I started in the investment advisory business in January 1987. My timing was great as I experienced my first “market crash” in October of that year. Today that correction in the market is barely a blip on the screen. I was numb to bumps in the road at that stage in my life. Having just spent 6 years at an aggressive independent oil and gas company had prepared me well – especially when they turned the lights out on the entire industry in 1986. I found myself “earning” $205/week on unemployment! It was a very inspirational time during which many of us reflected on our professional future. Regardless of the events of 1987, it was one of those character building periods that added to my survival instincts.
As my title above suggests, I’m frequently asked my opinion regarding this investment or that opportunity in which they (or more likely, their friend) might pursue their fortunes.
True confession: It seems all the “good stuff” always eluded me. No one ever even approached me with any of the local scams that sounded awfully good at the time and sent some folks to jail. Apparently, I was “out of the loop” on the juicy deals. Full disclosure, some dear friends of mine did offer to have me join them in Tulsa to form a new oil and gas company. I declined. They did get rich and built and sold numerous oil and gas companies. Not even Warren Buffett gets it right every time!
One more aside, before I answer the question about my “best investment”! I have had what I consider to be real success with some of those filthy, dirty, expense laden variable annuities. Due to a selection heavily into their stock sub-accounts they have outperformed most of the popular indices. If the bottom ever falls out, I sleep well knowing their guarantees will pay me for life. Other than that, just because you might be curious by now, I’ve found comfort with Exchange Traded Funds and Mutual Funds managed by my Harvard/Stanford educated, brilliant friend and partner in Birmingham, Rick Wedell. He’s the best! Not to be out done, I also cling to a group of blue-chip, high-dividend paying stocks I lucked out and bought last year on March 20th – three days before the market hit the bottom. I promise, it was luck – not great timing on my part. At those low prices the dividends were just so high I couldn’t resist any longer.
My best investment, however, was in a little-known guy named Tommy Williams. In 1997 I formed a totally unknown company aptly called Williams Financial Advisors. That was accomplished with the guidance and advisory contribution of more mentors than I can name in this writing. I dove headfirst into the world of entrepreneurship. Along the way I established key relationships with the best (in my opinion) broker/dealer in the country, some wonderful and supportive clients, and ultimately some very bright – and much younger – partners. That next generation ultimately, over time, bought bits and pieces of the firm. One day in November of 2020 they asked me what I wanted to do with my furniture! It was a real win-win and my wonderful desk, credenza, etc. are still in storage awaiting something… To anyone reading this who asks for advice due to their similar role in a startup venture I would say this. You already know all the cliches – never give up, work hard, try to establish a win-win with everyone you come across, don’t burn bridges, etc., etc. But you may not be thinking about valuation. That is, the value of your enterprise to a successor(s). I was fortunate – I had that type of advice years before and it changed the way I viewed the Company – thus creating enterprise value and becoming my best investment ever! Only in America. I’d recommend an investment in yourself to anyone.
The opinions voiced in this material are for general information only and are not intended to provide specific advice or recommendations for any individual. To determine which investment(s) may be appropriate for you, consult your financial advisor prior to investing. The economic forecasts set forth in the presentation may not develop as predicted and there can be no guarantee that strategies promoted will be successful. Performance referenced is historical and is no guarantee of future results. All indices are unmanaged and may not be invested into directly. Investing involves risk including loss of principal.
RFG Advisory and its Investment Advisor Representatives do not provide tax, legal, or accounting advice. This material has been prepared for informational purposes only and is not intended to provide, and should not be relied on for tax, legal, or accounting advice. Please consult your own tax, legal, and accounting professional for guidance on such matters.
Visit us at www.williamsfa.com. Tommy Williams is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ Professional with Williams Financial Advisors, LLC. Securities offered by Registered Representatives through Private Client Services, member FINRA/SIPC. Advisory products and services offered by Investment Advisory Representatives through RFG Advisory, a Registered Investment Advisor. RFG Advisory, Williams Financial Advisors, LLC and Private Client Services are unaffiliated entities. Branch office is located at 6425 Youree Drive, Suite 180, Shreveport, LA 71105.
