This Summer our team has been reading and discussing Simon Sinek’s book, “Start with the Why”. It is a great book and I would highly recommend it for anyone starting out or over in business. It builds on Stephen Covey’s principle of ‘begin with the end in mind’, by having you define first WHY you’re here or doing what you do.
So far we are working with; ‘to guide clients safely there’, as the answer to Why we do what we do.
- Guide - We are advisors, not dictators - we are a resource and a guide in your journey
- Safely – Life comes with all kinds of twists and turns and if the focus were solely on investment return, one of those twists may take you off the goal
- There – The destination may be education planning, retirement or some other goals, but it’s your goal
We’ll keep you in the loop as we develop our thoughts.
We have seen a steady increase in the S&P 500 during the second quarter (up 18.3% on the year as of 7/21). So what do we think the rest of the year will be like? Wall Street continues to rattle on about recession but the prospects are getting dimmer. Unemployment seems to stay low and though business earnings are not stellar, they aren’t in the toilet either. Business seems to be responding to economic issues and making changes.
Here at Harvest Financial one of our changes is the exit of Luke Okada. Luke was helping us while Sam was working through his licensing, which we are all very excited that he has completed! We may use Luke in the future for special projects, but for now it’s Sam, Lidia, Frank and myself. Speaking of Sam, here are some Summer time recipes:
There is something about the classics that we all love. When it comes to the classic of recipes, what could represent this more than cooking over direct fire? Grilling, whether over charcoal, gas, or wood is about as classic as cooking gets. What is great about grilling is that it isn’t that complicated. A little control of flame, some patience, and good seasoning will lead you to success. These same paths to grilling success can be attributed to investing. Our control of flame is really a control on your risk. Being able to turn up or adjust the levels of risk taken in an economic downturn is flame control, if you don’t take control or watch closely, you could burn your chicken or similarly, forget to set a profit/loss exit that fits your risk strategy. The patience draws parallel to the theme of ‘Time in the Market not Timing the market’. Remember - your investments compound and as they do, time in the market becomes more valuable than timing the market and trading in the short term. Finally, good seasoning is like good financial analytics, it gives you more forgiveness. It assures us that the final product - your retirement (or for the griller: juicy meats, and vegetables), is at the forefront. As you begin to grill increasingly you will find techniques that work better for your cooking style. As you plan for your future and retirement, let us help you become more successful.
Herby Marinade – For Fish, Poultry, and Vegetables
Per pound of Product being marinated
2 Tbsp Lemon Juice
2 Tbsp Extra Virgin Olive Oil
1 Tbsp Kosher Salt
1 Tsp Black Pepper, Finely ground
1 Tbsp of each of the following herbs, finely chopped
- Parsley
- Cilantro
- Tarragon
- Chive/Green onion
2 cloves garlic, grated on a mircoplane
- Mix and marinate in a plastic bag for at least four hours.
- Grill on high heat until grill marks are formed. Then turn down the heat to medium low until cooked all the way through.
Vietnamese Grilled Pork
1# Pork Belly, or Port Butt Sliced ¼ inch thick
1 Tbsp Soy Sauce
1 Tsp Sesame Oil
1 Tbsp Brown Sugar
1 Tbsp Fish Sauce
1 clove garlic, microplaned
1 knob of ginger, microplaned
- Mix and marinate in a plastic bag for at least four hours.
- Grill on Medium heat until browned evenly on both sides and tender.
Enjoy the Dog Days of Summer and a bit of R&R before school starts up again. Speaking of school, if you are thinking of saving for your children’s education, give us a call and we’d be happy to discuss ideas.
Happy Grilling!!