Today's rally is being credited to traders positioning
themselves for tomorrow's Federal Reserve announcement. The Fed
could opt for further monetary easing, or at least further
confirmation that chairman Ben Bernanke will stick to his
accommodative playbook.
Looking at specific names, earnings results helped lift shares
of Oracle (
ORCL
) early on, as well as FedEx (
FDX
), which closed up despite
the company lowering its forward guidance.
Elsewhere, positive Wall Street analyst commentary helped lift
stocks like V.F. Corp (
VFC
), Valero Energy (
VLO
) and W.W. Grainger (
GWW
). On the flipside, valuation concerns weighed down shares of
Expedia (
EXPE
). Shares of McDonald's (
MCD
) finished in the red after the company offered a cautionary view
of customer traffic.
"All They Do is Depend…"
I recently ran into an older friend of mine whose three adult
children still live at home. They all went to college and are just
getting their feet wet in the working world. None of them are doing
what they'd initially planned to do, but as my friend said, he
wants them working nonetheless. In the meantime, they're living
under his roof, and their exit plan is uncertain at best. His
classic comment to me was "I have all these dependents, and
all they do is depend.
"
Although my friend's remark certainly made me laugh, the
situation many families face these days is far from comical. I
expect the recent trend of multiple generations living under one
roof to continue, as financial struggles grip people across the
country. For recent college graduates, the reality of a tough job
market and substantial student loan debt limits their options
considerably. Many will simply need to return to the nest for the
time being.
It used to be that each generation could break free and plan
their own financial future, but more and more it is becoming a
"team" process where those who are stable financially and
professionally are relied upon to carry the load for a much longer
time. This trend makes it essential for investors to put together a
plan (dividend investing) where money is consistently being
grown.
The best defense against the "boomerang effect" of kids moving
back home after college is a solid financial education. Make it
clear to your kids and grandkids that they need to look ahead in
their professional lives. They must develop a unique set of
marketable skills for tomorrow's job market in order to survive on
their own.
Sometimes a Door Has to Close
Whether you have faced personal or professional turbulence in
your life, you know that at the time, things may appear hopeless.
Many white-collar and blue-collar workers alike have found out that
no one is immune to the cuts that have transpired in the
workforce.
When the chips are down, we're all faced with some big
decisions. Some people choose to go back to school to learn new
skills and enhance their earning potential. Others are unable to
shake off the blow as easily. They may fall into a rut of
collecting unemployment for multiple years, struggling to decide
where to turn.
Having a group of mentors is helpful in these situations. A
solid inner circle of people that are successful, or who may have
faced similar circumstances in their own lives, is a great asset to
have. These folks can provide helpful advice to you during tough
times. Be flexible in your thought processes and don't be afraid to
try new things. Who knows, losing your job may wind up being a
blessing in disguise - especially if you're prepared to do whatever
it takes to improve your lot in life.
Income, Income, Income
At Dividend.com, we maintain our focus on the best
income-producing investments the markets have to offer during time
of heightened volatility. We want to make sure we have only the
most pullback-resistant names on our
Best Dividend Stocks List
. Also, if we see the market putting in what looks like a decent
bottom, we will be prepared to scale up the list of stocks we like.
Stay tuned and be sure to look for
Dividend.com Premium
member alerts along the way. Don't count on the government or your
employer to set you up for a remarkable retirement. Take control,
do your own research, and achieve your goals yourself!
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