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Chuck Jones & Associates is an affiliated group of Northwest Asset Management registered investment advisor representatives and associated persons who are supervised by Northwest Asset Management, a SEC registered investment advisor.

All Things Financial
by: Charles P. "Chuck" Jones, CFP

April 2012

Vol.18  Issue 4
 

In This Issue
How Do I Choose...401(k)
Pet Parenthood
Chucks' Comments
 
 
QUICK LINKS:
 
 
  
Check out some interesting websites provided at the bottom of the page!

 

 

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Information throughout this publication, whether stock quotes, charts, articles, or any other statement or statements regarding

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There are no warranties, expressed or implied, as to accuracy, completeness, or results obtained from any information posted in this publication or any suggested or 'linked' website.

3D image of putting it together
What are YOUR best choices?.

 

 

 

How Do I Choose What Funds To Put In My 401(k)?

 

Retirement plan participants have a variety of options available when seeking help regarding their investment selections. Professionally managed accounts, target-date mutual funds, online advice, and the use of financial advisors outside the retirement plan are some of the most common sources of investment guidance plan participants have available. While these tools are proven to be effective, there is still a need to increase the confidence employees feel relating to their choices in their 401(k) or 403(b) plan.

 

According to a recent study, only 33% of employees report feeling confident in the way their investments are currently allocated. While these are certainly unusual times in the economy, only one out of three employees indicating confidence with their investment plans is disconcerting. (Full article...click here)

 

Conan's stunt double.
Conan's stunt double.

 

Pet Parenthood 

 

 

I have added to the profit level of my own vet since being adopted by a kitten a couple of years ago. Conan, as I named him, was the rowdy runt of a litter of Siamese-mix kittens that a neighbor who was moving was trying to give away. I wanted to make sure he was healthy, flea-free, and neutered, so off to the vet we went. Now after spending $100+ for the kitten package , including shots, worming, and de-fleaing and later followed by a separately priced neutering, I have a cute, clean, playful indoor cat...white with bright blue eyes & orangey-red ears...a kitten Conan O'Brien!

 

So far, he was a real discount kitty.

 

Then, one weekend, I was repairing a hem on a pair of pants. I was also doing laundry. You know, multi-tasking. The buzzer on the dryer went off, I put down my mending and went to get the laundry. When I returned, less than a minute later, my kitten was munching down the last bit of black thread...(click here for the rest of the story)

 

Chuck's CommentsChuck on sofa 

 

  

On April 5, 2012. a new bill on insider trading was signed into law. It strengthens existing legislation that bans government officials and members of Congress from profiting on private knowledge they gain at work. The House passed it on Febrruary 9th by a 417-2 vote and the Senate followed on march 22nd, with a vote of 96-3.

Called the STOCK (Stock Trading On Congressional Knowledge) Act, the law prohibits lawmakers, their staff members, and some executive branch employees from trading stocks, commodities, or futures based on non-public information that they learn on the job. It will also prevent lawmakers from participating in Initial Public Offerings that aren't available to the general public.

The law also blocks bonuses to employees of Fannie Mae & Freddie Mac, while they remain under government conservatorship.

My comments are questions:

  1. Why did it take so long?
  2. Who were the two members of Congress and the 3 members of the Senate who opposed this measure? (And I'd love to hear WHY!)
  3. How sad is it that we need to enact laws to watchdog the lawmakers, the folks that we elect to serve on our behalf?

Best regards-

 

Chuck

Thank you for reading our newsletter!

 

Here are some websites we found interesting/helpful:

 

 

www.nwasset.com  Read all about the Registered Investment Advisor that we've affiliated with. You can link directly to us by clicking on Chuck's photo!

 

babelfish.yahoo.com  So you want to learn the 'Star-Spangled Banner' in Spanish. Babel Fish translates whole paragraphs of text into and out of English.

 

 

Have you upgraded to a smartphone or iPad? Here are some fun

&/or useful applications that you might want to explore:

 

 

Measured:  You have two choices. You could climb a ladder and measure that section of gutter that's broken. Or, you could take two photos with the Measured app and let it do the measuring for you. The app will also tell you the distance of objects. So you can see how far you threw the tape measure when you fell off the ladder. Price not listed.

 

Pandora: Pandora. You know the one. The internet radio app that has uplifted a million work hours and workouts. It's simply the best out there, streaming music at home or on the go over Wi-Fi or 3G. Free.

 

 

 

 

 

 
 
Sincerely,


The Chuck Jones Team

 

                           Chuck      Jill       Jenna

 

                          Wendy  Kim

 


updated CJA group
Chuck, Jill, & Jenna