Connecting the Dollars by Propel Financial Advisors

Reflections on 2024 Markets: What We Learned

Reflections on 2024 Markets: What We Learned Connecting the Dollars Episode 60
We dive deep into the financial trends and insights from the past year. Join Emily Agosto and Amanda Vaught as they explore the dynamic shifts in the economy and provide valuable lessons for investors moving forward. Key Takeaways from the Episode: Economic Predictions vs. Reality: Throughout 2024, many anticipated a recession that never fully materialized. Over time, it became evident that the economy was more resilient than expected, highlighting the uncertainty and challenges in predicting market conditions. International vs. Domestic Stocks: The U.S. stock market outperformed international markets significantly in 2024. Many portfolios unknowingly held significant international exposure, emphasizing the importance of understanding where your investments lie. Tech Dominance & Diversification: While tech stocks continued to attract attention, sectors such as financials and industrials also showed strong performance. This underscores the importance of maintaining a diversified portfolio to capture gains from various market segments. Tune in to gain more insights and make informed decisions for your financial future. We’re here to help you navigate your path to achieving your financial goals. connectingthedollars.com

Natural Disasters and Personal Finance: Adapting to a New Normal

In a recent episode of Connecting the Dollars, Amanda Vaught and Emily Agosto discussed the significant impact that natural disasters, like the ongoing California wildfires, have on personal finances. Here's what we explored:  Vigilant Charity: In times of disaster, it's essential to ensure your donations are going to vetted charities. Be aware of fraudulent activities and choose reputable organizations for your contributions.  Insurance Rate Dynamics: As natural disasters become more frequent, insurance companies adjust their rates accordingly. This change affects both homeowners and renters, nationwide. It's important to stay proactive to mitigate these rising costs.  Financial Preparedness: Whether you're a homeowner or renter, maintaining a liquid emergency fund and understanding the ins and outs of your insurance policy can provide crucial support when disaster strikes. To dive deeper into these discussions, check out the full episode on our website or your favorite podcast platform. Stay informed and prepare for the unexpected. #ConnectingTheDollars #NaturalDisasters #FinancialPlanning #Insurance #PersonalFinance We'd love to hear your thoughts and any questions you might have! www.connectingthedollars.com

New Year, New Goals: Financial Resolutions for 2025

In our latest episode of Connecting the Dollars, Amanda Vaught and Emily Agosto discuss how our 2024 resolutions shaped up and set our sights on new goals for 2025. Here are three key takeaways: Accountability Matters: Amanda found that setting a reading goal and using Goodreads for tracking helped her stay on course. This method, she notes, can spill over into financial goals – having accountability can make a huge difference.  Self-Care & Boundaries: Emily shared how prioritizing self-care allowed her to handle the stress of tax season better, and made her more present and grounded. Setting clear boundaries at work (and home) can translate into a healthier, more balanced life.  Evaluate & Adapt: If you're falling short of your financial savings goal or any other goal, don't stress. Adjust and find a balance that lets you live fully while still working towards your objectives. Incremental changes, automated savings, and celebrating small victories are key. We invite our listeners to share their New Year's resolutions with us. Let's make 2025 a year of growth, both personally and financially. www.connectingthedollars.com

When to Hire a Financial Advisor

Major life events are great times to get personalized financial advice. Emily & Amanda believe that ongoing quality financial advice can have a greater impact than merely seeking advice for one-off events. There is a big difference between getting the advice and actually implementing it.
Time stamps 3:45 Planning for retirement 6:40 Trusting in professional advice 8:49 Hiring a tax professional for the whole picture 13:12 When you should consider switching professionals.
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Spotting Financial Fraud

Holiday season is upon us. Unfortunately, it's also a time where we see a significant increase in financial frauds. Emily & Amanda discuss some common frauds they see when working with clients. They also provide tips on how to prevent and stop them in advance. We wish you a joyous, scam-free holiday with your family and friends.
 
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You Inherited a Haunted House: Now What?

It's Halloween season, so Emily & Amanda take this opportunity to discuss personal finances of one of their favorite scary movie tropes - haunted houses.
Time stamps 2:12 Inspection and appraisal 3:55 Check your insurance coverage 5:40 What if your spouse is the one to inherit? 9:40 Lessons from The Shining 13:14 How to Sell a Haunted House

Fall Financial Planning Checklist

The seasons are changing which means it's time to tackle those year-end financial tasks. Amanda & Emily talk tax planning, retirement planning, budgeting, and what to expect for the rest of 2024. What's on your to-do list before we hit 2025?
Topics Covered: Fed rate cut, Tax Planning: withholding, Tax Planning: harvesting capital losses or gains, Tax planning: Roth accounts, Retirement planning: 401(k) contributions, income limit for Roth IRA contribution, Holiday budget planning, Election impact on markets and Open enrollment.

Balanced Money Moves in Light of the Fed Rate Cut

Emily & Amanda discuss how the recent Fed rate cut may impact your personal finances. They suggest considering the rate cut in context before making any changes to your financial plan.
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The Fed's Much-Anticipated First Rate Cut of 2024 and its Impact

All year, Wall Street has been practically chomping at the bit for lower rates, while Fed Chair Powell has continually urged a more steadied, cautious approach to lowering rates. Now, it seems to be around the corner, as Powell signaled at his last press conference. In this episode, Amanda and David discuss the potential impacts of the pending Fed rate cut - expected on September 18. We discuss: 1) Potential cash moves 2) The Impact on bond and stock markets; and 3) The Impact on mortgage market.
 
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After the Glory Days: Post-Olympics lessons in personal finance

Emily and Amanda discuss what we can learn about personal finance from the recent summer Olympics in Paris. One thing about athletes is that they know there will be a peak performance and that they’ll have to adjust their career afterwards. What about regular people? Most don’t recognize when they’re at their peak earning potential. Life happens – you have a baby, you lose a job, you burnout on your career. We might not know when we peak, but we do know that if you are a high earner, you may not stay one. If you plan now for when life throws a monkey wrench in the works, then you’ll be better able to pivot when the change comes.