Checking In with Ara – October 2023

Hey everyone! Ara here bringing you your monthly update. I’m getting ready to go on a quick weekend trip with my mother to visit family down in Mexico City. This will be a fun opportunity to spend quality time with her and connect with extended family. We’re going to visit our relatives who own a winery just outside the city, which should be an interesting experience.

One of my cousins works for a local football team and has generously arranged for us to attend a game. We get to sit in the owner’s box and hang out with the players on the field. It’s been years since I traveled alone with my mom, making this a great chance to make memories, serve as her bodyguard, translator, and of course, you know I have to carry all her luggage.

Moving to an update of what I see happening with the economic climate, the Fed has decided against raising interest rates again, leaving inflation as a prominent concern for many. In many recent meetings with clients, discussions often steer towards the erosion of purchasing power due to inflation and potential recession fears. Fortunately, with our bucket strategy approach, we’re well equipped to navigate through these uncertain economic times. During our next meeting, let’s review gains in bucket number three, especially since the market continues to demonstrate year-to-date growth. We should also discuss value averaging if it makes sense.

Before I sign off, here’s a gentle yet crucial reminder for you to address your Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs) by year-end. Steve Hague and Annie Bush have diligently updated records for those who have completed this process. However, for individuals with accounts outside our purview, we’re unable to automatically calculate your RMDs. If you require assistance, we stand ready to support you—simply furnish us with a year-end statement displaying the account value. For any RMD-related queries, don’t hesitate to connect with Steve or Annie.

Looking forward to our continued collaboration. Stay well, and talk to you soon!