Investing always come with uncertainty, but when markets become volatile, the stakes can feel higher than ever. 

Volatility refers to rapid price swings and uncertainty in the financial markets, often driven by economic, political, or social factors. While some investors might shy away from such unpredictable conditions, savvy individuals recognize that opportunities may lie within these tumultuous markets. Investing in volatile markets requires a different approach, but with the right strategies and mindset, it can lead to significant gains.

Before stepping into the world of investing in volatile markets, it is crucial to embrace and comprehend the nature of volatility itself. Volatility is a double-edged sword, capable of delivering high returns but potentially carrying substantial risks. Accepting that some level of uncertainty is inevitable will help you maintain a realistic perspective throughout your investment journey.

Diversification is a time-tested strategy that may cushion the impact of market volatility. Allocating your investments across different asset classes like stocks, bonds, real estate, and commodities helps spread the risks; losses in one area may be offset by gains in another. Diversifying across sectors, regions, and company sizes further manages exposure to specific risks.

Investing in volatile markets requires a meticulous assessment of risks and rewards. Conducting fundamental and technical analysis of potential investments can be important. Scrutinize historical data, examine financial statements, assess the overall market outlook, and closely follow geopolitical developments. By understanding the risks associated with each investment, you can make informed decisions that align with your risk tolerance and financial goals.

Volatility tends to stir emotions, and reacting impulsively can be detrimental to long-term investment success. Stick to your investment plan and avoid making hasty decisions influenced by fear or greed. Volatile markets often provide short-term fluctuations, which do not necessarily affect an investment’s long-term potential. Staying disciplined, maintaining a diversified portfolio, and focusing on solid fundamentals can help you navigate the stormy seas of volatile markets.

Investing in volatile markets requires patience and a long-term perspective. Trying to time the market’s ups and downs is a risky endeavor. Instead, try to focus on quality investments with strong growth potential, even during periods of turbulence. By assessing the underlying fundamentals and opportunities within the market, investors can potentially take advantage of temporary market downturns to accumulate premium assets at discounted prices.

Investing in volatile markets can be overwhelming, especially for newcomers or individuals lacking expertise in financial markets. Seeking advice from a Certified Financial Planner (CFP®) Professional can provide valuable guidance and help fine-tune your investment strategies. These professionals can help assess your risk tolerance, provide personalized recommendations, and help you develop a resilient investment plan.

Investing in volatile markets may seem intimidating or risky, but it can also present unique opportunities to grow your wealth. Remember, market volatility is an inherent characteristic of investing. By understanding the nature of volatility, diversifying your portfolio, conducting thorough risk assessments, staying disciplined, adopting a long-term perspective, and seeking professional guidance, you can work to navigate these turbulent waters. 

Stephen Kyne CFP® is a Partner at Sterling Manor Financial, LLC in Saratoga Springs.   

Securities offered through Cadaret, Grant & Co., Inc. Member FINRA/SIPC. Advisory services offered through Sterling Manor Financial, LLC, or Cadaret Grant & Co., Inc., SEC registered investment advisors. Sterling Manor Financial and Cadaret, Grant are separate entities. 18 Division St, Ste 202, Saratoga Springs. 518-583-4040

What if I told you that dividends are not all they are cracked up to be? That doesn’t mean they are necessarily bad. However, receiving a dividend is like taking money from your bank account and holding it in cash. Your financial situation hasn’t necessarily changed; you are just holding part of your money in a different form. The true measure of a good investment should be the total return instead of the dividend stream it pays. This can be a touchy subject for people, so I apologize in advance. 

When a company pays a dividend, the price of its stock declines by the amount of the dividend. They refill the coffers by continuing whatever line of business they are in and hopefully turning a profit. Using the bank account analogy, your bank account hopefully has an upward trajectory from contributions from your paychecks. Whether you hold that money in the bank or dollar bills is up to you, but it doesn’t change the amount of money you have. Warren Buffett’s company, Berkshire Hathaway, has paid one solitary dividend in its history – a $0.10/share payout in 1967. Buffett is so opposed to paying dividends that he quipped, “I must have been in the bathroom when that decision was made.” 

