Dear Valued Financial Partners and Friends,
You may profit by learning how we, as wealth managers at Smedley Financial, engage in two different processes on your behalf. Both on the financial planning side and on the investment management side, we strive to turn the tables upside down by asking the tough “What if” questions.
Regarding your financial planning with us, we first look at the positive side of helping you plan your financial future. But then we flip things upside down and strive to plan for worst-case scenarios as well.
What if you needed more money in your emergency fund? Where will the money come from? What if you or your spouse became disabled? What if you or your spouse died prematurely? What if the younger or healthier spouse dies first? Would you or your survivors be financially okay? What if one or both of you lives 10 or 15 years longer than you expect? What if one or both of you have to go to an assisted living facility? Where will the funds come from? What if you die without a will and possibly a trust? What will happen to your estate?
We hope you can see how this type of reverse thinking in your financial planning is not only beneficial, but essential.
Regarding our investment management philosophy, we strive to emulate this same type of reverse thinking. Rather than being persuaded by best investment case scenarios, the Smedley investment management team continually seeks to ask
itself the tough questions. Over the past 34 years, we at Smedley Financial have seen many people make financial mistakes–some serious and some not so serious.
What if high returns, you know, too good to be true, are promised? Many people lose much of their life savings and perhaps their homes because of the promise of high returns. What if you change your mind and want your money back the next day? Can you get your money back without severe penalties? What if something goes wrong in the future with a proposed investment? What if an investment stops performing? What if an investment drops in value? Who is minding your portfolio and continually looking out for your best interest? When someone boldly states how much money he or she made on an investment ask, “How much risk did you take to get that return?” Are you properly diversified and allocated?
Keep in mind the Will Rogers adage, “I am not as concerned about the return on my money as the return of my money.”
As a nationally recognized Wealth Manager, Smedley Financial’s motto is, “Your financial success is our passion!”
Bullish Best Wishes,
Roger M. Smedley, CFP®
President
