Veritas Financial Services, LLC

Lies and Truths #11 You Are Already Rich

2012-01-30T13:35:00.003-06:00

Here is another TRUTH in our series from the book "The Lies My Broker Taught Me and 101 Truths About Money & Investing."

TRUTH: You are Already Rich!

"In comparison to all of the humanity that has inhabited this planet in the past and today, you already have vast amounts of wealth available to you. You have access to food, clothing, education, shelter, technology, and freedom; unimaginable to the masses in the world today and suffering without running water, health care, food, shelter, or sanitary living conditions. Even the kings of a thousand years ago could scarcely have imagined the wealth of your kind. Indeed, you are already rich."

So, maybe all of us in this country are really part of the 1%? Something to think about. Let's live today in an awareness of how RICH we are!

We have a few copies of this book to give away. Just call 920-893-5262 and tell us you read this post and we will send one out to you--unless they are all gone.' If you would like to see all the posts in this series, just click the "Lies and Truths" link at the bottom of this post.

Subtle Differences

2012-01-12T10:25:00.026-06:00

I was doing some researching and ran across the website of a very "intelligent" sounding financial advisory firm. Their website is very well done. They advertise that they are fee-only planners, and (like us) are independent. They present a good image. They even have a name in their title that is very much like the name of a firm with which Veritas has a business relationship. The more I looked at their site, the more I felt like they are our clone from another dimension: similar sized staff, articles about market panic, references to Money Smart Week, and a golf event. If I were an outsider, I would see almost no difference between this firm and Veritas Financial Services.

But then I dug a little deeper. One of their FAQs (frequently asked questions) is about active management. I am quoting their reply directly:

"Active investment management is the use of analytic research, forecasting, experience and expertise to decide what securities to buy or sell and when. This process aims to achieve a greater rate of return than the market by identifying mispriced assets. In contrast, passive investing subscribes to the Efficient Market Hypothesis and promotes index investing based on the premise that it is not possible to beat the market. These are the two main schools of thought in investment management and attract significant debate and contention within the industry and academia.

Actually, there is NO contention amongst academics about which method is best, only on Wall Street. But anyway, here is their next section on "which is best."

We employ an active investment strategy as we feel greater returns can be achieved with this method. While the majority of investors don’t beat the market, our results have shown that it is not impossible.

And something makes them different from "the majority of investors?” This is a common psychological misperception, similar to how over half of drivers think they are “above average.” I continue, from their website:

Our process can be referred to as “tactical asset allocation” [TRANSLATED: “MARKET TIMING”] in which we make changes…based on our current Market Outlook [TRANLATED: “GUESS”]. With these adjustments we aim to add value for our clients by anticipating broad market and economic themes. We also utilize active mutual fund managers…to make the decisions of which specific companies are best poised to profit from these themes. While many tout index funds because of lower expense ratios, our experience [BUT WHAT RESEARCH?] has shown that there are fund managers who are worth the higher cost [ARE THEY INDENTIFIABLE IN ADVANCE?] and we spend a lot of our research time trying to identify those managers and make sure the costs are appropriate for the value provided."

Here is a case of an intelligent-looking firm in all respects that falls victim to the same cancer of active management, and not only that-- MARKET TIMING (ie "tactical asset allocation"). The sad truth is, they interpret mutual fund manager luck in making correct bets as a consistent, repeatable, and predictable skill they can employ for their investors.

Nothing could be farther from the truth.

Granted, index funds are often held in high esteem for being less expensive, but inexpensive isn't everything. It is also the asset mix that matters. At Veritas, we use structured Free-Market funds and emphasize appropriate asset allocation and true diversification. We do NOT advocate actively-managed funds.

It is highly unlikely that the average investor can decipher and discern these subtle differences. That is why our goal is, week in and week out, to educate you, the investor.

Jeremy Burri
Financial Advisor Coach

Registered Investment Advisor

Employer Fiduciary Liability

2012-01-10T06:16:00.000-06:00

Did you know that you can be sued by your employees for the performance (or lack of) and fees in your retirement plan? The Dept of Labor sets clear standards for the structure of retirement plans, yet many employers are unaware of this fact and maintain plans that are OUT of compliance.

Employers are often also under the false assumption that the investment provider is liable for these things or acting as a "fiduciary" along with the employer. Sadly, in most cases the investment provider is not assuming ANY fiduciary liability, and thus would leave you to fend for yourself (just ask your provider if they are acting as a fiduciary).