People love dividends because they represent tangible value from their investments. However, it’s easy to lose sight of the big picture by focusing on dividends, not the total return. Total return is comprised of price appreciation plus income (dividends). Companies that pay dividends systematically force their investors to recognize one side of that equation while the market determines the other. To illustrate my point, AT&T has routinely paid between 6-8% of its share price in dividends since the beginning of 2016. The total return over that period has been a rounding error above 0%. Compare that to non-dividend-paying Berkshire Hathaway with a total return of over 150% over that same period. Which would you rather have?

Dividends are nice because they get paid by companies who (usually) have enough cash lying around to distribute to their shareholders. Beware the siren song of a high dividend yield, though! Payouts are not guaranteed, and companies might choose to suspend dividend payments, which usually causes a double whammy of a loss of income plus a drop in stock price. Residents of the Capital Region need look no further than General Electric from 2017 to 2018, when they cut their dividend from $0.24 to $0.01 per share. The share price responded by dropping over 65%.

Lest you think I outwardly hate dividends, I believe that dividend investing with certain constraints can prove to be profitable. In fact, we allocate a portion of our portfolios to companies that pay dividends, with additional screening criteria. As with anything else, a thorough examination of how an investment fits into a portfolio is a necessary precursor to its inclusion. If you are unsure, consult a professional (like us).

David Rath, CMT, CFA, is the Chief Investment Officer at Continuum Wealth Advisors in Saratoga Springs. Continuum Wealth Advisors, LLC is a Registered Investment Advisor registered through the Securities and Exchange Commission.

For more information, visit contwealth.com.

The musculoskeletal system is the “backbone” of your body, literally. It’s comprised of not only the spine but all your muscles, bones and joints. It’s what gives your body form. It’s what makes it possible for you to move and do the things you enjoy. Keeping this vital system strong is essential for a full and active life.

When your musculoskeletal system is functioning well, you feel stronger and healthier; however, when there’s a problem, you might experience pain and even disability. More than one in two adults report experiencing a musculoskeletal condition such as back pain, neck pain, joint pain, arthritis and osteoporosis. They are the most commonly reported medical conditions among those under age 65 and the second most common condition for people aged 65 and older.

Musculoskeletal conditions become more common as we age, sometimes limiting our ability to move and accomplish everyday activities. This can affect overall health negatively by contributing to lack of physical activity, which can in turn lead to obesity and chronic conditions such as Type 2 diabetes and hypertension.

Nurturing musculoskeletal health over a lifetime begins with good nutrition, adequate hydration and healthy habits such as regular rest and physical activity. Prevention is also key; we can reduce the risk of pain and injury by improving our posture and movement techniques as well as the ergonomics of our work and home environments.

The American Chiropractic Association offers the following small steps to take toward better musculoskeletal health:

•Move more. Bones, muscles and joints need movement to stay healthy. The U.S. surgeon general recommends adults get at least 150 minutes weekly of moderate physical activity (walking, yard work, recreational swimming, etc.) or at least 75 minutes of intense weekly activity (jogging, hiking uphill, basketball, etc.)

•Eat a balanced diet. Proper nutrition is just as important to musculoskeletal health as it is to overall health. Eat a balanced diet that includes whole fresh foods and try to avoid processed foods. Be sure to get enough calcium and vitamin D for your bones and lean protein to build and maintain strong muscles.

•Go outside! The sun helps our bodies produce Vitamin D, which in turn helps to absorb calcium and strengthen bones.

•Do weight-bearing exercises. Walking, jogging and resistance exercises such as weightlifting can improve bone density. Planks and squats can also strengthen core muscles. Non-weight-bearing exercises such as swimming and biking can benefit the musculoskeletal system as well, especially for people unable to walk or jog while recovering from back, hip or knee pain.

•Stay hydrated. Drinking water makes muscles stronger by carrying oxygen to the cells of the body. It also helps lubricate and cushion joints.

•Quit smoking. It contributes not only to cardiovascular disease but also osteoporosis and bone fracture as we age.

