Memorial Wealth Group

Memorial Wealth Group Houston and New Orleans based full-service wealth management firm offering personalized financial advice to help clients pursue their financial dreams

Securities and advisory services are offered through LPL Financial, a registered investment advisor, member FINRA/SIPC. www.finra.org, www.sipc.org. Third party posts found on this profile do not reflect the views of LPL Financial and have not been reviewed as to accuracy and completeness. The LPL Financial registered representatives associated with this page may discuss and/or transact business o

nly with residents of the states in which they are properly registered or licensed. No offers may be made or accepted from any resident of any other state.

Let’s Talk… Homeowners Insurance Rates from a Homeowner’s Perspective!It used to be common in the New Orleans market for...
04/04/2025

Let’s Talk… Homeowners Insurance Rates from a Homeowner’s Perspective!

It used to be common in the New Orleans market for homeowners to have a hard time getting proper coverage for their homes. Now, we’re seeing the same issue hit the Houston market.

I can tell you from experience, I’ve been getting calls from people saying their homeowners insurance rates have, in some cases, doubled. I don’t sell homeowners or auto insurance, but this problem often lands in my lap when folks are looking for financial advice.

So, what should you do if you get hit with a shocking renewal notice? Here’s what I’d recommend:

1. Shop it around. Start getting quotes. Bundling your homeowners and auto policies can lead to some real savings.

2. Review your coverage. Some people are actually overinsured. Take a good look at the standard coverages in your policy. Making the right adjustments can save you serious money.

3. Don’t do anything drastic. Dropping coverage altogether is a mistake. Even if your home is paid off, losing one of your biggest assets could lead to financial Armageddon.

4. Keep perspective. This will pass. New companies will enter the market because they want those higher premiums. Sometimes the best move is to pay for now and plan to make a change when the time is right.

I knew I was in for a rough season the moment I stepped outside and saw yellow pollen everywhere. You can have all the m...
03/28/2025

I knew I was in for a rough season the moment I stepped outside and saw yellow pollen everywhere. You can have all the money in the world, but if you're miserable with allergies and asthma, your well-being takes a serious hit.

As someone who deals with both asthma and allergies, here are a few things I’ve done that have helped me actually have a good allergy season and feel better overall.

First, start your allergy medicine before symptoms show up. I take a daily prescription allergy pill, and it makes a real difference.

Second, consider upgrading your AC filters. A better filter can block more of the bad stuff from coming in from outside.

Third, I get allergy immunotherapy shots, and they help a lot. (Side note, I love my allergist, and she reads this blog!) I’m on maintenance now, so I take a shot every 28 days. I can stretch it to 42 days if needed, but I tried that recently and by day 41, my symptoms were getting out of control.

Fourth, check the air quality report for your city. It can really tell you what kind of day you're going to have. One day this past week, Houston was at 178, which is terrible. And don’t forget we’ve also had fires making the air quality even worse.

Lastly, don’t suffer. There are professionals out there who can help. It might be time to find one that’s a good fit for you.

Let’s talk about the President floating the idea of taking over Canada, Greenland, and now Gaza.President Trump has been...
02/26/2025

Let’s talk about the President floating the idea of taking over Canada, Greenland, and now Gaza.

President Trump has been in office for only four weeks, and already he’s suggested taking control of three separate territories. Is this a wild speculation or something more serious? When you consider the global economy behind the scenes, it becomes clear he might not be joking. In short, there’s a fight for natural resources, and those who secure them - especially rare earth minerals - are most likely to succeed in the emerging economy.

China and Russia already control a large portion of these resources and can use them as leverage. Whether we like it or not, they’re adversaries and competitors on the global economic stage. Greenland makes sense as a target because it’s largely uninhabited and loaded with natural resources. Gaza has the Gaza gas fields (look them up), and Canada, while unlikely, is also rich in natural resources and rare earth minerals.

As one of my political science professors used to say, politics is fundamentally about the fight for natural resources. And as we’re seeing, that principle holds true on the global stage.

