Your Money

You may be familiar with our investment philosophy that we've coined The 3-Vaults:

1. short-term living (0-3yrs)
2. long-term living (4 yrs+)
3. giving (now and beyond)

Each Vault has its own investment strategy and risk profile with the 0-3 year living vault being a low/no risk way to meet cash flow needs over that period.

The strategy, although portrayed slightly different here, got some positive press in Barron's over the weekend:

The Retirement Strategy that Worked Like a Charm
by Gail Marks Jarvis

Your Life

So, how has COVID-19 changed spending?  See if you can relate:

1. Grocery sales are way up as people cook at home.
2. Spending on travel has dramatically declined as people #stayhome.
3. Restaurant sales are a mixed bag with in-store dining plummeting while those always able to offer take-out/delivery service are surging.
4. Spending on media and entertainment is also mixed with movie theaters, theme parks, clubs and concerts closed but streaming services (think Netflix) and video game and movie downloads increasing.
5. Overall shopping is down.  The past trend has always seen brick-and-mortar stores struggling, but e-commerce shopping is still not as much as before.
6. Streets and subways are empty, so transportation is way down.
7. Ironically, spending on healthcare has fallen.  Probably attributable to the shuttering of all gyms and fitness companies.  In addition, non-emergency appointments have been canceled or delayed.  Sadly, lower revenue from non-emergency work is causing some hospitals to downsize or cut pay of staff.

How the Virus Transformed the Way Americans Spend Their Money
 

Complexity Simplified

Social distancing and quarantines have resulted in a new way of living.  Part of that is the rising trend for access to FREE entertainment from the biggest names in the industry at the convenience of our own home…not fighting traffic or parking, wearing whatever clothes you want, and grabbing take-out or a simple home-made meal to eat at home.
I watched Jennifer Garner on Instagram make home-made pretzels and English muffins—which inspired me to make them, too.  DEEELICIOUS!  I watched David Foster and his new wife, Katherine McPhee, sing and do a mini variety show on YouTube.  I was among 28+ million viewers in the first 24 hours who watched and listened to the 3-song concert by Andrea Bocelli accompanied only by an organist from an empty Duomo cathedral in Milan.
Sure there are some annoying posts by entertainers but focus on the good ones.  Here’s a link to one of my particular favorites, Music for Mercy, generously posted by Carly Paoli during this time of quarantine.  Enjoy!

Trivia