In a January 25th class, we'll look at the regulations for employers and how to protect yourself from employee litigation. Additionally, in this class Paulette Ruminski will talk about health insurance issues that may pose a legal threat to employers.

Join us here at Veritas at 7:30 AM for a complimentary breakfast or 11:30 AM for a complimentary lunch. To register, call 920-893-5262 or email Jo Ann at jo.ann@veritasinvesting.com and we will reserve a space for you.

Jeremy Burri
Financial Advisor Coach

Investment Advisor Representative

IF NOT CLASS (Community Living Assistance Services & Supports Act) — then WHAT?

2012-01-09T09:24:00.001-06:00

CLASS, the provision of the 2010 Health Care Reform Act that asked all employers to enroll their employees into a government-run long term care insurance program, has been dissolved.

If you are a business owner, you might be surprised to learn that long-term care benefits now rank as important to employees as life and disability…maybe, in time, even above the healthcare benefits you may currently provide.

Some Myths & Truths about long-term care to consider:

Myth: My employees are not concerned about long-term care benefits.

Truth: 77% of Americans age 30 to 65 think they should know more about long-term care than they currently do.

Myth: Employees do not value this benefit as much as other benefits currently offered to them.
Truth: Employees today, especially if they are Baby Boomers, are vowing to do things differently after seeing their parents’ savings swallowed up by nursing home care, and/or experiencing the stress and financial burden of spouses or children serving as caregivers.

Myth: Medicare will pay for any long-term care needs during retirement.

Truth: Encourage your employees to look at Page 4 of their annual Social Security statement which reads, “Medicare does not pay for long-term care, so you may want to consider options for private insurance”.

Myth: The risk of a financial burden to an employee from benefits an employer currently offers (health, disability, life) supercedes long-term care risks.

Truth: 3 in 900 (.33%) = Odds a having a car accident

21 in 900 (2.3%) = Odds of being admitted to a critical care unit

630 in 900 (70%) = Odds of needing long-term care

Myth: Long-term care is primarily for nursing homes.

Truth: Long term care plans have evolved with much emphasis and greater benefits being placed on staying in your home (even paying family members as caretakers) vs. a nursing facility.

Myth: Long-term care benefits are too expensive.

Truth: Rates are based on age and health (the younger you are and if in good health) the lower the rates will be and why there are many advantages to consider during one’s working years. Also, there are group discounts available, even if offered on a voluntary basis. And, the Wisconsin Partnership Plan offers tax deductions to individuals and business owners who purchase long-term care insurance. The cost may be 100% tax deductible for business owners. Plus, one can purchase “limited pay” policiesso that insurance protection is paid-in-full prior to retirement age.

In the wake of the dissolving of the CLASS Act, however, an urgent question that may remain unanswered is “If not CLASS, then what?

Consider offering Long-Term Care Benefits to your employees. To find out more and explore some options, call me at 920-893-5262.

Paulette Ruminski
Insurance Advisor Coach

Food Pantry Donation

2012-01-07T10:23:00.012-06:00

The Plymouth Food Pantry was presented with a check for $2,525 from Plymouth Professional Business Women. Funds were raised at the group's annual silent auction. On the far right is VERITAS' office manager, Cathy Knuth. We are proud to relate that Cathy is the newly-appointed secretary of PBW.

Separating Myths and Truths of Investing

2012-01-06T09:49:00.001-06:00

Teaching investors the truth about investing is a part of our mission.

Are you an investor? Considering the ups and downs of the stock market, the struggles (or outright disappearance) of some of the best-known banks and brokerage houses, and the constant (and often contradictory) media hype—you might wonder if the best thing to do is put your money under a mattress. How do you know what to do?

Don’t despair! It IS possible to find the truth about investing, to discard long-held (and dangerous) Wall Street myths--and to become a successful investor.

Here are just four common myths that can sabotage the returns of uninformed or unwary investors:

• Stock Selection: Picking stocks that are expected to do well in the future. Have you seen the articles that promise to reveal, “Ten Best Stocks for the New Year” or something similar? One financial company’s prospectus even boasts that they use “superior fund managers” to pick stocks! Stock selection is a Wall Street myth.

• Track-Record Investing: The use of performance history to determine the best investment for the future. Have you or a professional looked for superior-performing mutual funds? Track-record investing is a Wall Street myth.