•Get adequate rest. A good night’s sleep enables your body to repair muscles and joints that are strained or injured during the day.

•Don’t drink too much alcohol. Drinking alcohol excessively can lead to osteoporosis and bone fracture.

•Practice good posture. It helps keep bones and joints in correct alignment so our muscles work more efficiently, saving energy and reducing fatigue while decreasing the abnormal wearing of joint surfaces that can lead to degenerative arthritis and joint pain.

•Maintain a healthy weight. Being overweight can put stress on joints, especially as we age, leading to an increased risk of injury. However, being underweight can increase the risk of bone loss and fracture.

•Improve movement techniques to avoid strain and injury. Lifting tip: When picking up heavy items from the floor, do not bend over at the waist; instead, kneel down on one knee, as close as possible to the item you are lifting, with the other foot flat on the floor and pick up the item. Alternatively, bend both knees, keeping the item close to your body, and lift with the legs.

•Limit screen time. Neck pain and poor posture can result from spending too much time looking down at your tablet or cell phone. Spend less time on mobile devices and do stretch and extension exercises regularly. Bring your shoulder blades together and stand up tall.

•Be proactive and prevent falls. Remove throw rugs, low furniture, cords and other trip hazards on the floor; review medications with your doctor that could affect balance; have your vision checked; and start an exercise routine to improve strength, balance, coordination and flexibility.

By strengthening your musculoskeletal system, you can stay healthier and engaged in the activities that matter most to you.

Whatever your health goals are, your doctor of chiropractic can help. Chiropractors practice a hands-on, non-drug approach to health care. In addition to their expertise in spinal manipulation, they have broad diagnostic skills and are trained to recommend therapeutic and rehabilitative exercises, as well as to provide nutritional, dietary and lifestyle advice.

Dr. Matt Smith has been a Chiropractor in Saratoga Springs for the past 37 years. He and his daughter Dr Kevy Smith Minouge can be reached at www.mysaratogachiropractor.com or call 518 587-2064.

Estate planning is a critical process that can help ensure your assets are distributed according to your wishes after your passing, while also minimizing the taxes, expenses, and stress for your loved ones. By creating a comprehensive estate plan, you can protect your estate’s value, provide for your family’s future, and leave a lasting legacy.

Estate planning involves a series of legal documents and strategies that outlines how assets and liabilities will be managed and distributed upon your death. It can allow you to control the flow of your assets, protect your family’s financial security, and establish a plan for your healthcare should you become incapacitated.

The cornerstone of any estate plan is a will. A will is a legal document that outlines your wishes regarding the distribution of your assets and the appointment of guardians for minor children. Without a will, your estate may be subject to intestacy laws, leaving the decision making power in the hands of the court. Writing a will can allow you to specify who should inherit your assets, no matter how small or large, and helps avoid potential family disputes.

While wills are essential, they may not be enough for complex estates or specific needs. In such cases, creating a trust as part of your estate plan can be beneficial. Trusts can provide greater control over the distribution of your assets, allowing you to stipulate when and how your beneficiaries will receive their inheritances. Additionally, they can offer privacy since trust documents don’t become public record. Irrevocable trusts can also help reduce estate taxes and protect assets from creditors.

Estate planning encompasses more than just distributing assets after death. It also includes preparing for potential incapacity during your lifetime. A power of attorney document grants another person the authority to handle your financial affairs should you become unable to do so yourself. Similarly, healthcare directives, such as a living will or a healthcare proxy, can help ensure that your medical wishes are known and respected if you are unable to communicate them personally.

Life is ever-changing, and so should your estate plan. Marriage, divorce, birth, death, or significant changes in your financial situation or goals require updates to your plan.

Neglecting to review and update your estate plan periodically may lead to unintended consequences, leaving your loved ones to deal with outdated instructions or assets passing into unintended hands.

While do-it-yourself estate planning documents are available, they often fail to address the unique circumstances and complexities of individuals’ situations. Consulting an experienced estate planning attorney can help ensure that your plan is tailored to your specific needs and goals. An attorney can guide you through the legal requirements, explain the implications of certain choices, and help you navigate the local laws and regulations.

