Reads like a commercial for Trembly Financial. I hope The Current was paid to run this advertisment. The truth is that most financial advisors cannot beat the S&P 500 so it is generally better to just buy an S&P 500 index fund or a total stock market index fund. Vanguard has a total stock market fund with very low expense ratio of about 0.2%. Financial advisors make money by directing their clients to funds that pay a comission which is how they get paid. These are not often the best funds and rely on advisors selling them to their clients for the commission and not on their performance. Finally I try to avoid facilitating income to those who do not create anything of value for our economy. The function of financial advisors is in my mind parasitic.
Financial planning, neutral advisement with no products to sell, remains a highly valuable exercise for many. Fine line to walk between financial planning and financial services.
It’s a fine line agreed, but I saw nothing in Mr Tremblay’s article that reads as an advertisement for Tremblay Financial services. Just general common sense information that anyone can use.
Even if he did use this column as a means to generate business, which he didn’t, I would not begrudge him. It is a valuable product and most people need it. Hey, this is America! Why not? 😊
The real question is why isn’t financial planning and home economics being taught in high school or even elementary school from an early age?
it seems this is one of the most important subjects right up there equal to with science, math, reading, writing, public speaking, history athletics…etc.
Why do we all have to learn this stuff like learning sex education and dating advice from our top 3 “highest scoring” buddies? 😂🤷♂️
Budget and meal planning was very much part of my own 1950's Home Ec class in the 7th grade in California K-12..
Even though the guys took shop and the gals took home ec back then, that was a very valuable lesson. We had to plan a lunch party, invite the school principal and work within a budget. We made tuna salad stuffed tomatoes. Every penny had to be accounted for.
We also had to learn how to sew a dress using the exact same pattern - which means hundreds of us were stuck wearing the same dress, but with different cloth patterns and trim. Bought at our downtown yardage goods store. Every town had one.
Perhaps some thoughts are best kept thoughts and perhaps my comment is not constructive. Perhaps more accurate and less offensive to remind everyone to look both ways before crossing the street and be sure to drink your Ovlatine.
Jeff, We have asked Tim to write in SB Current on this subject, as I as a Co-Founder cannot advise you in/with finance. Tim after your 50th anniversary trip Please write another column. Happy 50th!!!!!!!!!!!!
I read this article by financial professional Mr. Trembly "Investing in an Indefinite World"
and I quote from same "Never Mind that Stuff - I am going to tell you the financial facts
of life!"
I provide a new title "Never mind that Stuff - I am going to tell you of the Threats in Life!"
As seen by the recent terrible news there are Threats All Around Us that can strike at any Moment in your Life. The recent news tells us so weblink and title below>
"Live updates: FBI investigating New Year’s Day attack in New Orleans that killed at least 15 people."
Appreciate the financial dose of reality. Here in California, finances are especially troubling. With the cost of housing and the ticking time bomb of pending unfunded pension liabilities hanging over our heads, not sure how California will be solvent in years to come. Both my kids, now young professionals have no desire whatsoever to remain here. The impossibility of homeownership has made the benefits of great weather a non-starter. Unfortunately, it’s like being an alcoholic, California will have to hit rock bottom before any substantial change takes place. Way too many people on the dole, taxes, regulations and sky high housing costs are driving people out. Who will be left? Uber wealthy and those that serve them, kinda a microcosm of SB!
Thank you for writing. Reminding us that we live in a society run by money is very important. Perhaps this piece could be set over to the City Council, BOS and..... (forget the last hopeless entities). Economics works like gravity; never let expenses exceed income; don't stand under falling objects. HAPPY NEW YEAR‼️
Here’s what’s needed. Instead of flash celebrities Elon and Vivek with their dream of . . .”streamling federal government operations by reducing wasteful spending, eliminating unnecessary regulations, and restructuring federal agencies” blah, blah, blah. . ., we need a sour old ass-kicking penny pincher in charge of DOGE, with the authority to _hurt_ (financially), money wasters, hustlers, and anyone taking advantage of the Fed.
. . . “hedge fund manager Bill Ackman has come up with a financial plan that includes the government giving every child in the country $7,000 at birth.. . . “
Stupidest thing I ever heard of. Why not make it a $ million - it’s not his money!
Tim, this is a good overview and sound advice of what perspectives the younger folks need to consider. Perhaps the most important message to the younger generation is...start saving and investing. The longer period of time you do this the more certain you are of have something to count on down the road. Just a single step...is the right one.
