Dean Akey

So the stock market is in the crapper & your home is worth far less than it was a few years ago. What should you do to make up some of the ground you lost financially? Here is your answer...... It depends

This current market is filled with opportunity for those who understand the risks & rewards. There are many wonderful companies you can buy stock in that quite simply are undervalued as a result of the mass hysteria in the financial markets. If you take the "Ostrich" approach to investing and wait to reenter the market until things have improved you just missed the boat.

There is an emerging market that will boom in 2009 and beyond and that is making money in real estate via your good credit. I am not talking about buying homes to resell but rather buying homes to rent. Lets face it, in most areas it's a buyers market with prices lower than many of us have seen in years.

With the record number of foreclosures across the country many families are being displaced. Many of these families have solid income, great cash flow but were unable to keep current with their existing mortgage obligations. Many of these families will need homes (not apartments) to live in that are located in good school districts. We are seeing a new type of renter flocking to the rental markets and guess what, there are not enough rental homes on the market to meet the growing need of this demographic.

Of course investing in rental property is not for everyone but for those of you with great credit, sufficient cash to invest and a good financial plan, this could be a great opportunity.....

That's all I have to say about that.... For now

Bull

Today is Veterans day. As a veteran myself (Army 1982-1988) I have always celebrated this day and the sacrifices that our veterans have made to allow us the freedom and opportunity to be Americans. I thought you may like to know more about this day and its significance to us all.

Bull

What Do You Know About Veterans Day?

Veterans Day gives Americans the opportunity to celebrate the bravery and sacrifice of all U.S. veterans. However, most Americans confuse this holiday with Memorial Day, reports the Department of Veterans Affairs.

What's more, some Americans don't know why we commemorate our Veterans on Nov.11. It's imperative that all Americans know the history of Veterans Day so that we can honor our former servicemembers properly.

A Brief History of Veterans Day

Veterans Day, formerly known as Armistice Day, was originally set as a U.S. legal holiday to honor the end of World War I, which officially took place on November 11, 1918. In legislation that was passed in 1938, November 11 was "dedicated to the cause of world peace and to be hereafter celebrated and known as 'Armistice Day.'" As such, this new legal holiday honored World War I veterans.

In 1954, after having been through both World War II and the Korean War, the 83rd U.S. Congress -- at the urging of the veterans service organizations -- amended the Act of 1938 by striking out the word "Armistice" and inserting the word "Veterans." With the approval of this legislation on June 1, 1954, Nov. 11 became a day to honor American veterans of all wars.

In 1968, the Uniforms Holiday Bill ensured three-day weekends for federal employees by celebrating four national holidays on Mondays: Washington's Birthday, Memorial Day, Veterans Day, and Columbus Day. Under this bill, Veterans Day was moved to the last Monday of October. Many states did not agree with this decision and continued to celebrate the holiday on its original date. The first Veterans Day under the new law was observed with much confusion on Oct. 25, 1971.

Finally on September 20, 1975, President Gerald R. Ford signed a law which returned the annual observance of Veterans Day to its original date of Nov. 11, beginning in 1978. Since then, the Veterans Day holiday has been observed on Nov. 11.

Celebrating the Veterans Day Holiday

If the Nov. 11 holiday falls on a non-workday - Saturday or Sunday - the holiday is observed by the federal government on Monday (if the holiday falls on Sunday) or Friday (if the holiday falls on Saturday). Federal government closings are established by the U.S. Office of Personnel Management - a complete schedule can be found here. State and local government closings are determined locally, and non- government businesses can close or remain open as they see fit, regardless of federal, state or local government operation determinations.

United States Senate Resolution 143, which was passed on Aug. 4, 2001, designated the week of Nov.11 through Nov. 17, 2001, as "National Veterans Awareness Week." The resolution calls for educational efforts directed at elementary and secondary school students concerning the contributions and sacrifices of veterans.

The difference between Veterans Day and Memorial Day

Memorial Day honors servicemembers who died in service to their country or as a result of injuries incurred during battle. Deceased veterans are also remembered on Veterans Day but the day is set aside to thank and honor living veterans who served honorably in the military - in wartime or peacetime.

