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This article was originally featured on TeamRunSmart.com. Winter is right around the corner which means it’s time to refresh yourself on how to drive in the changing weather. There are many things you can do while driving and things you can do to your truck that will make driving in the winter as safe and stress-free as possible. Our friends at Team Run Smart have come up with a variety of things that they do on the road during the winter that they have learned throughout their many years of driving. In this article, we are going to pass these winter driving tips for truck drivers off to you! Driving The first thing to remember when driving in the winter is that it doesn’t matter how fast you are going but how fast you can stop. The road conditions in the winter are going to increase the amount of time and distance you will need for your brakes. This is important to think about because the chances of needing to stop or maneuver out of the way goes up when the road conditions are poor. There are many things you can do in the winter while driving to make sure you have enough time and distance to stop and stay safe on the road. If you’re driving below the speed limit and people are passing you, don’t feel pressured to go faster just because others are. If you are getting pressure on the CB radio to go faster, turn down the CB and focus on what you are doing. If you continue to drive and still feel uncomfortable, pull off in a safe place until you feel conditions are good enough to drive. Your safety, and the safety of others around you, is the most important thing in the winter. Another thing you can do if you are uncomfortable and feel yourself sliding around is drive more and more gradually on the shoulder of the road. This tip works because there is usually more gravel on the shoulder of the road which allows your tires to grip better. You should only do this if you are having a hard time slowing down and are able to see the gravel on the shoulder. There are also things around you that you should pay attention to that will help you understand how the conditions are on the road. If you see a car coming at you that is flashing their headlights at you, be prepared for something coming up ahead. People can be flashing their lights at you for a variety of reasons so make sure you’re ready for anything that could be coming up. You should also pay attention to the number of cars driving on the other side of the road. If the number of vehicles coming towards you becomes fewer and fewer for no expected reason, it could mean that something might be wrong up ahead. Another thing to be prepared for in the winter is traffic being stopped on the other side of a hill that you are going over. Because you can’t see the other side of the hill, don’t assume that it is going to be clear. Be ready to brake, as you know you are going to need even more time to come to a stop going down a hill if traffic is backed up. The last thing you can pay attention to is the spray from other vehicles that are passing you. If you see water spraying off the tires you know the roads likely aren’t frozen, but if you see that the spraying has stopped it may mean it’s time to be extra cautious and slow down. Even if you are paying attention to all of these things on the road, there is still a chance that you will start sliding on the ice. If you begin sliding, you want to make sure all of your tires are rolling as freely as possible. In order to do this, hit the clutch or put your gear in neutral. As you are sliding and your tires are rolling freely, find an object straight down the road, like a road sign, and steer towards that object. That is an effective way to get out of the slide and avoid jackknifing. Your Truck There are many things you can do to your truck and things that you can notice on your truck that can help you drive in the winter weather. If you are having trouble with your windshield while driving in the cold and the snow, there are a couple of things you can do. If a thin layer of ice forms when your wipers run across the windshield, then cool things off and try freezing your windshield. Park in a safe spot and turn your defrost to the coldest temperature setting. Once the windshield is frozen, scrape off the ice and continue driving with the defrosters on. The cold glass will will keep the snow and ice from sticking to the windshield while driving down the road. Continue to keep the windshield as cold as needed to keep ice from forming. If you’re driving in a wet heavy snow and snow is building up on the edges of the windshield causing the wipers to lose contact with the glass, then try putting your defrost on as hot as possible and lower the sun visors to hold the heat in at the top of the windshield. This will melt the wet snow that sticks to the top of the windshield and will allow for better visibility. There is a fine line between when to use these two tricks but with experience you will learn when to use either one. When it comes to your fuel, there are a few things you can do to make sure it doesn’t gel. The most common thing to do is use a diesel fuel additive. If you are going to do this, be sure to add it before you fuel up so that it doesn’t sit on top of the fuel without mixing in. Another thing to pay attention to is where you are fueling up. If you are going from a place that is south of I40 to a place that is north, fill up just enough south of I40 to get you to the place you know is going to be cold. The fuel in warmer