November 2008

Dear Clients and Friends,

I have much news to tell you!

First I’d like to make an offer to all clients and non-clients:

If you are an Osprey client, you probably already know that I am willing and ready to help you re-position your 401k with your employer. We call this reallocation, and it is essential during this time to control the risk to your retirement plan. For those of you who aren’t currently clients, my charge to analyze your current retirement accounts and help you discern your objective is $500. To help allay the fear and anxiety out there right now, I’d like to offer this service for $150 from now until the end of the first quarter of 2009. Just give our office a call. We want to help.

Secondly, Matrix has rolled out a new set of mutual funds that are based on the same philosophy, but do give you additional options. The micro funds in the old program are now closed to new investors, so to add this sector to your investments, you need to use the new funds. Also, you can mix the objectives. Those of you who just opened accounts are already in the new funds. Call me if you are interesting in learning more.

Year to date Matrix continues to bring in far more new dollars than are withdrawn. This is completely opposite to the actively managed mutual industry, which has seen huge numbers coming out of their funds year to date. Perhaps part of the reason ~ most investors do not have coaches helping them adhere to their investment plan.

Third, we have a new part-time employee! Amy Smith, who has lived in our area for 27 years, is onboard now assisting us with bookkeeping and helping with the seminars and other outside activities. We are so pleased to have her expert help and cheerful personality around the office.

One of her first duties, aside from bookkeeping, is assisting me at Suze Ormon’s presentation at the King Center on November 22nd. Osprey Money Management is one of four sponsors. We will have a table at the event, along with our books and information. If you are local, come say hi!

Warmest Regards,
Kasey Claytor

 

What’s Going to Happen?

No one knows what will happen in the near future, however, we don’t lack for opinions on what will happen and when.

During the first couple of recessions I went through as a young broker, I remember listening to the other brokers give rapid, definite answers when clients asked such questions as, “When is the market going to turn around?” and “When is the recession going to end?” One cause of anxiety over current events is the variety of views given about how the near future will play out. From the stock brokers, advisors, analysts, economists, and political leaders we hear prognostications that run the gamut of all possible scenarios. That is because no one really knows.

It’s human nature to want someone to tell us what will happen. That’s why brokers often come up with their own firm opinion; the client feels better hearing someone who sounds sure. Short term (within the next 6 to 12 months) volatility in the markets and the behavior of the consumers is one big unknown.

I have been in this industry long enough to have heard many, many outrageous predictions over the years. The most extreme predictions were just fear talking. People tend to forget how resilient the markets are, how resilient we, (the public) are, and how creative, innovative, and visionary corporate America can be.

Within this current economy the seeds are being planted for new innovations, new business plans, new products, and new services that will benefit from the changes coming and that we will also benefit from. Wise investors are buying into this volatility.

The important things to do now:
Be prepared for the near term and the long term, make sure your investments are positioned through extensive diversification for both downsides and upsides, and reallocate on a regular basis. You do this, and you are prepared to wait until we come out the other side. If you are with Matrix this is already being done for you.

This entry was posted on Saturday, November 15th, 2008 at 2:03 pm and is filed under Newsletters.