Be Great Today!

How long do you take to make a purchase decision about a new computer, car, or even a pair of shoes?  Most people that I know spend a great deal of time researching and analyzing when it comes to deciding on the larger purchases we make.  When it comes to computers or a new car, people may take months or a year to read consumer reports and blogs or talk to neighbors, friends, associates, even strangers before they invest their hard earned dollars.

On the contrary, when it comes to investing our money in order to preserve and grow wealth, how many of us make those decisions relatively quickly, and based on emotion?  I’ve been guilty in the past of purchasing tens of thousands of dollars in stocks based on reading a couple articles in Smart Money or some other financial publication, or based on a tip from a friend or family member.

I’ve talked to all too many people who have done the same or listened to stock brokers five minute or an hour long pitch before handing over a large percentage of their net worth.  In light of the Bernie Madoff $50 billion panzi scheme, we all have been given another reminder to take our time and do the necessary research before turning our hard earned money over to any one person.

I personally handle my finances myself and use Vanguard.  They have the lowest fees in the industry on their mutual funds and have been in the business from the beginning of mutual funds.  There is nothing to be ashamed about putting your money into a bank CD or savings account either.  The S&P 500 dropped 35% in 2008.  If you had your money in a bank CD during that same period of time, you would have made around 4%.  Who was the smarter investor? 

Since no one can predict the future and time the market, having a balance portfolio that matches your tolerance to risk is always the preferred and best approach.  Most importantly, each of us needs to realize that we need to make financial decisions based on what allows us to sleep at night.  If that is the final litmus test, rather it be for investing or spending your money, everything will work out fine!

Have a Great Day!

Your personal style is your calling card, your commercial that you give out to the world each day.  There are over 6 billion people on this great earth of ours, 300 million and growing in the United States.  That makes for a lot of different styles.  Want to make your message stick out above the crowd?

Start with a positive, optimistic attitude about yourself and today.  Do that each and every day this year, and you’ll have the best year of your life!  There is a great deal of uncertainty going on in our world as 2009 gets going, including: wars in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Israel.  The world economy is in recession, and some scientists are claiming that global warming is going to lead to the demise of us all.  So what can you do about any of this?

The answer is… you can control what you focus on today.  Focus on what you can affect in your world or what is within your control. If you really pay attention, you will find that you are a very fortunate person who has so much to be grateful for!  Once your focus gets trained to getting the most out of today and only paying attention to what you can control, right now, you’ll find your spirits lifted.  You will also be able to make a bigger difference to the world around you.  Put a smile on your family, friends, or co-workers faces, and you’ve made a positive difference today!

As far as the pressing global issues that dominate our cynical, gloomy media, who would like us to believe that the world is coming to an end, simply support our troops, save more than you make, and flush your toilet less!  Besides my daughter pointed out that the issue of the polar ice caps melting and polar bears going instinct may not be as pressing, as she pointed out, we have polar bears at the Cincinnati Zoo, and have you ever been in Cincinnati in August?  That would melt some ice!

Happy New Year!