To Top
Login to DV Client Portal
Login to Schwab Alliance
Send secure files to Art Dinkin
Send secure files to Ihla Oertwig

Fiduciary

We provide the highest level of care and accountability. Everything we do must be in your best interest.

Complete Transparency

No magic tricks or distractions. Everything we do is transparent. Log into our online system to see your accounts any time, from any device, no matter where you may be.

Experienced

We have been serving client needs for over 30 years which means we probably have experience in situations like yours.

Local & Available

We are not a large institution. We are your neighbors who happen to offer financial expertise. When you call, we answer. When you need someone, we are here.

Different People. Unique Needs

Some people need help accumulating and growing wealth. Others need assistance with the responsibilities wealth creates. No matter your money issues, we will help you find the solutions which best fit

Retire Confident

Retirement is a once-in-a-lifetime experience, but we have helped people retire comfortably and confidently for over 30 years. We can help you too.

Get Comfortable

We provide a safe and relaxed environment where you can be comfortable with your money.

Simplicity

It is our job to explain your money in simple and straight-forward terms, not to impress you with jargon and investment “speak”. You can never ask too many questions. 

Independence brings freedom

Our “product” is our guidance and advice, not specific investments. We are neutral and transparent when selecting the solutions necessary to implement your plan.

Putting it all together

All the parts of your life are connected. Getting to know you goes beyond your finances. We want to know your values, hopes, and dreams so your success is not purely financial. A life measured only in dollars can never be rich. 

Wealth is not determined by money

Wealth is determined by love, happiness, and relationships. The number of dollars in your account does not make you more or less than anyone else.

You are not your neighbor

There is no magic formula that works for everyone. We have the knowledge, experience and tools to help you plan and achieve your goals.

Investing, not trading

It is not flashy, but the long term outlook has stood the test of time. We seek to capitalize on this trend through patience and discipline rather than guessing when to zig and when to zag.

It is a journey,
not a destination

No matter what your stage of life and career, we can help you. As you change and grow, we adjust so your plan continues to fit your needs.

It takes two to tango

We provide the know-how; you provide direction and guidance. 

The media provides exposure, not advice

In this age of information overload, there are an over-whelming number of financial opinions. We help you focus on your specific financial goals by using our experience and knowledge as a filter to cut through the constant noise and chatter.

Blog Posts
Back
Back
 
16
Apr 2012
By Art Dinkin
Post with Featured Image

Letter to Clients: 2nd Quarter 2012

Dear Clients and Friends,

While I have always written a quarterly letter, I hope you noticed that you did not receive one after the end of the year. There was so much going on that I wasn't able to get a timely, meaningful letter out. So in this letter I will summarize 2011 as well as look at what the first quarter of 2012 brought our way.

The primary reason there was no letter last quarter was the influx of new clients who came to DV Financial through Jen Main. For those of you who are new to our practice, welcome. We look forward to serving you. With so many new clients and as a reminder for long time clients as well, we offer many value-added services for you including:

  • Shredding – Especially during tax time it is very important to destroy out of date records while keeping your identity protected. Our shredding service destroys your sensitive documents to military standards. We feel that protecting your identity is vital and therefore allow clients to deposit their shredding into our locked container at no cost. If you have a lot of shredding (boxes worth) please let us know. It may not fit in our locked box, but the shredding service can quickly come and take care of it for you
  • Notary Public – Our wonderful assistant, Sue, is now a notary public. She can notarize your documents during normal business hours at no charge. Our normal business hours are Monday through Thursday 8:00 am – 4:00 pm and Friday 8:00 am – Noon. Arrangements can be made if you need a notary outside our normal hours.

2011 in Review

The S&P 500 opened on January 3rd at 1257.62 and closed December 30th at 1257.60 so there was a change of only .0016% over the course of the year. But I doubt anyone considered 2011 to be flat and stable.

On May 2, 2011 the S&P hit its 2011 inter-day high of 1370.58 and five months and two days later it hit its inter-day low of 1074.77 on October 4, 2011. With a swing of nearly 30% from the peak to the trough in the year, it is not surprising that many investors and pundits wondered if we were heading for a "double dip" in the economy.

In the short term, the markets seem to be influenced more by emotion than by fact. But ultimately the facts do persevere. And the economy was growing in 2011. Maybe not as fast as we would have liked, but it grew at a slow steady pace. We even started seeing an improvement in unemployment statistics down to a seasonally adjusted 8.5% compared to 9% at the end of 2010. With the economic growth and decreased unemployment we even saw inflation on the rise. After no Social Security Cost of Living Adjustments in 2010 or 2011, In January 2012 Social Security increased benefits by 3.6%.

Into 2012

This economic growth continued straight into 2012. In the past quarter the Bureau of Economic Analysis revised 4th quarter GDP growth to 3% and unemployment continued to fall reaching 8.3% by the end of March; its lowest level in three years. During the first three months of the year we added 220,000 jobs to the economy per month.

The Federal Open Market Committee (the Fed) announced that it plans to keep interest rates at "exceptionally low levels" through at least 2014, but I am not sure they can deliver on that intent. Inflation continues. A 6% increase in gas prices in February alone helped drive the 12 month inflation rate to 2.9%.

But the emotion of the markets has definitely changed. From its 2011 close at 1257.60, the S&P 500 peaked at the end of the quarter and closed at 1408.47; an increase of 12%!

But that does not mean the coming months will be easy. Threats to market stability include the continuing financial crisis in Europe, indications of economic slowdown in China, and four of nineteen US banks failing the Federal Reserve's stress tests.

While the investment landscape is tricky and changing at an ever increasing pace, I stand confident in our ability to help guide you towards your goals. Remember that it is usually neither as good nor as bad as the media likes to portray. There are many opportunities available for investors with any timeframe and comfort with risk. Use us as a resource to understand your financial situation.

As always, thank you for your trust and confidence. I am here for you. Whenever you have questions, I am happy to take your call or meet with your personally.

Best regards,

Art Dinkin, CFP®

Recent Posts