Geoff

"Even in America, the land of the second chance, and of transcendentalist redeemers, the paradox inevitably arises: you cannot change the world (for example, a state of marriage [or conversely: an economy]) until the people in it change, and the people cannot change until the world changes." - Stanley Cavell

I hadn't seen this passage since the middle-years of college (long before I had an inkling's understanding of the power of tragedy, and the subsequent flow of change).  During those shattering years, I questioned the purpose of many practices and beliefs.  I wondered why so many studied the tragic Greek plays, the tragic writings of Kafka, or the tragic films; I wondered why people didn't focus solely on the works of those who burned brightly with life, those artists and thinkers who reaffirmed this world (and second chances) with zeal.  I never gave it much thought until recently.

But then I stumbled upon this one point that I had been missing (or most likely had been unable to internalize), which has only recently taken root in my mind:

What if philosophy is not, as many have supposed, a search for truth, but rather: the avoiding of the void (or avoiding [a] depression), the continual flight from skepticism, the acknowledgment that we are--by our very human nature--isolated: strangers to ourselves, others and the world all at once?

I take this question to mean simply this: philosophy (and education in general) was never about finding a truth, or the Truth (truth can be a wonderful object, but it fails to make us better than we are); rather, it is about recognizing the limits of our humanity (which can be thoroughly depressing for many reasons, not least of which is that these limits correspond to every facet of our economy--a financial extension of our humanity).  If this is the case (that philosophy is about avoiding voids), then there has certainly been a lot of philosophizing going on in the last fifteen months.  And this, I contend, is a good thing.

But then what does the last fifteen months, and philosophizing, and second chances have to do with anything?  I would say that if philosophy is a practice to aid us in recognizing the limits of our humanity, then tragedy is an event that allows us to come close to the void, to reflect on our experience, to begin a practice of philosophy; that tragedy makes us better than we are.  Tragedy has the potential to remind us of the extra-ordinariness of our ordinary lives (what some would call the point of philosophy); tragedies arm us to withstand or to appreciate better, the tragic dimensions of a world that those not similarly educated misunderstand (this is why everyone, at some point in life, will be told: "you kids just don't understand," and hopefully the speaker will have had the patience to help us understand).  I emphasize potential because there are those who view the tragic as a tragic vision (that this time it's different; that it's all over; I might as well give up).  However, tragedy need not be associated with only that unwavering, tragic vision; our desire for an end, a passivity, a will-to-nothingness is a denial of tragic wisdom, a denial of the temporality of tragedy.  

This year, in 2009, the markets have been an exclamatory example of both tragedy and its necessary temporality (admittedly, this story is not yet complete, it never can be, but I argue that there is plenty of tragic wisdom to be gleaned from this experience).  

Had our story (if I may speak collectively) stopped being written in 2008, it may have read very much like a Greek tragedy (and I most likely would have had no interest in it).  Thankfully, our story is a living one, and may never truly stop long enough to occupy only one genre.  But I see now that tragedy (and the accompanying politics) can lose its life when consigned to academic disciplines that treat it with such reverence that all profanity and darkness are banished (which is why the stories of war will never recreate fully the experience of it).  Without an earthly, painful, lived-through-this-world example of tragedy, the flow of tears stops, and the world flattens.

I feel comfortable saying that the last fifteen months has changed the world, and we too--as individuals--have changed.

I know I've changed.  I spent countless hours after work in a cafe with my text books (often with Farren in tow).  I completed my CFP studies in May and learned that I passed the CFP exam in September.  I took up piano once more after a very long hiatus and even purchased a ukulele (for such a tiny instrument it has a beautiful sound).  I started dancing again (and the fox trot is still as difficult as ever).  I also lost an important relationship earlier this year (my own, admitting triteness, personal tragedy); I know that many of you have had your own.  For 2010 I want to backpack more, and spend a week in Colorado skiing and hiking; I plan to write more.  

But let me come back to my original quandary: Why study tragedy?

