In this episode, we are delighted to have on the show the very knowledgeable Jeff Hirsch. Jeff is one of the masterminds behind the Stock Traders Almanac, and will soon become a Research Consultant with Probabilities Fund Management. Probability—that’s the key for Jeff and his team. How can we begin to predict when to buy, sell, trade, and watch the market trends? The Stock Market ebbs and flows throughout the seasons (and throughout the day!) Using decades of data to back them up, the Stock Traders Almanac takes probabilities and turns them into strategies for your investments. 

Sit for a moment with Jeff today as he gives you unique insights on the Market itself, does a little forecasting for the year ahead, and summarizes the way the Almanac could be useful to you today. You do not want to miss out on this opportunity to learn from this pro. After all, it is in his DNA! 

Also in this episode: 

• The 5 Disciplines of the Stock Traders Almanac.
• Jeff talks Seasonality within the Stock Trade. 
• Jeff’s journey to taking up the Family Business. 
• An assessment of the first 5 months of the year. 
• Election years and stock trends: how do the two relate? 
• Looking ahead in 2017 toward market trends. 
• Despite the influence of bots, the daily market still behaves like humans. 
• Jeff describes the Switching Strategies and the scientific key to their success.
• Tips and tricks for using the MACD
• Bad good months, and good bad months. 

Links:

The Stock Traders Almanac 

https://www.stocktradersalmanac.com/

Link up with @almanactrader on Twitter 

Today's guest is Aaron Hendon, a Real Estate Agent from sunny Seattle, in Washington. Kate was really intrigued to talk to Aaron because he has such a good take on the mistakes that people tend to make and also some of the pitfalls when buying Real Estate. Aaron also assists Boomers and their aging parents to navigate some of those difficult Real Estate transitions- and this really is a big thing! Listen in to find out more about Aaron's holistic and rather contrarian approach to making this kind of investment.

Kate points out that people tend to think that once they're retired and no longer have a mortgage, they are free of housing costs. Yet, Kate and her colleagues have been finding more and more in their Financial Advisory Practice, that people, before having met them, purchased homes that were probably not great financial decisions. They often still have to pay really high mortgage costs, when nearing retirement age, which makes things difficult and can sometimes even mean that they could have to delay their retirement. They also sometimes see people, who are in their sixties, building their dream homes and that's often a tough thing to afford. Kate even has an eighty-year-old, who still has a mortgage - and there are more people out there, in similar situations. Listen in now, as Aaron shares some really great advice, to help people who are finding themselves in situations like these. 

Show Highlights:

• Having a mortgage is potentially going to become a risky thing as retirees get even older still.
• There are investments that give much higher returns than Real Estate.
• The transactional costs alone, if you're not going to be in a house for five years, can keep you from getting a decent return on it.
• That each individual has their unique situation to consider.
• That what's best for you now, may not be best for you in ten year's time.
• Some factors to consider when thinking of buying a house.
• Sometimes, renting a house could be your best choice.
• How Aaron, as a Realtor came to his contrarian viewpoint.
• Aaron's book called Real Estate Blind Spots, that he's busy working on at the moment. It's about doing due diligence- to help you to make a rational choice when it comes to choosing a Realtor.
• Aaron's pamphlet, with the seven questions that you should ask a Realtor, before employing them.
• Realtors have to study for only ninety hours to qualify for licensing - and your house is the single most expensive thing that you own!
• Buying a house is a deeply emotional experience.

Links:

Aaron's website- where you can download his book, get onto his mailing list, or contact him: www.dontgetfooledagainbook.com Anyone on the mailing list will automatically get a copy of Aaron's new book, Real Estate Blind Spots.