WEALTH MANAGEMENT
A Calm Year?
 

Without looking very deep, you might think as you headed into the final quarter of 2010 that it's been a pretty calm year for investors. The S&P 500 Index was up 5.6% ... the DJIA 6.5% ... and the Nasdaq 8.3% ... all very nice single-digit gains, especially in a 0% interest rate climate! In hindsight it looks like a mild, tame year on Wall Street. Yet from our perspective,  this year has been quite a wild roller-coaster ride for investor emotions. Almost forgotten is the sharp May-June correction and accompanying headlines which had economists (and readers) scrambling for cover...   

Scared Consumers Raise Fears of Double Dip Recession - FOXBusiness 6/29/10

Don't Rule Out a Double Dip Recession - Wall Street Journal 5/24/10 

5 Reasons a Double Dip Recession Could Happen - USNews.com 6/30/10

   

...convinced that we were heading back into a bear market.

 

Warning: Crash dead ahead. Sell. Get Liquid. Now. - MarketWatch - 5/25/10

Equities are overpriced; here's how the crash will unfold - Fortune 5/17/10

Sell Everything Liquid, You Won't Recognize America By the End of the Year
                                                                                     Business Insider - 5/18/10

Were they right?  Those of you who are investment clients know that the third quarter was very good and so has been the first two months of this fourth quarter of 2010.  Moreover, the economy hasn't slipped back into recession, the fears of a collapsing dollar haven't materialized, and inflation hasn't reared its ugly head.

 

What to Do?

1.  Don't try and jump in and out of the market.  Timing short term swings in the market is extremely difficult as it requires 2 near perfect actions - getting out at the right time and getting back in at the right time.

 2.  Stay calm and meet with your financial advisor.  Don't be afraid to ask questions.  It can be helpful to take another look at your investment goals, time horizon, risk tolerance and financial circumstances.

 3.  Maintain a diversified investment portfolio.  Some risks are worth taking and some are not.  Diversification helps mitigate risks that aren't worth taking like individual stock and sector risks.

4.  Invest regularly every month or quarter.  Regular investing encourages discipline and is an important strategy for taking the emotion out of investing.  Although it doesn't guarantee a profit or protect against loss, regular investing (especially starting as a young adult) is key to a successful lifetime investing experience.

Our objective is to design portfolios using passive asset class funds that maximize investors' returns within their tolerance for risk.  Here is what sets us apart:

  • Fee-only investment management
  • A disciplined investment strategy
  • Access to institutional no-load passive asset class funds
  • An academic Nobel Prize winning investment approach
  • Continued access to academic research
  • A tax-efficient focus
  • Valuable tax & estate planning ideas
  • Risk tolerance assessment
  • Periodic portfolio rebalancing
  • Regular communications and state of the art reporting
  • No front or back-end loads, no surrender fees, not locked in
  • Most important...A TRUSTED ADVISOR RELATIONSHIP
We thank you for your trust.  Please don't keep us a secret with your family and friends.  Introductions and referrals are always appreciated.  Wealth Management, LLC, a Registered Investment Advisor, is affiliated with Breneman & Company, PC and offers wealth management and investment advisory services.  Wealth Management, LLC is a Nebraska limited liability company.

Sincerely,

Corey D. Breneman, CPA/PFS
Investment Advisor Representative
 newsletter pic
 
As I sit down to this year's Thanksgiving meal, I will be thankful for many things. 

I'm thankful that my sister has completed her  year of chemotherapy, and is celebrating this Thanksgiving cancer free!

I'm thankful for the family that I will be sharing the meal with...my wife of almost 20 years, my three children, my parents, my grandparents, my siblings and my in-laws.

I've been told on several occasions that so long as you have your health and friends, life is good.  Funny how money isn't in that equation.  It doesn't guarantee either health or real friendship. 

As your financial advisor, I work to increase your wealth and help you make good decisions about your money.  As a fellow individual walking life's journey, I pray that your Thanksgiving is filled with the treasures of health, family and true friends.

 

I'm most thankful to the one who I will be saying thank you to...my God who gives good gifts to his children...especially the gift of his son Jesus.  Ah yes, Christmas is just around the corner.