Last week, a massive winter storm covered parts of the southern United States with up to 15 inches of snow, an almost un...
01/28/2025

Last week, a massive winter storm covered parts of the southern United States with up to 15 inches of snow, an almost unheard-of event for places like New Orleans. Friends were sending me pictures of beach destinations I visit in the summer, now covered in record amounts of snow. It got me thinking: What can you do to be better prepared next time a storm like this hits?

Here are a few tips to keep in mind:

1. Get provisions before the storm hits. Stock up on essentials ahead of time. Once the bad weather moves in, you may not be able to get out to the store. Bread, water, non-perishables, and other basics should be part of your plan. Don’t forget about batteries, flashlights, and any medications you might need as well.

2. Don’t try to drive in it. If you’re not used to snowy or icy conditions, it’s best to stay off the roads. Keep in mind, even if you know how to drive in this weather, others around you probably don’t, which can make for dangerous driving conditions. Just sit tight until it’s safe to venture out.

3. Work from home if you can. Stay indoors and ride it out. Many southern states don’t have the infrastructure, like snow plows or road salt, to handle major winter weather events. Waiting for the snow to melt and the roads to clear is often the safest and smartest option. Luckily, warmer temperatures usually show up pretty quickly to help out.

4. Have a plan. Just like with hurricane season, preparation is key. Don’t let the next big storm catch you off guard. Think ahead about how you’ll handle power outages, heating, and other challenges that might come your way.

Southern snow storms may be rare, but with some planning and caution, you can be ready for whatever winter brings next time!

Since I was a kid, I’ve had an irrational fear of skiing and ice skating. I can’t pinpoint why, but the thought always i...
12/05/2024

Since I was a kid, I’ve had an irrational fear of skiing and ice skating. I can’t pinpoint why, but the thought always intimidated me. Then one day, when we were traveling in Europe, I decided to give skiing a shot. To my surprise, I got it. I wasn’t great or anything, but I actually got it. And had a blast!

Fast forward to this past weekend. We went with our kids to a Christmas market in our neighborhood. My wife grew up in Ukraine ice-skating on frozen rivers in winter, so she was eager to ice skate, but I planned to sit it out. That is, until the person handing out skates offered me a pair - completely free. How could I say no? So, I put the skates on, very carefully made my way onto the ice, and before I knew it, I was getting the hang of it. And honestly I had a great time!

This experience reminded me of an important lesson, one I want to share as we head into the new year: step out of your comfort zone. Try something new. Break away from your daily routine and do something different, even if it’s small. It doesn’t have to be risky or exhilarating to make a difference.

Take someone who thinks differently from you politically to lunch and have an open conversation - not to debate or convince them your way is better, but to genuinely understand their perspective. Volunteer a few hours of your time at a local nonprofit. Or follow in the footsteps of a friend of mine who started ballroom dancing at the age of 70! Life doesn’t come with an expiration date on trying new things. There’s no rulebook that says you can’t start something fresh as you get older.

At the end of the day, my message is this: pause to appreciate the life you have. Stop chasing after things and take a moment to find joy in the present. But remember, part of personal growth comes from embracing new experiences. So, in 2025, challenge yourself to step outside the familiar. You might just surprise yourself.

With the election of Donald Trump, I started a weekly look at tariffs because I knew they would become more prevalent ov...
11/27/2024

With the election of Donald Trump, I started a weekly look at tariffs because I knew they would become more prevalent over the next four years. What follows is my opinion on the topic, informed by extensive travel to over 50 countries and years of observing trade policies in action around the world.

Tariffs represent quite a departure from the free trade mantra that dominated for so long. While controversial, they can have several notable impacts:

1. Inflation Risks (or Not)

Tariffs can cause inflation, but not always. For example, production costs in places like China are so low that manufacturers often absorb the tax instead of passing it on to consumers. If they raise prices too much, they risk losing buyers who may switch to a slightly more expensive but higher-quality product made in the USA.

