08-31-2017 Columns

Are You a “Hardworking” Investor?

Next week, we observe Labor Day, a celebration of the American worker. You work hard your whole life with the hope that your efforts will ultimately allow you to achieve your financial goals, such as a comfortable retirement. But for that to happen, you may need to apply some of the lessons of the workplace to your efforts as an investor.

So, what are these lessons? Here are a few to consider:

Be consistent. The most successful workers are the ones who show up, day after day, and strive to overcome the inevitable obstacles that crop up. As an investor, you, too, need to be consistent in your habits – which mean you should keep investing in all types of markets. If you take a “time out” every time the market drops, you might end up missing opportunities when the next rally begins.

Be flexible. When good workers see that something is not going well, they change what they’re doing. And when you invest, you also may need to make adjustments. If an investment has consistently underperformed, or if you have too many others very similar to it, or if it just doesn’t meet your needs anymore, you may be better off by selling it and using the proceeds to invest elsewhere. This doesn’t mean you should constantly be buying and selling — in fact, you’ll likely be better off by purchasing quality investments and holding them for the long term. But you need to be flexible enough to make the appropriate moves at the appropriate times.

Be informed. The best workers are those who regularly update their skills and acquire knowledge that helps them do their jobs better. As an investor, you should also keep learning – about the investment world in general and about new opportunities for you to explore. And you should always understand what you are investing in – and why. Even if you work with a financial professional, you need to inform yourself about every aspect of your investment portfolio – after all, it’s your money and your future.

Be farsighted. Good workers not only know what they’re doing – they also can visualize the desired outcome of each task. And, of course, people who are in charge of a particular endeavor, or who are responsible for the fortunes of a business, have a clear view of what they want to accomplish, even if the achievement of that goal is many years in the future. When you invest, you also need to see where you want to go. If you can constantly keep in mind your long-term goals – such as the type of retirement lifestyle you desire – you will likely find it easier to stick with an investment strategy that’s appropriate for your needs and risk tolerance. Conversely, if you lose sight of your destination, you might be more prone to taking short-term detours, which could work against you.

Labor Day reminds us to appreciate the skills and dedication of all workers – and as an investor, you can put these same attributes to good use.

This article was written by Edward Jones for use by your local Edward Jones Financial Advisor.

Immunizations for preteens & teens

As they get older, kids are at increased risk for some infections. The protection provided by some of the childhood vaccines begins to wear off, so kids are in need of a booster dose. The vaccines for preteens and teens can help protect your kids, as well as their friends, community and other family members.

There are four recommended vaccines that preteens should get when they are 11 – 12 years old. If you have an older teenage child, they’ll need a booster dose of one of the shots. Plus it’s not too late to get any shots they may have missed. You can use any health care visit, including sports physicals or some sick visits, to get the shots your kids need. The vaccines for preteens and teens are:

HPV vaccine for both boys and girls which protects against the types of HPV that most commonly causes cancer. HPV can cause cancers of the cervix, vulva and vagina in women and cancers of the penis in men. In both women and men, HPV also causes mouth/throat cancer, anal cancer and genital warts.

Tdap vaccine, which is a booster against tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis. Pertussis, or whooping cough, can keep kids out of school and activities for weeks. It can also be spread to babies, and this can be very dangerous and sometimes deadly.

Meningococcal vaccine which protects against meningococcal disease. Meningococcal disease is caused by bacteria and is a leading cause of bacterial meningitis – a serious infection around the brain and spinal cord.

Influenza (flu) vaccine because even healthy kids can get the flu, and it can be serious. All kids, including your preteens and teens, should get the flu vaccine every year.

Talk with your doctor or a nurse at the Berrien County Health Department about the vaccines for preteens and teens. Your teens need you to continue protecting their health by getting them these important and life-saving vaccines.

Learn more about immunizations at the Berrien County Health Department website www.bchdmi.org.

District events

Summer is a great time to spend with friends and family, doing activities we love and enjoying the great outdoors. It is also a prime opportunity to host events in the district for area residents before the Legislature reconvenes in September.

