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2010-2011 New Year's Newsletter
JIM
At 9:30am on a foggy day in December, Janette and I landed at the Redding airport--the ending of a red-eye flight from a week-long anniversary vacation in Hawaii. As the plane taxied into the airport I really got the sense that I was home. As I dashed out of the terminal to pick up my car I was struck with the great sensation of Redding air. While Hawaii is a great place to visit in December it does not begin to compare with Redding's seasons and daily temperature extremes. However, the real draw of this area the people like you who have trusted our organization to help support your financial well-being. I do not take that trust lightly and promise to continue to be intellectually honest and forward thinking with each of you.
Despite the hardships that we have encountered over the years, we live in a great time and place in history. I feel that collectively, we are among the luckiest people in in the world.
A giant thank you to my family, staff and representatives that make up our team at FWM:
Terie, our office manager, continues to come up with positive changes and suggestions to make things better for everyone. Thank you for all your extra efforts on behalf of our clients.
Penny, you are worth your weight in gold, thank you for filling in and for your versatility and ability to get just about anything done.
Farren, you have grown leaps and bounds in the last year. I support your endeavors, whatever they may be in the future. Thank your for your positive attitude and skillful support.
Tom, congratulations on your completion of the CFS® (Certified Fund Specialist) and BCE® (Board Certified in Estate Planning) designations. You have been a great asset to your clients and FWM--we appreciate how hard you have worked in the last year. And your weekly delivery of roses in the office are simply the best.
Steve, you never cease to amaze me, thank you for being a part of our team and for your positive contribution to your clients, staff and family.
Geoff, you are a great business partner. Your educational work with all of us has contributed--in large part--to our best year ever. Your extra efforts are noticed and appreciated. Congratulations on the completion of your CLU® (Charter Life Underwriter) designation and for meeting with Dr. Breech, CEO and founder of Cougar Global, and Dan Fox, CEO and founder of Quantitative Advantage.
Janette, thank you for your behind the scenes support of myself, our family and team.
As for me, it has been a great year. I did several bike rides on the new Sacramento River trail--if you get a chance, check out the new trail above the Keswick Dam. I made several hikes at Lassen Park with my family. I managed one golf game this year and am planing more in 2011. The peaches did well this year but I had a minimal apple crop; cherries were eaten by the birds; apricots and plums were hit by frost. I expanded the orchard to the west this year and planted about 20 more peaches. Never can have too may peach trees.
My goals for 2011: more time on the local hiking and biking trails, reading, and spending more time traveling with Janette.
Wishing everyone the best of holidays and a very happy New Year!
GEOFF
My dear friends,
Let me start here:
"To say that the world is out there, that it is not our creation, is to say, with common sense, that most things in space and time are the effects of causes which do not include human mental states. To say that truth is not out there is simply to say that where there are no sentences, there is no truth, that sentences are elements of human languages, and that human languages are human creations. Truth cannot be out there - cannot exist independently of the human mind - because sentences cannot so exist, or be out there. The world is out there, but descriptions of the world are not. Only descriptions of the world can be true or false. The world on its own - unaided by the describing activities of human beings - cannot." Richard Rorty
I begin with Rorty to set the stage for what has been an incredible year of learning and self-awareness on my part.
Something I've thought before is that growing up in a modern society (post modern society? capitalist society? American society?) seems to be about learning that most of what is said is only meant more or less--as if words were but stuffs of fabric and we saw no difference between shirts and sails and ribbons and rags--as if our words weren't worth much attention.
However, consider that language, our words (even if only spoken in our heads--which is where a lot of us spend most of our time) fundamentally shape our view of the world and our view of ourselves in the world, and thus our actions taken in response to the world. This is powerful, and I would offer that believing that what is said is meant only more or less is similar to building a cage, walking inside, locking the door and throwing away the key. We literally construct a view of the world and forget that we make it up.
If I have the thought (the internal dialogue) that my significant other is a jerk, I will naturally act and respond accordingly (and she will definitely be a jerk when I interact with her). This might sound like common sense, and you might say 'of course, I know that'. And yet, we do this all the time. On the way home from work, at the grocery store, while cleaning the house--we are always talking to ourselves as if the other is there, trying to preemptively plan what the other will say (anyone who has ever been in a relationship can attest to this), and when we see them we've already decided that they're a <insert your favorite phrase here>. And we haven't even spoken to them! How is that for the power of unreality?
To summarize: Most of us live in our heads (it's a very nice place, after all), and we say things that that we think are meant only more or less, and then those words come back to completely alter our reality. And we don't even realize it.