Creating an effective estate plan can be essential for securing your legacy, protecting your loved ones, and ensuring your assets are distributed as you desire. By incorporating a will, trusts, power of attorney, healthcare directives, and strategies to minimize taxes, you can leave a lasting positive impact on your family and future generations. Seek professional guidance to customize your estate plan and provide peace of mind for yourself and your loved ones.

Stephen Kyne CFP® is a Partner at Sterling Manor Financial, LLC in Saratoga Springs. Securities offered through Cadaret, Grant & Co., Inc. Member FINRA/SIPC. Advisory services offered through Sterling Manor Financial, LLC, or Cadaret Grant & Co., Inc., SEC registered investment advisors. Sterling Manor Financial and Cadaret, Grant are separate entities. Neither Cadaret, Grant and Co., nor Sterling manor financial and their representatives provide tax or legal advice.

Estate planning for parents with young children presents a variety of challenges and opportunities.  Here is a series of questions and answers to help address some of the key issues involved.

If I Have Children, Do I Need To Make Special Provisions For Them In My Will?

If you have children, there are two key things to think about when drafting your Will.  The first is who you want to put in charge of managing the assets that you leave to them.  The second is who you want to act as their guardian.

What Are The Options For Managing The Assets My Children Receive?

The two most common options are to leave the assets to your children in trust or to direct that they be placed in a Uniform Transfers to Minors Act account.

How Would a Trust For My Children Work?

Every child’s needs are different based primarily on their maturity level and capabilities, and the trust provisions can be tailored to address those factors.  For example, you can choose to have trust distributions to or for the benefit of a child on a monthly basis.  As an alternative, you can choose to have percentages of the trust funds be distributed at different ages, i.e. the first third at age 21, the second third at age 25, and the final third at age 30.  In addition, you can also choose to simply leave the discretion as to distributions to your trustee to make as they see fit.  What type of trust structure is best can be determined by consulting with an estate planning professional.

Who Would The Trustee Be And What Do They Do?

The trustee would be someone you name in your Will to manage the trust you leave behind for your children.  People generally choose a close family member or friend to act in this capacity.  You can also choose an institutional trustee, such as a trust department at a local bank.  The trustee has the obligation to responsibly manage and invest the trust assets.  They must also make distributions to or for the benefit of your children pursuant to the terms of the trust.

What Is A Uniform Transfers To Minors Act Account?

A Uniform Transfers to Minors Act account – or UTMA account for short – is an account that can be set up at a local bank with a named custodian for the benefit of a child.  This is a useful way to leave money to a young child, without the necessity of setting up a trust.  The custodian, similar to a trustee of a trust, has the obligation of managing the account funds and may make distributions from the account to the child or for the child’s benefit.  When providing for an UTMA account to be set up in your Will, you can direct that the account be paid out to the child either at the age of 18 or 21.  An UTMA account is a useful alternative to a trust, if the amount of money flowing to your child is a relatively smaller amount, i.e. $30,000.00 or less.

How Does The Appointment of a Guardian For My Children Work?

If you pass away and there is no surviving parent to care for your children, then you can name your choice for a guardian of your children in your Will.  The named guardian will have to seek appointment from the court as guardian, but the court will likely give strong weight to your preference.

Does The Guardian Control The Assets I Leave To My Children In My Will?

If you leave your assets in trust, with a named trustee, or to an UTMA custodian, the guardian of your children will not control those assets – unless you name the same person to be guardian and trustee or custodian.  

Should I Make The Guardian And Trustee/Custodian The Same Person? 

That depends on the individual that you are choosing.  In some cases, you may choose someone as guardian who is a close family member who you know will care for your children like they are their own, but that person may not be good at managing money.  In that case, you may want the trustee or custodian to be someone else who has the appropriate financial acumen.

How Do I Ensure There Are Sufficient Funds To Take Care Of My Children?