climates is not going to be blended for cold weather like the fuel in cold climates. If you fill up just enough to get you north of I40, you won’t have to use fuel that is untreated and will be able to fill up right away with fuel that is treated. Lastly, if you have a bunk heater, make sure you run it while the truck’s warm when you first put the winterized fuel in. This is because if it’s old fuel that is not treated for the cold, it may not start. You should also turn on your bunk heater every month, even in the summer months, to make sure it’s ready for when you need it in the winter. Don’t let it sit for a long time with old fuel. There are a few things you can do to help your tires and brakes from being affected by the weather as well. The first and most obvious thing to do is use tire chains when necessary. Learn about the chain laws in the places that you normally run in this article here. Secondly, make sure your brakes are dried out after you are done for the day so that they don’t freeze. You can do this by gently applying the brake pedal and dragging your brakes through the lot where you are going to park. This will warm the brake pads and vaporize any moisture on the brakes and drums. After you have done this and parked, don’t set the trailer brakes. You also need to be careful to avoid getting your tires stuck in snowy and icy conditions. If you are parking on ice, stop for a little while to let your tires cool, then roll forward or back a short distance. This way your tires will cool off so the snow and ice don’t melt around the tires which could get you stuck. You can also idle around the lot to let the snow cool the tires before parking. The last little thing to pay attention to on your truck that will help you get a better understanding of the weather is your antenna. If you see ice building up on your antenna, it means the road you are on might also be frozen and icy. Quick Tips Here are a few more quick tips that can help you during the winter: If you can’t walk on it, you probably shouldn’t drive on it. If you can, every once in a while just get out and put your foot on the ground to see if it’s slick. Get grippies or chains for your shoes that make it easier for you to walk outside of the truck. This is especially true at truck stops or docks that don’t clear off their pavement. When you are driving, keep your coat on or near by just in case there is an emergency. You never know if something is going to happen that will force you to get out of your truck quickly. Keep a candle in your truck with a metal coffee cup as a worst-case scenario for providing heat in your truck. This won’t keep your whole body warm but should be enough to keep your hands from getting frostbite if you have no other heat options. What Winter Driving Tips for Truck Drivers Do You Have? These are just a few of the things you can do as a truck driver to keep you safe on the road in the winter. There are likely a lot of tips that we missed, so feel free to pass them along to us. Our goal is to make sure that you, and all of the people around you, are as safe as possible during the cold months. So please keep these tips in mind and have a great winter out there on the road.

To help achieve your long-term goals, such as a comfortable retirement, you should save and invest regularly. But that’s only part of the picture. You also need to protect your financial assets in various ways. One such method is guarding your personal information – especially any information that could be linked to your financial accounts. It’s obviously important to be vigilant at any time, but you need to be even more on your toes during the holiday season when fraudsters are particularly active. So, to help keep your important data under wraps during the holidays, consider these suggestions: Extend your protection to all mobile devices Identity thieves can now compromise your mobile devices by installing spyware that steals usernames, passwords and credit card information. Fortunately, you can fight back. By doing a little research online, you can find the best mobile security software for your needs. Use multiple passwords Online security specialists recommend that you use different passwords for each new online shopping site you visit during the holiday season. Although this might seem like a hassle, it can be helpful, because even if identity thieves were to grab one of your new passwords, they still couldn’t use it for other sites you may visit. And you can even find a free online program that can help you keep track of all your passwords. Be suspicious of “huge savings” It happens every holiday season – identity thieves develop fake sites with attractive graphics and stunningly low prices on a variety of items, especially digital devices. If you fall for these pitches, you won’t get any merchandise, but you might get a handful of headaches once the bad guys have your credit card number and other personal information. To prevent this, be wary of any deal that sounds too good to be true, and do some digging on the websites that offer these mega-savings. Watch for fake shipping notices During the holidays, when you may do a lot of online shopping, you will probably receive some legitimate shipping notices. But the bad guys have gotten pretty good at generating fake notices designed to resemble those from UPS, FedEx and even the U.S. Postal Service. If you were to click on the link provided by one of these bogus notices, you could either take on some malware or get taken to a “phishing” website created by