Sonder Financial

08/13/2024

🦞 Age is Just a Number: Meet the 104-Year-Old 'Lobster Lady' 🚤
Virginia Oliver, Maine's maritime marvel, just renewed her commercial lobster license at 104 years old. Why? Because retirement isn't in her vocabulary!

Picture this: A centenarian rising at 3 AM, donning lipstick and earrings, to catch lobsters thrice a week. That's Virginia's life, and she wouldn't have it any other way.

Her secret? "You've gotta keep living, you gotta keep working."

Virginia's story isn't just about lobsters. It's about passion, purpose, and shattering age stereotypes. As we plan for our futures, perhaps we should ask: What's our equivalent of Virginia's lobster boat?

Let's celebrate those who prove that life's adventures don't have an expiration date.



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At 104 years old, Virginia Oliver is setting sail this year to continue doing the job she's loved over 90 years: catching lobsters.

03/11/2024

The switch to Daylight Saving Time’s real impact is most keenly felt Monday morning when sleep experts say most of us lost 40 minutes in dreamland and now face our weekday schedules at work, school and home.

There is evidence of a slight increase in car crashes so best to turn off the car radio and up your situational awareness behind the wheel.

What scientists did discover was that the switch to Daylight Saving impacts our productivity all day long, and for some for several days.

Researchers reported in the Journal of Applied Psychology found that Daylight Saving Time lost sleep leads to more cyberloafing at work. Instead of completing the day's online tasks promptly we tend to wander off to personal email, shopping and other online interests.Our productivity and job performance suffer all day.

This would be a good day to quickly make a list of what you want to get done and then stick to it. Also, if you can, first thing Monday morning, step outside and soak in some natural sunlight to help reset your internal clock!

https://www.apa.org/pubs/journals/releases/apl9451317.pdf

01/25/2024

According to the International Air Transport Association (IATA), 2024 is set to be a banner year for travel.

Key Highlights:
◾ Net profits are projected to reach $25.7 billion
◾ Total revenues are expected to grow 7.6% to a record $964 billion
◾ An estimated 4.7 billion people will travel, exceeding the pre-pandemic level of 4.5 billion in 2019
◾ Recovery has been extraordinary, especially in North America, the Middle East, and Europe

Need help budgeting for your next trip? We'd love to help! www.calendly.com/heysonder/intro



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Airlines expect record traveler numbers and revenues in 2024 but will continue to be constrained by the high cost of capital and limited capacity, IATA said.

01/23/2024

🍽️📊 As we head into 2024, here's a glimpse at some food and drink trends that experts predict will make waves:

▪️ Consumers are increasingly favoring food with processing terms like "stone-ground," "cold-pressed," and "fermented."
▪️ Luxury experiences and premium food and drinks are in high demand among Gen X and Boomers.
▪️ Bots and automated cooking are heating up in the kitchen.
▪️ Classic dishes like Chicken à la King are getting a gourmet makeover.
▪️ Dip is back on the menu, from high-end restaurants to casual eateries.

While these trends offer a glimpse into our culinary future, they also remind us of the economic factors shaping our food habits. As a financial professional, we're here to help you navigate these economic shifts. Here's to a delicious and financially savvy 2024! 🥂🎉



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What food trends and drink trends will we see in 2024? We sorted through food trends reports from some of the biggest players in the game, talked to chefs and experts, and kept our eyes and mouths open so we could bring you our predictions for 2024 food trend and drink trends.

01/09/2024

🌍 Did you know that a record-high number of U.S. consumers plan to vacation abroad in the next six months? This stat, the highest since 1967, may suggest a confident, robust consumer climate! 💪🧳

Despite financial headlines warning about consumer credit card balances, this data suggests that many U.S. households are managing their finances well, preparing for vacations, and ready to create a few family memories. 🏖️👨‍👩‍👧‍👦

01/04/2024

Welcome to a new chapter in an already fantastic story. 🌟 Wishing you all the joy, peace, and success the New Year can hold.

01/02/2024

Out with the old, in with the new! 🎉 As we bid farewell to 2023 we're filled with gratitude for old friends, new experiences, and shared learnings. Here's to an even better 2024!

12/25/2023

Wishing everyone a happy holiday!

12/19/2023

Bull or bear? 🐂or 🧸 Bank of America is predicting that the S&P 500 will soar to fresh all-time highs in 2024. Are we in for a bullish stock market, or will the bears emerge from hibernation?

Key takeaways:
🔹 The bank expects the S&P 500 to reach 5,000 points by year-end 2024, a 10% increase from its current level.
🔹 Despite global tensions and the Federal Reserve's aggressive monetary-tightening campaign, stocks have remained strong in 2023.
🔹 "We are past maximum macro uncertainty," says a team led by Savita Subramanian at Bank of America. They believe companies have adapted to higher rates and inflation.
🔹 This bullish prediction aligns with other Wall Street strategists, suggesting a positive outlook for the stock market in the coming year.

No matter which way the markets go, we'll be keeping a close eye on it.



Source: *kkyazu*_ga*MzkyOTg4OTQ4LjE2OTQ2MTkxNDk

Strategists have turned bullish on the benchmark index, which has racked up stellar gains this year.

11/23/2023

Grateful today (& every day) that we get to work with so many wonderful clients! Happy Thanksgiving!