We need to know more about those who can afford to live here.
High housing prices mean they are being sold to someone. High rental prices mean they are being rented to someone. What do we know about the demographics and future impacts of those who in fact can afford to live in California? How do we maintain them. How do we retain them.
The state apparently de facto still lives by the principle of willing buyer meets willing seller, when all we hear is the narrow complaint - it is too expensive to live here which only proves the market does support others to live here.
Transparent California does a good job revealing at least one large segment of the economy who do become those willing buyers, and in turn also who became the willing sellers. Where are the other willing buyers coming from? What segments of the current economy is supports their ability to afford living here.
What messages do our massively funded state educational system teach about free market capitalism? Or on the other hand how far does our public education system go to encourage a government dependency state?
Paying government employees "enough to live in California' may well be actually driving the lack of affordability for others in this state. A curious conundrum. Deserves looking into. Might help to lower the temperature of current political movements. I too have picked sides, with hunches few supporting facts.
However, with $220 trillion in unfunded liabilities (government pensions) staring us all in the face means we all need to pay more attention to what is coming down the road. That figure alone means all of our lives currently residing here will be rocked with financial dislocations.
Reads like a commercial for Trembly Financial. I hope The Current was paid to run this advertisment. The truth is that most financial advisors cannot beat the S&P 500 so it is generally better to just buy an S&P 500 index fund or a total stock market index fund. Vanguard has a total stock market fund with very low expense ratio of about 0.2%. Financial advisors make money by directing their clients to funds that pay a comission which is how they get paid. These are not often the best funds and rely on advisors selling them to their clients for the commission and not on their performance. Finally I try to avoid facilitating income to those who do not create anything of value for our economy. The function of financial advisors is in my mind parasitic.
Jeff, the last article I read of Mr Trembly’s said exactly that. S&P 500 and Dollar-Cost average from as early an age as possible.
No need to denigrate here.
Financial planning, neutral advisement with no products to sell, remains a highly valuable exercise for many. Fine line to walk between financial planning and financial services.
It’s a fine line agreed, but I saw nothing in Mr Tremblay’s article that reads as an advertisement for Tremblay Financial services. Just general common sense information that anyone can use.
Even if he did use this column as a means to generate business, which he didn’t, I would not begrudge him. It is a valuable product and most people need it. Hey, this is America! Why not? 😊
Agree, willing buyer meets willing seller.
The real question is why isn’t financial planning and home economics being taught in high school or even elementary school from an early age?
it seems this is one of the most important subjects right up there equal to with science, math, reading, writing, public speaking, history athletics…etc.
Why do we all have to learn this stuff like learning sex education and dating advice from our top 3 “highest scoring” buddies? 😂🤷♂️
Budget and meal planning was very much part of my own 1950's Home Ec class in the 7th grade in California K-12..
Even though the guys took shop and the gals took home ec back then, that was a very valuable lesson. We had to plan a lunch party, invite the school principal and work within a budget. We made tuna salad stuffed tomatoes. Every penny had to be accounted for.
We also had to learn how to sew a dress using the exact same pattern - which means hundreds of us were stuck wearing the same dress, but with different cloth patterns and trim. Bought at our downtown yardage goods store. Every town had one.
Perhaps some thoughts are best kept thoughts and perhaps my comment is not constructive. Perhaps more accurate and less offensive to remind everyone to look both ways before crossing the street and be sure to drink your Ovlatine.
Jeff, We have asked Tim to write in SB Current on this subject, as I as a Co-Founder cannot advise you in/with finance. Tim after your 50th anniversary trip Please write another column. Happy 50th!!!!!!!!!!!!
Bonnie, I love the work you do for The Current. Your articles are informative and well written.
Thanks, Bonnie. I will!
I read this article by financial professional Mr. Trembly "Investing in an Indefinite World"
and I quote from same "Never Mind that Stuff - I am going to tell you the financial facts
of life!"
I provide a new title "Never mind that Stuff - I am going to tell you of the Threats in Life!"
As seen by the recent terrible news there are Threats All Around Us that can strike at any Moment in your Life. The recent news tells us so weblink and title below>
"Live updates: FBI investigating New Year’s Day attack in New Orleans that killed at least 15 people."
https://apnews.com/live/new-orleans-truck-attack-updates
That Threat is here in Santa Barbara, up/down the coast and in California where the
So-Called-Leaders cannot detect the THREAT, but some are actually THE THREAT.
