I once served on a board that was tasked with helping to grow a business. The members each had special talents they brought to the table and together we hoped we could share our strengths and find success. As time went on it was interesting seeing the different perspectives of each individual and how they…
DetailsI just love a good thunderstorm. Last week we sat on our balcony and watched in awe as one moved across the valley, complete with pounding rain, high winds, lightning and hail. A few days later Launa and I found ourselves boarding a commercial flight from Dallas as storm clouds gathered overhead. The airline told…
DetailsI read an interesting description of procrastination. It said procrastination is the result of the human inability to accurately predict how we’ll feel tomorrow. For example, when I get up in the morning I know I need to exercise but I don’t always feel like it so occasionally I put it off until later. I…
DetailsWhen I was young I purchased a lot of model airplanes. I bought them at the local hobby shop, which was my only option back then. Their selection and prices were all I had to choose from. Today’s consumers have access to products from almost unlimited sources. If I wanted a model plane today I could…
DetailsLast week I discussed how some investors perceive more risk in the stock market than may actually exist. I compared them to a nervous passenger grabbing a parachute and jumping out of a sound airplane because they feared otherwise harmless turbulence. There is another side to the incorrect perception of risk and I can illustrate…
DetailsI looked out the doorway of my hangar on a hot Saturday afternoon, watching another Regional Jet depart as I did some cleaning. I knew from years of experience that those summer thermals were creating a turbulent ride for the passengers in that plane, yet as I watched from the ground the flight looked as…
DetailsWith all this talk about building walls, I thought I might share my own experience with walls. When I was 25 I decided to build a block wall around my yard. I wasn’t skilled in masonry, so it took a long time to lay each row. I built the wall in 20-foot sections and installed…
DetailsA kind couple was opening an investment account and when the question came up about giving them online access they responded emphatically, “No, we don’t want any of our information available online in any form.” I remember thinking of the best way to let them know that their information was already on the internet in…
Details“How much money do I need to retire?” is a very common question I am asked. When I turn it back on the client I get varied responses but my favorite is, “I want just enough so that my last check bounces, and hopefully it’s made out to the IRS.” Sadly, some retirees spend money…
DetailsMost people are defensive by nature. They are primarily interested in protecting against risk. An example of this was my daughter’s recent visit to the rim of the Grand Canyon. Her two small boys, who are still too young to properly understand danger, were anxious to run over to the unprotected edge to see the…
Details