Cryptocurrencies have been around for more than a decade but have become increasingly popular in the past few months. One factor affecting the value of cryptocurrencies is its acceptance by merchants. With more companies accepting cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin as a form of payment, digital currency becomes more mainstream and its value increases. But the future of cryptocurrency is certainly less than clear. No matter how trendy the money and technology are now, it will not succeed unless more businesses continue to accept it.
The recent price action in digital assets has caught the attention of investors and the business community alike. In response, some have hastily suggested that owning cryptocurrencies is preferable to bonds, while others have called for a greater focus on the environmental impact of mining these assets. Regardless of one’s personal view, digital assets and cryptocurrencies are currently becoming an increasingly large part of the global financial system. As such, more and more investors are asking how they should think about them as both investments and currencies.
To start, cryptocurrencies are extremely volatile. Large cryptocurrencies, for example, have seen extreme bouts of volatility over time, and in some cases have taken years to recover these losses. Furthermore, correlations between cryptocurrencies and traditional assets like stocks and bonds are incredibly unstable, making it difficult to predict whether they will “zig” or “zag” during periods of stock or bond market stress.
Despite the volatility of these assets, there is tremendous potential in the underlying blockchain technology. But what exactly is blockchain? Bankrate defines blockchain as “a digital, public ledger that records online transactions.” This effectively creates a completely decentralized form of digital currency that is currently treated as “property” (like owning art, real estate, etc.) as opposed to a “security.” It should also not be considered a currency because there is no government backing it and it has been anything but stable. Currency needs to have stability behind it so consumers can determine fair prices for goods and services. The Federal Reserve is in the process of conducting additional research on the topic, and a formal paper that dives deeply into the topic is expected over the summer.
There are additional difficulties in seeing how cryptocurrencies can be treated as a unit of account, medium of exchange, or store of value, further undermining the argument that they are currencies in the traditional sense. For example, Visa processes more than 3,000 transactions per second, while the Bitcoin network processes just more than three. Taking this a step further, as the size of a block increases, transaction fees rise and processing times increase. Until this changes, the ability to widely transact using cryptocurrencies will remain limited – nobody wants to wait for a block to be mined just so they can get their morning cup of coffee.
A decision to allocate to digital assets and cryptocurrencies will depend on an investor’s risk tolerance – put differently, any investor in these assets needs to be prepared for the value to go to zero. As we noted in December, an investment in cryptocurrency might be appropriate for some, but for those who view it as a cure in a world of uncertainty and historically low-interest rates, a bit of caution may be warranted.
Integrated Financial Group
My firm specializes in working with people that experience what we call “Sudden Income.” Typically the income came from one of these events:
1) Accessing and Managing Retirement Assets
2) A Performance Contract (Typically a Sports or Entertainment Contract)
3) Divorce Settlement
4) Inheritance or Insurance Payout
5) Sale of a Business or Stock Options
6) A Personal Injury Settlement
I believe the unique nature of these events requires specialized professional experience, empathy, and communication to deal with both the financial changes and the life changes that inevitably come with them.
My clients value my ability to simplify complex strategies into actionable plans. They also appreciate that I am open, non-judging, and easy to talk to about their dreams and fears. Each client defines financial success differently and my goal is to guide them from where they are now to where they want to be. As my client’s advisor, my goal is to provide them with a lifetime income stream, improving returns, protecting their funds, and managing taxes.
Firm Specialties:
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- Retirement Planning For Business Owners & Executives
- Woman’s Unique Financial Planning Needs
- Professional Athletes
- Investment/Asset Allocation Advice
- Estate Planning
- Risk Management
- Strategic Planning
Kevin was listed in The Wall Street Journal as “One of the Financial Advisors In The Southeast That You Need To Know”
Kevin was listed in Forbes Magazine’s Annual Financial Edition as a Five Star Financial Advisor
Kevin has been awarded the Five Star Professional Wealth Manager in Atlanta Magazine in 2012, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017,2018, and 2019.
Award based on 10 objective criteria associated with providing quality services to clients such as credentials, experience, and assets under management among other factors. Wealth managers do not pay a fee to be considered or placed on the final list of Five Star Wealth Managers.
KEVIN GARRETT, AWMA, CFS
Integrated Financial Group
200 Ashford Center North, Ste. 400 | Atlanta, GA 30338
Phone | 770.353.6311
Email | kgarrett@intfingroup.com
Website | kevingarrettifg.com
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Jim Weber – Managing Partner, ITB Partners
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