President Eisenhower's letter to Harvey V. Higley, Administrator of Veterans' Affairs, designating him Chairman, Veterans Day National Committee

The White House Office
October 8, 1954

Dear Mr. Higley:

I have today signed a proclamation calling upon all of our citizens to observe Thursday, November 11, 1954 as Veterans Day. It is my earnest hope that all veterans, their organizations, and the entire citizenry will join hands to insure proper and widespread observance of this day. With the thought that it will be most helpful to coordinate the planning, I am suggesting the formation of a Veterans Day National Committee. In view of your great personal interest as well as your official responsibilities, I have designated you to serve as Chairman. You may include in the Committee membership such other persons as you desire to select and I am requesting the heads of all departments and agencies of the Executive branch to assist the Committee in its work in every way possible.

I have every confidence that our Nation will respond wholeheartedly in the appropriate observance of Veterans Day, 1954.

Sincerely,

DWIGHT D. EISENHOWER

I don't feel old. So when should I start acting or feeling old? With constant advances in medicine, wellness, nutrition and public health many of us need to rethink what constitutes old age.

For many of us, our conception of being old or at least being retirement age is when we turn 65. How did we arrive at the age of 65 as being symbolic of retirement & trading in our careers for rocking chairs?

Actually, the age of 65 was chosen by Otto Von Bismark, who created Europe's first pension plan in the 1880's. Bismark selected an age which people were considered too enfeebled to work and should be provided for via the government. Now one thing you need to know was back in the 1880's, the average life expectancy in the United States & Europe was 45. I guess if you worked your whole life and lived 20 years past your life expectancy this was a reasonable plan.

Now lets fast forward to the current day. If we use the math that Otto used when would we be considered old & worthy of financial support? As I mentioned, the life expectancy in the 1880's was 45. I suspect you already know that we now live longer than 45 but how much longer? The most recent life expectancy for women in the US is just shy of 80 years old. The life expectancy for men is just shy of 75.

Now back to the math, if we use Otto's formula, you would receive financial support at about 97. Now dont think for a minute that I am suggesting we postpone retirement or social security until you are in your 90's but I do want to challenge your thinking on what is considered old.

So I guess there is good news and bad news here. The good news is that you are going to live longer. The bad news is that you are going to live longer. So what does this mean? It means that as a society we need to rethink what old age is and what our "useful" years are. Many of us started the countdown when we entered the workplace. You know what I am talking about..... 30, 20, 15, 10, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 years to retirement. Unfortunately we still think retirement age is 65. Don't get me wrong, it still can be but only if you are prepared.

Lets say you entered the work force at 21 and worked until 65. That's 44 years of hard work which is a lifetime by anyone's standards. What did you do during that 44 years? The average Americans save far less than what would support your retirement but lets say you put away 15% of your earning a year. Is that enough? It very well may be but do you know? Saving 15% equates to about 6.15 years of earnings before we account for inflation and of course how your money has grown over the years.

This is the first part of a series of articles I am creating for you to chronicle issues we all face as we work to build security now and well into the future. In coming issues I will share with you some of the real concerns we face with social security, market volatility, inflation, health care and how you can navigate your way in these uncertain times. I hope you enjoy my ramblings.

Bull

Before Old Man Winter Knocks On Your Door

Prepare for the Elements and Protect Your Home From Damage

Is your home winter-proofed? By preparing for winter storms and the deep freeze ahead of time, you can avoid winter related disasters from wreaking havoc on the home front.

Damage caused by heavy snow, bitter cold, ice buildups and powerful winds accounts for a high percentage of homeowners insurance claims. In fact, the Insurance Information Institute (I.I.I.) reports that:

· Winter storms accounted for 7.8 percent of catastrophe losses from 1986-2005

· Losses averaged more than $1 billion a year over that same period.

· The average claim for water damage and freezing is $5,095

But before the thermometer drops, you can take simple steps to safeguard your home from winter's wrath and head off a cold weather catastrophe. "It's hard to start thinking about winter while temperatures remain well above freezing," said Allstate Insurance agent Dean Akey. "But now is the time to plan ahead and take care of all the things in and around your home you wish you had done when the weather was still nice. Making the effort now to winter-proof your home may save a lot of time, money and aguish down the road."

To prepare for winter, Allstate and the I.I.I. offer the following tips:

OUTSIDE YOUR HOME

· Clean out gutters. Remove leaves, sticks and other debris from gutters, so melting snow and ice can flow freely. This can prevent ice damming-a condition where water is unable to drain through the gutters and instead seeps into the house causing water to drip from the ceiling and walls.