Tragedy reminds us of the inherent limits--or difficulties--of our humanity (an inability to communicate, to say what we mean, to mean what we say; a lack of patience; a lack of trust--all these are the ingredients of classic tragedy, our current political and economic climate being no exception).  It is my hope, that having fulfilled the paradoxical requirements set forth at the beginning of this piece (a seemingly impossible, simultaneous change), that we can take from our experiences, our tragic wisdom, and use that knowledge to change the world and ourselves for the better.

And this year I leave you with one final thought:

The road we have taken is not the only one, but that, for better or worse, it is the one we are on.

Warm wishes to you and your family this holiday season; and as always, thank you for your patience and trust.

I will remember 2009 as a very full year for myself and my clients.

In August I transitioned to Forcella Wealth Management.  I owe many thanks to all the staff for spending days and days training me; your help has gotten me off to a great start!

I joined Forcella Wealth Management (and LPL Financial) because of the services and support I am able to offer my clients.  Much of the support is from LPL Financial, but the most important is provided by the people at FWM.  Many years ago, my brother said, "Tom, people make the difference" - Jim was right.  This is a great place to work and I am glad to be here.

My wife, Wendy, is on fire; she won the President's Circle award this year at her job with Bayer Healthcare.

My 25 year old son, Justin, is currently enrolled in a three year, on-line course in computer systems.  He is going for his dream job - working with computers.  I could not be prouder of his accomplishments.

Farren

Time has definitely escaped me this year.  As I look back I'm amazed that so much has happened!  It's only my second year here, but I already feel as though I've been working with everyone for many years.  I know there are still a few of you I haven't had the pleasure of meeting, but I'm looking forward to working with you this coming year.

This year has brought a deeper understanding of how fortunate I am to be working with my family and friends.  Looking around, I see my friends graduating and applying for jobs in a sluggish economy, disappointed that they have to move back in with their family.  As I see it, they get to move back in with their family, and I will be the first to point out what a rare opportunity they have. 

This year I completed my General Securities registration (the Series 7), the California Life Insurance license, and the Notary Public examination.  All of which wouldn't be possible without my family's support.  While this year did bring a lot of studying, it also gave me the opportunity to spend a lot of time with my brother, Geoff, who I often studied with.  This next year I would like to complete the Securities Principal registration (the Series 24) and begin the Chartered Life Underwriter program. 

As I get older I realize how much I want to do, and how much time I don't have to do it (I'm already finding how little time we have in the day to relax).  This year I'm hoping to reorganize some of my time and get back to doing some of the things I love (these past few months I have taken back up the cello).  If there's one thing I would like to focus on this next year, it's creating more creative time for myself and focusing on the amazing relationships I have in my life.

My fiancé, Scot, is finishing up his last year at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo in the architecture department.  He has been working tremendously hard these past few months applying to graduate schools.  I will say that I am looking forward to when he gets to move back home, but I'm also happy that he will be able to further his education.  We're both looking forward to our summer backpacking trip together.  We haven't decided on a country yet, but South America and Australia are a couple ideas we have been throwing around.

It has been such a great pleasure working with all of you, and I'm looking forward to seeing all of you this coming year.  Have a wonderful New Year!

One more year quickly behind us here at Forcella Wealth Management.  The office continues to grow with the addition of Jim's brother, Tom. 

My eldest daughter, Lanelle, is in her final year of graduate school, and soon she will be embarking on her new career as a School Psychologist.  Diane continues to enjoy the "Big City," (San Diego) and coming home to Redding when time allows. 

My husband and I now share our home with three dogs, none of which are ours (yep you guessed it, they are our girls' pets).  So, instead of suffering from empty nest syndrome, we have become care takers to three cute, little bundles of hair.  I'm not complaining, we have been animal lovers since we can remember.  But instead of living the life of a retiree, Craig is now head dog trainer.

I look forward to working with all of you in the upcoming year, and can't wait to see what the New Year brings here at Forcella Wealth Management.  Happy Holidays!

What a year!  From the depths of despair in March to solid stock and bond market gains by mid-December-patience is a virtue that rewarded investors in 2009.  You have placed in us your trust and patience in helping you manage your investment portfolio and guiding you through these challenging financial times.  I do not take that trust lightly.  As we move into 2010 I thank you for this trust and want to let you know that I will continue to do my best in helping you work toward your financial goals.

