or sale of any security. The content is developed from sources believed to be providing accurate information; no warranty, expressed or implied, is made regarding accuracy, adequacy, completeness, legality, reliability or usefulness of any information. Consult your financial professional before making any investment decision. For illustrative use only. Investing involves risk including the potential loss of principal. No investment strategy can guarantee a profit or protect against loss in periods of declining values. Past performance does not guarantee future results. The S&P 500 is an unmanaged composite index considered to be representative of the U.S. stock market in general. All index returns exclude reinvested dividends and interest. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Indices are unmanaged and cannot be invested into directly. For illustrative purposes only.

5 “money blocks” that women face

Posted on December 16, 2020 by - Smart Money Tips

Women face a very different relationship to finances, money, and investing than men do, because they are simply wired differently.

Women tend to view money not just as a means to an end but as a tool to improve lives, build communities, and create the life they want to live.

Unfortunately, most women (whether single or partnered, divorced or widowed, retired or still working) face internal “money blocks” that make them feel overwhelmed, unsure, and unheard.

I know that these internal “money blocks,” or scripts we tell ourselves, are far more than internal programming.

They are formed as a result of bad experiences with financial professionals, societal pressures, and even family situations.

Many women even report feeling judged or not listened to by their financial professionals (which is downright unfair and disrespectful).

I’m emailing you today to help you overcome the 5 biggest “money blocks” that many women face, so you can finally experience confidence, clarity, and power in your financial life.

The good news is, these “money blocks” are easier to overcome than you’d think.

All you need to do is uncover the source and replace the “money block” with a new, positive framework to rewire your internal script.

You’ll find step-by-step instructions to do that inside this FREE Guide: Unlock Your “Money Blocks”: How Women Can Break Through These 5 Barriers to Experience Financial Empowerment.

In this easy, 5-minute read you’ll:

  • Discover why women’s relationships to money are fundamentally different from men’s
  • Learn how to overcome these 5 internal conflicts and finally feel empowered and in control
  • Get clarity and confidence in your financial journey

Will today be the day that marks your lifelong transformation with money so you can feel empowered and in control?

I truly hope so.

Take a few minutes and read this guide now.

Then, hit “reply” and let me know which of these 5 barriers ring true with you.

Read Now: Unlock Your “Money Blocks”: How Women Can Break Through These 5 Barriers to Experience Financial Empowerment.

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Pass Down Your Money Wisdom

Posted on December 15, 2020 by - Smart Money Tips

pass down your money wisdom

In this issue of the Visual Insights Newsletter, we’re sharing some great conversation starters for
talking about money with young people.


Many parents and grandparents find these important conversations hard to start. One survey found that at
least 36% of parents struggle to talk about money with kids, and more than 76% admit to only discussing
money with their children less than once a month.
Yet… 97% agree that teaching kids good financial habits is important.
Why the disconnect between knowing and doing?
Difficulty knowing how to start the conversation…
Fear that they won’t listen…


What’s stopping you? (I’ve got some great conversation starters for you right in this issue of the
Visual Insights Newsletter)


Do you worry that your past financial mistakes compromise your authority around money?
Not even close.
The mistakes you’ve made and the lessons they taught you are powerful.
One, because they’ve given you hard-earned wisdom to share.
Two, because these mistakes are relatable.
If you don’t know how to start these critical financial conversations, start with:
The financial mistake I’ve learned the most from was…
The thing I regret buying the most was…
My proudest financial accomplishment was…
When money was tight, I made it work by…
I am grateful for…
A person whose money wisdom I greatly respect is…
I’ve learned the most about money by…
The best way I know to build good financial habits is by…
To me, money represents…
When I’m deciding whether to buy something or save the money, I…
My most treasured possession is…
Go ahead and click here to check out other great conversations starters that can jump-start the
money talk with kids.
Are you thinking about more ways to teach the young people in your life good financial habits? Hit reply to
ask me a question.

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About Richard

Richard Archer is a financial advisor and the President of Archer Investment Management with more than twenty years of industry experience. He specializes in providing comprehensive financial planning and investment guidance and personalized care and attention to professionals with complex compensation and families pursuing financial freedom. Along with holding a Wharton Bachelor of Science in Economics and a Texas MBA, he is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ and a Chartered Financial Analyst®. He combines his advanced industry education and knowledge with his genuine care for people to provide clients with an exceptional experience. To learn more about Richard, connect with him on LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter or visit www.archerim.com.

What do you need to know about investing in marijuana?

Posted on December 15, 2020 by - Investment

The discussion around marijuana has undergone great social, legal, and economic changes in the last few years: From Reefer Madness to hot new investing fad.