· Install gutter guards. Available in most hardware and home stores, "gutter guards" prevent debris from entering the gutter and interfering with the flow of water away from the house and into the ground.

· Trim trees and remove dead branches. Ice, snow and wind can cause weak trees or branches to break, causing damage to your home or car, as well as injury to people on your property.

· Repair steps and handrails. This may prevent someone from falling and being seriously injured. Broken stairs and banisters can become lethal when covered with snow and ice.

· Seal cracks in holes in outside walls and foundations. Use caulking to protect water pipes and make sure that skylights and other roof openings have proper weather stripping to prevent snowmelt from seeping in.

INSIDE YOUR HOME

· Keep the house warm. Set the thermostat for at least 65 degrees, since the temperature inside the walls, where the pipes are located, is substantially colder-a lower temperature will not keep the pipes from freezing.

· Add extra insulation to attics, basements and crawl spaces. If too much heat escapes through the attic, it can cause snow or ice to melt on the roof. Water can then re-freeze, causing more snow and ice to build up. This can result in a collapsed roof, and can contribute to ice damming. Ideally, the attic should be five to ten degrees warmer than the outside air. Well-insulated basements and crawl spaces will also help protect pipes from freezing. You may also consider insulating unfinished rooms such as garages to keep pipes from freezing.

· Have the heating system serviced. Furnaces, boilers and chimneys should be serviced at least once a year to prevent fire and smoke damage.

· Check pipes. Look closely for cracks and leaks and have the pipes repaired immediately. Wrap exposed pipes with pipe insulation or heating tape. Allow your faucets to drip lukewarm water to minimize the chances of a pipe freeze. If you plan to travel or be away from home for an extended period of time, have someone check pipes and the temperature in your home on a regular basis. Turn the water off and/or have the water system drained by a professional to keep pipes from freezing.

· Install an emergency pressure release valve in your plumbing system. This will protect against the increased pressure caused by freezing pipes and can help prevent your pipes from bursting.

· Make sure that smoke and fire alarms are working properly. Residential fires increase in the winter, so it is important to protect your family with working alarm systems. Also, consider installing a carbon dioxide detector, since a well sealed home can trap this toxic gas.

· Learn how to shut the water off and know where your pipes are located. If your pipes freeze, time is of the essence. The quicker you can shut off the water or direct your plumber to the problem, the better chance you have to prevent pipes from bursting.

· Hire a licensed contractor to look for structural damage. If damage is discovered, you can have it repaired immediately rather than waiting for a more severe problem to occur. Also, ask about ways to prevent water damage resulting from snow-related flooding. Plastic coatings for internal basement walls, sump pumps and other methods can prevent flood damage to your home and belongings.

DON'T FORGET YOUR CAR

Winter is just as hard on your car as it is on your house. Have a mechanic look over your car whenever you spot something that seems not quite normal. An inspection now may prevent your being stranded on a cold winter day.

If your engine is experiencing hard starts, stalling, or other problems, fix it now, not later.

• Install new windshield wiper blades. Blades should make full contact with the window. Keep extra washer fluid and an ice scraper in your car.
• Keep a cold weather safety kit in your car that that includes gloves boots, blankets, flares, water, and a flashlight.
• Examine your tires for tread life and uneven wearing. Be sure tires are properly inflated. Tires lose a pound of pressure for every 10 degrees the temperature drops.
• Make sure the heater and defroster are properly working to ensure driver visibility.
• Flush the cooling system every two years with a 50/50 mixture of antifreeze and water. Check the level, condition, and concentration of the antifreeze mixture periodically.
• Check your battery fluid levels, battery posts, and cable connectors. Bad connections can prevent your car from starting.
• Check your brakes as recommended. If you're experiencing trouble such as pulsations, noises, or longer stopping distances than seem normal, have a professional look at it immediately.

Make sure all lights and bulbs are in working order and replace any burned-out bulbs.

That's all I have to say about that.

Bull

In one of my past blog posting I shared with you information regarding Graduated Drivers Licensing programs. Well the jury is in. The results vary by state but the consensus is overwhelmingly positive. Illinois has announced a 11% reduction in motor vehicle accidents for teens who are covered under the Graduated Drivers Licensing program. The programs vary by state so some of the states with more restrictive GDL programs have seen reductions over 20%.

Our children are truly our most precious commodity so seeing this program reduce accidents and fatalities is a wonderful thing. Yahoo....

That's all I have to say about that.

Bull