In November of 2009 I completed my third year with Forcella Wealth Management.  The growth and transformation of our team has been incredible and I would be remiss if I did not thank the staff and owner of the firm, Jim Forcella, for the opportunity to build a practice under his leadership and help.  We have a talented team here at FWM and in 2009 we saw job descriptions and duties really take shape as Geoff and Jim honed the organization for future growth and efficiency.  The Forcella, positive attitude also makes this a special place in which all of us can work and build a practice.

On a personal level my family is doing well.  Angelia, my spouse of 31 years, has been busy getting us settled in Redding and helping all of our children with their careers.  Derek is off at college working on a degree in computer engineering, Briana is preparing for a move to Nashville to work on her music career and college, and Nic is working through this tough economy as he and a friend build a tile business.  I am still enjoying the outdoors but have found less time in the field as my business grows.  I will be out in early January for my annual trip to the Sonora desert to pursue one of my favorite pastimes.

I look forward to seeing you in 2010.  Please do not hesitate to call. 

Happy holidays to you and your families, and best wishes for the New Year!

Sean

Last year I ended my note in the newsletter with: Cheers to a more tranquil 2009 for all.  I was optimistic; most of my certifications were behind me, and it seemed that things couldn't have gotten any more volatile.  2009 was a year that was every bit as emotional as 2008 (thankfully, in the opposite direction).  The year began with markets reverting to 2008-panic-stricken, dizzying drops, then stabilizing around the March lows and rebounding.  The gains have brought back a much needed sense of calm.  After reflecting on all of the volatility from the past two years, it's understandable that there remains some pessimism.  But now is exactly the time to focus on what is the goal in one year, five years or ten years--not what is happening tomorrow.

Despite the turmoil the economy has experienced, we at Forcella Wealth have endured.  It's a testament to the business Jim has built, his prudence, and all of our commitments to ensuring we provide the best experience we possibly can.  This is an ongoing process but one we strive to become better at.  One area I have worked to become better at this year is being more proactive and more concise with intricate explanations.

2009 has been a very busy year for me personally.  I finished the CFP coursework and am awaiting results from the final exam.  Outside of work I have been fortunate to travel throughout California and just recently returned from an amazing concert at the Walt Disney Concert Hall.  I went bungee jumping and sky diving for the first time; both experiences were exhilarating, although I can't say I'm in a hurry to bungee jump again.  I also celebrated my three-year anniversary with my girlfriend, Julia.  All the excitement and exhilaration were balanced by two particularly frightening experiences: swamping in Whiskeytown while rowing and being stranded in the water (48 degrees cold) for 25 minutes; second was being rear-ended at a dead-stop and losing my Ford Escape.  My year, in many ways, paralleled the ups and down of the market. 

As expected there is no shortage of opinions or blame for the causes of our current situation.  Most agree that the problems are many and well defined while the solutions are few and nonspecific.  Clarity and confidence are the underlying issues; they were in short supply as we began 2009 and some argue they continue to be.  Of course, you can find experts that run the spectrum: some feel the worst is ahead and others believe that the next bull market is starting.  In hindsight we'll know which is the correct stance.  The one thing that we can all agree about is that markets are cyclical, and patience is generally in the shortest of supply.

I look forward to serving you and here's to a resilient 2010!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!


Penny

This year I completed the last two items on my bucket list.  In March we took a train from Williams, Arizona to the Grand Canyon.  It is so beautiful, and the sunsets are amazing.  You don't realize how massive the canyon is until you're at the ridge looking down upon the mules at the bottom, you can barely see them.

In August I spent a week in upstate New York.  I went to Niagra Falls and the Thousand Islands.  We were so grateful to have such a breathtaking view of the falls from our hotel room; we were on the 21^st floor.  My friend Sharon said she didn't want to be any higher than the 7^th floor because the fire truck ladders can't reach any higher.  Naturally, during our last night the fire alarm went off.  We ran down 21 floors thinking the whole time: we have to get the 7^th floor so the fire trucks can save us.  Fortunately, it was a false alarm. 

I need more things on my bucket list.  If you have any ideas of good sites to see, please let me know.

It is my pleasure working in this office and with all of you.  Have a Merry Christmas and a healthy, happy New Year.