the shipping notice forgers. Your best defense: Only shop with legitimate merchants and only use the tracking numbers given to you in the email you received immediately after making your purchases. Keep your Social Security number to yourself As a general rule, don’t give out your Social Security number online — to anyone. No legitimate retailer needs this number. Finally, be aware that not all attempts at stealing your personal information will come online. When you’re out shopping at old-fashioned, brick-and-mortar stores, consider bringing just one credit card with you — and protect that card from prying eyes. By following these precautions, you should be able to greatly reduce the risk of being victimized by identity thieves and other miscreants. And the more comfortable you are in doing your holiday shopping, the more you can enjoy the season. This article was written by Edward Jones for use by Greg Hall, Financial Advisor with Edward Jones. He can be contacted via email at greg.hall@edwardjones.com or via phone at 303-985-0045.​

Headlines are saying we're currently in the best economy for truckers that the industry has ever seen. Some experts even predict things will be great for truckers into the year 2020. We love it that Owner Operators are making more money than ever before. However, this might be a good time to plan ahead and consider that things always change. In fact, change is probably the one thing in trucking that we can always count on. Business is great, but the pendulum always swings back, in part because trucking is a supply and demand business. When demand (freight) is strong and supply (truckers) can't meet that demand, then prices and compensation increase – like now. But nothing lasts forever and it wasn't so long ago when supply was strong and demand was weak which meant flat or even falling freight rates. It's a great time to be an Owner Operator, but I remind myself of the words of Richard Stocking when he was CEO of Swift, “Fortunes aren't made in the good times, they are made by surviving the bad times." Most of you have already survived the bad times so it doesn't hurt to prepare for more change. This could be the best time to take stock and consider a few ways that might be helpful in the future: Pay down some debt. This is always a good thing to do. Start with the high interest debt or pay-off the smaller accounts first. Doing either or both of these frees up money to attack other debt. Ask your banker about steps you can take now when profits are high. You may have some good options. Pay cash for everything and don't take on more debt. There's a lot to be said for living debt free with less worry and less stress. Get things done that have been postponed. It will be easier to pay for it now but schedule things like an equipment repair when it's a little slower (like the first week of the month) when it will hurt your business less. Start a new fund or accelerate deposits into a current fund. Retirement or future college expenses are worthwhile and satisfying when you can put something away for the future. Have some cash tucked away in case an opportunity comes your way like, perhaps, to upgrade your truck. If opportunity doesn't come along, you'll have the money either way. Reward yourself with a day at the beach or some new boots you've had your eye on. A few modest personal rewards are something you've earned. Just don't blow the budget. Speaking of budgets, have one. These are amazing tools that make sense of your work life and maybe even your home life. Following a budget is good for you and for your family. I like to make fun of my farmer friends who today will say, “If it doesn't rain, it will ruin the crops." then tomorrow will complain, “If the rain doesn't stop, it will ruin the crops”. Like the rain, it's inevitable that things in trucking do change. Don't blame yourself or anybody else for those changes, just be ready. It's only natural that when things change, it impacts all drivers and all carriers.

The Saver's credit can be claimed for your contributions to a 401k, 403(b), 457 plan, a Simple IRA or a SEP IRA. You can't claim your employer's contributions to these accounts, however your contributions to a traditional IRA or a Roth IRA are also eligible for the saver's credit. Here are some key facts that you should know about this important tax credit: Maximum Credit: The Saver’s Credit is worth up to $2,000 for Single Filers and $4,000 for Married Filing Jointly. The credit you receive is often much less than the maximum Formal Name: The formal name of the Saver’s Credit is the Retirement Savings Contribution Credit. This Credit is in addition to other tax savings you get if you set aside money for retirement. To Claim a Saver's Credit: You must be age 18 or older Cannot be a full-time student Cannot be claimed as a dependent on someone else's tax return Your retirement contribution must have been made during the tax year for which you are filing your return and must meet the income requirements Income Limits: You are eligible for the credit on your 2018 tax return if you are: Married filing jointly with income up to $63,000 Head of household with income up to $47,250 Married filing separately or a single taxpayer with income up to $31,000 Contribution Date: You must have contributed to a 401(k) plan or similar workplace plan by the end of the year to claim this credit. However, you can contribute to an IRA by the due date of your tax return and still have it count for 2018 - the due date for most people is April 15, 2019.