There are other truths out there that are also not well known:- The richest 2% of the world population own more than 51% of global assets; the richest 10% own 85% of global assets.
- If you make $26,000 this year, you're in the top 10% of global wealth today. If you make $35,000, you're in the top 5%; $50,000, the top 1%.
For those who fall into these bullet points: it is not because we are intrinsically smarter, or harder-working, or somehow more deserving than the other 90% of the world (we might say something like this in our heads, but it's no more a part of reality than the phrase, 'my brother is a jerk'--you might say he is, but you still made that up in your head); rather, it is simply: they are us in but different circumstances.
Now, I don't say any of this to diminish the hardships we face. As a nation we still have many issues to discuss: from the economy, to health care, to energy, to environmental sustainability, to taxation, to education, and on; we will struggle to find employment that is meaningful and we will disagree on how best to plan for the future; we may argue and misunderstand and even, at times, think (in our heads) that we hate each other.
However, these, truly, are luxuries.
This year I have had the privilege of hiking nearly half of Lassen National Park (a treasure I didn't begin to explore until recently). I completed my Open Water diver certification at Whiskey Town lake and plan to finish the Advanced certification in 2011. I enjoyed another year working with my friends and family, and I reconnected with many people who had been living in my head instead of reality.
And so, this time of year I give thanks, and give thanks, and give thanks yet again.
Thank you for your continued trust and support, it means the world to us.
All my love.
STEVE
It has been a busy year. My wife, Angelia, and I have been empty-nesters since April and I find the change refreshing, but I miss our three children tremendously. Our youngest Derek is still off at college in Washington and is doing great. Nic and Bri are in Nashville. Bri is trying to make headway on her music career while Nic, who started off going along to help his sister, has found a good job and is enjoying his time in the home of country music.
We are still making wine with good friends and are continuing to spend time in the yard. I spend a good portion of my free time hunting and Angelia was been working on her passion of fashion design.
As difficult as these last few years have been I do want to take a moment to be thankful for all the gifts we have living in this country. I am grateful to my clients and friends who have made the transition of our life here in Redding so enjoyable. Above all I am grateful for the support and love of my family (especially Angelia who has been my partner in life for over 33 years).
I wish you all the very best in the coming year and I look forward to seeing you in 2011. Best regards and happy holidays.
FARREN
Looking back through my calendar I am amazed at how fast the year has gone by. Though it has been busy it has brought many new and exciting opportunities. For one, I had an epiphany this year: I realized that the only person in my way was myself. I had heard the expression before, but I only knew of it--I had never lived it. With this, I began to look at all of my pre-existing ideas about myself and the people in my life. I realized that I could do without a lot of these ideas, and so began the great task of rebuilding what I thought I already knew.
I created new declarations for myself and set new priorities, ones that have challenged me both physically and mentally. In creating these new opportunities for myself I have also been pleasantly surprised to find that I have been creating opportunities in my relationships with others.
I once said that I would never go hunting. My rationale was that I hated guns, I didn't want to kill an animal, and that it just wasn't my thing. When I examined my own argument I saw that I had no idea why I hated guns, why I couldn't kill an animal and why hunting wasn't my thing. I was afraid to give up my initial stance at first, but once I realized that I had never given myself the opportunity to truly make a choice my hang up vanished. During this personal experiment I thought who better to ask for the opportunity than my coworker, Steve Boero. And so, Steve happily took me out to his ranch to show me the ropes. While I didn't actually hunt anything (I have yet to take my hunter safety course) I was able to shadow Steve. By the end of our hike I realized that I had held a very small idea of what hunting actually was. I had no idea how much strategy it would take or how much solitude one can find. While I may never call myself a hunter I do have a new found appreciation for the sport.
I've also been fortunate to spend more time hiking and snowshoeing with my family these past few months. Lassen National Park is absolutely breathtaking when it is covered with snow! Terie has been keeping me in shape during the weeks when I'm not hiking-she is not only an amazing office manager, but an amazing running coach as well. Next month I am looking forward to taking a trip to Peru and hiking around the Inca Trail. I can only hope that hiking around Lassen will help prepare me for Machu Picchu.
It's been a pleasure working with you and I'm looking forward to another great year. Happy Holidays!
TOM
I want to thank all my clients who have continued to work with me since transitioning to Forcella Wealth Management. It's wonderful to be part of this fantastic group of people.
This year I completed the Board Certified in Estate Planning (BCE®) and Certified Fund Specialist (CFS®) designations. These have been great educational programs.