Obtaining term life insurance is an excellent way to ensure there are sufficient funds to take care of your children, if you pass away when they are young.  The premiums are generally very affordable for appropriate coverage, if you purchase the policies when both you and your children are young.  You can then make your spouse the primary beneficiary if you pass away, and you can make your estate the secondary beneficiary.  If your spouse predeceases you, then the money will flow into your estate and fund the trusts or UTMA accounts you established in your Will.

What Other Issues Are Relevant To Estate Planning With Young Children?

There are a variety of other issues to consider when estate planning for parents with young children.  For example, if a child is disabled, there may be a need to establish a guardianship by the parents of that child which will continue into the child’s adulthood.  There may also be a need to establish a special needs trust, which will provide support for the child without jeopardizing their eligibility for governmental benefits.  These issues and others can all be addressed with an experienced estate planning professional, in order to determine what options are best for your family.

Matthew J. Dorsey, Esq. is a Partner with O’Connell and Aronowitz, 1 Court St, Saratoga Springs. Over his 26 years of practice, he has focused in the areas of elder law, estate planning, and estate administration. Mr. Dorsey can be reached at 518-584-5205, mdorsey@oalaw.com and www.oalaw.com. 

Almost one in five adult Americans—roughly 48.3 million in total— have played pickleball in the last year according to the Association of Pickleball Professionals (APP). This represents a 35% increase over the year before.

While pickleball is a fun sport and a good way to get physical activity, research also indicates that pickleball injuries are on the rise. This makes it important to find ways to prevent injuries and play the game safely.

What’s Behind the Rise in Pickleball Injuries?

There are a couple of factors that may contribute to the number of injuries in pickleball.

The first is that the general physical activity level over the previous three years has been reduced because of Covid, so for some, starting to play pickleball has resulted in a rather sudden increase in physical activity, which is one of the risk factors we see for injuries in many other sports.

Even if you were physically active before, the pandemic may have impacted your ability to get back into regular

exercise. Studies show that many recreational and elite athletes now face detraining as a result of community lockdowns during the COVID-19 pandemic. And if you contracted the virus, you may face additional challenges when starting or returning to pickleball such as those related to fatigue, cognitive issues, and virus- related cardiopulmonary effects.

Another factor that is likely contributing to an increase in pickleball injuries is that not everyone has a racquet sports background. In other words, you may not be used to or familiar with the typical upper extremity (upper body) movements executed when playing, such as those affecting your shoulders, elbows and wrists. You might also not be familiar with lower extremity (lower body) movements used during pickleball, like moving side-to-side on the court.

If your body isn’t used to moving around in this way, it may not be prepared, opening the door for injury during the game.

Common Injuries in Pickleball Players

What areas of your body are most at risk for an injury when playing pickleball? For the upper extremity, elbow and shoulder injuries are the most common, with lateral epicondylopathy (tennis elbow) and rotator cuff strains being the specific diagnoses. There are a lot of wrist and elbow movements in racquet sports like pickleball, which can overload the muscles leading to an injury.

In this way, pickleball injuries are similar to those experienced when playing tennis. They share similar biomechanics with paddle swings and moving on the court.

For some players, it is their lower body that becomes injured. For the lower extremity, patellar tendon over use and ankle sprains are common injuries. The quick movements forward and backward, plus the squats and lunges at ‘the kitchen’ (the non- volley zone on either side of a pickleball net) can lead to overloading of the patellar tendon. And with the quick movements, ankle sprains can occur as well when reacting to the game.

The low back is another area where it is common to develop a pickleball injury. There are a lot of squats and lateral lunges during dink rallies (soft, low shots), which can overload the muscles around the low back, leading to low back pain.

Additionally, overhead smashes can lead to irritation of the facet joints leading to extension-related low back pain.”

Injury Prevention Tips

What can you do to prevent common pickleball injuries and practice the sport safely? Here are some tips to consider.

• Do warm up. While you may be tempted to just step on the court and play, not allowing your body to properly warm up could increase your injury risk. Aim for a 5 to 10-minute warm-up and include some light cardio movements along with shoulder exercises such as arm circles.

