Your Guide To Smart Investing

Growing your wealth creates more opportunities for you and your family to make a meaningful impact on the world.

So we’re all about helping you make smart, informed choices with your money—without all the confusing jargon. Let’s dive into what makes our approach to investing a winner!

Business Ownership: The Key to Wealth

Imagine you own a piece of your favorite company—whether it’s a tech giant, a cozy café, or a cool clothing brand. Owning a share means you’re part of something bigger. The more shares you own, the more your wealth can grow over time. And that’s the essence of our investment philosophy: owning businesses builds wealth.

Capital Markets: A Lively Bazaar

Think of the stock market like an old-fashioned bazaar, bustling with vendors trying to sell their goods. Traders aim to profit from short-term price swings, while investors focus on the long-term growth of companies. Just as news affects prices in a bazaar, information spreads quickly in the stock market, causing prices to change almost instantly.

As long-term investors, we stay steady through economic ups and downs, continuing to own businesses that can make a profit in any weather. Markets are efficient, like vendors with the latest gossip. Instead of trying to “beat the market,” we diversify* your investments across different companies and industries to prepare your financial plan for the unexpected.

“…owning businesses builds wealth.”

Investing Made Simple: Diversification and Low Costs

We believe in keeping things simple. Rather than chasing after the latest hot stock, we use low-cost, diversified funds that give you a slice of many companies at once. This helps you avoid the rollercoaster ride of guessing which single stock will soar. And, for those who want their investments to reflect their faith-based values? We’ve got special portfolios just for you!

Accumulation vs. Distribution: Two Phases of Investing

Your investing life has two main phases: Accumulation and Distribution. Think of it like growing a garden. During the Accumulation phase, you’re planting seeds by buying shares in the great companies of America and the World. The more you plant, the bigger your future harvest.

When it’s time for Distribution (a.k.a. retirement), you’re enjoying the fruits of your labor. You still own those shares, but now you’re using the income they generate—like dividends* (payments companies make to their owners) or profits made by selling some shares—to live on. To make sure you’ve got enough for a rainy day, we help you build a War Chest—a stash of cash and bonds* to cover 1-3 years of expenses.

The War Chest: Your Financial Safety Net

So, what’s this War Chest all about? It’s your financial cushion during retirement, designed to protect you when the markets have a bad day (or year). Starting two years before retirement, we’ll help you gradually build this chest, so by the time you retire, you’ve got a couple of years of income ready and waiting. This means you won’t have to sell your shares when the market’s down, letting your investments grow undisturbed.

Why No Bonds in Accumulation?

You might wonder why we don’t recommend bonds during the Accumulation phase.

Here’s why: Bonds are great for a feeling of safety but usually increase the risk of running out of money. Since your goal is to grow your wealth and ensure a future for your family, we focus on owning businesses to receive a business owner’s higher average returns. But don’t worry, we’ll also make sure you’ve got an emergency fund of 3-6 months’ expenses set aside in cash—just in case.

Stop Paying (Unnecessary) Taxes

Whether you’re an Accumulator or a Distributor tax-smart investing matters more than you think. Every dollar you have will be carefully managed to avoid unnecessary taxes.

Start by thinking generationally about taxes throughout your lifetime. Then get your money into the right type of account for its purpose. We’ll review your tax return together each year looking for opportunities to save you money on taxes as we look ahead to your future.

“Bonds are great for a feeling of safety but usually increase the risk of running out of money.”

The Deep Creek Difference

We believe that growing your wealth creates more opportunities for you and your family to make a meaningful impact on the world. Wealth comes from owning businesses and making informed, long-term investments.

Our approach is simple yet powerful: diversify wisely, minimize costs, and always think ahead.

We guide you through the accumulation and distribution phases with tailored strategies that keep your goals in focus—whether it’s building wealth or living with the confidence of a well-stocked War Chest. By avoiding unnecessary taxes, and aligning your investments with your values, we help you grow your financial future without the confusing jargon.

Remember, investing is a journey, not a sprint. With patience, the right strategy, and a trusted guide, you’ll be well on your way to pursuing your goals.

When you have questions or just want to chat about your progress, we’re here for you. Thanks for choosing Deep Creek Financial Planning—let’s make your financial dreams a reality!

Originally published at https://deepcreekfinancialplanning.com/your-guide-to-smart-investing/.