In the song Brand New Day, Sting asks, “Why would you want to put yourself through all that again?” Indeed. It is now 2021 – a brand new day and a brand new year. It’s time for a fresh start, with the confidence that this year will be better than the last.
The Supertramp song, Give a Little Bit, includes a lyric that says, “there's so much that we need to share, so send a smile and show you care”. This sentiment has never been truer than in this year of struggle.
Anyone who knows the pangs of anticipation can relate to the lyrics in Tom Petty’s song, The Waiting when he sings “The waiting is the hardest part”. He has been quoted as saying that this song is about waiting for your dreams, whatever they may be, yet not knowing if they will come to pass. He also said it’s a song about optimism.
The uncertainty can be challenging, but being prepared and having a plan in place helps reduce those “spooky” feelings. In light of the events of 2020, there has never been a better time to review your estate, insurance, and financial planning documents.
You can’t blame Marvin Gaye for asking, since we are two-thirds of the way through one of the craziest years ever for the US stock market, the American economy, and honestly, each one of us. The stock market’s movement in the first half of 2020 was a roller-coaster, full of steep climbs and sharp drops, only to climb again.
Certainly, 2020 has taught us that life truly is a highway, with starts and stops, twists and turns, and, unfortunately, plenty of detours and unplanned delays. The purpose of The Journey is to provide some navigation and advice to help you along the way.