PiggyBankWritingPersonal Money Planning's

e-Newsletter for May 16, 2009

(to look at past issues, click here)
Also In This Issue
Not Funny: Boomer Retirement
Four Sins of Investing
Sins of the Advisor
parting thoughts: The Future is Here (and it's a little scary)
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Not Funny
Normally I put something funny or inspirational here. Instead I'm putting in a link to an Op-Ed by David Ignatius of The Washington Post.
 
David, like myself, is a baby-boomer. It seems that he's just realized that boomers may be headed toward trouble in affording their retirement.
While he is usually found talking about foreign affairs, David does a good job of highlighting what's going on in the boomer retirement world.
 
 
 

Disclosure

 

This newsletter is produced by Gary Silverman, dba Personal Money Planning, a registered investment advisor located in Wichita Falls, Texas.

Information in this newsletter is believed to provide accurate and authoritative information in regards to the subject matter covered. However, the accuracy, timeliness, or applicability of the information is not guaranteed and is provided with the understanding that we are not rendering legal, accounting, tax, or other professional advice or services.

This publication should not be construed by any consumer and/or prospective client as Personal Money Planning's solicitation to effect, or attempt to effect transactions in securities, or the rendering of personalized investment advice for compensation, over the Internet. Nor should links provided to other sites be construed as the recommendation of the services or products mentioned on those sites. If such services are required, the help of a competent professional should be sought.

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Personal Money Planning does not make any representations or warranties as to the accuracy, timeliness, suitability, completeness, or relevance of any information prepared by any unaffiliated third party, whether linked to Personal Money Planning's web site or incorporated herein, and takes no responsibility therefore. All such information is provided solely for convenience purposes only and all users thereof should be guided accordingly.

 
 Gary Silverman, CFP  
Videos
 
T. Rowe Price, one of my favorite fund families, has released a series of short videos on the Internet that I think you might enjoy.
 
Steven Huber, manager T. Rowe Price Strategic Income FundSteve provides an overview of the fixed income markets, including his views on the state of the credit markets and his outlook for interest rates and yield spreads.
 
Ned Notzon, chairman of T. Rowe Price's Asset Allocation CommitteeNed discusses managing a diversified investment strategy in volatile markets, the rationale for a higher equity allocation in the Company's Retirement Funds, and his outlook for equity and fixed income investing.   
 
Alan Levenson, T. Rowe Price chief economist
Alan provides an update on the U.S economy, including his views on Fed policy and the Treasury bailout plan.    
Note: I'm not endorsing their funds (though I like many of them) or their views (though I agree with most), so make up your own mind and don't sue me.
 
Gary
 
Gary Silverman, CFP  
The Four Sins in Investing
In case you missed the half-hour presentation on TV, the one-hour seminar, or the five articles in the Times Record News, here's a compiled version of my talk on the Four Sins in Investing. 

I've been helping people invest their money for 20 years. Over those two decades I've seen (and made) a lot of mistakes. Some seem to show up time and time again. I've categorized them into four main types: the Four Sins in Investing.
 
The Four Sins are:

  • Selling when the market is low; 
  • Permitting a bear market to affect your lifestyle; 
  • Letting your money run out before you do; and 
  • Allowing your portfolio to go to zero.
 
  


Advisor Sins

Investors aren't the only ones who sin. As Bernard Madoff proves, investment professionals are very capable of doing evil.
 
You would think that Certified Financial Planners would be a nicer breed. Maybe we are, but I can assure you that bad things happen from our ranks as well.
 
The CFP governing board has issued its latest announcements regarding public disciplinary actions imposed on current and former CFP� certificants. Want to see if your CFP licensed advisor is one of the culprits? Check out the two recent lists at: http://www.CFP.net/media/release.asp?id=210 and http://www.CFP.net/media/release.asp?id=212.
 
As the CFP Board states:
 
While we regret that these actions are necessary despite our emphasis and guidance on ethical behavior and requirements for CFP� certification, it is important to note that the vast majority of certificants are helping their clients and providing advice consistent with the fiduciary standard of care.
 
Nonetheless, there is no question that the fallout from the Madoff scandal and the resulting media scrutiny of everything related to financial services are sad reminders of how easily the unethical actions of a few can color the public's perception of an entire industry or profession.
 
Tell me about it.




 
parting thoughts 
Right Here, Right Now
 
During a Chamber of Commerce networking meeting, L.O. Nelson, of the Small Business Development Center, showed us a 5-minute video that is extraordinarily thought provoking. If you have kids, if you have a business, if you have any reason to wonder just what the future will be like, I suggest watching it.
 
Then think.
 
Find it at
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UIDLIwlzkgY
  
That's all for this week.
 
Gary Silverman caricature
 
 
 

Gary

 
Gary Silverman, CFP
Personal Money Planning  
 
 

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