For more information about the author, click to view their website: Edward Jones
You’ll find some big differences between traditional and speculative investments — and knowing these differences can matter a great deal when you’re trying to reach your financial goals.
To begin with, let’s look at the basic types of traditional and speculative investments. Traditional investments are those with which you’re probably already familiar: stocks, bonds, mutual funds, government securities, certificates of deposit (CDs) and so on. Speculative investments include cryptocurrencies, foreign currencies and precious metals such as gold, silver and copper.
Now, consider these three components of investing and how they differ between traditional and speculative investments:
The first issue to consider is risk. When you own stocks or stock-based mutual funds, the value of your investments will fluctuate. And bond prices will also move up and down, largely in response to changing interest rates. However, owning an array of stocks — small-company,
large-company, international, etc. — can help reduce the impact of volatility on your stock portfolio. And owning a mix of short- and long-term bonds can help you defend yourself somewhat against interest-rate movements. When interest rates fall, you’ll still have your longer-term bonds, which generally — but not always – pay higher rates than short-term ones. And when interest rates rise, you can redeem your maturing short-term bonds at potentially higher rates.
With speculative investments, though, price movements can be extreme as well as rapid. During their short history, cryptocurrencies in particular have shown astonishingly fast moves up and down, resulting in huge gains followed by equally huge, or bigger, losses. The risk factor for crypto is exacerbated by its being largely unregulated, unlike with stocks and bonds, whose transactions are overseen by well-established regulatory agencies. There just isn’t much that investors can do to modulate the risk presented by crypto and some other speculative investments.
A second key difference between traditional and speculative investments is the time horizon involved. When you invest in stocks and other traditional investments, you ideally should be in it for the long term — it’s not a “get rich quick” strategy. But those who purchase speculative investments
want, and expect, quick and sizable returns, despite the considerable risk involved. A third difference between the two types of investments is the activity required by investors. When you’re a long-term investor in traditional investments, you may not have to do all that much, once you’ve built a
portfolio that’s appropriate for your risk tolerance, goals and time horizon.
After that point, it’s mostly just a matter of monitoring your portfolio and making occasional moves — you’re not constantly buying and selling, or at least you shouldn’t be. But when you speculate in crypto or other instruments, you are constantly watching prices move — and then making your own moves in response. It’s an activity that requires considerable attention and effort.
One final thought: Not all speculative instruments are necessarily bad investments. Precious metals, for instance, are found in some traditional mutual funds, sometimes in the form of shares of mining companies. And even crypto may become more of a stable vehicle once additional regulation comes into play. But if you’re investing for long-term goals, such as a comfortable retirement — rather than speculating for thrills and quick gains, which may disappear just as quickly — you may want to give careful thought to the types of investments you pursue.
Chad Choate III, AAMS
828 3rd Avenue West
Bradenton, FL 34205
941-462-2445
chad.chaote@edwardjones.com
TThis article was written by Edward Jones for use by your local Edward Jones Financial Advisor.
Naples Comprehensive Health (NCH) is proud to announce that it is the first in Florida to provide Pulsed Electric Field (PEF) ablation, a groundbreaking treatment for patients with tumors. This milestone highlights NCHs leadership in advancing cancer care in the state.The FDA-cleared Aliya PEF System uses high-frequency, short-duration pulsed electric fields to ablate soft tissue with unparalleled precision and allows the opportunity to treat the area at the time of biopsy. By preserving healthy tissue and avoiding thermal injury, this approach significantly reduces recovery times and improves outcomes for patients with complex tumors.This innovative procedure, performed using the Aliya PEF System developed by Galvanize Therapeutics, is distinguished by its high safety profile and its ability to stimulate the immune system by releasing tumor antigens as cells are ablated. This immune response can potentially protect the patient from tumor growth, even at other locations. Additionally, PEF minimizes collateral damage, making it a safer option for treating tumors located near major blood vessels and airways.The procedure was conducted by Dr. David Lindner, pulmonologist at NCH, in collaboration with oncologist, Dr. Stephen Newman. Together, they have brought this advanced therapy to Southwest Florida, setting the stage for its broader adoption across the state.What makes this therapy so unique is not just its precision and safety, but also its potential to harness the bodys immune system to fight cancer, said Dr. Lindner. We are excited to lead the way in providing this cutting-edge treatment to patients in Florida.Introducing PEF ablation to Florida underscores NCHs commitment to offering our patients the most advanced and effective treatments available, said Paul Hiltz, President and CEO at NCH. This is a significant step forward in our mission to lead in cancer care across the region.
