​When my daughter Jaimee came into my office some years back and announced her decision to join the Marines, my first response was, “Why? Why the military? Why the Marines? Why not the Air Force? And why leave such a nice opportunity here at the family business?” But Jaimee had always wanted to do something really special and she especially wanted to serve her country. So she turned the question back on me and said, “Why wouldn’t I?”
 
One of the most important questions in life can be “Why?” It is the question that challenges tradition and opens discussion on that which has always been accepted. The current commandant of the US Marine Corp, Robert Neller, has spent his career asking the question, “Why?” The Marines have long been the world’s most respected, and feared, fighting force, yet Neller contends that it is necessary to continually ask “Why do we do it this way?” and “Is there a better way?” Neller often bumps up against long standing Marine tradition to which he replies “The expectation is that we will always go undefeated.” And so change, though sometimes “Terrifying” (his words), is necessary.
 
I often ask my clients to consider making changes with the hope that they too may remain “undefeated” in their goal to retire successfully. I ask them to question “Why?” as they consider their various investments: Why did I do it this way? Why do I keep doing it this way, and should I be changing how I am doing it?
 
One of the biggest examples was years ago when we had to start moving some funds away from traditional bank savings vehicles. For years, banks paid 5.25% on insured savings accounts, and people had become very comfortable with them. My grandmother had 100% of her savings at the bank and when I questioned her about diversifying she replied that she had no reason to. And she was right. All four of my grandparents passed away from natural causes before the age of 75. With less than 10 years spent in retirement, the amount saved and the rate of return was less significant than it is now.
 
In addition to living decades longer, the current generations are intent on working less, playing more, travelling more and generally spending more. The retirement dreams of the present generation simply won’t work with the math of the past.
 
Most of my WW2 clients are gone. As I consider the way they lived, the way they invested and the way they retired, I can see that what was successful for them will not likely be successful for their grandchildren. The world has changed. The numbers have changed. The way of life has changed and the retirement battle has changed. For the next generation to remain “undefeated” in that battle, they must change too. And this begins with looking at every investment and every strategy on a regular basis and asking the question, “Why?” And then being willing, if necessary, to follow the path the answer takes you down.

​I stumbled across some old boxes from my investment days dating back to the early 80’s. I found dozens of notebooks on which I had written down my daily market trades. Every page was filled with stock ticker symbols and pricing, as well as the financial results of each transaction. I smiled as I remembered that in those days we traded in 1/8 dollars, as compared to today when stocks are priced in fractions of a penny. A flood of memories returned as I reviewed the symbols of dozens of the biggest companies of the day, many of which have either faded away or are a mere shadow of their former selves.
 
One such company was Eastman Kodak. Formed in the 1800’s, Kodak was a photographic pioneer whose name was as synonymous with cameras as Kleenex is with tissues. Having filed for bankruptcy years ago, the now privately held Kodak Alaris company that remains, no longer makes cameras. The collapse of the Kodak camera and its replacement with the far better technology of our digital age is known in the economic world as “Creative Destruction.”
 
Creative Destruction sounds like an oxymoron, but it is a critical element of a free market. In its simplest form, it is the process by which that which is old is torn down and replaced by something newer and better. It can be a painful process with loss of jobs and share value, but like tearing down an old warehouse to replace it with a new high rise, the process brings opportunity and benefit to society.
 
Looking through my old trading books I realized how hazardous Creative Destruction can be to an investor. Had I just bought and held many of those stocks that made me money decades ago, I would be holding an awful lot of worthless paper today. It is sobering to realize that with the dropping of General Electric just weeks ago, the Dow Jones Industrial Average Index no longer contains any of its original 12 members. The once powerful companies have all fallen victim to Creative Destruction.
 
The free market system works because it generally only destroys a company when it has something better to replace it with. It doesn’t just tear down the old factory, it seeks to builds a newer, safer, more energy efficient one in its place. Investors who prefer a long term “buy and hold” (and sometimes forget) strategy would do well to consider the history of the markets. As free markets create and destroy companies on a regular basis, investors should be active in monitoring their investments for signs of trouble, and opportunity. 
 
My notebooks reminded me that investing must be a proactive process. It takes constant research and education to stay up with our rapidly changing investing environment.  To think otherwise is to find yourself after your family vacation looking for a store to process your roll of 110 film. If you do not know what 110 film is, then I rest my case.