• Market Timing: An attempt to alter or change the mix of assets based on a prediction of what the market will do in the future. Did you, or someone you know, “get out of the market just in time?” Did they know exactly what day to get back in? Market timing and predicting up and down markets is a Wall Street myth.

• Costs of Investing: The belief that investing costs are limited to commissions and other disclosed fees. Many fees are NOT disclosed but can create financial leaks in your portfolio? Thinking that costs are always disclosed is another Wall Street myth.

What is the truth? The truth is that no one can consistently and predictably add value through stock selection. The truth is that an investment manager’s track record of past success has nothing to do with ability to do so in the future. The truth is that free markets work; only new and unpredictable news and events affect market prices. And the truth about costs is that what you can’t see CAN hurt you. The solution is called Modern Portfolio Theory and is based on years of academic research.

You don’t have to use traditional investment methods to be a successful investor! Would you like to know more? Make 2012 the year you discover the truth about investing. Each month we will present the class, “Myths and Truths: the History of Investing.” Call us at 893-5262 if you would like to receive a schedule of educational opportunities or if you would like to talk about it with us.

Margaret Wittkopp

Investment Advisor Representative

Margaret is Going to be ON THE RADIO

2012-01-02T04:14:00.006-06:00

On January 14, 2012, Margaret Wittkopp will be featured on THE BIZ CONNECTION!

The Biz Connection is a new radio program airing every Saturday at 11 AM Central Standard Time at WJUB 1420 AM Radio, The Breeze. The program is aimed at the business community along the Lakeshore in Sheboygan County and Manitowoc County, Wisconsin. Each week, hosts Jim Rosetti and Ron Nielsen learn about their guest's business and its ups and downs and discover ways business owners can learn from the experiences of their guests.

Margaret will be talking about the VERITAS alternative to traditional investing as well as our three-pronged approach to financial services.

If you aren't near a radio, you can listen online by clicking here on THE BREEZE and then clicking on the little play arrow that says "LIsten Live in HI-FI."

You can also find the show by going to the website for The Biz Connection. The Biz Connection guys are on Facebook too.

Call in during the show with questions for Margaret, 920-246-9582.

Lies & Truths #10 Your Instincts are Your Enemy

2011-12-31T15:08:00.001-06:00

Here is number ten in our selections from the book, The Lies My Broker Taught Me and 101 Truths About Money and Investing.

TRUTH: Most people prefer and easy lie to the hard truth.

1. You can lose weight without dieting or exercising by taking our magic, fat-absorbing pill before going to bed.

2. You can call the psychic network hotline for insights into your future.

3. You can beat the market because we have experts who know which stocks will offer the highest return on your investment.

Would you like to see all the 101 truths of investing? Call us at 920-893-5262 and let us know you read this blog post to receive a copy!

The Truth about Traditional Investing

2011-12-29T09:25:00.001-06:00

What's happening to my money?

Margaret Wittkopp Investment Advisor Representative

You may know that I founded Veritas (Latin for truth) after many years of working in the financial industry. It was not an easy decision, but I had to make a change because I had discovered that much of what financial advisors are taught is not the whole truth.

Are you investing with a traditional firm? Or if you are a Veritas client, have you shared with others that you have found a more efficient way to invest? Here are some things for you to consider (or for clients, things to ask your investor friends and family):

• Many retail financial products, mutual funds and/or other actively-managed funds involve high turnover rates. Each turnover involves a fee. Do you know how often the holdings inside your mutual funds are changed? Do you know the amount charged each time this happens?

• Did you get out of the Market when things looked bad and wait till things looked good before getting back in (the opposite of “buy low—sell high”)?

• Are you, your advisor, or your mutual fund manager attempting to find the next “hot” stock?

•Is your advisor attempting to pick stocks or mutual funds by past performance (checking the 10 year, 5 year or 3 year history of a fund’s returns)? Past performance has ZERO correlation with future performance.

• Do you know what is in your mutual fund? Many people, upon taking a look “under the hood” of their portfolio, discover that they have lots of overlap which means even though your portfolio may have lots of “stuff” it is not really diversified.

The most successful investing strategy involves:

• Appropriate asset allocation and true diversification

• Disciplined decision made on academic research, not just the latest hot stock or complicated retail product

• Consistently capturing market return

• Reducing fees and hidden costs

Would you like to learn more? Or are you looking for a way to help other investors? Email me at margaret.wittkopp@veritasinvesting.com or Jeremy Burri at jburri@veritasinvesting.com or call us at 920-893-5262.