Think marijuana is missing from your portfolio? Read this first…

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About Richard

Richard Archer is a financial advisor and the President of Archer Investment Management with more than twenty years of industry experience. He specializes in providing comprehensive financial planning and investment guidance and personalized care and attention to professionals with complex compensation and families pursuing financial freedom. Along with holding a Wharton Bachelor of Science in Economics and a Texas MBA, he is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ and a Chartered Financial Analyst®. He combines his advanced industry education and knowledge with his genuine care for people to provide clients with an exceptional experience. To learn more about Richard, connect with him on LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter or visit www.archerim.com.

Investment portfolios head-to-head with volatile markets

Posted on December 15, 2020 by - Investment

Imagine this…

There’s a burglary in your neighborhood (not your house fortunately), but you have a 2-week trip planned and no one will be home.

What do you do to protect your home while you’re away?

Do you take precautionary measures?

Talk to neighbors and ask them to keep an eye on your house?

Maybe activate an alarm system or install cameras?

If you’re like most people, you’d spend at least a few minutes proactively planning so your home doesn’t get broken into or burglarized, right?

Just for a moment, I want you to think about why you’d take these steps.

Ultimately, whatever happens while you’re gone is completely out of your control, right?

I’m guessing you’d argue back, “Yes, it is out of my control, but I CAN control a few things, and I’m willing to do everything I can to protect my home!”

Your mindset is 100% logical.

For sacred possessions and relationships in our life, we do everything we can to control the uncontrollable.

So let me ask you this…

Are you taking the same approach that may help protect your investments from a volatile market?

Volatility is here — like the burglar lurking through the night in your neighborhood plotting his next break-in.

You don’t know when the burglar will strike, or which home he’ll hit.

Chances are he’s going to go after the most vulnerable house with minimal lighting and no alarm system.

Just like volatility or downturns could metaphorically “rob” certain investment portfolios of value because they are more vulnerable than others (that’s why it’s so important to proactively prepare by assessing your current situation).

Unlike a home whose valuables are insured and mostly replaceable (except those heirlooms and sentimental pieces), your investment portfolio isn’t insured against market loss.

That’s why it’s so important to take these crucial and proactive steps that may help protect your investments.

In the wake of recent market volatility predictions, I prepared this 4-minute read and flowchart that I think you’ll find incredibly valuable.

My team’s most recent publication, Investments Facing Volatile Markets: A Simple Flowchart to Determine What (if Anything) You Should Do, will guide you through an extremely simple 3-step process to discover:

  • How to assess your current investment situation whether you’re 10 years away, 5 years away, or already in retirement
  • The 3 or 4 critical questions you need to ask yourself that will determine what you should do next (if anything)
  • Your level of confidence with your current investment strategy and what you can do about it

You’ll leave with a crystal-clear picture of what you should do next (if anything) that may help preserve and protect your investment health — just like how you’d protect your house while you’re away.

My goal in sharing this free article with you is to help you feel confident that you’ve done everything you can to control the uncontrollable.

You have retirement income you’ll be depending on in the next 10 years, 5 years, or maybe even right now.

Please take the time to examine this flowchart — it will empower your work-free life!

If you have any questions, I’m here to help.

>>>Download Now (free): Investments Facing Volatile Markets: A Simple Flowchart to Determine What (if Anything) You Should Do

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About Richard

Richard Archer is a financial advisor and the President of Archer Investment Management with more than twenty years of industry experience. He specializes in providing comprehensive financial planning and investment guidance and personalized care and attention to professionals with complex compensation and families pursuing financial freedom. Along with holding a Wharton Bachelor of Science in Economics and a Texas MBA, he is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ and a Chartered Financial Analyst®. He combines his advanced industry education and knowledge with his genuine care for people to provide clients with an exceptional experience. To learn more about Richard, connect with him on LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter or visit www.archerim.com.

Are you an investing Hotshot or a Cool Customer?

Posted on December 15, 2020 by - Investment

What kind of investor are you? We broke down your investing mindset into 7 questions to show how your personality can lead to investing extremes. You can download and take it right here.

Self-knowledge is power.

Here’s an example of what you’ll learn:

Are you the kind of person who reads the financial headlines every day or do your financial statements pile up on the counter?

It all depends on your personality. My quiz can help you discover your own mindset in just 7 questions.

You might think that more information is always better, but it’s actually a balancing act.

Getting into the details too much can cause anxiety and take up time that you could be using for other purposes.

Ignoring your finances completely puts you at the other end of the spectrum — passive and potentially out of touch.

Where do you fall on that spectrum? Take our investing personality quiz to find out what biases you have and what they mean for your investing.

I think you’ll be glad you did.

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About Richard

Richard Archer is a financial advisor and the President of Archer Investment Management with more than twenty years of industry experience. He specializes in providing comprehensive financial planning and investment guidance and personalized care and attention to professionals with complex compensation and families pursuing financial freedom. Along with holding a Wharton Bachelor of Science in Economics and a Texas MBA, he is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ and a Chartered Financial Analyst®. He combines his advanced industry education and knowledge with his genuine care for people to provide clients with an exceptional experience. To learn more about Richard, connect with him on LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter or visit www.archerim.com.