December 30, 2021
Reflection is so important in life. If nothing else, the ceremonial renewing of our resolutions at the end of every year serves that invaluable purpose. Reflection also allows us to collect the lessons we’ve learned throughout the year and vow never to forget them. And while new year’s resolutions are often discarded all-too-soon, one way we can internalize the quest to improve our lives is to focus on continuous improvement. So, this year, I’m dedicated to the mantra of RELENTLESS FORWARD MOMENTUM. What does that mean? I endeavor to become the best version of me. I honor to be resilient […]
December 21, 2021
How do you know if you’re being the best version of yourself? How can you possibly assess if you’re maximizing your potential? What things do you look for? What are the signs? At the end of every year, I write both a personal and a professional business plan. In these documents, I put pen to paper to reflect on the things that worked during the year as well as the things that I need to improve upon. This year, like every year, I just sat down to review my goals. However, this year, unlike most, I circled back to the […]
December 21, 2021
Brandon and I had just finished a nice lunch and were walking out of the restaurant. “What else should we be doing?” he asked. “It’s…I mean with my sister.” It gave me pause since he’d never confided in me about his sister before, who had special needs Brandon and I had worked together for 15 years. I saw him get started in finance, grow as an advisor and a person, and meet the girl of his dreams. He even had the engagement ring delivered to the office. “Hey, Dicker – check this out!” he yelled over with a big smile. […]
December 12, 2021
That doesn’t change who I am. (I’m here to help.) 2010 Jonathan and I first sat down when he was referred to me for insurance and investments. He didn’t want to discuss anything other the purchasing term life insurance. Guarded at first, he eventually realized that I was not just a typical salesman. Jonathan purchased the insurance, becoming a client. 2012 Jonathan and I got together, at which point I suggested he move his investments over to me as well as purchase supplemental disability insurance. He moved his investments, but we wrestled over the disability insurance and the amount. Finally, he agreed to buy […]
December 3, 2021
Wall Street and the stock market Coming off their best month of the year, the stock market saw significant negative movement at the tail end of November. For the month: The NASDAQ gained 0.3% in November and is up 21.3% YTD. The S&P 500 lost -0.7% in November and is up 23.2% YTD. The DOW lost -3.5% in November and is up 14.7% YTD. Of course, the big trigger for a market swoon was news of the Omicron variant and subsequent anxiety, with the S&P 500 dropping 2.3% on November 24th alone, its biggest one-day drop since February. […]
December 3, 2021
My grandfather Joe never really liked me. I won’t go into the thorny details of our relationship, but the simple truth remains. Without question, my grandfather Joe was very hard on me. And he most certainly never understood me or made any effort to thaw our relationship. And yet that relationship, like so many, I remain thankful for. Why? Because I learned so much from my grandfather – even if they were painful life lessons. Granted, he had no intention of bestowing these lessons upon me (or any other charitable act pointed in my general direction). Still, it’s due to […]