If you are in the area, don't forget that we offer at least two classes each month on topics related to successful investing. Click on the "Learning Opportunties" link above to see a schedule of classes.

We Wish You an Abundant 2012!

2011-12-23T11:59:00.002-06:00

We wish you all the blessings of this season, and a year ahead of abundance and peace.

Five Tips To Avoid Investment Fraud

2011-12-22T11:57:00.001-06:00

Bernie Madoff

Sharing some excerpts from "Five Tips to Avoid Investment Fraud," an article from Ryan C. Fuhrmann , CFA

December will mark the three year anniversary of when it was first discovered that Bernard Madoff defrauded his clients for as much as $50 billion, in one of the largest financial Ponzi schemes in history. The money management industry sustained a significant black eye to its reputation as a result of Madoff's fraud. Unfortunately, there are likely to be future thefts of client funds, though likely not on Madoff's scale. As with any industry, certain players in the investment field will resort to cheating, in an attempt to get ahead. Below are five issues to consider identifying, and best avoiding, investment fraud.

TUTORIAL: Don't Be A Victim Of These Investment Scams

Too Good to be True Returns

An article in The Economist, written shortly after the Madoff scandal broke, cited smooth investment returns as a potential warning sign, given that markets are inherently volatile. In the case of Madoff, investors began to question the steady "returns" of approximately 1 percent per month he posted, in a period of abnormally-high market fluctuations. He even lulled the SEC and many large, well-respected financial institutions into complacency, with supposedly savvy risk-control procedures. Excessive returns compared to benchmarks should also be monitored; in 1981 Dennis Grudman ran off with funds he attracted from some 400 investors, by reporting short-term returns as high as 85 percent.
Background Checks

Another key safeguard includes reference checks, which should be standard when entering into any business relationship. Of course, many Madoff investors were referred from friends and colleagues, but others did end up avoiding his dubious services, after performing due diligence and related background checks on his character and operations. Other financial services industry regulatory bodies can also assist in checking out the background of an investment manager. This includes the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority's (FINRA) Broker Check network, which is available online.

Outside Custodian

A key reason that Madoff was able to operate undetected for many years, was that he operated as his own broker-dealer. This allowed him to falsify trade information and statements that were sent out to clients. Using an outside financial firm as a custodian can help allay these concerns, as the outside party becomes responsible for key back-office functions, including the execution and settlement of trades and the preparation and mailing of client statements. Large, well-respected firms that serve this function include Fidelity and large custodial banks, including State Street and Northern Trust. Clients can also go directly to these custodians to verify asset levels and returns.

Skin in the Game

The phrases "skin in the game," "eating your own cooking" or "putting your money where your mouth is," all refer to the extent that an investment manager has his, or her, own money invested in the same strategies as clients. This serves a number of benefits, including confidence in the manager's own strategy to aligning manager and customer interests, such as avoiding taking excessive risk to keeping fund expenses as low as possible. For commingled assets, this can consist of money committed to the manager's own hedge or mutual fund. There is no set rule for the percentage of the manager's own capital invested along with clients, but the higher, the better. Well-respected managers and businessmen, including Warren Buffett and the managers of the Longleaf Partners, have significant portions of their personal wealth invested along with their investors.

Other Considerations

Additionally, the illusions of secrecy or exclusivity and/or the inability or unwillingness to clearly explain an investment strategy, should be met with suspicion. Finally, and perhaps not completely in jest, Lucy Kellaway, a popular journalist in the "Financial Times," has speculated that a menacing name could indicate the degree to which an individual can be trusted. In her words, Bernard Madoff "made-off" with client funds, while Michael Milken "milked 'em" out of their funds, while at the helm of Drexel Burnham Lambert.

The Bottom Line

There is no fool-proof strategy to avoid investor fraud, but there are a number of approaches investors can take to minimize the risk of an outside manager using his, or her, hard-earned funds improperly. Taking these five tips into consideration is a good step in protecting yourself and your investments

The Dirty Little Secret of Investing

2011-12-14T10:32:00.003-06:00

Some words of wisdom from Symmetry, one of our partners in a non-traditional approach to investing...

Contrary to conventional wisdom or what pundits might have you believe, it's really hard to beat the market. Many try; most fail. (The term "beating the market" refers to an investment manager generating higher returns than the market of stocks within which they are investing.) Investors often lose sight of this widely documented phenomenon for one very simple reason: we place too much weight on recent events. This inherent bias is called Representativeness and is quite common among investors. Ability shouldn't be judged based on short-term success because most of us are long-term investors.

