May 2009

Much has changed since we last communicated through this newsletter. The markets have been making steady advances since March, and some of you haven’t seen it yet because you’ve only received the first quarter statements. Those of you who go online to check on your accounts, or have called in, have been happy to see this turn of events. The Dow Index is up over 30% since March 9th. No one knows if this will continue, or if we will test the lows again, but it seems as though the worst in the markets is behind us. We’ve had a very rough decade after two decades of dominantly bull stock markets. Our defensiveness on the conservative portfolios has really paid off. Those of you young enough to have more aggressive portfolios are moving right along with the robust current trend.
 

      I can’t say enough about the maturity and wisdom our clients have displayed throughout this difficult time. I know it wasn’t easy, and going forward there still may be bumps, but I know you will survive and thrive! Many inquisitive prospective clients have visited our offices during the last year, after making the decision to sell their investments, giving up on the markets and giving in to their fears. (It’s understandable, that’s why I love coaching as a solution.)  Some had stopped contributing to their retirement accounts when all the stocks were cheap. In many cases, it will take those investors more time to break even than those of us who rode it through with a Matrix or Abacus extensively diversified account, especially those that have systematically added to their accounts. (Way to go!)
 
 On another note…
      I know some of you have received a call regarding the proxy vote on the Dimensional Funds. The company they hired to do the calling, The Altman Group, jumped the gun and began calling before you received the literature in the mail! You have plenty of time to go over the information coming to you (until June) and I will make myself available to discuss this with you.
     And, lastly, we are so happy to announce we have a new member of our team, Wendy Wade. She is our Events Coordinator. She will be attending the Florida Conference for Women in Orlando with me next week. If you are coming, find us and let me introduce her to you! My panel discussion will be at 10:00 A.M. followed by a book signing at 11:00. Wendy is an exceptional addition; dedicated,  intelligent, and knowledgeable. We are very lucky. 
 

May your families prosper.   

  Warmest Regards,
                   Kasey Claytor

Announcing a new department~
 
The Center for Financial Wellbeing 
 
 
 
 
 

 During this current economy we’ve been looking at ways we can make a difference, for instance, lessening people’s worries and guiding them toward total financial health. We feel the portfolio composition is down to the best possible formula, so to further relieve and assist people toward their own financial success, we are creating a new department. The Center for Financial Wellbeing will be internet based as well as offering live programs. Initially these programs will be offered locally, at area conference facilities and over the internet via audio.
 The basis, in part, for this educational and inspiring material is the increasing amount of information on how our thoughts can either foster better lives or hinder us and cause unhappiness. If our mind is full of worries and doubts, it certainly crowds out thoughts that give us a sense of wellbeing. And we also tax the body as the mental stress affects our physiology, and the long term result could be illness. When we have calm clarity in our thinking, not only do we benefit physically, but we can see a multitude of solutions and build confidence in our life plans. Without clarity how can we make sound decisions for our financial health?
 My Map of Money Consciousness™ explores the ascending levels of ease and confidence in our financial lives. The programs that we are developing will help people clearly see where they are, and learn tools that help them stay focused on their goals and remove those self-created obstacles they become aware of as a result of this process. And along the way even finding out what their purpose is; where to focus;  what will be the most effective and lucrative path?
 
 Wouldn’t it be nice to have a method to get a handle on all of your financial decisions?
 
Retrain your thinking so you don’t keep putting limits on what is possible?
 
Wouldn’t it be nice to finally move forward on those dreams you have?

 
 The Center for Financial Wellbeing will also have its own newsletter offering more tips, guidelines, and advice in this area. We will be sending the first issue to everyone. If it isn’t your thing just unsubscribe and you won’t receive another one.
 
Come play with us!

From Wendy…

Hello to each of you!
I can’t express how excited I am to be working with Kasey and the marvelous group at Osprey Money Management. Our shared commitment to integrity and authentic, financial well-being has brought us together to enhance the lives of our client family on every level.
 