NEW YORK (AP) — Shares of Tesla soared Wednesday as investors bet that the electric vehicle maker and its CEO Elon Musk will benefit from Donald Trump’s return to the White House.
Tesla stands to make significant gains under a Trump administration with the threat of diminished subsidies for alternative energy and electric vehicles doing the most harm to smaller competitors. Trump’s plans for extensive tariffs on Chinese imports make it less likely that Chinese EVs will be sold in bulk in the U.S. anytime soon.
“Tesla has the scale and scope that is unmatched,” said Wedbush analyst Dan Ives, in a note to investors. “This dynamic could give Musk and Tesla a clear competitive advantage in a non-EV subsidy environment, coupled by likely higher China tariffs that would continue to push away cheaper Chinese EV players.”
Tesla shares jumped 14.8% Wednesday while shares of rival electric vehicle makers tumbled. Nio, based in Shanghai, fell 5.3%. Shares of electric truck maker Rivian dropped 8.3% and Lucid Group fell 5.3%.
Tesla dominates sales of electric vehicles in the U.S, with 48.9% in market share through the middle of 2024, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration.
Subsidies for clean energy are part of the Inflation Reduction Act, signed into law by President Joe Biden in 2022. It included tax credits for manufacturing, along with tax credits for consumers of electric vehicles.
Musk was one of Trump’s biggest donors, spending at least $119 million mobilizing Trump’s supporters to back the Republican nominee. He also pledged to give away $1 million a day to voters signing a petition for his political action committee.
In some ways, it has been a rocky year for Tesla, with sales and profit declining through the first half of the year. Profit did rise 17.3% in the third quarter.
The U.S. opened an investigation into the company’s “Full Self-Driving” system after reports of crashes in low-visibility conditions, including one that killed a pedestrian. The investigation covers roughly 2.4 million Teslas from the 2016 through 2024 model years.
And investors sent company shares tumbling last month after Tesla unveiled its long-awaited robotaxi at a Hollywood studio Thursday night, seeing not much progress at Tesla on autonomous vehicles while other companies have been making notable progress.
TORONTO – Canada’s main stock index was up more than 100 points in late-morning trading, helped by strength in base metal and utility stocks, while U.S. stock markets were mixed.
The S&P/TSX composite index was up 103.40 points at 24,542.48.
In New York, the Dow Jones industrial average was up 192.31 points at 42,932.73. The S&P 500 index was up 7.14 points at 5,822.40, while the Nasdaq composite was down 9.03 points at 18,306.56.
The Canadian dollar traded for 72.61 cents US compared with 72.44 cents US on Tuesday.
The November crude oil contract was down 71 cents at US$69.87 per barrel and the November natural gas contract was down eight cents at US$2.42 per mmBTU.
The December gold contract was up US$7.20 at US$2,686.10 an ounce and the December copper contract was up a penny at US$4.35 a pound.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 16, 2024.
TORONTO – Canada’s main stock index was up more than 200 points in late-morning trading, while U.S. stock markets were also headed higher.
The S&P/TSX composite index was up 205.86 points at 24,508.12.
In New York, the Dow Jones industrial average was up 336.62 points at 42,790.74. The S&P 500 index was up 34.19 points at 5,814.24, while the Nasdaq composite was up 60.27 points at 18.342.32.
The Canadian dollar traded for 72.61 cents US compared with 72.71 cents US on Thursday.
The November crude oil contract was down 15 cents at US$75.70 per barrel and the November natural gas contract was down two cents at US$2.65 per mmBTU.
The December gold contract was down US$29.60 at US$2,668.90 an ounce and the December copper contract was up four cents at US$4.47 a pound.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 11, 2024.