To be fair, yes, there have been active money managers who have found success in playing the market by delivering superior returns above the market rate of return. Here's a little realistic perspective: Beating the market for 5 years garners respect, beating it for 10 demands recognition, beating it for 15 years warrants the title of investment icon. One of the biggest mistakes that end investors make is assigning this extraordinarily rare skill to the general population of professional money managers. If indeed you do decide to put your faith in someone's ability to actively pick stocks, consider the following three part test:

First, you as an investor would have to believe that financial markets don't work very well, meaning stocks are often mispriced, and that the current price of a stock isn't a good judge of what it's worth. You would have to arrive at this conclusion because active stock pickers believe that they can identify these mispriced stocks.

Second, you would also have to believe that successful, active stock pickers exist - that have consistently (consistently being the keyword) shown an ability to outperform the broad-based market over very long periods of time.

Finally, and most importantly, as an investor, you must be confident in your ability to identify these individuals BEFORE they beat the market. Not after! Essentially you would be looking for the next great money managers BEFORE they became the next great money managers.

There are investments that are actively managed that may make sense in your portfolio, and as your advisory firm, we have the resources available to conduct due diligence looking for the right fit for your portfolio. However, our belief is that a passive investment strategy at the core of your holdings makes good sense.

This has been an exercise in rationality, and to a degree, advocacy for the benefits of passive index style investing. However, recognizing the difficulties of beating the market isn't to say that achieving market rates of return using a passive buy and hold investment strategy is easy. It requires patience, emotional discipline and strict attention to detail when building, maintaining, and adjusting your portfolio over time. Therein lies the critical role of the financial advisor.

Content written by Symmetry Partners, LLC. Our firm utilizes Symmetry Partners, LLC for investment management services. Symmetry Partners, LLC, is an investment adviser registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm only transacts business in states where it is properly registered, or excluded or exempted from registration requirements. All data is from sources believed to be reliable, but cannot be guaranteed or warranted. No current or prospective client should assume that future performance of any specific investment, investment strategy, or product made reference to directly or indirectly in this article will be profitable. As with any investment strategy, there is a possibility of profitability as well as loss. Symmetry follows a passive investment strategy that involves limited ongoing buying and selling actions. Passive investors will purchase investments with the intention of long-term appreciation and limited maintenance. Passively managed portfolios are designed to closely track their respective benchmark index rather than seek out performance. As a result, the portfolio may hold securities regardless of the current or projected performance of a specific security or particular industry or market sector. Maintaining investments in securities regardless of market conditions or the performance of a specific security could cause the portfolio to lose value if the market as a whole falls. Please note that you should not assume that any discussion or information contained in this article serves as the receipt of, or as a substitute for, personalized investment advice from Symmetry Partners or your advisor.

Copyright (C) 2011, Symmetry Partners. All rights reserved.

The 20 Must-Answer Questions for Investing Peace of Mind™

2011-12-07T12:00:00.002-06:00

Investing can be one of the most complicated aspects of your financial life. One of the reasons that investing may seem daunting is because many people don't know what kind of questions to ask that will help build their confidence and peace of mind. The 20 must-answer questions are specifically designed to help you identify the areas of investing where you can build your confidence as an investor. Dilemma™.

If you can answer 'Yes' to ALL of The 20 Must-Answer Questions, you will be on your way to a high level of peace of mind with your financial investments.

1. Have you discovered your True Purpose for Money, that which is more important than money itself?

2. Are you invested in the Market?

3. Do you know how markets work?

4. Have you defined your Investment Philosophy?

5. Have you identified your personal risk tolerance?

6. Do you know how to measure diversification in your portfolio?

7. Do you consistently and predictably achieve market returns?

8. Have you measured the total amount of commissions and costs in your portfolio?

9. Do you know where you fall on the Markowitz Efficient Frontier?

10. When it comes to building your investment portfolio, do you know exactly what you are doing and why?

11. Are you working with a financial coach versus a financial planner?

12. Do you have a customized lifelong game plan to guide all of your investing and spending decisions?

13. Do you have an Investment Policy Statement?

14. Have you devised a clear-cut method for measuring the success or failure of your portfolio?

15. Do you fully understand the implications and applications of diversification in your portfolio?

16. Do you have a system to measure portfolio volatility?

17. Are you aware of the incentives brokerage firms and the financial community have when selling commission-based products?

