THE FATHER BLOG

Family (genetically speaking) is all about the DNA. As technology has taken leaps and bounds over the last several decades, some areas I can totally get on board with while others not so much.

The “not so much” category for me is utilizing cloning technology to replicate your dog like Tom Brady did a few months ago. I love my dogs but they are both one of a kind and I wouldn’t want to even try to duplicate them. I would have to imagine they wouldn’t turn out exactly the same anyway but if you have 50-85K laying around like Tom Brady, go for it.

The good would be the health benefits and getting ahead of the game in the treatment of disease or a medical conditions.

Here is a nice article from the American Cancer Society: https://www.cancer.org/cancer/risk-prevention/genetics/genetic-testing-for-cancer-risk/should-i-get-genetic-testing-for-cancer-risk.html

We have all types of screenings to keep us healthy and I think genetic testing is eventually going to be common in the screening process one day. In the meantime, take care of yourself!

The 2026 Olympic Games are underway in Milan, Italy and it made me think…..what beer would I be drinking if I was in attendance?

A simple Google search gives you the “official” sponsors of the games. Apparently AB InBev is the global sponsor promoting it’s NA beer. And the USA sponsor is Michelob Ultra. I’d rather drink a few cups of water from the Navigli Canal but to each his own.

So I pressed on further with my Google searching skills and came across this list of Italian beers. So please, if you are from Italy or have spent any time in Milan, or even currently attending the Winter Games, let me know if this beer list is somewhat accurate or if the locals are drinking wine or something completely different.

https://www.tastingtable.com/1761596/popular-italian-beer

Happy Monday everyone! I have touched on the topic of utilizing a financial advisor vs doing your own investing in the past. As I’ve also shared, I have a few avenues myself utilizing two financial advisors/institutions (each managing about 25% of my total portfolio) and myself doing the last 50% through a trading platform.

If you are using a financial advisor…do you know what you’re paying them to manage your portfolio? Here are some common fee structures:

• Assets Under Management (AUM): The advisor takes a percentage of the total assets they manage, typically 0.75% to 1.5% annually. A $500,000 portfolio often costs $3,750–$7,500 per year.
• Hourly Rate: Generally costs $150 to $500 per hour, suitable for specific, one-time advice.
• Flat Fee / Retainer: A set annual fee for comprehensive planning, usually ranging from $2,000 to $9,200.
• Project-Based: A one-time fee for a specific plan, such as retirement or estate planning, averaging $1,500–$5,000.
• Commission-Based: Advisors are paid via commissions from investment products sold, usually 3% to 6% of transactions.

Here is my #1 suggestion if you are using them: Look at your statements and see what type of return they have gotten you annually and then adjust based on the fee you are paying. Are they averaging more than 7-8% annually after it’s all said and done? Are you doing some of you own investing through a trading platform (Etrade, Robinhood, Fidelity, Vanguard, etc) and giving yourself a better return without any annual fees? You realize after awhile you can just see where the financial advisors have put your money and you can do the same thing.

Once again, you may not have the time or interest to manage your own money (I don’t understand that but I get that it happens) and the financial advisor/institution is the way to go for you. And if you have money in these institutions, I’m not saying to pull it all out of there and start doing it yourself. But if you can take $10 or $20 or whatever each month and start investing yourself on the side….you just may surprise yourself how well you can do.