​Launa and I went up on the mountain above Cedar City, Utah this week to escape the desert heat. Most of the homes on the mountain are surrounded with an abundance of trees, mostly pine. Each year the forest service removes trees to help with fire protection and we were amazed at how quickly an army of new small trees had begun to take their place.
 
In some areas cabin owners plant their own trees to cover a clearing or provide more privacy. An interesting thing about pine trees is that they grow in abundance from seeds all over the forest wherever there is enough sunlight, but if you plant one by hand it can be very difficult to get it to grow. Cabin owners must install automatic watering systems to provide a constant flow of water to the newly planted trees. It is an odd phenomenon to see natural young trees growing in abundance all on their own, next to human planted trees with watering systems that struggle to survive. I asked an old timer why the planted trees needed additional water. He explained that natural trees begin life as a seed and the first thing they do is send out roots seeking water. As the root system develops the young sapling adds small branches and leaves as it is able to support them. It does not grow any faster than the roots are able to supply the moisture and nutrition the tree needs.
 
The human planted trees are grown in pots and fed water manually at the nursery. As a result, the branches and leaves grow more quickly, and the root system is much less developed. When they are planted on the mountain in a harsh environment, the root system is simply not strong enough to support the needs of the beautiful tree above it, so they struggle.
 
I thought about the many times people come to me in their adult years looking for help with their finances. Many times these individuals are in a situation where their financial needs and wants have grown faster than their ability to support them. Like a hand planted tree, they find themselves struggling in life’s forest against the elements and challenges without a strong root system to provide the needed nourishment. 
 
The tiniest pine sapling can survive the fiercest weather because of the hidden but strong root system that lies below, while strong and beautiful hand planted trees regularly struggle and die because they lack good roots.
 
When it comes to building a strong financial life, nothing beats starting early to build a support system before the needs of life become overwhelming.  Strengthen your financial roots first, then allow the rest of your life to grow as you can afford it. In so doing you will find, like the natural trees of the forest, the ability to enjoy the beautiful sunshine while being prepared to weather the many harsh storms life is sure to throw at you.

​Sometimes the highest risk to your finances can come from legitimate companies with less than perfect intentions. In the 19th century it was common for travelling salesmen to come to town in a wagon promoting special elixirs that purportedly would heal “all that ails you.” One of the most common elixirs was made from snake oil. Snake oil has been used in Chinese medicine for centuries as a topical skin treatment with some benefits for healing minor pain. The problem with snake oil was that those who sold it in early America often claimed benefits far beyond its normal use. Consequently, the term “snake oil salesman” remains to this day as a description of someone who sells a product whose use and benefit is greatly exaggerated. Because these products may have some limited positive benefits, they can be a risk to consumers who are led to believe they can do much more.
 
I have a friend who believes in one such thing, and anytime someone has a sickness of any kind, he gives assurance that his magical product will cure it. You could have something as simple as a cold or as deadly as cancer, or maybe you just have a food allergy. It doesn’t matter what it is, he will insist that his product will cure it. His product does in fact have some value for certain things, but the transferring of that value to “all that ails you” is what makes it dangerous. In our enlightened age it is foolish to believe any single product can cure all diseases, or even many of them. We would never accept an auto mechanic who claimed the same procedure would fix any problem with our car.
 
Snake oil salesmen also exist in the financial world. They travel around with their show, and their well-polished pitch, complete with pictures, graphs and testimonials, portraying their products as the solution to all problems. Some are well-meaning but their single product focus should be an immediate warning flag to potential investors. Their products may have good value if used properly and in the right situation, but all too often they are sold too broadly with implied claims that such financial solutions will “cure all that ails you.”
 
I have yet to find a financial product that solves all problems or that is appropriate for all people. Just as we have numerous medical treatments for the various human ailments, there are numerous financial solutions as well. If my doctor prescribed the same cure every time I visited him, I would find another doctor. Despite its current negative connotation, in the 19th century there was nothing inherently wrong with snake oil. The problem was with its promoters who greatly exaggerated its potential benefits to the unsuspecting public. In your search for financial solutions always remember that each product has its use and an otherwise good product can have negative consequences if used in the wrong situation.