2. A Negotiating Tool

Tariffs can be a powerful negotiating tool. Take Europe, for example: some products from Europe enter the U.S. with little to no tariff, while the same American products going into Europe face a 100% tariff. That’s a trade imbalance, plain and simple. Tariffs could help level the playing field.

3. Shifting Supply Chains

With regard to China. As tariffs make production in China more expensive, countries like Vietnam and Indonesia are stepping up. Watch for these countries to strike trade deals with the U.S. to capture the manufacturing that’s shifting out of China.

Finally, let’s address globalism. On paper, it sounds great—companies moving production abroad to save on labor costs. But middle America suffered as a result, and they called out the establishment by electing a quasi-protectionist like Donald Trump. It’s a sea change, and there’s no end in sight.

In the next post, I’ll dive into what we can expect as this shift continues to shape trade and the global economy.

Because the incoming Trump administration likes tariffs so much, I think it’s important to discuss proposals that will b...
11/20/2024

Because the incoming Trump administration likes tariffs so much, I think it’s important to discuss proposals that will be on the table in the next couple of years. Both parties have used tariffs in the past. President Trump put tariffs on goods coming from China. President Biden in some cases increased the tariffs enacted by the Trump administration.

One such proposal is to reduce or eliminate the income tax by enacting a 20% tariff on all goods coming into the United States and a special 40% tax on goods coming from China. In short, according to the Congressional Budget Office, this tariff proposal would raise almost 1 trillion dollars which would not be enough to eliminate the income tax because that brings in 2.5 trillion dollars. This is something that needs to be looked at as a possible revenue source to stop or reduce countries that dump cheap goods in the USA thereby harming our labor force.

Lastly, I recognize both the benefits and the risks of tariffs, and I’ll be talking about them quite extensively in the future. Next week we will examine the risks.

Last week the ILA went on strike for three days then paused because they got to an agreement on wages. They agreed to ke...
10/09/2024

Last week the ILA went on strike for three days then paused because they got to an agreement on wages. They agreed to keep talking with regard to reaching an agreement on the automation issue. Here are my thoughts on the situation.

1. In an interview, the head of the union, rightfully so, wants a piece of the increased profits made by shipping companies after the pandemic of 2020. He explained that before the shipping companies were making millions. Now they are making billions.

2. The ports are the entryway for a large portion of imports. Any disruption will cripple the supply chain and possibly cause shortages of things we use everyday. This in turn can be inflationary.

3. This is the first of many fights about automation. They are standing up for working class people who make above average wages. That being said, this could potentially quicken the automation timeline. Technology moves fast and when corporate profits are threatened, change will move at light speed. Keep in mind the head of the union acknowledges that the ports can be run autonomously with very little manpower. He also gave an example of ships with no crew that are being tested in Europe.

In the end, this is the first of many fights about automation and the race to replace the everyday “worker”. The AI arms race will only make this more interesting to watch.

Let’s talk… Big Corporations/Corporate Jobs?On a personal note, I left the corporate world 20+ years ago and never looke...
09/27/2024

Let’s talk… Big Corporations/Corporate Jobs?

On a personal note, I left the corporate world 20+ years ago and never looked back. I have recruiters calling me weekly to go back to work for a corporation, and not even large bonuses will get me to look at their proposals. Here are some things to consider. Keep in mind I’m biased against corporations because I see how they act or how they have acted in the past.

1. The days of the corporation being loyal to you and taking care of you until retirement are long gone. You really should not be loyal back to them. Always keep an open mind and have an open door to a better situation with more money and better benefits. I have people tell me they feel like they’re cheating on their employer if they look for greener pastures. I assure you they aren’t.

2. I put a high price on the fact that I can come and go as I please. I’m my own boss. Nobody tells me when to be in the office or sets a quota for me to make in a month.

3. You have to be a self starter and motivator. If you need a team approach to motivate yourself to make money, working completely on your own may not be the best fit for you. In that case, you can look for other people in your field to partner with while still being self-employed.

4. There is a trend to people being independent contractors for corporations. The individual has more freedom to work where they want (from home or office) and can contract with the highest bidder.

