Japan’s earthquake last week sent physical shockwaves through the northern part of Japan and financial shockwaves throughout the entire world. The financial markets reacted quickly with the Japan market dropping 6 percent the first day and then 10 percent the following Monday as fears about nuclear fallout increased. Continue Reading…

In the eighth grade my English teacher required all students to learn the poem “If” by Rudyard Kipling. The thought of getting up in front of the class terrified me so I told her I couldn’t do it. I stuck to my guns and was the only one of thirty students that did not recite the poem. She stuck to her guns as well and I received a D in English. The opening line of the poem begins, “If you can keep your head when all about you are losing theirs…” That reminds me of conditions in today’s stock market. We’ve seen a punishing first half year and folks may question whether they should have any money in the stock market. For most of you, the answer is an overwhelming YES! You definitely need some funds in the stock market for long run growth. Continue Reading…