04-18-2019 Columns

Earth Day offers valuable lessons to investors On April 22, millions of people will observe Earth Day by participating in events that support environmental protection. As a citizen, you may want to take part in a local celebration. And as an investor, you can learn a few lessons from the themes of Earth Day. Here are a few of them: Avoid a toxic investment environment. A recurring topic of Earth Day is the necessity of reducing toxins from our air, water and land. And, while you might not think of it in those terms, your portfolio can also contain some “toxic” elements in the form of investments that may be hindering your progress, or, at the very least, not contributing to it. For instance, you might own some investments that, for one reason or another, have consistently underperformed, or are now too aggressive for your risk tolerance, which can change over the years. In these cases, you might be better off selling the investments and using the proceeds for other, more appropriate ones. Look for sources of renewable energy. Efforts to protect our environment include a push for more renewable energy sources, such as solar and wind. As an investor, you, too, can look for “renewables” in the form of investments that keep paying you back in one way or another. Of course, the most basic example would be a bond, which pays you regular interest until the bond matures and you get your principal back, provided the issuer doesn’t default, which is generally unlikely with an investment-grade bond. However, you also may want to consider another type of renewable – dividend-paying stocks. By reinvesting these dividends, you can increase the number of shares you own – and share ownership is a good way to help build your portfolio. Some companies have paid, and even increased, their dividends many years in a row, but keep in mind they’re not obligated to do so. Plant seeds of opportunity. Some Earth Day events involve planting trees – many of which won’t be fully grown for decades. When you invest, you are planting seeds in the form of investments you hope will grow over the years. Of course, you will likely see some volatility along the way, but over the long term, investments with strong fundamentals may reward you for your patience. Apart from these ideas, you also can connect the idea of helping protect the environment with investing for your goals. Through socially responsible investing, you can screen out investments in companies whose products you find objectionable, while supporting businesses whose work you believe helps contribute to a better world. And you can find investments, such as mutual funds that emphasize social responsibility, whose returns are competitive, so you don’t have to sacrifice growth potential for your principles. In the nearly 50 years since Earth Day celebrations began, we have taken steps to improve many aspects of our physical world, although the work continues. And by following some of the same techniques, you can improve your investment environment, too. This article was written by Edward Jones for use by your local Edward Jones Financial Advisor.

Suicide Fatality Review Task Force There were 1,364 reported suicide deaths in Michigan in 2018, according to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. It was the second-leading cause of death in the state for individuals aged 15-34. Suicide is something that touches all of us in one way or another. Most of us know someone who struggles with depression or other difficulties in life that may lead them to want to take their own life. It’s critical we find ways to improve suicide prevention and help put an end to these tragedies. With this in mind, I introduced a bipartisan legislative plan that will address suicide at the local level while aiming to prevent such tragedies in the future. The proposal creates the Suicide Fatality Review Act, allowing Michigan counties to establish a review task force. The comprehensive, appointed panels will include medical examiners, members of local law enforcement, mental health experts, those who have been directly impacted by suicide, and others. By allowing local health professionals, public safety officers, and those affected by suicide to convene quickly after a suicide, they may be able to identify patterns and trends that can help prevent future tragedy. Due to the very personal and sensitive information being discussed, these panel meetings would be exempt from the Open Meetings Act laws. There will likely be conversations had with individuals who have lost loved ones and they will be sharing those emotions or experiences with experts who are tasked with curbing this epidemic in our state. That work must be done confidentially to ensure positive strides are made and people in our communities can get the help they need. If you are in crisis, or know someone who needs help, you can reach the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255). If you are in need of immediate assistance, please call 911.

Easter This Sunday, Christians from throughout Southwest Michigan and the world, including my family, will gather to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ at Easter. Easter is the most important event in the Christian faith, and for good reason. Though He lived a guiltless life, Jesus willingly and obediently sacrificed himself to atone for the world’s sin, so that all who believe in Him may live in eternity. This is a great time for all who believe to consider the immensity of that moment in our history, and to reflect on our own lives and the standard Jesus set for how we should live them. We are reminded to love our neighbors as ourselves and that there is no greater love than to sacrifice for others. As a wife, mother, daughter, sister — and as your state senator — I strive to live a life that is pleasing to those I love, to those I serve, and above all to God. It is my hope that each of you has a wonderful Easter with your families and that we all are able to honor this important holiday by striving to improve ourselves and our communities. As always, residents can contact my office with their thoughts on any important state or local issues facing Southwest Michigan by calling (517) 373-6960 or emailing SenKLaSata @Senate.Michigan.gov.

Alcohol awareness Drinking too much alcohol increases people’s risk of injuries, violence, drowning, liver disease, and some types of cancer. This April, during Alcohol Awareness Month, the Berrien County Health Department encourages all residents to prevent alcohol abuse in Berrien County by spreading awareness about the dangers of drinking too much. It is especially important for parents of teenagers to be aware of the dangers of teen alcohol use. This time highlights the important role that parents can play in giving kids a better understanding of the impact that alcohol can have on their lives. No other substance is more widely used and abused by America’s youth than alcohol, making alcoholism, and related problems, a major public health problem in the United States. Alcohol use by young people is extremely dangerous — both to themselves and to society, and is directly associated with traffic fatalities, violence, suicide, educational failure, alcohol overdose, unsafe sex and other problem behaviors, even for those who may never develop a dependence or addiction. Adolescence is a time of heightened risk-taking and as alcohol and drugs enter the picture, parents are faced with a unique set of challenges. They can simply sit back and hope their kids will ‘get through it,’ or they can take an active role in learning about alcohol and drugs and helping their kids do the same. Research has shown that kids who have conversations with their parents to learn about the dangers of alcohol and drug use are 50% less likely to use alcohol and drugs than those who don’t have such conversations. The Berrien County Health Department encourages parents to help their teens foster healthy and responsible attitudes about alcohol, talk openly and honestly about the risks of alcohol use, and show teens that their opinions and decisions matter. To learn more about spreading awareness about alcohol abuse, visit the Berrien County Health Department website at www.bchdmi.org.

Supporting FIRST Robotics in Michigan and around the nation Michigan has the most FIRST Robotics teams in the country, and I have always been a proud supporter of this incredibly important program. FIRST is the nation’s leading not-for-profit STEM engagement program. Each year, more than one million students in the United States and 100 countries participate in FIRST.

Students on FIRST teams learn valuable skills and will grow up to become inventors, teachers, engineers, and community leaders.

One of the bills I am working on right now to champion FIRST Robotics is H.R. 500, the Christa McAuliffe Commemorative Coin Act of 2019. This legislation would mint a $1 coin in honor of Christa McAuliffe, the teacher and astronaut who perished in the 1986 Space Shuttle Challenger disaster, and support the FIRST Robotics program.

I’m sure a few of our FIRST Robotics students in southwest Michigan might even follow in the footsteps of Christa McAuliffe and become astronauts whose vision extends beyond our world. Last week I had a great conversation on the progress of the legislation with Dean Kamen, the founder of FIRST Robotics.

I look forward to continuing to work with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to get this legislation across the finish line.

To learn more about important legislative issues, follow me on Twitter at @RepFredUpton or visit my website: upton.house.gov. You can also call my offices in Kalamazoo (269-385-0039), St. Joseph/ Benton Harbor (269-982-1986), or Washington, D.C. (202-225-3761).