Globalization has been a topic recently, with some calling it a gale of creative destruction. On the one hand, it adds to the market for many companies and permits better sharing of resources. On the other hand, it threatens jobs and pay for US employees and some companies may not survive the competition. How does one respond? At the business level, it is the face-to-face economy that cannot be reduced to computer rules and will remain strong in the US. Relationships built on trust, befriending clients and understanding them rather that commoditizing what they do will succeed. To go further, one source suggests that businesses have to be more socially responsible and ethical because (1) customers will pay more, (2) employees will support this approach, and (3) shareholders will be more loyal.
As for your personal response, with the US 25% of the world economy, your investments portfolio should be diversified by investing abroad.
Investment Allocation: Your portfolio should have an allocation to international stocks. This is not just as a play on any further decline in the dollar; there are many good investments overseas so you diversify further with an international allocation.
Real Estate Investing: Many investors consider purchasing real estate. Doing so makes you a landlord, with the resulting headaches. As with any other investment, you need to do your homework. If you can purchase a property where the rent covers your after-tax cost on mortgage payments, property taxes, insurance, repairs, and a reserve for future capital improvements, then the investment may be attractive. In reviewing your projections, you should allow for vacancies just to be conservative. You should also consider the impact of rising mortgage rates.
Important: If you have not updated your estate plan for state de-coupling from federal law, you need to do so. Also, make sure you name people rather than trusts as beneficiaries of your qualified plans, so that the pay out to survivors can be over their lifetimes, rather than a set five years.
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