Parabolic Asset Management

https://howmuch.net/art/breakdown-average-american-spending

What effect does the government shutdown have on the economy? For every week it continues, growth is reduced 0.1%, according to estimates.

Stocks Overtake Real Estate in U.S. Household Wealth (note the last time this happened)

Behind on Retirement Savings? It’s Not Too Late to Catch Up - The Wall Street Journal https://apple.news/Af_8ssrjYRGaHaK0RCMHNRg

Interesting: FAANG (Facebook, Apple, Amazon, Netflix, Google) and MSFT made up 2.66% of the gain in the S&P 500 since November 2017. The other 494 index components collectively lost 0.40%.

About half of this year's gains in the S&P 500 have come from three stocks: Amazon, Microsoft, and Netflix (Amazon has a P/E ratio of 324, Microsoft's is 28, and Netflix's is 196) https://www.wsj.com//amazon-is-taking-over-the-stock-marke

Markets can turn on a dime, and 2018 has proven that with the recent 1,000 point plunge. Here's a look at how the past 22 corrections and 14 bear markets have unfolded and recovered since WWII. http://parabolic.us//fear-returned-markets-thats-good-thi/

The Stock Market In 2018: The Good And Bad News - Stocks are at all-time highs, and enthusiasm for further gains couldn't be higher. While that has tended to be good for the short term, historically, that has tended to cause problems in the intermediate to long term... http://parabolic.us//five-things-know-pictures-bullish-be/

How have stock markets performed during government shutdowns? Going back since 1976, the average move is a 0.6% loss and the median move is 0.0% - flat. (source: https://lplresearch.com//a-government-shutdown-could-be-c/)

San Diego friends, with the new tax laws limiting the deduction for state and local taxes to $10,000 in 2018, it may make sense to consider accelerating the 2nd installment of your property taxes to this year to take advantage of the tax code before it changes. See the article below and please consult with a tax advisor. "...County Treasurer-Tax Collector Dan McAllister said his tax adviser gave him that advice after Congress passed a bill this week that limits how much house...holds can deduct in state and local taxes if they itemize. McAllister said paying your property tax before the end of the year might make sense for many others, but they should consult their advisers as well. He said do everything you can do to pay your property taxes before Dec. 31, he said. That’s what I’m going to do...." http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com//sd-fi-proptax-2017122

This is what $1,000 invested in each of these companies ten years ago would be worth today.

If you have a 529 plan and financial aid for college is on the horizon, this Q&A at the Wall Street Journal is worth a read: https://www.wsj.com//how-529s-affect-financial-aid-1509937

If you have the option to get a Roth 401(k) instead of a Traditional one, it might make sense to do, according to a Harvard Business School study. https://www.wsj.com//roth-vs-traditional-401-k-study-finds