After the Storms - in Financial & Nature

I hope you and your loved ones avoided any of the nastiness that was Hurricane Irene. Someone once said, "Nature bats last." Ain't it the truth?

Items for your attention this week:

1 - Our official videographer Erik Olsen has put together an excellent 3-minute video of highlights from the August 19 reception and challenging presentation of Dr. Peter Brews. Click on the image below to view it. Also, for those who have requested the slides from Pete's presentation, you may download them by clicking here.

2 - Clients should remember the special portfolio resetting work session tomorrow (Tuesday, August 30). This important 1-hour workshop will introduce our newly-reconfigured model portfolios, including some asset classes and funds that we haven't used before. I strongly encourage all clients who can to attend one of the three sessions: 10:00am, 2:00pm, or 5:30pm. The same information will be covered at all three sessions, so pick a time that is convenient for you. No need to register, just show up at your preferred time. (For those who cannot attend, we will be preparing a DVD of the presentation for you to view at home.)

3 - After all the stress and strain of this summer, we deserve a little break. We will hold a Client Appreciation Movie Night on Friday, September 9 in the Depot Room. All clients are cordially invited, and you may bring up to three guests. We will enjoy made-to-order pizza from a real wood-fired oven, fresh local salad, plus Italian wine from our friends at La Bouteille and (of course) dessert. The movie, Casablanca, starring Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman, is one of the all-time classics. We will view it on the big screen in digitally-restored Blu-Ray high definition, complete with surround sound. It promises to be a fun night for all, and it's our way of saying thank you for putting up with us!

Enjoy the week!

-Andy

Adjusting to the New Realities

The equity markets were down for a fourth straight week as investors grapple with the new realities of the global economy. While our clients have not been completely exempt from the pain, our portfolio models are well-diversified, with a relatively small exposure to stocks. Even our most aggressive models have less than 50% of assets in the stock market. Now is when strategic diversification earns its keep. (Last week's video talks about the recent market volatility, its causes, and what it might mean for you. If you'd like to view it, click here.)

Items for your attention this week:

1 - I have been promising a change in our portfolio models. The research and revamping process is just about complete, and we will be showing the changes to clients at a special workshop next Tuesday, August 30. This important 1-hour workshop will introduce our newly-reconfigured model portfolios, including some asset classes and funds that we haven't used before. I strongly encourage all clients who can to attend one of the three sessions: 10:00am, 2:00pm, or 5:30pm. The same information will be covered at all three sessions, so pick a time that is convenient for you. No need to register, just email Libbie at ljohnson@low-stress-investing.com with your preferred time.

2 - Those who attended the talk by Dr. Peter Brews at the Tryon Fine Arts Center last Friday will tell you that it was a fascinating look at our nation's current fiscal dilemma, the generation-long process that brought us to this point, and the actions we as individuals can take to make it better for future generations. See below for one of the slides from his presentation. (We hope to have a brief video of the the event for next week's update.)

3 - We have totally re-done our website, www.low-stress-investing.com, and we're quite pleased with the result. If you haven't done so yet, please visit it and give us your feedback and suggestions.

Enjoy the week!

-Andy

Let's Make a Deal

1 - Well, that wasn't so hard. (Do you note just a touch of sarcasm here?) Late last night, leaders of both parties in Congress finally reached a compromise agreement to raise the federal debt ceiling and cut spending over the next ten years. However, the proverbial fat lady has yet to sing: the legislation still must pass both houses by midnight tomorrow night in order to meet the deadline, and it promises to be a heavy lift in the House of Representatives. So, we continue to wait....

3 - Please make your plans now to attend our August 9 event (that's next Tuesday) entitled "New Realities: Real Estate." Interest is very high in this timely topic. We have three distinguished panelists, each of whom can be considered a real estate expert. One one (Cathy Toomey, president of the Polk County Board of Realtors) is focused on Polk County, one (Madelon Wallace, partner with Walker Wallace and Emerson) the greater foothills region, and the third (Scott Hamilton, CEO of Advantage West) all of Western North Carolina. If you have any interest in discussing the new facts of life as they apply to real estate, I urge you to attend. Libbie will be contacting clients soon to take reservations.

3- Today is the one-year anniversary of Millard & Company as a separate corporate entity. My sincere thanks to Juliet, Libbie, Tabatha, Sharon, Bonnie, and Mike -- as well as many, many others. I am especially grateful to our wonderful clients, who have made this anniversary possible. Success is not achieved in a vacuum, nor is there any such thing as a "self-made man." It is with a sense of joy and thankfulness that I come in to our beautiful office every day, and we look forward to many more anniversaries to come.

Have a cool week!

~Andy