We held one such event this Saturday where we partnered with the Berrien County Sheriff’s Department to host a free CPL (Concealed Pistol Law) course for area residents. Per state law, this course was divided into two sections, a five-hour classroom session followed by a three-hour range session. I took this class alongside those that signed up first and was taken aback by the amount of useful information it contained. I was also shocked at the overwhelming response and interest residents had in signing up to become more responsible gun owners. Due to this response, we will look to host additional CPL courses in the future.

Additionally, we will be hosting an Energy Town Hall on August 31 for Southwest Michigan residents focusing on clean energy issues. Michigan has made some important advances that have created over 80,000 clean energy jobs, but we still have more to do if we want to become a leader in the use of clean and renewable energy. This event begins at 5:30 p.m. at the Kinexus building located at 499 W. Main Street in Benton Harbor and will feature speakers from the Michigan League of Conservation Voters discussing where clean energy in Michigan is headed and what people can do to help. I hope you can join us!

We are always looking to host relative and informative events for area residents to benefit from. If you would like to suggest an event centered on a certain issue, don’t hesitate to contact my office by calling 517-373-1403 or emailing KimLaSata@house.mi.gov.

Roundtable discussion with local restaurant owners

Last week, I was able to participate in a roundtable with local restaurant owners at Fieldstone Grill, hosted by the Michigan Restaurant Association and the National Restaurant Association. Michigan’s Sixth District is home to more than 1,160 eating and drinking establishments, employing more than 23,400 people throughout the district. Those good-paying, local jobs are critical to our economy in addition to being community staples where folks come together to eat with loved ones and discuss life.

Our local small business owners are the heart and soul of Michigan and our economy. Roundtables like these are the perfect opportunity to listen to these business owners and learn about the issues and regulations that are impacting their restaurants. These discussions facilitate a chance to get feedback as to what we can be doing in Washington to lessen their burdens as they look to grow our local economy.

Operating any small business is a challenge. But operating restaurants and employing members of our community comes with its own special challenges. I was pleased to join local restaurant owners from our community, the Michigan Restaurant Association, and the National Restaurant Association to facilitate direct dialogue on the issues important to them – and to all of us. I will continue to focus on issues facing our local workers and job creators so as to ensure our Southwest Michigan economy keeps moving in the right direction.

To learn more about this and other important legislative issues, please visit my website: upton.house.gov or call my offices in Kalamazoo (269-385-0039), St. Joseph/Benton Harbor (269-982-1986), or Washington, D.C. (202-225-3761).

Proos announces the Pure Michigan Summer Photo Contest

Michigan is full of landscapes and summer activities that make our state one of the most picturesque and fun places in the country.

In an effort to help highlight our state’s natural beauty and positive way of life, I am hosting an online photo contest where area residents can submit their favorite photographs that were taken this summer and capture the spectacular vision of our state.

Until 5 p.m. on Sept. 15, residents can submit their Pure Michigan photos at www.SenatorJohnProos.com/sen-proos-pure-michigan-summer-photo-contest.

After the submission period, finalist photos will be posted to my Facebook page, John Proos Supporters Page.

Visitors on Facebook will then be able to vote for the photos they like the most. Each finalist photo will receive one vote for each “like” it gets on Facebook and one vote for each vote it garners on a website poll.

At the end of the contest, the photo with the most votes will win and will be displayed in the state Capitol.

Although the contest is limited to residents of Berrien, Cass and St. Joseph counties, eligible photos can be of any Michigan location or pastime.

Photo submissions will be limited to one picture per person and the person submitting the photo must have taken the picture. To see the complete rules, please visit the photo contest page.

The goal of this photo contest is to help promote our state by giving Southwest Michigan residents a fun and creative opportunity to showcase what makes Michigan such an incredible place to live. I look forward to seeing the submissions.

As always, I look forward to hearing your comments and feedback on the important issues facing Michigan. You can contact me at 517-373-6960.