, having a child or children, and retiring comfortably. All of these things, whether they make your list or not, require money.
As a couple, my husband and I haven't hit any of life's milestones in a set order. We bought our 1,200-square-foot condominium before we purchased that package deal in Vegas.
We saved, juggled, and figured all of these expenses and how to pay for them on our own. The difference between then and now is, every quarter, we sit down with our advisor and tell her our dream or goals, and then we work out a plan. Our financial advisor also does an excellent job of. Our allocation now represents our risk tolerance, which has changed now that we are closer to retirement and don't have decades to recoup from a down market like the one in 2008.
I don't know. Stocks, investments is like farming with chickens. If you see them walk around you'll know why you should keep an eye on them, but then there's that precognition. Good tasting eggs can't be predicted all the time, or when they're eaten.