The Power of Now!

January 2024 - The Power of Now

In a recent team meeting, a quote echoed through the room, stirring reflection. "Don't say you don't have enough time. You have exactly the same number of hours per day that were given to Helen Keller, Pasteur, Michelangelo, Mother Teresa, Leconardo da Vinci, Thomas Jefferson, and Albert Einstein." - H. Jackson Brown Jr.

This resonated with my personal thoughts on doing more and defining what 'more' truly means. Our December e-newsletter, "Intentions to Actions," addressed the perennial challenge of setting goals that often linger into the next year. It's time to break this cycle.

As January concludes, take an honest inventory of your actions in the first 30 days. Be sincere! The present moment is your most potent asset, shaping your future through deliberate actions.

Your 'more' may differ, but everyone should take purposeful steps. Harness the now and leverage it for your unique journey.

Our team advocates Purpose Built Planning - rafting goals aligned with your values for a fulfilling journey. Contact us at (865) 379-8200 or info@lecontewealth.com. Let's transform intentions into lasting success together!

It is that time of year again, AGAIN. The time where I make the annual resolution/self-help/change your life January blogpost. You have likely seen a few of these on your social media feed or news broadcast. I have written many of them over the years (In One Year and Out the Other in 2023 was the most recent) as well as others about changing bad habits (Back to School, Take Time to Change).

Change is hard, it requires discipline and in many cases a tectonic shift in how one behaves or acts in certain situations. In many ways, it calls for a revolution. As I prepared to write this blogpost, I reviewed my January 2020 blogpost entitled New Years Revolution. I typed that entry just a few weeks before our world came to a halt. Our goals, behaviors and lives all changed instantly. Many of the things that we want to change about our habits and lifestyles are a result of things that happened in 2020. Many behaviors have been permanently altered because of the shutdown.

As I look back over the last 36 months, those words that I typed still ring true today. I will share these words with you again as you contemplate what you will do, and more importantly, how you will approach your life in 2024. Happy New Year!

>For more, read here

Kevin Painter
Managing Partner
LeConte Wealth Management

Wes embarked on this journey as an intern in 2014 with LWM while still in school. He started his full-time career in Chattanooga and after spending time with firms in Middle Tennessee, he joined the LeConte team full-time in 2022.

As a CFP® Professional, Wes is an integral member who adds expertise to Purpose Built Planning. He also provides support to our clients in tax preparation and investment due diligence.

Wes wholeheartedly embodies LeConte Wealth's core values, showcasing an unwavering commitment to forward-thinking, integrity, active community involvement, and a true team spirit.

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Economy In Focus

The Data: 

• 187,000 - National unemployment figure
• 3.3 - Q4 GDP growth percentage
• 914,000 - Unemployed residents in California

Commentary:

In the vast expanse of the U.S. labor market, the aggregate view appears robust, with national unemployment figures consistently below 200,000 filings. The Q4 GDP growth of 3.3%, surpassing expectations of a meager 2%, underscores this strength. However, this narrative doesn't encapsulate the entire economic story.

Despite the national vigor, large-scale tech layoffs, notably from industry giants like MSFT, GOOGL, and AMZN, have created pockets of economic strain. California, grappling with over 5% unemployment due to these tech layoffs, paints a contrasting picture.

Remarkably, almost half of the nation's unemployed residents are concentrated in California, a state still rebounding from insolvency during the COVID pandemic. With the state's unemployment fund projecting an increase in joblessness, the economic landscape becomes multifaceted.

In this mixed backdrop, 23 states boast unemployment rates below 3%. This complexity requires investors to navigate with either nimbleness or patience, avoiding potholes in pursuit of opportunities. For contrarian investors, a forward-thinking approach is crucial, as relying on past strategies may not yield favorable results in this nuanced economic scenario.

Stay informed, stay adaptive, and let's navigate these financial waters together.