Invest In Your Financial Future

Waterstone Private Wealth Management will host its Market Forecast 2012 Seminar on February 9, 2012.

The Grants, of Waterstone Private Wealth Management, have been frequent contributors to CNBC Powerlunch, Fox Business, BNN, The Wall Street Journal, Reuters, Dow Jones Wire, and The Tulsa World.

Melanie Hasty-Grant and Ken Grant, owners of Waterstone Private Wealth Management, oversee offices in Owasso and Tulsa’s Utica Square. Clearing through the country’s largest independent broker/dealer, LPL Financial, Melanie and Ken ­manage more than $50 million in client assets and are frequent contributors to national and local media sources. We receive so much noise from extremists in the investment world that it’s comforting to hear Melanie and Ken present their voice-of-reason analysis representing Middle America.

The Market Forecast 2012 Seminar will be hosted by Waterstone on Thursday, February 9 from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Summit Club in Tulsa. Cost per person is $50. However, if you register prior to January 27, cost is only $25 per person. Make reservations now as space is limited. Hors d’oeuvres and cocktails will be served following the seminar.

“If you feel whipsawed by market volatility and have been left frustrated and questioning your financial future, you need to attend this seminar,” says Melanie.  

The Market Forecast 2012 Seminar will address topics that make sense of the conflicting headlines and the facts behind market movers.   

“Investors need to prepare a comprehensive strategy and have the process in place prior to the huge drops that can occur in today’s market,” advises Melanie. “Unfortunately, the old ‘buy-and-hold’ approach doesn’t work like it used to in this perpetually changing market. Continuing to just ride the market up and down is, unfortunately, no longer an effective way to ­manage investments.”

Politics, unemployment, low interest rates and inflation ­continue to be issues of concern, according to Hasty-Grant. “If you believe these can and do have an effect on investments, you’re right,” she says.

Over the last four years, the market declined in excess of two percent in a single day around 100 times. That is more frequent than any other four-year period since the S&P 500 Index’s ­formation in 1957. On the flip side, the market also recorded a two percent or greater gain in a single day, more than any other four-year period. “The volatility caused many investors to be ­paralyzed with indecision and just ride it out,” says Melanie.

Waterstone still feels the “ride” will continue to vacillate upward and downward. “If you only need money when the ­market is ‘up,’ this strategy works well,” says Hasty-Grant. Unfortunately, most of us also need money when the market is down. Melanie likes one of John F. Kennedy’s quotes, “The time to repair the roof is when the sun is shining.” The best time to prepare one’s investment strategy is now – while we’re on the lookout for future storms – even though a sunny sky may be shining on the market right now.

“People only see what they are prepared to see,” said Ralph Waldo Emerson. Waterstone has the philosophy that opportunities are always available if you’re willing to look deep enough, no matter what is happening in the market or with the economy. “With its depth of resources, Waterstone is committed to locating any promising ­opportunities,” says Melanie. “If you’re entangled in the trap of not knowing what to do about the market and your investments and, therefore, find yourself doing nothing, you’ve pretty ­certainly adopted a sense of ‘learned helplessness.’”  

Many remain angry when they reach this point and are afraid of making market ­decisions for fear they will be wrong. “Face the fact that the market doesn’t really care what you paid for an investment,” says Melanie, “and be aware that the investments you rode down may not be the ones that will ride you back up!” We’ve all heard it: Failing to plan is planning to fail. In other words, making no ­decision is, in reality, a ­decision made.

Be informed about ­investments. Attend the Market Forecast 2012 Seminar on February 9. Invite Waterstone to provide you a personal ­investment stress test to see how prepared – or unprepared – you might be for tomorrow’s varying market environment. “Being proactive is much better than becoming a victim to the ­markets,” says Melanie. Stop hoping and start doing by ­seeking a better investment ­strategy for your future.

For more information, contact

Waterstone Private Wealth Management

(918) 272-1120

www.waterstonewealth.com

About Author Duane Blankenship

Blankenship graduated from the University of Oklahoma and has enjoyed a lifetime career in advertising. He started his own advertising business in 1993 and enjoys creating graphic art and writing. Hobbies include hunting, fishing and pencil drawings. Duane and his wife, Janice, have been married over 50 years and are active in their church and community. He has been a contributing writer for Value News/Values Magazine since 2005.