Financial Focus

Investors Can Learn Much From Super Bowl Teams 
      
  It’s Super Bowl time again. And whether you’re a sports fan or not, you can probably learn something from the Super Bowl teams that you can apply to non-sports endeavors — such as investing.
 
  For example, Super Bowl teams always have good players at many positions, and these players play well together. As an investor, you need a variety of investments with different capabilities that work well together.
 
  Super Bowl teams also are skilled at creating effective game plans. When you invest, you, too, need a game plan in the form of a long-term strategy.
 
  Finally, Super Bowl teams have good coaches. As an investor, you can benefit from “coaches” such as your financial advisor and tax and legal advisors.
 
It’s fun to watch the Super Bowl teams compete. But you can also learn a lot from them.

Delay in Investing Could Prove Costly 
      You’ve heard that “time is money.” And that expression is certainly true when it comes to saving for retirement.
  In fact, if you delay putting away money for retirement even for just a few years, it can mean many thousands of dollars less for you when you retire.
  So, if you haven’t started saving, begin soon. Even if you can put away only a small amount, such as $50 per month, you’ll have made a start. To make it easier on yourself, move a set amount of money from your checking or savings account each month into your IRA. 
  And once you’ve started your savings program, don’t forget about it. Every time you get a salary increase, boost your contributions to your IRA and your 401(k) or other employer-sponsored retirement plan.
  In short, save early, save often — and keep investing.

Don’t Play Politics with Your Investment Decisions
   
  As election season heats up, you might be concerned over all the talk about taxes, Social Security, Medicare and other financial topics. Will you need to adjust your savings and investment strategies?
  Since no one can really predict what changes might ultimately take place in our tax laws and government programs, it pays to be prepared for anything.
  For example, to accommodate potential changes in either income taxes or investment-related taxes, seek “tax diversification” by owning investments that are taxed in different ways.
  Also, invest in quality companies with a global reach. These businesses are usually less dependent on a particular government program and are typically well-positioned to handle changes implemented in Washington.
  Finally, focus on the long term. Politicians come and go, and political parties move into and out of power, but by following an appropriate strategy, you can make progress toward your goals — no matter what’s happening in Washington.