• Don’t overdo it. “It’s not uncommon to start playing pickleball multiple days in a row for several hours, which can result in a sudden increase in load, increasing the risk of injuries. So, gradually increasing the amount of load can be a useful strategy, making sure that there are recovery days so that the body can adapt.

If you play pickleball one day, take the next day off. Give your body time to recover from the activity.

• Do strength training exercises. Another way to prevent pickleball injuries is to condition your body so it can better tolerate the increased load. Strengthening exercises for the rotator cuff, core and knees are all areas that people playing pickleball would benefit from.

Taking these steps can help you continue to play the sport you love without injury, while also satisfying you socially. Not only is pickleball a lot of fun, but the community surrounding it is great.

There’s a great social aspect of playing with friends and meeting new people.

Dr Matt Smith has been a Chiropractor in Saratoga Springs for 36 years. He and his daughter Dr Kevy Smith Minogue can be reached at 518 587-2064 or at MySaratogaChiropractor.com.

The path toward financial success is a personal journey, shaped by individual aspirations, responsibilities, and circumstances. However, one universal aspect that one must embrace is the importance of setting financial goals. 

By setting clear, well-defined objectives, financial planning becomes more structured, effective, and ultimately helps pave the way toward long-term prosperity. In this article, we will discuss the significance of establishing financial goals and the transformative impact they can have on one’s finances. 

Setting financial goals acts as a compass, helping to guide you toward your desired financial destinations. Without such goals, you may wander aimlessly, struggling to identify the purpose behind your financial decisions. 

Clear goals offer a sense of direction, allowing you to prioritize your spending, saving, and investment decisions based on what you truly value, enabling you to make purposeful choices aligned with your long-term aspirations. 

Setting financial goals helps provide powerful motivation to take control of your personal finances and forge ahead with determination. Tangible, achievable targets fuel the motivation required to develop and maintain healthy financial habits. 

Whether aiming to pay off debt, save for a down payment on a home, or establish an emergency fund, clear goal-setting helps instill a sense of purpose and helps keep you motivated during challenging times, resist impulsive spending, and stay on track. 

Regularly assessing progress toward your financial goals provides a valuable metric to measure one’s financial wellbeing. It helps enable you to track savings, investment returns, and overall wealth accumulation over time, helping you to remain on the right path toward your goals. 

Progress tracking helps to highlight areas where improvement may be needed, boosts financial self-awareness, and helps to motivate you to make adjustments to stay aligned with your goals. 

Goal-setting helps to facilitate prudent resource allocation, helping to ensure that income is strategically allocated to meet short-term needs and long-term financial objectives. By prioritizing financial goals, you can help better organize spending patterns, reduce unnecessary expenses, and free up funds for goals that have higher significance. 

With this approach, individuals can strive for a balanced financial portfolio, addressing immediate obligations while funding future goals concurrently. 

As crucial as financial goals are in driving long-term prosperity, they also contribute significantly to reducing financial stress. The clarity and structure provided by goal-setting help alleviate financial anxiety by offering a clear roadmap for managing personal finances. 

Achieving milestones along the way, no matter how small, helps contribute to a sense of accomplishment, fostering an overall healthier relationship with money. 

Setting financial goals is an instrumental step towards achieving financial security, freedom, and empowerment. By creating a roadmap to guide decision-making, goals provide direction, enhance motivation, measure progress, allocate resources effectively, and alleviate financial stress. 

Ultimately, the process of setting and striving towards financial goals can help you gain control over your financial well-being and helps enable you to make intentional choices to build a robust financial future. 

So, work closely with your Certified Financial Planner® professional and take the time to identify your aspirations, define your financial goals, and embrace the transformative power of focused financial planning.

Stephen Kyne, CFP® is a Partner at Sterling Manor Financial, LLC in Saratoga Springs. Securities offered through Cadaret, Grant & Co., Inc. Member FINRA/SIPC. Advisory services offered through Sterling Manor Financial, LLC, or Cadaret Grant & Co., Inc., SEC registered investment advisors. Sterling Manor Financial and Cadaret Grant are separate entities.