Nobody really wins when the country is shut down. That said, there are some sectors that bubble up to the top and thrive, while restaurants and hair salons are having a horrible time as well as manufacturers (you cannot even buy a refrigerator in Vegas right now). Don’t even get me started on how our tourism is being decimated with shut-down orders. Folks that were going to retire in 1, 2, or 3 years or more from our Las Vegas Hotels and Casinos are turning furloughs into retirement. I’m getting calls like crazy to get folks on Medicare to move and protect their 401(k)s ASAP. We are still being very conservative with client funds at the writing of this article but will most likely be making a move back to Conservative Growth by the end of January. We will see what happens.
The winners: Well, Tech for one. Companies like Zoom, Amazon, and Shopify are going nuts. Nobody ever heard of Zoom before the pandemic. That’s how families have decided to communicate. Facebook also has video meetings, as well as Amazon, Apple Facetime, Google Hangouts, and many more. We have been doing the majority of our meetings via virtual video in the Arizona offices and about 10% virtual in the Las Vegas office. We have our Medicare, Social Security, and Retirement planning workshops online as well. You do what you need to do to survive and help your clients.
Clothing companies (online sales) are up. Home furnishing companies are doing well because folks are home, and you can only look at your walls for so long till you just must make some décor changes. I know we did. And the new business, Masks. Everyone is making masks.
The good, the bad, and the ugly. I don’t even want to talk about the ugly. Just stay safe and healthy. Do what you need to in order to stay out of harm’s way. Almost all of our clients are over 65 years old and that comes with extra risk. Be aware, we want to see you at our next meeting!
In conclusion, be safe, be healthy, enjoy life as much as you can. This too shall pass.
Cheers to a happy new year.