Sean Donnelly, Financial Advisor, APMA, CRPC

04/22/2022

I'm happy to announce that I've earned the MMI/Morningstar Sustainable Investing certificate. If you are interested in this area at all, don't hesitate to reach out to me. With my many years of experience I've developed numerous solutions, ideas, and portfolios with this focus.

https://www.mminst.org/press-releases/money-management-institute-and-morningstar-launch-sustainable-investing-curriculum

04/23/2021

There's a really cool video at the bottom of the article. Anyone want to walk to Mordor?

https://explorersweb.com/2021/04/22/iceland-volcano-eruption/?fbclid=IwAR06RwUmh6mj6Szgj_uYnNb4tlr81WkuGRvZSk0zrfUupG2EhPlyQ6B4Yx0

New craters and vents are opening in Iceland’s long-dormant volcano almost every day. And all

10/26/2020

Here's a press release of a new report on Women CEOs in America. Today, 7.8% or 39 of Fortune 500 CEOs are women, and less than 1% identify as a person of color.

I've added a link to the 60 page report below as well.

There are investment solutions that focus on women- run businesses. Feel free to reach out to me if you're interested in learning more.

https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/first-ever-women-ceos-in-america-report-released-the-portrait-and-profile-of-women-ceos-and-our-call-to-action-301159151.html

https://www.c200.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Women-CEOS-in-America-2020.pdf

/PRNewswire/ -- C200, Catalyst and Women Business Collaborative (WBC) released the 2020 Women CEOs in America Report: Changing the Face of Business Leadership....

10/14/2020

In this new development, the world's largest sovereign wealth fund sold 42 companies with poor environmental and sustainability records, including 16 electricity producers and 12 mining firms.

The fund was created from surplus revenues of the Norwegian petroleum sector and owns almost 1.5% of all global stocks. In May 2018, it was worth about $195,000 per Norwegian citizen. Is this sell off an ironic use of those funds?

I've been tracking ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance) stocks and funds for years, before the term ESG became trendy, and I have many resources ready to use for those that are interested.

https://globalenergyprize.org/en/media-room/news/2020/10/2020.-esg

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Government_Pension_Fund_of_Norway

The head of Norway’s biggest sovereign wealth fund, Nicolae Tangen, says the fund should boost its revenues by selling more of the shares it holds in companies with an unsatisfactory record in terms of the so-called ESG criteria – Environmental, Social and Corporate governance.

10/07/2020

On September 30th the first deadline for the CalSavers Retirement plan passed. The program is mandated for ALL private employers in California that have more than five full- or part-time employees over the age of 18.

This law will affect nearly every working person in California who does not have a retirement plan, and of course most employers. Because of the wide-ranging impact and future deadlines, I wanted to review some important aspects of the program.

Passed into law in 2016, CalSavers launched statewide on July 1, 2019.

The law will continue to roll out over the next couple of years with effective dates of June 30th, 2021 for businesses with more than 50 employees and June 30th, 2022 for 5 or more employees.

Highlights are:

Mandatory contribution for all employees of 5% into a Roth IRA with an annual increase of 1% going up to a maximum 8%

Employees may opt out or modify the contributions.

Roth IRA rules regarding contribution maximums and taxes apply.

ALL California businesses qualify except if they have fewer than 5 employees or already have a retirement plan.

There are limited investment options with the first $1,000 going into a capital preservation fund.


As the rollout continues through the next couple of years, this law will affect more and more workers and businesses so it’s important to understand your options and the details of this law. I’ve just highlighted some points here, but know that there are many other points to consider. The link below covers some of those details, and I’m free to answer any questions you may have about it.

https://smallbusinessmajority.org/resources/calsavers-retirement-savings-program-what-small-businesses-need-know?fbclid=IwAR3mApPrBWgCvKXVYctCd-rxPhS_onkNRUvLP_403BVhVwvNsP1Y3c1jGl8The

Ameriprise Advisors - Sean Donnelly in San Diego, CA

10/02/2020

Did something happen last night? I'm not sure.

Anyway, here's a neat photo article about a family in England taking it's farm wild. Pictures of owls, bees, deer plus others to help you cleanse your online palate.

Knepp, a 3,500-acre estate in the south of England, has been transformed from a traditional farm into a place of astonishing biodiversity by "rewilding."

09/24/2020

With stock market bouncing off the lows from this morning during the continued negative September month, I wanted to highlight some research.

The broader near-term macro concerns cited are:

"Even with a modest correction across stock prices, valuation levels remain elevated, in our view."

"A possible fall surge in the coronavirus could dampen or even reverses economic progress."

"Growing U.S./China tensions."

"There is a growing discourse in Washington, and November's election may further divide the
country."

With all this in mind, this last comment is very important in my opinion.

"However, while stocks are well-supported through improving economic trends, massive monetary support, and record levels of sidelined cash waiting for buying opportunities, we believe it would be unwise to ignore the risks outlined above. We favor tactical allocations to equities, bonds, and alternatives that are generally neutral to strategic targets, concentrating on high-quality assets. Combined with a preference for the U.S., we believe well diversified
portfolios are equipped to manage through a period of heightened volatility in the fall, and if other surprises materialize through year-end."

As always, feel free to reach out to me if you have questions.

07/01/2020

Here is a nice calculator that attempts to estimate your COVID19 age as well as potential risk of hospitalization, ICU admission and death. The more information you have the more accurate it is.

**Removed linked because site took it down**

It came via the superb youtube channel, MEDCRAM -

Clinicians and students deserve better medical education! We’ve sat through dense PowerPoint lectures with way too much info crammed into each slide and wond...

04/07/2020

You may be eligible for $10,000 from the US Government via the Small Business Administration.

I want to highlight a provision of the CARES Act that provides what is called a Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) does not need to be paid back. While this is said to be targeted to small business owners with employees, it does include Sole Proprietors including anyone that runs a business by themselves i.e. Hairstylists, Uber/Lyft drivers,and anyone who gets paid via 1099.

The basic underwriting requirements are;

Applicant is not engaged in any illegal activity (as defined by Federal guidelines).

No principal of the Applicant with a 50 percent or greater ownership interest is more than sixty (60) days delinquent on child support obligations.

Applicant is not an agricultural enterprise (e.g., farm), other than an aquaculture enterprise, agricultural cooperative, or nursery.

Applicant does not present live performances of a prurient sexual nature or derive directly or indirectly more than de minimis gross revenue through the sale of products or services, or the presentation of any depictions or displays, of a prurient sexual nature.

Applicant does not derive more than one-third of gross annual revenue from legal gambling activities.

Applicant is not in the business of lobbying.

Applicant cannot be a state, local, or municipal government entity and cannot be a member of Congress.

You can apply via the SBA website (https://covid19relief.sba.gov/ #/) but it may be best to reach out to your bank to see if they're processing applications.