     The next event is of course the Florida Conference for Women on Tuesday, hosted by the Florida Commision on the Status of Women. This is the first of what will be an annual event that brings together experts in many fields to speak to thousands of business women on their future here in our wonderful state. 
 
     I have assisted Kasey with the past talks on her latest book, The 7 Laws of Raising Financially Independent Kids. The wealth of information in this book has been so well received that we would like to offer it to you, Osprey clients and friends, on May 20th from 7:00 to 8:30 PM here in our conference room. This is not only for those with young children - adult children with financial problems will be covered as well. The book also gives amazing insight into different personality types and how this affects the perspective on financial matters as well. Bring your friends! If we fill up the room we will add an additional evening or afternoon time. We want everyone who is interested to benefit from the information. 
 

      Again, I look forward to meeting all of you and helping with anything that I can.
 
Warm Regards,
Wendy Wade

Posted in Newsletters

March 2009

We have news, new links, and a new look. Very soon when you log on to Osprey Money Management LLC, you will arrive at a brand new site with more information, links, and a blog.

We are also preparing a video to embed in our newsletters going forward that will cover current topics. There sure isn’t any shortage of topics! This is a time for us all to stay in touch, and support each other in our commitment to our best possible financial future. At the end of this newsletter you will find information on a book coming out that I highly recommend.

There is a lot of positive, important material out there and I’d love to share it with you. For now, here is a terrific article on  The Behavior Gap  website entitled “A Manual for Scary Markets”.

For those of you who are already with us, please let us know how better we can serve you.We would love to hear from you. And for everyone, we are ready to assist, educate and guide you to your best financial success.
 
Warmest Regards,
Kasey Claytor

Looking for a Break in the Clouds
 

We are in the depths of the recession and bear market. Could it get any gloomier? It looks like we are having a crisis of confidence. It feels as though we have been here before (during the lows of previous markets). I’m hearing people say that it is different this time (I know it is), I’m hearing people say they don’t have enough time left before the markets will regain their losses, I’m hearing all manner of prognostications in regards to the government, and I am hearing fear. I’ve heard that before too.
 
Always, when we are in the middle of dark times, before we can see any light, we freeze; we imagine the worst and many of us lose hope. We feel this time has come to stay-but time doesn’t stop. Things continue moving and changing, and one day we wake up and things begin to shift again. This time, there is a crack in the shell of hopelessness that has been over us. Something brings some optimism. We don’t know what that will be right now, but something always does.
 
Until then, we must educate ourselves on what is real and what is just emotional interpretation of these turbulent times.  Here are a few truths to remember:

1) On average the stock markets go up for two years and down one.
2) The media gives us only a small portion of the information out there. They choose information that makes the most dramatic story, to keep viewers glued to their station or newspaper. (After all, their primary purpose is to make advertising dollars, not to inform you!)
3) The sky is not falling.
4) More millionaires were made during the depression than any other time in the history of our country
5) Investors really lose when they sell in the middle of a bear market, missing the next big move up. After the crisis is over and the markets recover, these same investors go back in at higher costs.
6) Right now opportunities are being created for the bright, innovative and clear-headed visionaries from coast to coast.
7) The recovery will come. Free markets cannot be held down.

What do we do in the meantime? Certainly sitting in the corner imagining one disaster after another, or watching the news for long periods each day, is counter-productive. It affects our health, our mental outlook, our relationships, and can lead to mistakes that may not be correctable.  

Because of present stock values there is a good chance returns are likely to be fairly strong over the next 5 years and beyond.  If you believe, as I do, that eventually our country and world economies will move beyond the current financial chaos and economic downturn, the next decade could shape up to be a wonderful investing opportunity in the stock market.   
 
As Bill Schultheis, author of  The Coffee House Investor recently wrote, “Don’t get caught up in Wall Street’s rhetoric of trying to pinpoint the market bottom.  Don’t latch onto the idea that anyone can identify the top stocks and industries that will lead us out of this recession.  You are destined to under perform the stock market by a sizable amount over the next ten years if you take that approach.  The intelligent way to capture these returns is through a globally diversified portfolio of low-cost index funds.” 
 