Thanksgiving is the kickoff to the holiday season. It’s a time to slow down, relax, and be grateful for all the year has brought to us. But what do you do when you are working over the holiday? The nature of the job for owner-operators often runs 24/7, and the kickoff to the holiday shopping season increases the workloads for many during Thanksgiving. However, you can still have an enjoyable Thanksgiving holiday while out on the road. You don’t have to miss out on a delicious feast while you are out on the road. Many restaurants will provide the favorite dishes that are traditional to this holiday. You can also recreate that warm community feeling of home by stopping into a local church. Traditionally, churches have provided a Thanksgiving meal to those in need, but many ministries are reaching out to provide a welcoming feast to those who are working or out on the road. Many of your favorite truck stops along the way will offer a Thanksgiving meal as well, and some stops will even offer it for free with proof of CDL license. If you have time to stop at a hotel, many will also be offering up a special holiday meal. Higher demand has required many workers to spend their holidays in the office, at work, or on the road. However, there are plenty of ways to stay connected with loved ones. Arranging a time to call, Skype, or FaceTime with family members on Thanksgiving is a great way to be there remotely. You can even ask family members to set up the computer at the table so that you can jump in on the conversation, and see everyone passing around the helpings of turkey! Having this technology at our fingertips is something to truly be thankful for – it helps us virtually be with the people we love, even if commitment to the job takes precedence. If you are into preparing your own meals, cook up something special! It doesn’t take much to make a quick Thanksgiving meal for yourself, as you can easily find instant mashed potatoes, cooked turkey breast or rotisserie chicken, and all the other sides you need at the grocery store. Even better, make a little extra and share your meal with other drivers that are stopped in the same area. You might make a new friend, and everyone will appreciate spending the holiday with someone rather than alone. Finally, Transport for Christ is a mobile chapel community that has placed truck stop chapel locations all across North America if you wish for spiritual solace while on the road. During this time of year, it’s important to make the most of what you have. No matter what your situation, there are plenty of ways to keep your holiday traditions alive even when away from home. Have a happy and safe Thanksgiving! Image Source 1: https://www.flickr.com/photos/marfis75/ Image Source 2: https://www.flickr.com/photos/17708700@N07/

When you want to sell your product or service to a customer, you won’t be able to persuade anyone to buy anything from you until you fully understand what it is that your customer wants. When you’re working in business and you determine what the needs are for your customer, you can then sell to them with the knowledge of what is in their best interest. Customers will look for a business that offers something for them as they need a reason to buy a product or service. Find out what makes your business unique from the competition and ask yourself “why would this customer want to buy from me.” It’s always good to ask your customer why they purchase from you as you might be thinking they are using your product or service for another reason. When making sales calls and working with customers, the more you know about them the more effective your presentation can be. Find out who they are, what they buy and why they buy it. Find out who the contact person is that you will need to establish a working relationship with as this is the decision maker. Get to know your customer and find out why they are buying the product or service and what is important to them. Find out what their future needs may be. You want to emphasize the benefits to using your business and offer solutions to any challenges they may have. Anticipating future needs and staying current with the market will make you better able to assist them with future purchases. Keep in mind that when making a sales call to a potential customer, they are most likely using another company. This is why it’s important to know who they are currently using, are they satisfied with their current supplier and how can they benefit from purchasing from you. You will need to consider your benefit offerings, price and how your business can serve this client. Getting to know your client can help develop a strong working relationship with repeat business for many years to come. Take time to learn about him or her, their family, pets, hobbies and background. Always follow up and stay in touch with clients, even if they have not purchased from you in a while. This will help them to not forget about you and your business. Place a phone call just to say hello or take them to lunch to catch up if you have not connected in some time. Staying in touch shows you care and can keep you current on their business needs. This article was originally featured on Teamrunsmart.com.