Lastly, don’t let the benefits be the reason to stay in a job you hate and have to fight for every few months. There is a price for benefits and you can manage it on your own.

I work in both Houston and New Orleans, and I often see people comparing one city to the other. It’s really like compari...
09/19/2024

I work in both Houston and New Orleans, and I often see people comparing one city to the other. It’s really like comparing apples and oranges, as the two cities are very different. One is like a small country, and one takes me 15 minutes to get downtown from one of the furthest suburbs. In my recent visit to New Orleans however, I noticed some similarities that I find troubling.

First, many restaurants and small businesses are struggling. Every week on the Houston Memorial Area foodies group I read of a restaurant closing. In Nola last month, I ate lunch at a place that used to be popular but this time I was the only one there. The same thing happened two days later at another restaurant. It was empty. I stopped at two shops where I buy Nola themed stuff to get a tie for my son, and both were empty. Little to no customers.

Second, rising insurance costs due to weather events are hurting people financially. At least in Houston, you can get a homeowners insurance. In Nola and the surrounding areas you have to go to the state plan which is very expensive.

Third, Natalia and I went grocery shopping at H-E-B a couple of weeks ago. Some food items that we were paying $9-10 for a few months ago are now $12-14. That’s almost a 30% rise in cost over a few months. Nola is the same, albeit there aren’t many high paying corporate jobs that allow people to sustain themselves even though the prices have gone up.

In the end, I love both places, and I hope things get better for people and small businesses there soon!

Have you all seen the sign-up bonuses for new banks accounts? It’s wild. The normal bonuses that I see regularly on soci...
08/28/2024

Have you all seen the sign-up bonuses for new banks accounts? It’s wild. The normal bonuses that I see regularly on social media are $400-$500 but I've seen them go up to $3k. For credit cards I’m seeing bonus points and miles of up to 100k. I view banking as a commodity, meaning that there is no substantial difference in what bank A can do for me vs bank B. If a bank is willing to pay me to use their “service”, I’m willing to take their sign-up bonus any day of the week. Here are some things to watch for when signing up for a new account with a cash reward.

First, read their rules for getting the bonus and make sure you follow each step. Typically, there is a required minimum deposit, a number of debit card transactions, and a minimum daily balance you have to keep.

Second, pay attention to fees. Again to get out of paying the monthly service charge, you have to do something. Just make sure you do that “something”.

Third, it seems this is market based, so if you live in a market that has a lot of competition the sign-up bonus is offered. If you live in a place where one bank controls everything, don’t expect to have these offers in your area. I’m in Houston and there is evidently a lot of competition for a lot of money.

Fourth, you’ll get a 1099 int at the end of the year for the cash bonuses but not the bonus miles or points.

Lastly, make sure to put the new account on your account aggregation program to keep track of the assets. You don’t want to forget about the account at any point in time. So what’s the best bonus checking account or credit card you’ve signed up for recently?

Last week's data breach at National Public Data put personal data (including social security numbers) of billions of peo...
08/21/2024

Last week's data breach at National Public Data put personal data (including social security numbers) of billions of people in the hands of cyber criminals. What should you do to protect yourself? I thought about showing you all how to check to see if your data was exposed in this latest breach, but I think that defeats the purpose of this blog post. I want you to assume your data is out there because if it isn’t yet, the chances are high it will be in the future.

Here is what I have done to protect my data.
1. Use a credit monitoring service to monitor what has been opened in your name. Experian has a free version with an app but for $24.99 a month you can lock/ unlock your credit file from your phone.
2. I would review the credit report for accuracy. Experian actually lets you contest something inaccurate from the app.
3. Take off voice recognition on all accounts. AI programs are getting to the point where they can take a sample of your voice and clone it.
4. If you have been a victim of identity theft, call the police and get a report of the incident.

Lastly, be proactive and not reactive. I’d lock my info down as much as possible. The next thing I’m looking at is the title lock for my house. Maybe we will talk about that when I find out more.

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