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Joe Kesler

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    • Haha! Thanks Chris. I'm in transition trying to become more of a drop artist, but it's such a rush to drive the ball that it's taking some time. How about you?

      Post: My Five Lessons

      Link to comment from January 18, 2024

    • Mike, I know some of those octogenarian pickleball players too! They are my inspiration for trying to stay healthy and become one someday.

      Post: My Five Lessons

      Link to comment from January 15, 2024

    • Thanks Linda! There are a lot of choices in retirement. Sounds like you have found a nice rhythm. I appreciate your note about others giving you advice on what you should do. All well intentioned, I'm sure, but we have to be the CEO of our retirement!

      Post: My Five Lessons

      Link to comment from January 15, 2024

    • I got a lifetime admission to the National Parks for $80 I believe. I think I just missed the deadline for it when it was $20. I'm assuming the extra $60 went to support our parks so I actually told my wife I was happy we paid more.

      Post: What items would you happily buy even if they were twice the price?

      Link to comment from May 16, 2021

    • I hate the click bait headlines like, "Six stocks you need to buy now!" Why would I think some journalist trying to get readers with a seductive headline would know how to beat the market? I don't.

      Post: What popular financial advice do you ignore?

      Link to comment from May 16, 2021

    • Ideally I prefer to assist my kids through college so they are not saddled with student loan debt as they enter the workforce. After that, it seems tough love is most effective in helping them grow up by putting them on their own. But of course true love is always going to step up in an emergency to assist if it was not caused by their own failure to work. So far this plan has worked for four of our kids with no emergency bailouts. One more graduating from college next month, so shooting for five out of five.

      Post: When should parents stop supporting their adult children financially?

      Link to comment from April 14, 2021

    • I'm not a big fan of debt in retirement, but I think there is an interesting angle for those wanting a hedge of inflation to maintain a low cost mortgage. If the currency is debased we would pay that mortgage off with cheaper dollars. Other than as an inflation hedge, I'd rather lower my monthly expenses by not having any debt payments.

      Post: Is it okay to retire with debt?

      Link to comment from April 14, 2021

    • I wouldn't recommend trying to beat it. We can beat the roulette wheel when the odds are only 48% in our favor when we get lucky for awhile. Eventually the odds stacked against us will catch up. In the same way, some beat the market for awhile through luck, although they may convince themselves it's their keen insight into stock patterns or some other nonsense. But filtering out random luck, I don't know anybody that can consistently beat owning the entire market through low cost index funds.

      Post: Can the market be beaten?

      Link to comment from April 14, 2021

    • Dave you're not a conformist. I think the government numbers show a big drop off happened in consumer spending and savings went up, but it's good a few like you kept some money flowing through the economy. Thanks for your contribution to the economy!

      Post: Five Lessons

      Link to comment from April 14, 2021

    • Thanks Rick. It's perplexing to me that we are throwing money at so many things and even talking about forgiving student loans, while the social security fix doesn't even seem to be on the radar. I'm sure it will get done, but who knows when.

      Post: Five Lessons

      Link to comment from April 14, 2021

    Articles

    My Five Lessons

    Joe Kesler   |  Jan 15, 2024

    FOR MOST OF MY LIFE, I didn’t plan to retire. Probably reflecting the influence of religion, I’ve long thought we were put here to spend our time working in the productive service of others.
    This was reinforced by my experience as a manager early in my career. I often had to oversee folks in their 50s and 60s who were no longer engaged in their career and yearned to retire. I never wanted to become like them.

    The Joy of Work

    Joe Kesler   |  Sep 16, 2021

    I’VE HAD SOME dreadful jobs in my life. I spent one summer putting metal plates under a huge press for eight hours a day. Once the plates were in the right position, I’d push some buttons that would cause the press to crash down and shape the metal into something useful.
    The goal was to work fast because that meant more pay. Some of the workers disabled the safety features so they could produce more widgets and earn extra money.

    The Good Steward

    Joe Kesler   |  Aug 22, 2021

    I GOT STUCK IN a conversation at a dinner party recently with a name dropper. It was painful. Wanting to impress me, I suppose, I learned that, “Yes, Janet Yellen and I are good friends. I’ll be traveling to D.C. soon and I’m looking forward to connecting.”
    But it didn’t end there. I also heard about this person’s exotic travels and homes around the world. And the fabulous career that supported this lavish lifestyle.

    Labor Pains

    Joe Kesler   |  Jul 29, 2021

    I ALMOST MADE a waitress cry yesterday. It isn’t what you think. I didn’t yell at her for poor service. Quite the contrary.
    My wife and I went out for lunch at an Irish pub. I noticed the help wanted ad on the front door as we went inside. When it came time to pay our bill, I simply shared my heartfelt appreciation that she was willing to work and serve us in the midst of the current labor shortage.

    Life’s Two Halves

    Joe Kesler   |  Jul 26, 2021

    GROWING UP, I WAS heavily influenced by the ideals of the Protestant work ethic. Working hard and finding career success provided great satisfaction, so I assumed I’d handle the second half of my life in the same way as the first.
    This wasn’t a great plan.
    I was around age 50 when I came across the writings of psychiatrist Carl Jung and his discussion of the two halves of life. For me, the timing couldn’t have been better.

    Go Away

    Joe Kesler   |  Jul 15, 2021

    ONCE IT LOOKED SAFE to travel again, I didn’t waste any time. I jumped on a plane and spent three weeks in the Carolinas. It was a great vacation.
    Staying in an Airbnb on Hilton Head Island gave me a much-needed chance to recharge while enjoying the beach. Renting a place on Lake Norman, the largest man-made lake in North Carolina, gave me quality time with two of my grandchildren. It was like breathing freedom again after the long COVID-19 lockdown.

    Lending a Hand

    Joe Kesler   |  Jul 9, 2021

    IF I’M HONEST WITH myself, I’ve been financially comfortable for so long that I’ve lost the ability to truly relate to those living paycheck to paycheck. But over a lifetime of working with people and their money, I’ve learned to be aware of signs that someone may be on the brink of breakdown—and could use some help.
    I was only 22 years old when I had my first shocking experience with the power of money to cause a life to self-destruct.

    Beyond Saving

    Joe Kesler   |  Jun 21, 2021

    I’M CONSERVATIVE, but sometimes even I see the need to change. For instance, I belonged to a high-profile service organization for many years. They’re very proud of their tradition of raising money to give a Webster’s dictionary to each fifth grader in our city.
    Let’s face it: These days, no self-respecting fifth grader is going to be caught dead with a hardcopy dictionary. Doesn’t everyone know that kids look up everything online? Traditions die hard—even when they no longer make sense.

    A Better Retirement

    Joe Kesler   |  Jun 7, 2021

    RETIREMENT CAN BE the best time of our life—but only if we manage it right.
    I recently passed a milestone: the three-year anniversary of the day I left my 40-year banking career. What have I learned over the past three years? I’ve found that a good retirement has three key elements: sound finances, wellness, and intentionality about managing time.
    1. Finances. I watched some of Berkshire Hathaway’s annual meeting last month. As usual,

    Ignoring the Rules

    Joe Kesler   |  May 27, 2021

    ONE HALLOWEEN, SOME of my teenage buddies and I were having a great time throwing water balloons at trick-or-treaters. It was a lot of fun—until we got caught. After getting hauled down to the police station for a lecture, and then receiving another one when I got home, I’ve been pretty much on the straight and narrow ever since, including when it comes to money.
    Over the years, I’ve discovered various tried-and-true rules of investing and those have been the keys to my success.

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