As part of our service to you, we handle all rebalancing, and automatically facilitate your contributions to, and withdrawals from, your portfolio to save you time. The time we’ve freed up for you isn’t supposed to be spent worrying! Remember, our approach to investing is based on science, not speculation. We do not make investment decisions with our clients’ or our own money based on our personal beliefs. Our disciplined investment management process is based on decades of objective financial research and removes emotional interference, providing our clients with fewer surprises and a smoother investment journey.
 
So look around you. See that your life is still moving along, you’re still strong and vital!  Spend some time each day picturing how life will be once we’re past this downturn and loving our statements again. Add value to your life by lifting up your friends and family and reassuring them. What ultimately shifts the direction of the economy, our future and the market is all of us collectively.
 
Warren Buffet said three things today. Many people missed the last comment, because it wasn’t reported as much as the first two. To paraphrase, he said first that he lost a bunch of money in this market, and then, that it will take a while to recover, perhaps until next year, and finally, when we do, brighter days are ahead.

Abacus Founder, Spencer Sherman,  Releases New Book

 
For ages, Americans have stressed about money. But in our current economic situation, we’re all thinking, worrying, and just plain talking about it, more than ever before. We’re questioning how to save, where to spend, and what to do next. To our rescue is Spencer Sherman-the founder and CEO of Abacus Wealth Partners LLC, acclaimed seminar speaker, and named as one of the top wealth advisors in the U.S. by Worth magazine.
 
In his forthcoming book, THE CURE FOR MONEY MADNESS: Break Your Bad Money Habits, Live without Financial Stress–And Make More Money! (a Random House Hardcover; on sale everywhere February 2009) he offers a comprehensive, step-by-step plan with the power to transform how we earn, spend, save, borrow, give, and live. 

Read more about it on this link.

Go HERE for a short video about the book.

Posted in Newsletters

January 2009

Dear Clients and Friends,

Happy 2009! We are optimistic that this year will bring pleasant surprises. We, in an ongoing effort to serve you better, are expanding our portfolio offerings to include a group of portfolios that place an emphasis on socially and environmentally responsible companies. They invest in asset classes, using the philosophy of structured portfolio management. They are managed very similarly to the Matrix portfolios, including using DFA mutual funds, but they also add real estate investment trusts. The returns are also comparable. If you are already in the Matrix portfolios this is not much reason to disturb them, but for new investors or existing investors with new money to invest, this is an attractive option.

The company is Abacus Portfolios, and for everyone who is interested, they are presenting a webinar that is open to the public. Abacus is one of the top 250 in the country. For those of you without interent access, let me know if you would like the information presented and I will get it to you! More information below under Abacus Town Hall Meeting.

Also please note new legislation that may affect you included in this newsletter.

We shifted from sending quarterly newsletters to monthly last year because of the market volatility. You have weathered the storm magnificently, and though we may have more rough patches ahead, I am confident that you ‘get it’ and have the knowledge you need to ride to success. I am planning on going back to a quarterly timetable unless I hear from you that you really would like to continue receiving these monthly.

Warmest Regards, and may 2009 bring you health, happiness, and abundance.

Kasey Claytor

2009 Required Minimum Distributions

On December 23 The Worker, Retiree, and Employer Recovery Act of 2008 was signed into law by President Bush. This new law grants a temporary waiver of the required minimum distribution (RMD) from retirement accounts for the 2009 tax year only. The waiver applies to individual retirement accounts (IRAs) and employer-provided contribution plans (QRPs, Keoghs, Individual 401(k)s, and 403(b)(7)s).

For those of you that are affected by this, and wish to suspend your withdrawals to take advantage of the lessened taxes, please call Dawn as soon as possible so we can code your account.

Posted in Newsletters