Things evolve. To paraphrase the great Red Greene - I am old. I can change if I have to. It does seem that the older I get the harder it is to adapt to changes in technology. You may have noticed the changes to the website. They are designed to make the site more user friendly. Unfortunately, that means that we have to change how we upload our blogs. I had enough trouble trying to figure out the old way - now you change it! I (we) need to get over ourselves. People don't change things just to be mean. Things change in order to improve. I couldn't upload my text. Turns out the web browser I was using doesn't want to work with this software. Really? So now I have to use the web browser I couldn't use before, because it didn't work with that software! Here's the thing. I will get this figured out - eventually. People will help me. It used to be that I did not want to ask for help. These days, I am begging for it. Computers just are not my specialty. My grandchildren are better with them than I am. And yes, I have sought their help. Hopefully, old age comes with some wisdom. Wisdom has taught me to ask for help. Hopefully, there won't be too many sighs on the other end of the phone, because I remind the tech of their mom. This is not true with just computers. These new trucks have evolved as well. Some of us old dogs have struggled with the new trucks. I could not change the band on the radio for about 300 miles. Worst part was that I was stuck on the weather band. At least fellow Team Run Smart Pro Henry Albert was stuck on FM. Eventually we both figured it out. The more I learn about the new technology on this truck, the more I realize just how cool it is. The idea that I can change the cruise control setting with my fingers is incredible - and convenient. Some of the traits of the new trucks can really throw us old dogs off. The power band is at a lower RPM. The new trucks have more torque than the trucks I learned to drive on. We just have to know where it is and why it is there. One cool thing that I discovered was that at 65 MPH, it is already in the power band. Since it is already in the power band, you don't get that lag at the bottom of a hill. It starts pulling immediately, and because of that it sustains momentum. When you combine the change in the torque curve with the extra torque, this truck really pulls. That is an awesome thing. This article was originally featured on Teamrunsmart.com.

Whether you have overdue loan payments, years of high credit card balances, or accounts turned over to collections, there's always a way to repair your credit score. It's worth fixing it sooner rather than later. Poor credit may keep you from being approved for new lines of credit, or cost you money as you are forced to pay higher interest rates. If your credit score needs some damage control, it's easy to be tempted by scams that promise a quick fix. However, the best way to revamp your credit score is to do it yourself. Don't fork over cash to companies who promise an overnight credit score miracle -- repairing your credit is a job you can handle yourself with these five steps. 1. Do Your Research Your credit score is a number between 300 and 850. It helps lenders understand whether you're low-risk enough for the best credit cards and lowest loan rates. Plus, you can't start repairing your credit without knowing where you stand! To start, you'll want to get copies of your full credit reports from all three major bureaus: Experian, TransUnion, and Equifax. You can request your reports for free, once per year at annualcreditreport.com. Steer clear of other sites, which might require you to pay for a report even though they claim to be free. If you prefer to use apps, there are a few reputable choices to pick from. Credit Karma and Credit Sesame are both trustworthy options for free credit score tracking. An app can help you see your credit score start to tick up over time, which is a great motivational tool! 2. Dispute any Errors Once you have your credit reports in-hand, go through them in detail. While bad credit is most likely caused by your own habits, it can also be caused by errors. If you find any errors, it's worth your time to get them resolved. As you go through your credit report, review the list of your credit cards, outstanding debts, major purchases, and loans. If you see any mistakes or items that look questionable, make a copy of the report and highlight the error. Then, double-check the error against your own records. You'll need proof, like a copy of your bank account statement, to get the credit bureau to fix the mistake. File any disputes online following the FTC's advice. 3. Establish and Automate Your Budget Repairing your credit also means changing your unhealthy habits. Start by making a budget and prioritizing your regular monthly expenses, like rent, insurance, truck payments, and other necessities. Getting your spending under control is crucial if you're going to succeed with the final two steps. Budgeting doesn't have to be boring or complicated though. You can work with an ATBS business consultant to create a personalized profit plan (budget). As you make your profit plan, set up automatic payments for utilities or other bills so that you can avoid late payments. Paying all your bills on time is the single most important aspect of building good credit. Missing even a single payment can do further damage to your score. 4. Pay Off Outstanding Balances With your freshly-minted budget, you'll have more room to start chipping away at your outstanding balances. Start by paying off credit cards that are maxed out or close to their max. This is because your credit score is partially based on the amount of available debt you utilize. For example, if you charge $1,000 on a card with a $2,000 limit, you've used 50%, which is better than charging the same amount on a card with a $1,500 limit. As you pay off each card, you might be tempted to close the account completely. It's counterintuitive, but leave the credit cards open! Each card contributes to the total amount of available credit, which also impacts your score. If you really need to eliminate the temptation, it's best to take the card out of your wallet and store it at home. 5. Stay Away From New Credit As you take the steps to repair your credit, you'll need to resist the urge to open a new credit card. Even if your score is starting to improve, opening a new card can hurt in a couple different ways. First, the "hard inquiry" from your application will show up on your credit report. Having too many of these inquiries in a short period of time can hurt your score. Second, a new credit card decreases the average age of your accounts. Don't undo all your progress by adding another card or loan too soon! Repairing your credit is always a worthwhile journey. It could take months or even years, but it can help you in the long run. If you’re planning to purchase a new home, it can reduce your interest rate and the overall cost. No matter how long it takes, you can do it!

