THE FATHER BLOG

I haven’t watched much of the World Baseball Classic this year, but as I look at the playoff brackets today, I’m a bit surprised.

First off, I say “a bit” because the rosters are not pure rosters from players born in those particular countries. But even so, seeing bracket winner Italy shocked me as they have gone undefeated in pool play. Team USA was the runner up in that bracket and will play Pool A Winner….Canada. What? Isn’t our national pastime baseball? Yes it is. But I guess the USA hockey team just beat Team Canada in the Olympics, so I guess they get a small chance to return the favor.

Either way, here are the brackets:

Enjoy a little baseball before official MLB opening night on March 25th.

So is beer really good for you? Bottom line: not really. But I will never speak ill of the libation I love! So instead of discussing the downfall of beer drinking which I’m sure we all know, I will give you some positives. It goes without saying, but I’ll say it, that this is for drinking in MODERATION.

Moderate beer consumption (up to 1 drink/day for women, 2 for men) may offer minor health benefits, such as improved heart health, stronger bones, and increased HDL cholesterol. However, beer is not a “health food,” and excessive drinking leads to serious risks like liver disease, weight gain, and addiction.

Potential Health Benefits (Moderate Intake Only):

• Nutritional Value: Beer contains protein, B vitamins, antioxidants, and minerals like phosphorus and silicon.
• Heart Health: Studies suggest moderate beer can improve cholesterol levels and lower blood pressure.
• Bone Density: Silicon in beer helps strengthen bones.
• Brain Health: Light-to-moderate consumption is associated with a lower risk of cognitive decline.

So there you have it…maybe beer can actually be good for you. For all of us that love beer, let’s focus on those positives!!

For anyone paying attention, the War in Iran and oil prices has the stock market going in one direction over the past week….Down…Way Down. I wouldn’t call it a crash yet. As a matter of fact, I would take this opportunity to do two things.

1. Buy the dip. I can’t predict when things will recover, or how far they will dip before they do. But I still see this as a buying opportunity, especially for you younger readers who have plenty of time to let it sit and grow.
2. Think about the make-up of your portfolio and where you are in life.

Here’s some more of what I mean regarding that. Think about your financial goals and how close you are to retirement. I am (hopefully) less than 10 years away. I have a healthy balance of growth stocks and dividend stocks. As I get even closer to retirement, I will be shifting even more towards the dividend stocks for supplemental income. Right now, I like the dividend stocks to have a little extra cash on hand when I need it. The negative of dividend income right now is that you get taxed on it. Growth stocks, if you hold them as you should, will likely increase in value. But since the gains are unrealized, you don’t get taxed on them until you sell. And by the time you sell, they will be taxed as long term capital gains obviously.

So evaluate your portfolio and think about when it makes sense for you to make some adjustments.