 With weeks of temperatures in the triple digits, we are officially in the dog days of summer and here comes August steamrolling in. We take a slightly novel approach to coping with Texas's hottest month. Many families get out of Dodge in August and head to cooler climates (see ideas below). Yet we use the month to get a jump on our always busy fall season. We take time to recharge our batteries and reset our goals before the season starts off with a bang the day after Labor Day.
So, if you are part of the few and the brave who stick it out here in town, we encourage you to stop by and share a tall, cool refreshment and enjoy one of these last, precious days of Summer 2011 with us. Enjoy!
Michael & Tina
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Tannery Named Five Star Wealth Manager
 We are pleased to announce that Michael Tannery has once again been named as a Five Star Wealth Manager for 2011. You can see his name included on the list in the August, 2011 issue of Texas Monthly. Michael's selection for this elite group of wealth managers was based upon an independent survey of client satisfaction. Less than 7% of eligible wealth managers are selected each year. Visit www.fivestarprofessional.com for more information on the Five Star Award and the research and selection methodology.
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Beat the Heat Retreats
In August, Texas seems to empty out as folks head out to escape the heat or treat the family to a trip before school starts. Below we give you some vacation alternatives you may not have considered.
A  s we write this, most major metropolitan areas are sweltering, except for the San Diego/La Jolla area in southern California. This time of year, even most beach towns are too darn hot, but La Jolla (the jewel) offers beautiful beaches and a temperate climate year-round. In August, you can find flights on major carriers like American Airlines for less than $300 if you book now. San Diego, La Jolla and Carlsbad all offer a great range of resort hotels you can enjoy now. You'll discover a myriad of fun activities in Southern California that appeal to all ages, from the San Diego Zoo to Legoland to deep sea fishing to fine shopping and dining.
It's off-season in the Caribbean, so you can get great deals on hotels and airfare. Even though it might be a sweltering 95 on the beaches of Florida right now with humidity to match, in a little over an hour you can fly from Miami to a range of islands with cool breezes and temperatures that usually stay in the 80s. Try Grand Cayman, Turks & Caicos, St. Barts or St. Lucia.
If you go to Colorado in August, you'll find the population almost doubles with Texans escaping the heat in mountain resorts. One of the best travel values in the country is the YMCA of the Rockies in Estes Park. They usually book up in advance but last we checked, they had a variety of lovely family cabins still available for rent at very reasonable prices. Activities galore! We love the Breckenridge area, too--a perfect base for hiking and rafting in Summit County. If you are in the mood for a romantic splurge, nothing beats The Broadmoor, the Grand Dame of the Rockies.
If you are planning to travel with a family or large group, you can usually find better deals through a vacation rental organization than you can staying in a hotel. See article at bottom. Have fun and stay cool! |
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Family Index Stress Test
Portfolio risk is a bit like the fable of the Three Bears. Some people take on too little, some too much, yet some have their portfolio risk set JUST RIGHT!
How do you know what's right for you? Especially in today's rapidly shifting market condition? In the past ten years, we've seen the stock market rise higher than anyone would ever have expected, and then seen it sink like a stone, with a percentage drop far greater than anything we've experienced in my lifetime.
At Tannery & Company, we use the Family Index Stress Test to help you profit from the swings in investor emotions and help address the vulnerabilities in your current portfolio.
For example, if we head into a period of expansion, your portfolio performance could be hurt by a decline in bond prices or holding too much cash. If we have another economic dip, your portfolio could be negatively effected by too much exposure to equities, high-yield bonds and real estate.
All these things also need to be evaluated in the context of your life goals, because isn't that the only valid reason to accumulate a nest egg? What are your important goals? College education for your kids or grandkids? A destination wedding? A dream house or retirement home? Early retirement? All these goals need to be put into a portfolio model to find YOUR FAMILY INDEX--the rate of return you need to accomplish your goals.
TAKE THE FAMILY INDEX STRESS TEST
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Dream Vacations on a Realistic Budget!
 These days, you don't have to be Bill Gates to live a lifestyle of the rich and famous--at least for one week a year. Many people, especially those traveling with families or a group, are turning to vacation rental companies and discovering that you can rent a villa, castle or beach bungalow for less than a standard hotel in your vacation destination. Plus, when you rent a private home, you typically have all the comforts of home.
