pandemic Archives - Atlanta Financial Associates, LLC

Coronavirus & Beyond: 5 Financial Benefits of Working From Home

October 20, 2020

As the pandemic stretches into months instead of the weeks initially expected, many workers continue to work from home. Some jobs lend themselves more easily to this than others. At Atlanta Financial, we continue to work remotely and meet with clients virtually. We are all looking forward to the day when we can get back into the office and see our colleagues and clients again. Nothing can replace face-to-face interactions whether it’s in the break room with fellow team members or in meetings with clients. But, as with many things, there are some silver linings and as it turns out, remote work does have some advantages. A recent study in fact showed that more than half of employees would prefer to continue working remotely, even after the pandemic is over.1

Narrow Market

September 9, 2020

Those following the stock market may realize that the S&P 500 hit a new all-time high on 9/2, building on the August 18th high which wiped out all its losses from the coronavirus sell-off, and surpassing the previous high of February 19th. However, a CNBC analysis shows that many stocks have yet to climb back to their prior levels. For example, between the prior market high on February 19th and August 18th, when the market first surpassed the previous high, 38% of stocks in the index made gains while the remaining 62% were still negative.

Mortgage Refinancing: How the Market Downturn Has Provided an Interesting Opportunity

August 11, 2020

As of July 30, the national average rate for a 30-year mortgage has fallen to 2.99%, with an average of 0.8 points paid, while 15-year fixed rates have fallen even further with an average of 2.51% and .7 points paid, according to data from Freddie Mac.1 Mortgage rates have plunged to the lowest levels in decades, and continue to remain near historic lows, driving purchase demand over 20 percent above a year ago. Real estate is one of the bright spots in the economy, with strong demand and modest slowdown in home prices heading into the late summer. Home sales should remain strong the next few months into the fall.

“COVID-ed” Lessons: Four Things the Pandemic has Taught Us About Savings in the Face of Financial Uncertainty

July 14, 2020

In my life and career, I have found three things overwhelmingly true with money:
1) The unexpected is inevitable- you better be prepared financially.
2) To accomplish something meaningful with money, a commitment to saving is implicit.
3) Wealthy individuals all seem to resiliently pursue a discipline of saving money despite their circumstances.
The common denominator across these three principles is simply a commitment to saving money. It is the foundation upon which all other financial success will be built. And 2020 has challenged that resolve thus far.

Strategies to Grow Your Wealth During the Pandemic

June 23, 2020

During times of market turmoil and economic uncertainty, its tempting to focus exclusively on risk – risk to your portfolio, your income and your plans for the future. And making sure your portfolio is aligned with your appetite for risk and with your time horizon for investing is critical. But focusing exclusively on the risk of losing money can lead investors to overlook the opportunities market declines may bring. Baron Rothschild, an 18th-century British nobleman and member of the renowned Rothschild banking family, is famously credited with saying that “the time to buy is when there’s blood in the streets.” He took his own advice and made a fortune in the panic that followed the Battle of Waterloo against Napoleon.

AFA Gives Back to the Atlanta Community

June 16, 2020

Atlanta Financial recently donated $1,000 worth of Girl Scout cookies to medical first responders to assist both the local front line medical workers and a great cause, Girl Scouts, which has been impacted so severely by the coronavirus pandemic.