MAY 2008
What a beautiful spring we are having here in New Hampshire! No
floods, no ice-storms and a no-hitter! We've got a lot going on at
Northstar as we continue our measured growth while helping our
clients weather the recent market turmoil in good shape.
We are pleased to announce that Trish Slaski has joined Northstar
as a Financial Assistant. Trish lives in Windham with her husband
Jeff and their 2 children, Ryan (11) and Alexa (8). She brings 25
years of great experience in finance and accounting where she worked
as a Portfolio Manager at John Hancock and several years as a
Controller. We are excited to have her assist in our trading and
cost basis activities with TD Ameritrade, client data input and plan
preparation. Trish enjoys skiing and yoga.
Alexa is excited to share the wonderful news that she and her
husband Eric are expecting their second child in September. "Baby
Darbe" will join big brother Christopher (19 months) who is excited
about the coming event, but if you ask him whether he would prefer a
brother or a sister, he answers "no!".
As part of my personal focus on helping clients successfully
navigate transitions, I am becoming an Advisor at the Sudden Money
Institute (www.suddenmoney.com) and will attend the training this
week in Florida. This training will further enhance my ability to
help clients with both the emotional and financial complexities that
exist as one undergoes a transition.
Sam & I will be attending the FPA annual Retreat also held in
Florida in early June, which with limited attendance of around 300,
gathers the "best & brightest" in our business, balancing and
blending the art and science of the financial planning profession.
This will be Sam's 13th Retreat and my 5th.
To continue to increase our ability to provide our clients with
great financial life planning and wealth management services, we are
currently interviewing candidates for another Financial Planner
position at Northstar! Only CFP certificants with considerable
experience in our profession are being considered and we will make a
selection in the coming months.
Finally, Sam will complete his formal training through the
Coaches Training Institute in June and then undergo a six month
rigorous mentorship program to become a Certified Co-Active Coach.
He is continuing to assist me as a mentor and coach. Together we are
developing a presentation to be given at the FPA National Conference
in October on "The Art- and Heart - of a Business Transition."
Robin
| TD Ameritrade's Financial Strength and
Stability |
 |
|
TD Ameritrade's Financial Strength and Stability
Should the Bear Sterns collapse be of
concern to you? Is the money you have invested in the money
market funds at TD Ameritrade safe? Here's an announcement
from TD Ameritrade about their financial strength and a letter
about their money market funds that should give you peace of
mind.
|
| Human Nature can be a Lousy Investment
Advisor! |
|
|
Human Nature can be a Lousy Investment Advisor!
During the frustrating and yet exciting
events of the past seven years, as the stock markets around
the global have flipped between zoom and doom, the airwaves
and press have been filled with zillions of words from both
prophets of the end of the world as we know it and hucksters
of hope. We suggest now is a good time to sit back, take a
deep breadth, look around at some of the crazy ways that Wall
Street has invested to tilt the "risk/reward" game in their
favor --- and calmly consider what we can learn.
|
| Multi-Generational Estate Planning |
|
|
Q&A: Consider Making an Estate Check-Up a Multi-
Generational Family Matter
Questionable estate planning has gotten
some recent attention with the sudden death of actor Heath
Ledger. The 27-year-old actor died suddenly this year with an
older will that provided only for his parents and other
immediate family - he never revised those documents to
accommodate his young daughter or the child's mother.
|
| What in the World is Going On? |
|
|
One Expert's Perspective on Key Trends in the World
and their Economic Impact
One of our wonderful clients alertly
brought this to our attention. The piece has some political
undertones but is overall an interesting view of world trends.
This is a paper presented several weeks ago by Herb
Meyer at a Davos, Switzerland meeting which was attended
by most of the CEOs from all the major international
corporations - a very good summary of today's key trends and a
perspective one seldom sees. Herbert E. Meyer served during
the Reagan Administration as Special Assistant to the Director
of Central Intelligence and Vice Chairman of the CIA's
National Intelligence Council. In these positions, he managed
production of the U.S. National Intelligence Estimates and
other top-secret projections for the President and his
national security advisers. |