Parents love the convenience of being able to cook some or all meals in fully equipped kitchens rather than wrangle wiggly kids in restaurants. It gives your tribe more room to spread out, plus more options to come together to play games or share a meal. There are scores of vacation and villa rentals places, but these two stand out for reliability and the size of their vacation rental portfolios:
Here are just a few of the thousands available on these websites:
NOTE: We are not recommending any of the above properties, just giving you an overview of the type of accomodations available.
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As a valued client or friend of Tannery & Company Wealth Management, thank you for spending time with us today. If you have any financial issues or concerns, pick up the phone and give us a call. We are always happy to hear from you and welcome your referrals.
214.239.4700
Sign in, sound off! We'd love to hear your comments. |
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If I owned both Hell and Texas, I'd live in Hell and rent out Texas.
Mark Twain
American humorist & writer
1835 - 1910 |
Chrissy's Corner 
Just this week I bought a plaque for a friend of mine with one of my favorite quotations: "Don't take life too seriously. Nobody gets out alive anyway."
At Tannery & Company, we take our work seriously. Yet we do believe in work/life balance and all of us WORK at maintaining a high quality of life at the office and after hours.
In the past 30 days, I've biked, played tennis and attended numerous fitness boot camps. Yes, I enjoy those boot camps! My husband and I have been camping at Lake Texoma and gone up to see Steely Dan at Winstar. Amazingly, they are still steely after all these years!
There is something magic about planning ahead and putting fun things on your calendar. Research actually shows that looking forward to planned events can keep you healthier and lower stress.
What do you have on YOUR
calendar? For some ideas, see our Events section below. From all of us at Tannery & Company, we hope you enjoy the rest of your summer! |
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Tina's Tip
Coaching Keeps You in the Game
As we were putting this issue together, I had just returned from a group coaching session offered by friend and mentor Joan Richardson. Right now, I'm attending her 100-Day Coaching Program for women and recommend it highly. Most of you know I am very goal-driven, yet Joan's class has helped me get better organized and stay focused on vital shorter-term objectives. I truly enjoy the camaraderie of this small group, and Joan has become quite the cheerleader for all of us! She is putting together another class starting August 31. Check it out!
I also highly recommend another coaching company, The Transitions Coach, founded by good friend Lori Darley in 1998. Lori offers a number of individual and corporate training programs designed to help people perform at a higher level.
If you are looking to boost your personal productivity for a more successful fall season in your business, consider signing up for some coaching. Both of these coaches have the ability to help you recognize and capitalize on your strengths to unlock your true potential. |
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Michael's Mission
This dandy little device has made a dramatic improvement in the quality of our increasingly digital life. Are you tired of your smart phone draining to nothing when you need it most? Or your IPad running out of juice on the airplane? You've GOT to get one of these! Zaggsparq is an on-the-go charger for a wide variety of digital devices, from phones to gaming gear. We like the fact that you can plug in TWO USB devices at once to recharge. Great for a power couple on the go! Make sure you buy the latest improved 2.0 version--as the original is still available for sale. |
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What We're Reading
Younger Next Year: A Guide to Living like 50 Until You're 80 and Beyond
This is hands-down our favorite fitness book these days, although of course Tina is well shy of the half-century mark! It's a great read for any age. There's a version for both men and women (see below). Well-researched and jampacked with interesting anecdotes, authors Henry Lodge (young) and Chris Crowley (old) offer an entertaining and highly motivating spin on keeping fit and happy. We both plan to keep using their Kedging Trick well into our 90s and beyond. Men's edition (click on photo): Women's edition (click on photo): |
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Event Calendar
August 15-21 Dallas Restaurant Week If you live in Dallas, don't miss this! Select from 130 restaurants and enjoy a three-course dinner for $35. For each dinner purchased, restaurants make a $7 donation to the North Texas Food Bank. Restaurants have not yet been announced, so check back at the KRLD website. August 19-21 TAX-FREE WEEKEND! Designed for parents to more affordably equip their kids for back-to-school, anyone can take advantage of this great discount on clothing, shoes, and school supplies. Certain specialty apparel is still taxed.
Join Michael on this 30th anniversary ride--the largest sanctioned ride of its kind in the country. From personal experience, the ride is actually 102 miles long. |
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