My wife, Wendy, is enjoying her 13th year working in women's health care . She loves working with her doctors and has most of them "properly trained". In October, Wendy and I vacationed in Mexico and enjoyed the sites and the beaches. Back at home, Wendy and I have been shooting skeet at the Redding Gun club on the weekends, spending time with both our families, our two dogs, and tending to our rose garden.
My son, Justin, is completing the 3rd and final year of his computer programming credential. He is living in Montana and enjoying many outdoor activities and sports in the north country. He is working hard and I could not be prouder of his accomplishments.
Wishing everyone a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
TERIE
Another year has already come and gone and it's hard to believe that I am already in my 6th and final year here at Forcella Wealth Management. Next year I will be joining the ranks of quite a few of you when I officially retire (though you will continue to see me as I plan to stay on part-time).
My children are realizing their goals: Lanelle graduated with her masters in May and has already landed a job at Foothill High School as the School Psychologist; Diane is still enjoying the big city and has become one of the world's official "shopaholics." I can't blame her though, there is so much to do down there and the stores are amazing--I try to visit often.
My husband Craig says he is looking forward to my retirement, which is part of the reason I decided to stay on part-time--the house has been his domain for the past five years and I wouldn't want to intrude on his space.
We have many trips planned and I'll finally have the time to travel extensively if we want.
I look forward to seeing all of you in the New Year and another year working for Forcella Wealth Management.
PENNY
The year went by in the blink of an eye. I spent January, February and March in Arizona with my very good friend, Jack Larkin. We golfed and enjoyed the warm weather. We plan to do the same thing in 2011.
In June, Jack and I went to North Dakota to a friend's anniversary party. We traveled through Custer Volksmarch to the Chief Crazy Horse Memorial. It's so beautiful in that area.
In October Jack and I went to China on a culinary tour. In addition to eating our way through China, we saw many beautiful, historical and ancient sites.
My children and grandchildren are doing well. My oldest daughter, Kelly, works for AIG Valic in our old office on Churn Creek. She is a Girl Scout Leader and loves to scrap book. Her Husband is the manager at Radio Shack in the Mall. They have four children.
My youngest daughter, Shelly, is a certified pharmacy technician at Elmore's Pharmacy in Red Bluff. She is a Cub Scout leader and does stained glass. Her husband, Rob, is the manager at Jack-in-the-Box in Red Bluff. They both commute everyday from Redding. They have one child.
Amanda is 17. She is attending Shasta College her senior year of high school in the college connection program. She is active in the church and Girl Scouts. She plays the flute, the oboe and the sax.
Andrew is 15. He is a sophomore at Anderson High School. He likes to play basketball and is hoping to get his driving permit soon.
Alex is 12. He is in 7th grade at Anderson Middle School. He plays the sax and likes to ride his bike.
Aaron is 9. He is in 3rd grade in Anderson. He is extremely active and likes to do everything. They are all, of course, video gamers.
Matthew is 8. He is in 3rd grade at Boulder Creek. He is a Cub Scout. He likes to ride his bike and his scooter. He swims and has a trampoline.
Well, enough about me. I hope you had a good year. Have a Merry Christmas and a healthy, happy new year. It has certainly been a pleasure working with you all these years.
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Warm Regards,
Jim Forcella, CFP®, CFS®
LPL Branch Manager
LPL Investment Adviser Representative
CA Insurance License #0635256
P.S. - Please feel free to forward this commentary to family, friends, or colleagues. If you would like us to add them to the list, please reply to this e-mail with their e-mail address and we will ask for their permission to be added.
Closing Reminders - Should your personal or financial situation change (i.e. Marital or employment status, beneficiary changes or income needs) please contact us at 530.222.6301 or 800.546.5573 for either a phone review, or an appointment. We want to ensure that your current financial objectives meet your personal circumstances.
Forcella Wealth Management Information - Are you receiving too much mail regarding your investments? You now have the option to receive your LPL Financial communications electronically! LPL Financial is pleased to offer the convenience of viewing shareholder communications, including the fund prospectus, annual reports, and proxy statements online. Visit the link below to be directed to a secure website where you will enter your LPL Financial account number and Email address. You will no longer receive shareholder communications information through the mail but can request a hard copy at any time. Please feel free to contact us if you have any questions regarding this form.
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Forcella Wealth Management
1600 Victor Ave ● Redding, CA 96003
Phone 530.222.6301 ● Toll Free 800.546.5573 ● Fax 530.226.1677
jim.forcella@lpl.com ● www.forcellawealth.com
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Securities Offered Through LPL Financial Member FINRA/SIPC
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