The Retirement Learning Lab, with Van Richards, ChFC‪®‬ Van Richards, ChFC®

With all that is happening in the world, you may be asking yourself, does asset allocation still work? Is how you divided your investments doing what it should?
In today’s video, you’ll find the answer.  Plus, there is a great free tool to show you some examples of asset allocation that is intended to help you control the risk of investing. If you’re in a hurry and just want to see the asset allocation models, go to www.assetallocationmodels.com.

Here are the highlights of today’s video.

0:00 Intro
1:54 I have a free tool for you!
2:54 What's causing you to worry?
6:34 Geek Alert! What's Standard Deviation?
8:55 Investment classes or categories
10:41 The Callan Periodic Table of Investment Returns
12:12 What are some uses for the asset classes?
13:43 There are times with nothing works

One of the more useful links in today’s video is to the Callen Institute.  You can find more information about Callan at www.callan.com/periodic-table
To read the accompanying blog and get a better view of some of today’s examples go to https://richardsfinancialplanning.com/does-asset-allocation-still-work-2

This information is only for educational purposes only.  It is not investment, legal, tax, or accounting advice.  Please read the disclosure at the end of the recording.

If you own a retirement account like a 401k, you probably split your savings up among a few different types of investments.

A lot of people use investment models provided by their employers.

And a lot of you don't really know which stocks or bonds your investments have. And really that is OK. The idea of investing in a mutual fund, a variable annuity, or an ETF is, so you don't have to be an expert.

But many people are surprised to learn that any of their retirement accounts have Russian stocks or bonds.

So how do you know and what can you do about it.
That is what today's podcast is about.

In today's podcast, I reference a lot of details. If you'd like to see the references to those details, please go to my blog and see the references to "Do You Unknowingly Own Russian Stocks? WHAT NOW?" Here is a link to my blog: https://richardsfinancialplanning.com/russian-stocks-what-now

Starbucks' stock value has been hit hard by the pandemic. But they do have a competitive edge.

Growing your financial knowledge is what can put you in control of your financial future.

The centerpiece of today's analysis is the six characteristics that set Starbucks apart from its competition.

#1  streamlined business operations.

#2  menu innovations

#3  digital engagement

#4  selective store closures

#5 opening stores in US and China underserved areas and

#6 their loyalty program

To hear a more in-depth analysis of Starbucks listen to today's podcast.
  #restaurants #investing #money

For only the second time in 137 years, AT&T cut its dividend. That had to be like a gut punch for a lot of AT&T shareholders who were relying upon those dividends.

So, is there still profit available in the wireless industry?

Every month that I pay my AT&T Uverse bill, I think, how could this company not make money? But maybe I just answered my own question. 

AT&T has spread itself thin for about the past decade or more. They're trying to be far more than a wireless service provider. If you are a dividend investor, should you buy, sell or hold?

I'll give you two thoughts.  First, there are alternatives for investing in wireless technology. Obviously, Verizon is one of those options since that is the subject of today's stock analysis.  I mention more on alternatives in today's video.

Second, I want to help you grow your knowledge on selling dividend stocks, so you know when the time comes. I have prepared a special video lesson called When To Sell a Dividend Stock. You can find that video lesson for free at www.WhenToSellaDividendStock.com 

Here are the other topics I cover this week. The numbers before the topic are the time stamp on the recording. These points are also indicated in the chapter section of this podcast. If you're short on time, jump to that section of the podcast.

1.49 What is Verizon’s business strategy?  
2.37  How stable is Verizon?  
3:11 Who are Verizon’s primary competitors? 
3.38 What sets Verizon apart from its competitors? 
4.21 How will the acquisition of Tracfone affect Verizon? 
5.31 Tell me more about Verizon’s earnings.  
8.38 How does Verizon’s dividends compare to AT&T’s  
13.13 How competitive is Verizon with its peers?  
14.38 What are the bullish characteristics of Verizon?  
16.06 What are the bearish characteristics of Verizon?  
18.20 How are analysts valuing Verizon?
19.40 What is the analysts' sentiment toward Verizon?

In ending, please remember that this information is for educational purposes only. It is not investment advice.

I sincerely hope this information will help you grow your financial knowledge so that you can be in control of your financial future!

Have a great week!

Van Richards, ChFC®

EPD has one of the highest dividend rates of any large publicly traded company. This week I'll discuss the stock's potential role in retirement savings.

This week I discuss the stock's potential role in retirement savings. EPD is a prime example of a company that appears to be managed to pay its shareholders dividends as opposed to increase share value.

With Enterprise Products' recent plan to acquire Navitas Midstream, near-term returns should be bolstered. 

EPD’s formula for success has been Quality Assets + Superior Location + Long Term Contracts

I have a wonderful resource to offer you as well. A lot of the information I provide is to help people decide if a stock is right for them. But another important consideration is when to sell a stock. I have made a 10-minute video lesson giving you tips and rules of thumb to help you determine when you should sell a stock. You can get this free video lesson at http://www.whentoselladividendstock.com

Join me each week on Monday at 1 PM for another stock analysis.

If you're short look at the chapter highlights of today's show.

If your podcast platform doesn't list program timestamps, here's what's in today's show:

1.38 What does Enterprise Products Do? 
3.40  How stable is Enterprise Products? 
4.22 How will the acquisition of Navitas affect Enterprise Products? 
6.32 What is a distributable cash flow (DCF)? 
10.28 What is the financial integrity of Enterprise Products? 
10.55 What is the distribution history of Enterprise Products 
12.56 What are EDP’s economic moat characteristics? 
14.50 Tell me more about EDP’s earnings. 
16.57 How competitive is EDP with its peers? 
19.07 What are the bullish characteristics of EDP? 
20.34 What are the bearish characteristics of EDP? 
23.06 How are analysts valuing Enterprise Products? 
24.02 What is the analysts’ sentiment toward EDP? 

In today's podcast, I dive deep into three fundamental analysis characteristics of Genuine Parts Company. GPC is a value stock that pays dividends. It makes it a good candidate for some retirement accounts. But I don't look at everything through rose-colored glasses.  Increasing costs and expenses are weighing on GPC. But I discuss how one billionaire investor thinks Genuine Parts Company is going to cope with increasing cost and inflation.