Take a look at the latest edition of The Nest Egg!
Nest Egg
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MAY 2021
Most financial advisors are well-versed in investing in stocks, bonds, and cash. They may invest in domestic or emerging market stocks — or both — as part of their diversification strategy. They’ll also add in bonds as a means to protect the portfolio from volatility. However, while bonds can make a portfolio more conservative, when markets go through a period of correction, bonds aren’t guaranteed to offer the protection many people expect. This is one of the many reasons we mimic the Ivy Portfolio as part of our investment strategy. I’ve mentioned the Ivy Portfolio a few times in past newsletters. Institutions, including Harvard and Yale, base their pension plans around the Ivy Portfolio. As part of our strategy with the Ivy Portfolio, we don’t rely on bonds to mitigate market corrections. We put more emphasis on monitoring certain sectors with an algorithmic approach — if they’re not looking good, we can make adjustments. And instead of bonds, the goal is to be highly diversified. Of course, when anyone says “diversified” it’s not always clear what that means. In talking about investing, it can mean many different things. For instance, for some people, it can mean they’re invested in a range of equities. Or they have a spread of domestic and emerging market stocks with a mix of bonds. Portfolio Diversification And Protecting Yourself From Market Corrections
“know” them. But many of those same investors are more familiar with commodities than they may realize — think gold, silver, or copper. Or lumber. Commodities are tangible. The interesting thing about commodities is that, during market corrections, they tend to behave differently than stocks or bonds. They can even protect you from downside risk if utilized correctly. When markets fluctuate, commodities offer stability. Over the past couple of decades, inflation has been relatively low and interest rates have been low. These two factors have been good for stocks, bonds, and even REITs. Now, as you may have noticed, there is increasing talk about inflation rising and interest rates going up. If this happens, it may trigger market corrections. But if your portfolio includes a spread of commodities, you put yourself in a better position to ride out those corrections long-term. Your investments have more protection against inflation. That isn’t to say you’ll be 100% protected. That’s simply not possible — but you’ll have some protection. If you want to learn more about the Ivy Portfolio, I highly recommend the book, “The Ivy Portfolio: How to Invest Like the Top Endowments and Avoid Bear Markets.” This is a great primer to this type of investing and goes into far more detail than I can go into in a newsletter article.
In the Ivy Portfolio, diversity partially refers to the inclusion of commodities. Many investors tend to shy away from commodities because they don’t
The 4 Things Needed to Get the Government Out of Your Pocket
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As markets begin going into this next decade, it’s worth looking into. The diversification of investments is great, but understanding the diversification of investments is even better.
-Dan Casey
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TURN THE PAGE ON BORING BOOKS 3 WAYS TO CHOOSE YOUR NEXT READ It’s almost beach-read season! But any time is a great time to read when you’re immersed in a page-turner. While there is no shortage of books on the market — or ways to read them! — sometimes it’s hard to know how to find your next favorite novel or series. Here are three great ways to get a customized recommendation.
check out the staff recommendations or ask for help in finding a book in your favorite genre.
1. Use the web. Sometimes you’ve gotta go digital to go analog. There are several great websites that will provide recommendations for readers based on their past favorites. Email the staff of Literary Hub at BookRecs@LitHub.com a list of three books you love, and they’ll email you a personalized recommendation. Or you can check out NPR’s Book Concierge online, which lets you filter by the type of book (e.g., memoir, historical fiction, etc.) you’re looking for, as well as different categories (e.g., funny stuff, for sports lovers, etc.). WhichBook.net is similar to the NPR Book Concierge but is even more user-friendly. 2. Ask the pros. The internet is great, but there’s no substitute for an old-fashioned conversation with a fellow word nerd. Librarians may be one of the world’s most underutilized resources. They are often prolific readers and also have a keen sense of what’s popular right now. If you’re not a patron at your local library, support a local bookstore and
3. Join a book club. This
is a great way to introduce new authors and subjects into your literary world. Book clubs
are usually free to join and come with the added benefit of getting to socialize with fellow readers. Search online for a local or virtual book club or follow along with celebrity book clubs online. If you like fun fiction, follow Reese Witherspoon’s book club, Hello Sunshine, on Instagram.com/hellosunshine. Oprah’s book club remains as popular as ever, as well. Her monthly picks range from fiction that will entertain you while making you think to self-improvement books that could change your life. If you want to go deep on current issues and support authors of color, check out rapper Noname’s book club at NonameBooks.com. Noname also sends her monthly book picks to incarcerated individuals through the Prison Program.
5 EASY WAYS TO GET EVERYONE MOVING GET FIT WITH YOUR FAMILY parents not to limit themselves to traditional forms of exercise. Instead, think of exercise more broadly as “leading an active lifestyle.” And remember that exercise can be fun and a great way to get in more family time.
May is National Physical Fitness and Sports Month. As a parent, you probably know exercise is important for your children’s physical development. It helps build healthy bones, muscles, and joints and reduces the risk of developing diabetes and other
Here are five easy ways to incorporate more movement into your family’s day.
1. Create a walking ritual. Start walking around the neighborhood before or after dinner each night. Aim for a 20-minute stroll.
2. Have a dance party. Clear some space in the living room, make a playlist with everyone’s favorite tunes, and boogie down for as long as you have the energy. 3. Turn chores into games. Dirt has invaded from outer space and must be eliminated. Set the scene with your kids, grab your tools, and get to work removing the enemy while having fun. 4. Incorporate simple exercises into screen time. Start by making up fun names for exercises like situps or jumping jacks. Then, challenge each other to see who can do the most during your favorite show’s commercial breaks. 5. Get fit in the great outdoors. Cleaning up the yard, planting and maintaining a garden, or just running around outside are all great ways to get in more movement.
diseases later in life.
