Staying Connected – Follow Skye Advisors on Social Media!
Skye Advisors’s Facebook page has posts of interest, real-time charts, and my thoughts…especially when we are having volatile days. I love having the freedom to communicate and keep you in-the-know.
Don’t use Facebook? Find charts and pithy posts on my website blog or follow me on Twitter.
Be sure to visit our website regularly as we update the resources and documents often. 2nd Quarter resources are available now including the Skye Smart Client Edition and 2nd Quarter First Affirmative newsletters.
Keep These Support Phone Numbers Handy
Schwab Website Problems and Password Reset: Schwab Alliance Team (800) 515-2157
Julie Skye’s Backup Contact: Diane Conrad at the First Affirmative Home Office (719)636-1045 ext. 0.
Using the Schwab Mobile App
If you are not using the Schwab mobile app, click here for more info. You will be able to follow account values, but the coolest benefit is being able to deposit checks directly into your account. You simply shoot a picture of a check and deposit it right into your Schwab account.
Sustainable Sourcing: Print Isn’t Dead
In the latest Skye Advisors mailing, you will notice unbleached paper and envelopes. This is just one more step in the move to sustainable sourcing.
Enclosed was your 2nd Quarter Agenda to stay on track as we head into the summer, as well as hard-copies of the First Affirmative 1st Quarter Newsletter.
Hate reading an email? Love paper in your hand? If you have opted for e-delivery of Quarterly Reports but now want to switch to paper, please let me know.
Investment Policy Statement (IPS)
Plan to spend time on your Investment Policy Statement (IPS) this quarter to ensure we have your correct model portfolio. Despite the news, nerves, and volatility we will be adding to stocks when they hit target buying levels and bonds when they move above 3%.
Before I can build out your model portfolio we’ll need your signature on your IPS. Expect an email directing you to a Skye Advisors DocuSign, and know my logo says it is from me and therefore safe to open. Be sure you have that “password cheat sheet” to keep your login and password for future use. If you have already signed off on your IPS, relax and know I’ll be working on changes to your portfolio…and sending you my recommendations soon.
Double-Check Your Withholding!
You might have a major surprise if you don’t correctly adjust your withholding amounts to reflect the new tax rates passed last December. It would be smart to double-check your withholding! Contact me with any questions or more info at julie@skyeadvisors.com.
ESG Headlines
Shining Cities 2018: How Smart Local Policies Are Expanding Solar Power in America.
One of our fund families, Green Century, believes that a sustainable, fossil free economy is possible if investors stay committed. Green Century was founded and is still owned by environmental non-profit advocacy organizations. 100% of the profits earned managing the Green Century Funds are used to support the environmental and public health work of non-profit organizations.
A new report from Green Century’s partners highlights the leading role cities are playing in expanding solar power in America. With other cities like Indianapolis, Newark and Boston ranking high on the list, the report shows that commitments from city officials and effective policies (rather than just the availability of sunshine) are key to making cities solar leaders. The report also includes recommendations for cities to expand solar demand, including setting ambitious goals for solar energy adoption, adopting policies to promote or require “solar ready” or zero net energy homes, and installing solar on municipal buildings and schools.
From Los Angeles to New York and Indianapolis to Austin, cities are increasingly turning to solar energy to reduce emissions that contribute to climate change.
Want to OptOut of Annoying Junk Mail and Robocalls?
To get fewer preapproved credit card and insurance offers visit OptOutPreScreen.com or call 888-567-8688. You will be asked to give your Social Security number on the website but it’s not necessary — don’t give your SS#. As you’re doing this online, be sure you select the ‘Electronic Opt-Out for Five Years’ option. The default selection will actually sign you up for more junk mail, so be careful! For a 10 year Opt-Out, print the form and send in to the address provided.
For those soliciting phone calls, here are some options to try these free services and apps:
Some wireless carriers offer free robocalls blocking, too. T-Mobile, in cooperation with Hiya, has made great strides in blocking robocalls.
AT&T, meanwhile, was an early mover in this space. Back in 2016, AT&T released its Call Protect app — a free mobile app that automatically vets incoming calls to make sure they’re not associated with robocalls scams.
Transparency Matters: Pulling Back the Curtain
Marijuana ETFs Off of January Highs: Politics and growing pains are killing vibes among cannabis ETFs, which are down for the year.
BY SAMUEL STEINBERGER • APRIL 20, 2018
While this might seem like an odd addition to Transparency Matters, the reality is that new industries are always in the formation stage and you should expect me to have these opportunities on my radar! The key to Megatrend-Investing is knowing which industries are losing ground and which ones on the horizon need to be paid attention too. Rarely will traditional Investment Advisors pull back the curtain on controversial topics but you can count on me to!
When the U.S. Government was dead-set on banning marijuana in the 1920s and 1930s, it was propagandized as “concentrated sin with the weed with roots in hell.” Today, this “weed” is a multibillion-dollar industry and the fastest growing market in America: now a $10 billion market legal cannabis will grow to $24 billion by 2021 and globally to $60 billion by 2027. Federal legalization could be a reality within a year or two!
Interested in investing in Cannabis? Follow these two funds to see if you can take the heat: Alternative Harvest ETF (ETFMG) started trading in December 2017 and Horizons Marijuana Life Sciences ETF (HMMJ) just celebrated a year of trading.
I’m not adding an allocation of cannabis (don’t call it marijuana!) to your portfolio…but I DO want you to know I’m following parts of the market, in the news. Who knows…Bitcoin could be next!
For a deeper look, dive into this very detailed article, Investing in Cannabis: Managing the Highs and Lows »
Financial Moguls and Markets
Rising Interest Rates and Economic Deficits Make a Dangerous Cocktail, Gundlach Says.
BY EVAN SIMONOFF • MAY 9, 2018
You will see Doubleline CEO Jeffrey Gundlach often featured in this section, along with Mohamed El-Erian. Both are two of my favorite moguls as neither is shy when it comes to making contrarian calls and both are focused on signs of a recession — the true enemy of the stock market. So far, neither sees one, even into 2019 and as long as economic growth in the US remains stable to expanding…we can keep our current allocation to stocks.
Planning Strategies
Let’s Review Your 2017 Tax Return.
I know you just finished your 2017 tax return, but plan for us to spend some time on your taxes to see how the recent tax reform might impact you next spring. I need your tax return to ensure we can make the best investment decisions based on your situation!
www.HealthWarehouse.com Review: This Online Pharmacy Can Save You Money on Prescription Drugs.
BY MIKE TIMMERMANN • MAY 9, 2018
When’s the last time you shopped around for a lower price on your prescription drugs? You may be able to save a lot of money simply by switching pharmacies. Prices vary so much from pharmacy to pharmacy that the retail cash price can be cheaper than going through insurance.
An investigation published in the May 2018 issue of Consumer Reports found that HealthWarehouse.com was the least expensive place to fill a sample of five generic drugs, beating second-place Costco Wholesale. Let me know if this is helpful so I can add it to the Skye Advisors Professional Partners website.
To learn more about ESG investing, please contact Julie Skye at julie@skyeadvisors.com or (918) 408-7981, or visit skyeadvisors.com.