The Lowry Letter®

Week of 3/9/2023

We really enjoyed our first Client Appreciation Picnic and look forward to holding one again in the future. Despite the bad weather, we enjoyed good company and good food. And we learned some things that will improve the experience next time!

Market pressure continues, as Federal Reserve policies weigh on investor expectations. During times like this, it is important to remember that the working life of your money is much longer than the current period of uncertainty. 10 or more years from now, we can expect that the timing of our current investments will not be as important as it feels today.

That doesn’t mean we ignore time frames. Short-term money should be in short-term solutions. But in many cases, current concerns should not be the determinant of our investment approach.

JP Morgan’s David Kelly has some interesting thoughts about demographic trends in the US and their effect on the markets.

Credit card rewards programs that turn your purchases into free flights or hotel stays are popular ways to entice consumers to sign up. But who’s footing the bill for these pricey perks? The answer might surprise you.

Some insights on the new weight loss drugs.

Americans are getting more lonely. The share of Americans with zero close friends has risen from 3% of the population in 1991 to 12% in 2021. The share who have 10 or more friends has fallen from 33% to 13%.

Q: What’s your best tip right now?

A: It’s not an investment, but we have been reminded of the importance of completing your estate planning. The first and most obvious step is to create your legal documents, ideally with the assistance of a qualified attorney.

Just as important is letting your loved ones know, especially those appointed to act if needed, where those documents are. We don’t usually get to pick the timing of a medical emergency, like a stroke. We can dramatically ease the burden of our family members by having our documents organized and easily located.

While original documents are usually required, keeping copies at easy access is a good idea. We can store copies of your legal documents and provide them when needed. Just ask us how!