Things Change ... and We Should Change

"If you always do what you have always done, you will always be what you have always been." This is one of Jeff Thiesen and Lance Duekers's favorite quotes from their former coach Jim Sweeney. As we remember Coach Sweeney, we realize that his axiom on change can be applied to just about everything in our lives. Things change. It's inevitable. Those who accept change and proactively address the new necessities and opportunities it presents are able to move ahead positively. Those who aren't proactive allow change to impact them negatively.

There is an interesting article by Joe Fowler entitled "The Five Fundamentals of Dealing with Change" that offers great insight to help us change and come out ahead. Click on this link if you'd like to read it. http://www.well.com/~bbear/change2.html

We dedicate this edition of the TD Group eUpdate to change.

We feel that it is so important knowing what is happening in the lives of our clients, professionally and personally. What's changing for you?  Are you changing jobs?  Are you retiring soon?  Have you recently married or expanded your family?  Knowing what's changing for you helps us help you. We encourage you to keep us updated so we can help keep you moving forward toward your financial goals.

In these challenging times for investors, there is a growing demand for financial advisors who can help clients understand and adapt to changes. Even as patient long-term investment planning remains valuable, the global economic environment keeps shifting and financial choices keep expanding. Increasingly, investors want to know: "What is happening with the economy - and how does this affect my investments?" As we try to deepen our understanding of how our clients think, what they value and which concerns keep them awake at night, the economies and markets grow more dynamic. For this reason it is imperative to stay ahead of changes for you. We continuously meet with representatives of different companies in an effort to gain concensus and prospective on the changes we are most likely going to face together. In fact, just this past month we met with 5 of the top REITS in the country.  Also, you may have noticed that we made a few minor changes to some portfolios in anticipation of market changes.

And now for some fun changes ...

Welcome Te and Stephanie

Therese (Te) Shardlow comes to us with many years of experience in   all aspects of the financial industry. Currently licensed in our industry, she is going to be a huge asset to our team working alongside Jeff Thiesen, Lance Dueker and Jamie Davis. Te has 2 children, Ian and Erin. 

Stephanie May has worked in the investment services  business since 2004. She will be assisting Holly Bare with our 401k Plan business to provide the trustees and all participants of each plan that we manage with the best service and knowledge they need to help grow their retirement plans successfully. 

 

We're In the Community

We always like to share some of the things we are doing in the community as a company or on our own. We have always strived to earn your business by being the best at what we do. But we also promised that working with Thiesen Dueker helps us help our community. It's not just something we say. It's who we are. So we like to share how our team and what are people are doing to support the community. In Great Expectations, Charles Dickens said "Spring is the time of year when it is Summer in the sun and Winter in the shade."  That's true about the weather. But it's also true about the choices we make. Where we choose to stand. We are proud that our team chooses to stand in the sun to make the lives of others brighter.

Tom Morgan coaches Varsity Basketball at Clovis East High School.  He has run their program from K-12th grades for the past 9 years. They have won 3 Division One Valley Championships. He also assists with Fresno City College Basketball when time permits. Fresno City is a top program in California. He preaches about having a positive outlook on life, putting forth great effort, being coachable and being a great teammate. Tom is a big believer in helping kids in our community through sports.  By taking a positive approach to sports, he teaches discipline, self respect, team building, and dealing with every day ups and downs of life.

Ron Young has the same approach with coaching a team of 8-year-  olds in the "Upward Sports" Basketball program at First Presbyterian Church in Bakersfield. "The Bears" are a team of nine players with an emphasis on sportsmanship and fun while learning basic skills, how to play the game and a weekly scripture lesson to help instill values. The program has several hundred kids in various age groups from 6-12 that come from various backgrounds, schools and churches
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  Holly Bare has been a volunteer coach of the Fresno State Women's Golf Team for 3 years. The Bulldogs teed off their spring season on Feb. 16-17 at the Peg Barnard Invitational hosted by Stanford and placed in the top 10. They recently competed in a 2-day tournament at the Cal Classic in Pleasanton, CA, the Juli Inkster Spartan Invitational in San Jose and the Anuenue Spring Break Classic in Maui.  We wish the team luck throughout the rest of the spring season.

Ryan Purkiss is a busy man in Visalia. Along with being a member of  the Visalia Rotary Community Foundation Finance Committee and the Independent Citizen's Oversight Committee, Ryan supports the Samartian Center and Leadership Visalia. These are all such wonderful organizations. You can also hear Ryan's daily market report on AM 1450 KTIP and AM 940 ESPN Radio. 

It would be our pleasure to spend more time with you to discuss ways we can grow and preserve the wealth you have worked so hard to accumulate. As your financial consultants, we pledge to put your best interests first, communicate market opportunities, manage any risk you may face and make adjustments to your financial strategy as markets change and your needs evolve.    

Putting Your Tax Refund to Work

Should your refund be saved?  According to a TD Ameritrade poll, 47% of U.S. taxpayers expect a refund this year.  What do they plan to do with the money?  The answers may surprise you.  While 15% of the survey respondents indicated they would spend their refunds on discretionary purchases, 47% said they would save the money and 44% indicated they would use some or all of it to whittle away some debt.  Just 15% said they would invest it, and only 6% said they would direct it to charity.  Besides deposit accounts, consider other destinations.  Putting your refund into your savings or checking account is sensible enough - but with the interest rates most bank accounts earn today, you may be wondering about alternatives. Here are some other options.

Who Needs Estate Planning?

You have an estate.  It doesn't matter how limited (or unlimited) your means may be, and it doesn't matter if you own a mansion or a motor home.  Rich or Poor, when you die, you leave behind an estate.  For some, this can mean real property, cash, an investment portfolio and more.  For others, it could be as straightforward as the $10 bill in their wallet and the clothes on their back.  Either way, what you leave behind when you die is considered to be your "estate".  Why estate planning is so important, and not just for the rich.

Which Financial Documents Should You Keep On File?

You might be surprised how many people have financial documents scattered all over the house - on the kitchen table, underneath old newspapers, in the hall closet, in the basement. If that describes your financial "filing system", you may have a tough time keeping tabs on your financial life.  Organization will help you, your advisors...and even your heirs.  If you've got a meeting scheduled with an accountant, financial consultat, mortgage lender, or insurance agent, spare yourself a last-minute scavenger hunt.  Take an hour or two to put things in good order.  If nothing else, do it for your heirs.  When you pass, they will be contending with emotions and won't want to search through your house for this or that piece of paper.

Strawberry Arugula Salad

Ingredients

2 cups torn fresh arugula or baby spinach

3/4 cup quartered fresh strawberries

1/4 cup slivered almonds

1/4 cup crumbled Gorgonzola cheese

2 tablespoons chopped red onion

2 tablespoons olive oil

1 tablespoon thawed orange juice concentrate

1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar

1 1/2 teaspoons grated orange peel

1/8 teaspoon ground ginger

Directions

In a salad bowl, combine the first five ingredients.  In a small bowl, whisk the oil, orange juice concentrate, vinegar, orange peel and ginger.  Pour over salad; toss gently to coat. Yield: 2 servings.