Letter to Clients: 1st Quarter 2014
We’ve just entered the new year, making it the perfect time to take stock of 2013 and share some thoughts on how your portfolio can be positioned as we continue down the road called 2014.
It takes two to tango
We provide the know-how; you provide direction and guidance.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Insights & Other Important Communication
We’ve just entered the new year, making it the perfect time to take stock of 2013 and share some thoughts on how your portfolio can be positioned as we continue down the road called 2014.
Have market losses ever made you sick? If so, according to a recent study by Joseph Engelberg and Christopher Parsons associate professors of finance at the University of California at San Diego, you are not alone. After examining three decades of hospital admission data they concluded that hospitalizations rise on days when shares fall and that “people are hospitalized disproportionately for mental conditions”. Their research shows that equity market losses appeared to induce 3700 market related hospitalizations a year in California alone. When the data is extrapolated nationally, using the Census Bureau data showing the average hospitalization event costs around $21,000, they estimate the U.S. economic impact to be roughly $650 million a year.
Dear Clients & Friends: Is it just me, or does each passing year seem to go faster and faster? It is hard to believe that we are entering the final quarter of 2013. Soon the holidays will be over and it will be 2014. Let’s take a moment to examine market performance, discuss the elements of an effective plan, ask if bonds are too risky or if stocks are set to fail, and conclude with what all this means for your portfolio. But before we do, I have some exciting news to announce.
I grew up in the 1970's and graduated High School in the early 1980's. I grew up watching Happy Days and remember wondering how the leather jackets, slicked back hair, and the poodle ever came into fashion. Meanwhile my high school yearbook is filled with pictures of kids with bright pastel outfits, huge round glasses, and girls with big hair. As a kid in the 70's the 50's seemed like ancient history but it was only 20 years before. Now I wonder what kids today think about the 1980's with an appreciation for the irony that my 30th High School reunion has already been held.