Month: May 2023

Flashback to the Future
Photo shows the Jetson family with their Robot Rosie in their flying car.
Universal Studios

Maybe you were there for the original episodes 60 years ago or saw them in syndication in the 80s, but The Jetsons cartoons remain iconic today. The show wasn’t the first to imagine jetpacks, flying cars, or moving sidewalks, but it gave Americans hope for the possibilities ahead.  

For those children from the 60s or the 80s, the idea of a robot maid like Rosie might have sounded too good to be true. (How great would that have been for tackling childhood chores?) But now we have our choice of Roombas to mop or vacuum the floors, self-propelled electric lawn mowers, and even self-cleaning litterboxes. 

How times have changed! Imagine what the next 60 years will bring. 

As we’re watching the developments, it’s clear that the futurists of our day are interested in making the best of the modern world less wasteful, less expensive, and more efficient. And both industry and government have established benchmarks and best practices for improving how “clean” our processes are. 

Sectors in renewable energy, efficient energy systems, and more sustainable forms of transportation continue to grow all the time. For example, according to the U.S. Department of Energy, our country’s wind power capacity has increased 60% in the past five years, and solar capacity has grown a whopping 200% in that same span. The share of energy humans harness from these sources is likely to continue growing, especially given the U.S. goal for net-zero carbon emissions by 2050—a goal other nations also share. 

It doesn’t take a crystal ball to imagine more solar panels or wind turbines in our future. We believe there are opportunities that merit a place on our Buy List or at least deserve a closer look in the coming years. It makes sense to find positions that will help us invest in materials needed in the near future. 

For instance, we keep our eye on various raw materials: we won’t be building any Jetsons-style Skypad Apartments without them, right? We are also closely tracking the potential of electric vehicles. No personal jetpacks yet, but EVs are an innovation worth our attention. 

We don’t need our world to be hyper-futuristic to enjoy the benefits of technology, energy, or transportation. And we’d like this lovely planet to still be here for our children and grandchildren and the generations beyond. 

So where are the opportunities between where we live now and the Jetson home in Orbit City? We can strive to invest in the world we’d like to see. 

Clients, call or email if you would like to chat about this or anything else. 

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Flashback to the Future – 228Main.com Presents: The Best of Leibman Financial Services

This text is available at https://www.228Main.com/.

Changing Your Story

Even heroes get knocked down a time or two when fighting their monsters. There may be a couple of bumps in the road, but what good plot doesn’t have some conflict?

With our passions in mind, a little bit of perseverance, and a good plan, we all get to be the hero of our own story.

Want to talk through what’s important in your story? Call or email to chat.

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The Road Not Taken Looks Real Good Now
Photo shows Taylor Swift in front of skyline.
Big Machine Records 

Taylor Swift has made a name for herself as a songwriter, pop star, and fashion icon, but now she’s making headlines for another role: as an effective investor. 

Recently, Taylor was featured in the news for making a wise financial decision. She had a chance to be a paid sponsor for a—let’s say—questionable product. Instead of diving into a high-risk, high-reward situation, she asked questions, did her research, and declined the offer. 

Whether or not Taylor’s music is for you, we admire her curiosity and commitment to herself. Her influence reaches all over the world, and she showed that she was not going to stand behind something she didn’t believe in. And every investor has the power to do that work. We do the research so that we know exactly what we own, why we own it, and how it fits into the big picture. 

We at 228Main.com might not have the cumulative reach of Taylor—yet 😊—but we know how important it is to act by our values, no matter who is watching. It’s our responsibility. 

Taylor seems to know hers, too, but it took determination to build the reputation she has. You don’t achieve that pop sensation status overnight! She has worked her entire adult life to build her empire, and she was not going to risk throwing it away based on someone else’s opinion or make a quick buck (or a hundred million). 

One rash decision can cause a huge ripple effect, and most of the time, the impulse to do the trendy thing is not worth it. There are always going to be temptations in life, but it doesn’t mean any opportunity that comes along will work for us. Only we are in charge of keeping an eye on our future. 

We don’t mind going against the crowd. At 228 Main, we consider all the angles of an opportunity, with our own critical eye. We don’t rely on others’ opinions. (When the cattle are all getting steered together, it rarely ends well for the cattle.) Certain products might be getting a lot of attention, but that does not mean they are necessarily great investments. 

Please do ask your questions when you have them, and we’ll think about the potential outcomes together. We try to make informed decisions, in the direction of our goals. 

So be your inquisitive, confident self. Like Taylor says in her song “The Lucky One,” “In the real world, if you have something that makes you different, you’re lucky.” 

Dare to be different? Call or email us, anytime. 

Investing involves risk including the potential loss of principal. No investment strategy can guarantee a profit or protect against loss. Past performance is not a guarantee of future results.

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The Road Not Taken Looks Real Good Now – 228Main.com Presents: The Best of Leibman Financial Services

This text is available at https://www.228Main.com/. Photo credit Big Machine Records.

Waffles, Friends, Work
NBC / Getty Images

“We need to remember what’s important in life: friends, waffles, work. Or waffles, friends, work. Doesn’t matter, but work is third.” 

—Leslie Knope 

I think we all can relate to Leslie Knope from Parks and Recreation from time to time. This TV heroine’s persistent optimism and love for improving her community are things that resonate with us.  

Although our first instinct is to laugh when we read the above quote from Leslie, we do think there are some great takeaways in this phrase: we can remember to cherish our relationships and treat ourselves, even as we are working towards our goals. 

Life is short, so we love to spend time with friends and family while we can. Instead of staying late at work to finish up a project that can wait until tomorrow, we learn to call a friend instead and see if we can stop by. Some days, it’s a rush to get home to a beautiful family and cuddle our loved ones. Any moment can be precious. 

We take the time to treat ourselves and relish what comforts us. What’s that one dish that takes you back to your childhood or a great time in your life? Whether it’s a potato salad that reminds you of Grandma or a dish you had on your wedding day, food is a simple way to reconnect with ourselves or others. Our bodies should be nourished both physically and mentally, so don’t deprive yourself. 

While we need to work to provide for ourselves or our families, there is more to life than your career: work is just one part of our story. Not many of us will be looking back on life and thinking, “Gee, I should’ve spent more time at work!” Instead, we will reflect on the memories we’ve made with the people we love. We work so we can enjoy all of the wonderful things life has to offer, on or off the clock. 

How do we prioritize the people or things that are important in life? It’s up to each of us. Leslie Knope is a character who is passionate about her work—but even more passionate about her friends. (Does that sound like a friendly shop on Main Street you might know?) 

We hope that the work we do together will let you spend less time stressing about your financial plans, so you can have more time to spend on what matters, from friends and waffles to whatever else is precious to you. 

Call or email, anytime.

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Waffles, Friends, and Work – 228Main.com Presents: The Best of Leibman Financial Services

This text is available at https://www.228Main.com/.