Govern yourself accordingly as we enter this New Year of 2025.
I leave you all with this Holocaust statement>>
"First they came for the socialists, and I did not speak out—because I was not a socialist.
Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out—because I was not a trade unionist."
"Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out—because I was not a Jew."
"Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me."
—Martin Niemöller
Howard Walther, Member of a Military Family
PS1- A review of the prelim. events of the Recent Terrorist Attack in New Orleans shows
a Catastrophic Failure of the entire System just like right here in Santa Barbara.
PS2 - You all may want to listen to this weblink "Protect Yourself ... and your family ... it is here"
https://x.com/atensnut/status/1874668281669500934
PS3 - Listen to this weblink by Shwan Ryan interview of Sarah Adams >>
https://x.com/WallStreetApes/status/1874598646991241384
"These terrorist attacks were PLANNED, The FBI and The CIA knew they were going to happen"
Appreciate the financial dose of reality. Here in California, finances are especially troubling. With the cost of housing and the ticking time bomb of pending unfunded pension liabilities hanging over our heads, not sure how California will be solvent in years to come. Both my kids, now young professionals have no desire whatsoever to remain here. The impossibility of homeownership has made the benefits of great weather a non-starter. Unfortunately, it’s like being an alcoholic, California will have to hit rock bottom before any substantial change takes place. Way too many people on the dole, taxes, regulations and sky high housing costs are driving people out. Who will be left? Uber wealthy and those that serve them, kinda a microcosm of SB!
Thank you for the article, Tim. Good advice in getting the year off to a head start financially in the new year.
Great article and timely! I appreciate the goal setting method and reminder!
Thank you for writing. Reminding us that we live in a society run by money is very important. Perhaps this piece could be set over to the City Council, BOS and..... (forget the last hopeless entities). Economics works like gravity; never let expenses exceed income; don't stand under falling objects. HAPPY NEW YEAR‼️
Here’s what’s needed. Instead of flash celebrities Elon and Vivek with their dream of . . .”streamling federal government operations by reducing wasteful spending, eliminating unnecessary regulations, and restructuring federal agencies” blah, blah, blah. . ., we need a sour old ass-kicking penny pincher in charge of DOGE, with the authority to _hurt_ (financially), money wasters, hustlers, and anyone taking advantage of the Fed.
. . . “hedge fund manager Bill Ackman has come up with a financial plan that includes the government giving every child in the country $7,000 at birth.. . . “
Stupidest thing I ever heard of. Why not make it a $ million - it’s not his money!
Tim, this is a good overview and sound advice of what perspectives the younger folks need to consider. Perhaps the most important message to the younger generation is...start saving and investing. The longer period of time you do this the more certain you are of have something to count on down the road. Just a single step...is the right one.
We need to know more about those who can afford to live here.
High housing prices mean they are being sold to someone. High rental prices mean they are being rented to someone. What do we know about the demographics and future impacts of those who in fact can afford to live in California? How do we maintain them. How do we retain them.
The state apparently de facto still lives by the principle of willing buyer meets willing seller, when all we hear is the narrow complaint - it is too expensive to live here which only proves the market does support others to live here.
Transparent California does a good job revealing at least one large segment of the economy who do become those willing buyers, and in turn also who became the willing sellers. Where are the other willing buyers coming from? What segments of the current economy is supports their ability to afford living here.
What messages do our massively funded state educational system teach about free market capitalism? Or on the other hand how far does our public education system go to encourage a government dependency state?
Paying government employees "enough to live in California' may well be actually driving the lack of affordability for others in this state. A curious conundrum. Deserves looking into. Might help to lower the temperature of current political movements. I too have picked sides, with hunches few supporting facts.
However, with $220 trillion in unfunded liabilities (government pensions) staring us all in the face means we all need to pay more attention to what is coming down the road. That figure alone means all of our lives currently residing here will be rocked with financial dislocations.
Mr. Livingston I presume, just move out of the State of CA and be done with it.
Odd extrapolation, Mr Walters. Go back and read for content - who are the people who can afford to live in California.
No matter who lives in SB it is NOT SAFE > weblink below>
https://www.independent.com/2020/02/22/perceptions-of-political-corruption/
"Perceptions of Political Corruption Too Often the Harbingers of Stark Reality"