NCH continues to lead the way in medical innovation, becoming the first healthcare provider in the state to offer the groundbreaking Van Gogh Biopsy tool from Aquyre Biosciences. This advanced technology redefines traditional biopsy procedures, providing results in as little as two minutes and eliminating the need for time-consuming traditional lab-based analysis. The Van Gogh Biopsy technology is designed for use in assessing tissue during cancer diagnostics, and can rapidly identify cancer, immune and other cells. The tool leverages real-time optical imaging to evaluate tissue with exceptional precision, streamlining the diagnostic process and improving patient care. Unlike conventional methods that require tissue samples to be sent to a lab for analysis, the Van Gogh system provides instantaneous feedback, enabling physicians to make informed decisions on the spot. At NCH, we are committed to offering cutting-edge technology that enhances the patient experience, said Paul Hiltz, President and CEO of NCH. The Van Gogh Biopsy Tool aligns perfectly with our mission, allowing us to provide faster, more accurate diagnoses while reducing the stress and uncertainty for our patients. This innovative tool is particularly beneficial for patients undergoing evaluations for conditions where time is critical. By reducing the diagnostic process from days to mere minutes, the Van Gogh system empowers physicians to create immediate, tailored treatment plans. The addition of the Van Gogh Biopsy Tool underscores NCHs dedication to advancing healthcare quality and ensuring patients in Southwest Florida have access to the best and most efficient diagnostic tools available.
Most of us probably dont enjoy preparing our taxes, but theres often a reward at the end a tax refund. If you get a refund this year, how can you make the best use of it? Of course, the answer depends somewhat on the size of your refund. Last year, the average tax refund was $3,050, according to the Internal Revenue Service. Whatever the size of your refund, though, youll want to maximize its benefit. Here are a few suggestions: Contribute to your IRA. If you were to receive about $3,000, it would go a long way toward funding your IRA for the year but any amount would help. You still have until April 15, 2025, to contribute to your IRA for the 2024 tax year, but if youve already maxed out on it, you could use your refund for 2025. The annual contribution limit for a traditional and Roth IRA remains $7,000, or $8,000 if youre age 50 or older. And by getting an early start toward fully funding your IRA, you can reduce the pressure of having to come up with large amounts later in the year. Build an emergency fund. Your tax refund could help you start or expand an emergency fund. Its a good idea to keep up to six months worth of living expenses in such a fund, with the money kept in a liquid, low-risk account, separate from the funds you use for your daily expenses. You might need to draw on this fund for unexpected expenses, such as a major home or car repair or a medical bill thats not fully covered by your health insurance. Without such an emergency fund in place, you might be forced to dip into your IRA or other retirement accounts to pay for these types of costs, and such a move could be expensive, resulting in taxes, penalties and lost opportunities for growth. Contribute to a 529 plan. If you have children or grandchildren and youd like to help them further their education someday, you might consider investing in a 529 education savings plan. With a 529 plan, earnings and withdrawals are federally tax free, provided the money is used for qualified education expenses. Based on where you live, your 529 plan may provide state tax benefits, too. (It is possible, though, that 529 withdrawals could affect financial aid packages, depending on who owns the account.) A 529 plan can be used to help pay for college, accredited trade school programs, some K-12 expenses and even to help repay some student loans. Pay down debts. Your tax refund may give you a chance to reduce your debt load. But which debts should you tackle first? You could follow the snowball method by paying off the smallest of your loans or debts as quickly as possible. Or you could choose the avalanche route by making minimum payments on all debts and using extra funds such as your tax refund to pay off the debts that carry the highest interest rates. Either method could help you save money in the long term. Its not often that you receive a financial windfall such as a tax refund so think carefully about how you can maximize its benefits. Chad Choate III, AAMS 828 3rd Avenue West Bradenton, FL 34205 941-462-2445 chad.chaote@edwardjones.com This article was written by Edward Jones for use by your local Edward Jones Financial Advisor.
