Financial Security

As 2014 closes and we look toward the New Year I would like to ask you; how are you feeling about your financial situation? Are you confident, confused, or concerned? I know the last few years have been tough for many and, if you are reading the news, the fiscal cliff is staring everyone in the face next week. Yet, despite the doom and gloom, many of my clients and associates are thriving. They face the future with confidence and optimism. Having the perspective of nearly 30 years in financial services and having had the pleasure of meeting and working with hundreds of folks during that time, I wanted to share some observations that may help you excel in 2015 and beyond.

30 years ago, when I started out as a broker, I thought the key to financial security was investing well and getting a big rate of return. After all, I read many of the pundits telling me that I need to invest well. Growth Stocks, Commodities, Real Estate, etc. were the road to great wealth and financial security. Over the years, I have come to realize that Wall Street wants our focus there so that we won’t see what is really happening.

North Bay residents have embraced the concept of “going local” by purchasing goods and procuring services from locally owned, independently operated businesses. What they may not realize is that they can also apply that “local” mindset to the way they make investment and financial planning decisions.