What kind of lifestyle do you hope to have in retirement? Do you have a strategy to get there? If you don't have confidence in your plan, it may be time to engage a financial professional. But how do you choose the one who's right for you? These days, you have more options than ever – including so-called robo-advisors. Robo-advisors typically use algorithms to assemble investment portfolios, with little to no human supervision, after customers answer questions online. Generally, robo-advisors are fairly cheap, and their recommendations are usually based on sound investment principles such as diversification. However, when considering a robo-advisor, you should determine if an algorithm can address your needs as well as a human being – someone who actually becomes familiar with your life and all aspects of your financial situation. Furthermore, a robo-advisor can’t really handle the new wrinkles that will inevitably pop up. If you're an owner-operator, you probably don't have a 401(k). But if you used to be a company driver or worked in a different industry then you might have set one up in the past. What happebed when you change jobs? You might like to know what to do with your 401(k) from your previous employer – leave the money in that employer’s plan or roll it over to an IRA. You probably couldn’t receive a personalized evaluation of your options, based on your individual goals and circumstances, from a robo-advisor. So, if you decide to work with an individual financial professional, what should you look for from this person? Here are a few questions you might want to ask: Who is your typical client? By asking this question, you may get a sense of whether a particular financial advisor has experience working with people in your financial situation and with goals similar to yours. What’s important to you? The quality of your relationship with your financial advisor is important – after all, you may be working with this person for decades – and he or she likely will be involved with many of your most personal decisions. Consequently, you’ll want to work with someone you connect with on an individual level, as well as a professional one. So, if an advisor seems to share your values and appears to have good rapport with you, it could be a positive sign for the future. How will we communicate – and how often? If you’re interviewing candidates, ask them how often they will meet with you in person. At a minimum, an advisor should see you once a year to review your progress and suggest changes. Will they also call or e-mail you with suggestions throughout the year? Are you free to contact them whenever you like? Will you get a real, live person every time you call? Will they send out newsletters or other communications to update you on changes in the investment world? If so, can you see some samples of the communication vehicles they send to clients? How do you get compensated? Some financial advisors work on a fee basis, some on commissions, and some use a combination of both. Find out how your advisor will be compensated, when you’ll need to make payments and how much you’ll be expected to pay. By asking the right questions, you should get a good sense of whether a particular advisor is right for you. And since this likely will be one of the most important professional relationships you have, you’ll want a good feeling about it, right from the beginning.