Hello, I'm Chad Choate a dedicated financial advisor in Bradenton, FL, I began my career with Edward Jones in 2017. As a financial advisor, I want to find out what's important to you and help you build personalized strategies to achieve your goals. As a lifelong Manatee County resident, I graduated from the University of South Florida and was a teacher in Manatee County before joining Edward Jones. My driving force is to change people's lives in a positive way, and what better place than my home to do that. Whether you're planning for retirement, saving for college for children or grandchildren or just trying to protect the financial future of the ones you care for the most, we can work together to develop specific strategies to help you achieve your goals. We will also monitor your progress to help make sure you stay on track or determine if any adjustments need to be made. Throughout it all, we're dedicated to providing you with top-notch client service. But we're not alone. Thousands of people and advanced technology support from our office can help ensure you receive the most current and comprehensive guidance. In addition, we welcome the opportunity to work with your attorney, accountant and other trusted professionals to deliver a comprehensive strategy that leverages everyone's expertise. Working together, we can help you develop a complete, tailored strategy to help you achieve your financial goals. I currently volunteer with the Manatee Hurricane football Broadcast and Booster Club, serve on my church's trustees council and have previously served as a leader in Young Life. I am a member of the Manatee Chamber of Commerce and an alumnus of their Leadership Manatee program. I have been married to my childhood sweetheart, Ashley, for 15 years and we have a son, Wesley, and daughter, Camryn. We enjoy watching our children play their sports and traveling as a family.
Hello, I'm Chad Choate a dedicated financial advisor in Bradenton, FL, I began my career with Edward Jones in 2017. As a financial advisor, I want to find out what's important to you and help you build personalized strategies to achieve your goals. As a lifelong Manatee County resident, I graduated from the University of South Florida and was a teacher in Manatee County before joining Edward Jones. My driving force is to change people's lives in a positive way, and what better place than my home to do that. Whether you're planning for retirement, saving for college for children or grandchildren or just trying to protect the financial future of the ones you care for the most, we can work together to develop specific strategies to help you achieve your goals. We will also monitor your progress to help make sure you stay on track or determine if any adjustments need to be made. Throughout it all, we're dedicated to providing you with top-notch client service. But we're not alone. Thousands of people and advanced technology support from our office can help ensure you receive the most current and comprehensive guidance. In addition, we welcome the opportunity to work with your attorney, accountant and other trusted professionals to deliver a comprehensive strategy that leverages everyone's expertise. Working together, we can help you develop a complete, tailored strategy to help you achieve your financial goals. I currently volunteer with the Manatee Hurricane football Broadcast and Booster Club, serve on my church's trustees council and have previously served as a leader in Young Life. I am a member of the Manatee Chamber of Commerce and an alumnus of their Leadership Manatee program. I have been married to my childhood sweetheart, Ashley, for 15 years and we have a son, Wesley, and daughter, Camryn. We enjoy watching our children play their sports and traveling as a family.
Experience and BackgroundI am a financial advisor in Bradenton, FL, and began my career with Edward Jones in 2017. As a financial advisor, I want to find out what's important to you and help you build personalized strategies to achieve your goals.As a lifelong Manatee County resident, I graduated from the University of South Florida and was a teacher in Manatee County before joining Edward Jones. My driving force is to change people's lives in a positive way, and what better place than my home to do that.Whether you're planning for retirement, saving for college for children or grandchildren, or just trying to protect the financial future of the ones you care for the most, we can work together to develop specific strategies to help you achieve your goals. We will also monitor your progress to help make sure you stay on track or determine if any adjustments need to be made. Throughout it all, we're dedicated to providing you with top-notch client service.But we're not alone. Thousands of people and advanced technology support our office so that we can help ensure you receive the most current and comprehensive guidance. In addition, we welcome the opportunity to work with your attorney, accountant and other trusted professionals to deliver a comprehensive strategy that leverages everyone's expertise. Working together, we can help you develop a complete, tailored strategy to help you achieve your financial goals.I currently volunteer with the Manatee Hurricane football Broadcast and Booster Club, serve on my church's trustees council and have previously served as a leader in Young Life. I am a member of the Manatee Chamber of Commerce and an alumnus of their Leadership Manatee program.I have been married to my childhood sweetheart, Ashley, for 15 years and we have a son, Wesley, and daughter, Camryn. We enjoy watching our children play their sports and traveling as a family.