​One of my biggest sacrifices when I became a pilot was accepting that I would be committing to routine medical exams for the rest of my life. I was never a fan of going to the doctor unless I was bleeding uncontrollably or a bone was sticking out somewhere. I didn’t see the value in a “well” check-up.
 
Most pilots have a stressful relationship with the FAA over pilot medicals, given the strict requirements and the seemingly simple conditions for which a pilot can be grounded. The FAA’s position is that the public’s right to have a healthy pilot takes priority over a pilots right to fly, and even my wife would agree with that position. Statistically, only a very small percentage of airplane accidents result from pilot health conditions, so the system is apparently working. 
 
A financial advisor in many ways is much like a doctor. When there is economic sickness going around as it was in 2008, people flood our offices and ring our phones looking for answers. They are happy to have someone look over their investments and help them in their time of dire need. Then when the economy improves, other matters begin to take priority. Getting a checkup from the financial advisor doesn’t seem so be so pressing when everything is going well.
 
The problem with going to see the doctor only when you are sick is that in many cases, a little pre-emptive action might have prevented or lessened the effects of a disease. Catching things early is almost always cheaper and easier for everyone involved. Routine pilot medicals are largely designed to catch potential problems at a time when they can be more easily addressed, rather than in the cockpit at 30,000 feet. In the same manner, a routine financial checkup is more valuable when performed before a disaster hits. In this way, potential problems in the portfolio, or weaknesses, may be diagnosed and treated when it is easier and likely cheaper.
 
Like most pilots, I love to complain about the frequent medical checkups. I take the attitude that am healthy and if I ever stop being healthy I will call my doctor and let him know. But I recognize that the FAA has learned from experience that the best protection for the flying public is to be proactive and preemptive when it comes to pilot health.
 
The economy has been mostly healthy for about nine years now. It is an easy time to feel like there are a lot more pressing things in life than having your investments reviewed. Fortunately for airline passengers, the pilot up front is forced by law to regularly demonstrate they are in good health. Unfortunately for many individuals there is no such requirement when it comes to their financial health, leaving many potentially exposed to underlying problems.
 
During times of great economic growth like right now it can be difficult to feel the need for a financial checkup, but it may be the most intelligent time to be getting one. 

​When our family lived by the river in Santa Clara, Utah we were in a continual battle with wolf spiders and cockroaches. Both are harmless but also creepy when you come across them in the middle of the night. Cockroaches are easy to kill with proper treatment but impossible to completely eradicate. Spraying for spiders is largely ineffective but fortunately spiders are cannibalistic so they do a good job of maintaining their own population. We usually found just one per room and if we killed it, another would take its place.
 
In our current home we have a new pest to deal with; scorpions. Initially this was almost a deal breaker. Most people are terrified of scorpions, but in time we came to gain an appreciation for the scorpions we share our property with. Being in the spider family, they too are cannibalistic so they assist us in keeping their own numbers down, but what we learned to appreciate about scorpions is they also eat everything else. In the six years in our current home we have never seen a spider, a cockroach, or even a cricket. We are active in our efforts to control our scorpion population, and they are active in controlling everything else. Launa now says she would gladly take a few scorpions over all the other pests.
 
We also have a vacation home in southern California. With the wet climate near the beach at that home, we are in constant battle with termites. The thought of termites brings fear to most desert dwellers, but termites love the moist beach air as much as we do and any homeowner within a few miles of the beach shares their property with those hungry little guys. Though we were upset at first, termites quickly became just another pest that you get accustomed to and learn to deal with.
 
Most people are constantly in search of the perfect living environment just as they are in search of the perfect investment portfolio. But neither exists. Every solution has its own “pests” to deal with. Those who are determined to find perfection in life are not only constantly frustrated, but even worse, they often fall victim to unscrupulous salespeople who purport to offer it.
 
We enjoyed our life in Santa Clara even though we dealt with cockroaches and spiders. When we visit the beach we spray those pestiferous termites, then soak in the beautiful ocean air. We love our spider and cockroach free present home, but always remember to wear shoes while walking around the house at night.
 
The great secret I have learned from the various pests I have dealt with as a homeowner is to not let them define the joy I have obtained from each place I have lived. Your investments will not always perform as you want them to, and none of them will ever be perfect, but if they provide you a good lifestyle be grateful for it, and don’t let your obsession with the occasional pests ruin the experience. 