Unless you live near an amusement park that does a lot of advertising, you probably didn’t know that Aug. 16 was National Roller Coaster Day. Actual roller coasters provide people with thrills. But as an investor, how can you stay calm on the “roller coaster” of the financial markets? Here are some suggestions: Know what’s in front of you If you’ve ever ridden a roller coaster in the dark, you may find it scarier than if you boarded it in daylight – after all, it can be unsettling not to know where you’re going. The same can be said about investing: If you have no idea what’s in front of you, you might find the journey unnerving – and if that happens, you could make panicky decisions, which are usually bad ones. So prepare for the inevitable market volatility – it’s a normal part of the investment landscape. Also Read: Can You Free Yourself of Some Investment-Related Taxes? Buckle up When you’re on a roller coaster, you need to buckle your seat belt or use a restraint. You want to have the excitement of the ride, but you certainly don’t want to take unnecessary risks. And you can enjoy some of the excitement of investing without incurring more risk than you are comfortable with, too. One way to lower your risk level is to diversify across a range of investments – stocks, bonds, government securities, and so on. That way, if a market downturn primarily affects just one type of investment, you’ll have some protection. However, although diversification can reduce the impact of volatility on your portfolio, it can’t protect against all losses or guarantee a profit. Choose a strategy for the journey Different people have different ways of handling a roller coaster ride. Some like to throw their hands up, enjoying the feeling of abandon, while others hold on tightly to the bar in front of them. When you invest, you also need a strategy that works for you, and the best one may be the simplest: Buy quality investments and hold them for the long term. How long is “long term”? It could be 10, 20, 30 years or more. Famed investor Warren Buffet says his favorite holding period is “forever.” If you’ve chosen a mix of quality investments appropriate for your risk tolerance, you may be able to hold them until either your goals change or the investments themselves undergo some transformation. Stay for the whole “ride.” When you hop on a roller coaster, you’ve got no choice – you’re staying until the ride is over. As an investor, though, you can exit the investment world whenever you like. But if you take a “time out” from investing every time the market drops, you risk still being out of the market when it rallies – and the early stages of a rally are often when the biggest gains occur. Furthermore, if you keep investing during a “down” market, you’ll be buying shares when their price has dropped, which means your dollars can go further – and you’ll be following one of the basic rules of investing: “Buy low.” You can’t take out all the twists and turns of the investment road, but by following the above suggestions, you can help make the ride less stressful – and possibly more rewarding. This article was written by Edward Jones for use by Greg Hall, Financial Advisor with Edward Jones. He can be contacted via email at greg.hall@edwardjones.com or via phone at 303-985-0045.

You have probably heard that diversification is a key to investment success. So, you might think that if diversifying your investments is a good idea, it might also be wise to diversify your investment providers – after all, aren’t two (or more) heads better than one?  Before we look at that issue, let’s consider the first half of the “diversification” question – namely, how does diversifying your investment portfolio help you?  Consider the two broadest categories of investments: stocks and bonds. Stock prices will move up and down in response to many different factors, including good or bad corporate earnings, corporate management issues, political developments and even natural disasters. Bond prices are not immune to these dynamics, but they are usually more strongly driven by changes in interest rates. To illustrate: If your existing bond pays 2 percent interest, and new bonds are being issued at 3 percent, the value of your bond will fall, because no one will pay you full price for it. (Of course, it may not matter to you anyway, especially if you planned to hold your bond until maturity, at which point you can expect to get your full investment back, providing the bond issuer doesn’t default.)  Here’s the key point: Stocks and bonds often move in different directions. If you only own U.S. stocks, you could take a big hit during a market downturn, but if you own domestic and international stocks, bonds, government securities, certificates of deposit and other types of investments, your portfolio may be better protected against market volatility, and you’ll have more opportunities for positive results. (Keep in mind, though, that even a diversified portfolio can’t prevent all losses or guarantee profits.)  So, it clearly is a good idea to diversify your investment portfolio. Now, let’s move on to diversifying financial service providers. Why shouldn’t you have one IRA here and another one there, or enlist one advisor to help you with some types of investments and a different advisor assisting you with others?  Actually, some good reasons exist to consider consolidating all your investment accounts with one provider. For one thing, you’ll keep better track of your assets. Many people do misplace or forget about some of their savings and investments, but this will be far less likely to happen to you if you hold all your accounts in one place.  Also, if you have accounts with several different financial service providers, you might be incurring a lot of paperwork – and many fees. You can cut down on clutter and expense by consolidating your accounts.  But most important, by placing all your accounts with a single provider, possibly under the supervision of a single financial advisor, you will find it much easier to follow a single, unified investment strategy, based on your goals, risk tolerance and time horizon. You won’t get conflicting advice and you’ll receive clear guidance on important issues, such as the amounts you can afford to withdraw each year from your retirement accounts once you do retire.  Diversification and consolidation – one is good for building an investment portfolio, while the other can help you invest more efficiently and effectively. Put the two concepts together, and make them work for you. This article was written by Edward Jones for use by Greg Hall, Financial Advisor with Edward Jones. He can be contacted via email at greg.hall@edwardjones.com or via phone at 303-985-0045.​