Warren's Wisdoms- Hot or Cold in America 7/18/2005 I saw a quote from a government agency employee a couple of days ago, the gist of which was �as a country we�re either incensed about it or we don�t care about it�. I had assumed, in light of the London bombings, that it was a Homeland Security official speaking about terrorism but in fact it was an EPA official speaking about gasoline prices.
I think the comment probably applies to many parts of our lives. Unless something is right in front of us � in the headlines, on TV, or a topic of daily conversation � we can easily lose track of it and switch our focus to something else which seems of more immediate concern. When we are again reminded of it � whatever it is � we return our attention to it, at least for a while.
I spent a my first year of college in a small town in Iowa, at a small school called Parsons. Its motto was (pardon my limited abilities in Latin): Est Modus In Rebus, which was translated for us as There is a Mean in All Things. My 17 year-old mind took this to mean that it was not necessary to live in an all or nothing fashion but that a balanced life should be possible.
I was reminded of Parsons� motto by the headline and I think it�s a concept that might be appropriately applied to many parts of our lives. We are shocked by terrorist incidents, then annoyed by airport screenings. We are furious at high gasoline prices but have made SUVs best sellers. We decry �big government� but we want �someone� to take care of us in our retirement years.
From a financial planning perspective, we believe that a balanced approach is usually best. Dollar Cost Averaging is a proven strategy for making investments over the long term. Working on estate planning/end of life issues all through your life is probably going to be more productive than hurrying to �wrap things up� once you reach retirement. Learning about your personal tolerance for risk before embarking on an investment strategy might allow you to obtain reasonable returns with reduced levels of anguish.
At Warren Ward Associates we like to help our clients live a balanced life, applying proven financial planning & investment principles in a very personal way. Regardless of whether you use our services or not, please consider striving for balance in your own life.
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