​My family loves theme parks. We have learned to travel prepared so we have a special backpack that I carry, that has within several items that might be useful throughout the day. I have rain ponchos, sun screen, spare phone batteries, chapstick, sweatshirts, socks, bandages and Tylenol. You never know which of the above you might need, but you can be certain that eventually you will need them all.
 
In financial terms, we would call the items in my theme park backpack “uncorrelated,” meaning they would be useful under different circumstances from the others. For example, it is not likely that I will need both sunscreen and rain gear on the same day. I also rarely need sweatshirts in sunny California. Some days I try to convince Launa that there is no chance of rain so maybe just this once we should leave the heavy ponchos and sweatshirts behind. As always, her better wisdom prevails and I carry my load dutifully.
 
When people assemble an investment portfolio, they are really just creating a financial backpack. They put in it things they believe they will need in order to achieve success. It is natural to want to include investments that always make money, all of the time. If an otherwise valuable item, like a rain poncho, doesn’t fit the financial forecast for a sunny day, they have a tendency to want to leave it out. Though I can totally relate to not wanting to carry a poncho on a sunny day, I have learned the value of having it with me. When the rain does come, I am always thankful for the many sunny days when I carried that poncho.
 
So how do you know if your portfolio is prepared for the rain? How do you know if it is dangerously overly correlated? The hard answer is, if everything in your portfolio is making good money for you right now, then you very likely have a highly correlated portfolio. This means that all your investments respond in a similar fashion to the same conditions, and you may be at risk if the financial weather changes. It may be counterintuitive to think that having things in your portfolio that are not doing well today could actually be good, but it is the same principle as carrying a sweatshirt in your pack on a sunny day.
 
On one beautiful sunny day Launa and I were enjoying our walk in a crowded theme park when an unexpected cold front came through. As the crowds scurried for the exits we donned our sweatshirts and ponchos and continued to enjoy a much less crowded, beautiful walk.
 
There is great value in having uncorrelated items in your financial backpack. There is wisdom in taking advantage of the sun while carrying the extra weight of a sweatshirt and rain poncho just in case. Take it from a theme park expert. You will absolutely experience both rain and sun in your investing life. Make sure you are always prepared for both.

​I have been blessed this week as I took some time with Launa and our daughter Jaimee, who is my illustrator, to do book readings at local elementary schools. We wanted to share the special message of my new book, but after each reading we found that we were the ones being educated.
 
I began an effort a few years ago to teach and write books for young people under my pen name Ule B. Wise, that would help prepare them for the financial challenges of life. Rather than writing about money specifically, I wanted to teach values and character traits that naturally lead to success in other areas of life. As an example, a child will be much better at budgeting money if they first learn patience.
 
The basis of this book’s story is a boy who climbs a tree in search of a gold egg that he was told lies in the nest at the top. His friends are not supportive, the climb is difficult, and he has some failures along the way, but he persists until finally reaching his goal. What he finds at the top is greater than he ever hoped for.
 
I always ask the kids what they learned from the story. What I did not anticipate, but what has become quite obvious after several book readings, is how absolutely brilliant these kids are. Rather than needing coaxing to find the right answers, these young children gave responses that, in many cases, exceeded those from my adult classes.  This week a 10-year-old girl responded, “The boy learned that the real reward was not the gold egg he was seeking but the lessons he learned while making the difficult climb.” Wow! An 8-year-old answered, “The message is to experience the journey of life and see the beauty along the way.” Double Wow! And a first grader said, “You can’t really enjoy a reward unless you work for it.” I went into this project thinking we had so much to teach our children. However, I am learning that we have much we can learn from them.
 
Financial problems are the root cause of many personal, family and national disasters. Irresponsible spending threatens the very future of our nation. If we can raise a generation that is wise with money, we can eliminate a great deal of sorrow. After just the last two months reading to these elementary students, I am convinced that this is a winnable battle. These kids are brilliant. They have within them what it takes to succeed. They are ready and willing to learn.
 
My Dad, who inspired me to write children’s books, told me to never teach down to a child, to always teach up. When you teach financial or other principles to children, expect greatness from them. Stretch their abilities, challenge their minds, then step back and watch in amazement at what this generation will accomplish. Thank you Sunset, Coral Cliffs, Little Valley and Crimson View Elementary for inspiring me, and giving me hope for our future – for your future.