But did you know that physical activity also has many mental and behavioral health benefits? It’s been shown to improve children’s cognitive skills and concentration, boost their self-esteem, and reduce symptoms of stress, anxiety, and depression. One of the best ways to encourage healthy behaviors in your children is by modeling them yourself. Studies have found that more than 80% of adolescents and adults are not getting enough aerobic activity, showing that children often follow in their parents’ footsteps and that exercising together can benefit everyone.
You may be thinking it’s hard enough just to get yourself to the gym, but Stephen Virgilio, author of “Active Start for Healthy Kids,” encourages
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When it comes to skin care and makeup, it’s easy to accumulate products that clutter your vanity and go unused once you figure out how hard it truly is to master the latest graphic eyeliner trends. This year, though, TikTok influencers are at the forefront of a trend that’s both inexpensive and easy to get behind: skinimalism. As a recent POPSUGAR article explains, skinimalism is “a new wave of natural, minimal, or no-makeup beauty looks where your real skin — texture, pores, blemishes, discoloration, and all — shines through.” This back-to-basics beauty routine is partially fueled by Gen Zers’ desire to purchase and use affordable products that can be easily found. That means they’re more likely to frequent the local CVS or Dollar Tree than the local Sephora — and more likely still to promote those products on TikTok. This has been helpful since makeup sales took a big hit last year, declining 12% between March and July of 2020. However, sales for skin care products rose 1.6% during the same time period, according to Nielsen Global Media. As a CNN Business article notes, “The pandemic has prompted consumers to focus more on their health and well-being, including skin hygiene and maintenance, rather than their makeup routines.”
While the popularity of some cosmetic products like false eyelashes and mascara have
begun to rise again as people want to play up the parts of their faces not hidden under a mask, the skinimalist trend is still projected to be among the biggest beauty trends of 2021. And the increased sales of skin care products have given companies like L’Oréal, which produces CeraVe foaming cleanser, a big boost. CeraVe retails for under $15 and can be easily found at any pharmacy or big-box store. Marc Toulemonde, president of L’Oréal’s North America Active Cosmetics division, said increased attention from TikTok influencers has “absolutely boosted sales” for CeraVe. TikTok users also got #magicshavingpowder trending after many users talked about their love of Softsheen-Carson Magic Shaving Powder, which allows them to ditch their razors and cancel their hair-removal appointments. This product retails for $3, and its simple packaging looks straight out of the general stores of 1901 when the product was first launched. Nevertheless, young users are obsessed.
SKINIMALISM WHY LESS IS MORE WHEN IT COMES TO SKIN CARE
HAVE A LAUGH
Thai Minced Pork Salad
Inspired by EatingThaiFood.com
Ingredients
• 5 tbsp uncooked Thai sticky rice • 1 lb ground pork • 1/2 tbsp chili flakes • 1/8 tsp sugar • 1/2 tbsp fish sauce
• Juice of 1–2 limes, to taste • 4 small shallots, thinly sliced • 4 green onions, thinly sliced • Cilantro leaves, to taste • Mint leaves, to taste
Directions
1. First, make toasted rice powder: In a frying pan over low heat, dry-roast the rice, stirring continuously until it turns golden brown and smells fragrant, about 15 minutes. 2. Let toasted rice cool, then grind into a coarse powder using a mortar and pestle, blender, or food processor. Set aside.
3. In a medium frying pan over medium-high heat, fry pork, breaking it into small pieces as you go, until fully cooked. 4. Remove from heat and add 1 heaping tbsp of toasted rice powder along with all other ingredients. Stir to combine. 5. Taste and adjust, adding more lime juice and herbs to suit your palate. Serve with rice. 3
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INSIDE This Issue Investing When You Want to Mitigate Losses Turn the Page on Boring Books 5 Ways to Increase Your Family’s Fitness Less Is More When It Comes to Skin Care Thai Minced Pork Salad Betty White’s Secrets of Longevity
HOW TO LIVE TO 99 Betty White’s Secrets of Longevity Beloved “Golden Girls” actress Betty White is still enjoying her golden years. The famed actress celebrated her 99th birthday this January. While she told People magazine that she’s “blessed with good health, so turning 99 is no different than turning 98,” she also had a few tips for folks looking to make it to their centennial birthday. Keep Laughing “Don’t take yourself too seriously,” White says. “You can lie to others — not that I would — but you cannot lie to yourself.” White has undoubtedly provided many laughs to viewers over the years, but she’s not just playing it up for the camera. Laughter is part of what keeps her young. Be Optimistic White says a good sense of humor also helps her keep a good attitude and look for the positive rather than “dwelling on the downside.” Avoiding negativity also gives her energy. “It takes up too much energy being negative,” she told People magazine. Stay Busy With nearly eight decades of acting under her belt, six Emmys on her shelf, and over 120 screen credits
to her name, White is no stranger to hard work. As she told Parade in 2018, “I just love to work, so I’ll keep working until they stop asking.” Exercise Your Mind In addition to her busy work schedule, what keeps Betty White sharp? Crossword puzzles! She told Katie Couric in an interview, “I’m addicted. An admitted addict. I just can’t put ’em down.” Find a Cause White is a lifelong animal lover. She calls her golden retriever, Pontiac, “the star of the house.” While pet ownership itself comes with proven health benefits, White has channeled her love for animals in bigger causes. She’s been a trustee and board member of the Greater Los Angeles Zoo Association for over 40 years and has done work to help protect endangered species in the wild. Funds raised from White’s official fan club, Bet’s Pets, all go to support animal charities. Embrace Your Vices White told Parade she loves vodka and hot dogs “probably in that order,” which just goes to show that you don’t have to forgo your treats to live to 99.
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