Published: April 29, 2019

Have you ever heard someone say that experience is the best teacher? Here's another one-there are no mistakes, just lessons.

Well, I would like to take a slightly different tack. Experience isn't the best teacher. Someone else's experience is. Learn from other peoples' mistakes and you can save yourself a lot of grief.

In that spirit, I'd like to review the biggest financial mistakes I've seen and offer you ways to avoid them.

Too many Americans don't have enough money in savings. According to CareerBuilder, nearly 80% of Americans live paycheck to paycheck to make ends meet. And lest you think this applies only to those who are in low-wage positions -nearly one in ten workers who earn over $100,000 or more are in the same boat.

I'm shining a bright spotlight on this predicament in the wake of the recent government shutdown. During the closure, we were treated to a healthy dose of stories from federal employees who were running out of money after missing one or two paychecks. And these folks were guaranteed back pay and were offered plenty of assistance from banks and credit unions!

I'm not trying to minimize the frustration many of them experienced, but imagine what might happen during an extended period of unemployment.

Don't wait to start socking money away. Pay yourself by stashing away funds after each pay period. I would recommend at least three to six months of emergency funds. And I'd lean towards six months. A financial house that is in disorder is among the leading causes of stress. Savings will mitigate the emotional and mental burden.

I've already broached the subject with my college-age daughter. So far, she seems less than enthusiastic. I get that. There are many other things she's focused on today. But when she graduates, the seed will have been planted, and she'll be mentally ready to sign up for her 401k.

I have a friend who is in his late 40s. He can probably retire comfortably by 60. Yet, he regrets waiting until 30 to begin putting money into a retirement account. What if he had started in his early 20s? The same holds true for another colleague who is 52. He's semi-retired today but wishes he had enrolled in his company plan before he turned 26. For most folks, that would be a minor regret.

We all know the reason earlier is better-it's the magic of compounding. Those deposits made in our 20s will have a lifetime to grow. Don't waste the chance to increase your savings now. You'll never get it back.

Without a spending plan that tracks expenditures, you may wonder why there is month at the end of your money, and not money at the end of your month.

One of my closest friends from college can tell you how much he spent on gasoline in March 2001. That may sound extreme, but there are various guidelines you may use when setting up a plan.

Focus on the essentials-rent, mortgage, utilities. Leave room for your financial goals-repaying debts, retirement, emergency funds. And have some fun by budgeting for lifestyle choices-recreation, hobbies, vacation, and so forth.

If you are unsure how you might get started, my team can help you develop a spending plan that will help get your financial house in order.

If you feel like you're buried under a mountain of credit card debt, an auto payment, student loans, and personal debt, you'll need a plan of attack. Let's talk. It will be the best financial decision you ever made. Just knowing there's a roadmap to debt-free living will be liberating.

That new car sure is fast, the ride is exceedingly quiet, and it has all the latest gadgets. But the new car smell will eventually wear off. The payments, however, won't. When looking for a new vehicle, what you don't know can hurt you. What is the gas mileage? Does it require an expensive grade of gasoline? What will it cost to insure? And what will the annual license renewal run?

If you can answer these questions and the payments comfortably fit into your budget, you'll sidestep any surprises that could crowd out your hobbies and financial goals.

"You cannot measure the quality of a man by the size of his bank account, but in Jack Bogle's case, you can measure it by the size of your bank account. No one on this planet has done more to increase the lot of individual investors in the last 50 years than John C. "Jack" Bogle, founder and former chairman of the Vanguard Group and creator of the world's first index mutual fund." - Forbes

"If there is ever an official investor hall of fame, Jack Bogle would be a lock as a unanimous first-team ballot winner in the inaugural class." - The Motley Fool

"I don't believe that there has ever been, nor will there ever be, anyone who has given more to investors and taken less in return than Jack Bogle." - Morningstar

Jack may not have the name recognition of the legendary Warren Buffett, but his contribution to the world of investing can't be understated.

He founded the Vanguard Group in 1974 and pioneered the first index fund two years later, a mutual fund that was tied to the S&P 500 Index (Investopedia). Investors ponied up just $11 million. It was mocked as "Bogle's Folly."

Today, there are over $13 trillion invested in passively managed mutual funds or exchange-traded funds (ETFs) worldwide, according to Barron's.

Jack's idea transformed an industry, significantly lowered costs for large and small investors, helped democratize investing, and, let me add, is a staple to the approach we use to assist you as you run the race to your financial goals.

In a CNBC interview last September, Jack said, "If you hold the stock market, you will grow with America." If you attempt to time the market, "Your emotions will defeat you totally."

His long-term approach has paid dividends for disciplined investors.

Jack passed away on January 16. He was 89 years old.

December was a bad month for stocks. There's no way to sugarcoat it. Long-term investors recognize the need for disciplined approach, but that doesn't mean extreme levels of volatility won't create some degree of concern. I get it.

We touched a bottom on Christmas Eve, and shares extended gains into January. In fact, the Wall Street Journal ran an article stating the S&P 500's advance last month was the best start to the year since 1987.

Source: Wall Street Journal, MSCI.com, Morningstar

YTD returns: Dec. 31, 2018-Jan. 31, 2019

*Annualized

**in US dollars

Much of the data suggests the economy continues to expand, but one important reason the bull market is waking up from its late-year slumber is the Federal Reserve.

In December, the Fed was talking about "gradual" rate hikes-possibly two this year. I placed gradual in quotes because that's how the Fed phrased its guidance.

In late January, just six short weeks later, the Fed said it can be "patient" as it ponders the direction of rates. Yes, that's right-the direction. When Fed Chief Jerome Powell was asked at his late-January press conference whether the next move in rates might be up or down, he didn't tip his hand. Instead, he said it all depends on the economic data.

At this point, the Fed's on hold-no more rate hikes, at least through the shorter term and maybe longer.

It's not that economic growth has stalled or even slowed considerably. The latest 300,000+ payroll number provided by the U.S. BLS would suggest the economy is not weakening.

But various surveys of consumer and business confidence have eased (University of Michigan survey, Conference Board, Wall Street Journal), and economic growth has slowed around the globe.

Throw in a cautionary signal from investors late last year (fears the Fed was poised to tip the economy into a recession if it continued to tighten the monetary screws), and the Fed shifted its stance.

Let me emphasize again that it is my job to assist you! If you have any questions or would like to discuss any matters, please feel free to give me or any of my team members a call.