18. Do you know the three warning signs that you are gambling and speculating with your money versus prudently investing it?

19. Can you identify the cultural messages and personal mindsets about money that destroy your peace of mind?

20. Are you ready to shift your personal experience of money and investing from a scarcity mode to an abundance mode?

If you would like to learn more about working with a financial coach, give us a call. 920-893-5262

What Is Financial Coaching?

2011-12-06T09:53:00.001-06:00

Why do our Financial Advisor Coaches, Margaret Wittkopp and Jeremy Burri, use that term to describe themselves. Just what is a financial coach?

Coaching is different from traditional financial advice. How is it different? An investment coach is a financial professional who goes beyond typical financial planning and advice to help you identify your investment philosophy, understand your investment strategy, and provide discipline throughout your investment experience.

Margaret often asks investors, "Do you want me to tell you something that will make you feel better, or do you want me to tell you what you need to know?"

A coach will not only help you identify the right strategy for you, but help you keep your decisions and behavior regarding your investments on track for achieving the results you want.

So, how do you distinguish whether you are working with a coach or not? A coach helps you answer 'Yes' to the 20 Must-Answer Questions for Investing Peace of Mind™.

We will post those 20 questions tomorrow.

Should You Get Out of the Market in Volatile Times?

2011-11-30T11:43:00.004-06:00

Jim Cramer, who is featured on MSNBC's "Mad Money" was recently interviewed on The Today Show. He advised investors to "avoid" the stock market because of its recent ups and downs. Is this wise advice?

Consider the following headlines:

1. “Wave after wave of selling again moved down prices on the Stock Exchange today and billions of dollars were clipped from values.”
2.“The…volume of retail sales went down an estimated 10% last year."

3. “In one hectic week, the paper value of the 1,545 stocks listed on the Big Board plunged by $30 billion—which is more than the GNP of Australia, Sweden, and Ireland.”
4. “The U.S. banking system has been stretched very nearly to the limit.”
5. “The recent crash bears an uncanny resemblance to the crash of 1929.”
6. “Most Americans have lost faith in the stock market.”

What may surprise you about this gloomy list of quotes is that the first one is from 1929, the next is from 1947, then 1962, 1974, 1989, and the last one is from 2002.

I could share many more such headlines, but the point is that market ups and downs happen. The reason stocks have historically returned more than fixed income over the long-term is precisely because stock holders endure the volatility of the market. Without the volatility (risk) that goes hand-in-hand with stock ownership, the returns associated with stocks would diminish, and so would the attendant wealth.

Emotions (and sometimes the advice of so-called experts) cause many investors to do the opposite of what will grow their portfolio over the long-term.

If you live near Plymouth, Wisconsin, I invite you to join us for a complimentary meal and our last investor education class of 2011. We'll be presenting "Myths and Truths: the Story of Investing" on December 15th at both 11:30 AM and 5:30 PM here at Veritas Financial Services, 506 E. Mill St.

If you are out of the area, we still may be able to set up a meeting, or perhaps we can connect on Skype. Jeremy or I would be glad to talk with you about your investments. Just give us a call at 920-893-5262.

Margaret Wittkopp
Investment Advisor Representative

Market Behavior

2011-11-14T17:15:00.000-06:00

In light of recent market volatility, I thought I'd bring up a little bit of market history from way back in..... 2010. When I refer to "the market," I am talking only about the S&P 500 Index, a commonly accepted measure of the US Stock Market.

Back in April of 2010, the market suffered nearly a 16% decline from April 23rd, to the market bottom on July 2nd. Our most recent episode was a 17% decline from July 7th to August 8th.

And yet, 2010 went on to be a positive year for the market.

Market declines and sell-offs come in all shapes and sizes. Long term investors should remained focused on managing risk, controlling costs, and staying diversified.

Jeremy Burri
Investment Advisor Representative

Lies and Truths #9 No One Can Forcast the Future

2011-11-07T11:14:00.006-06:00

We began this series with the seven lies many investors believe. To see the whole "Lies and Truths" series, click the link that you will find at the bottom of this post, or in the Labels section of the sidebar. If you are reading this as a note on Facebook, click the "see original post" link at the bottom of the note to be redirected to the blog where you can see the entire series.

Today's truth, "No one can forecast the future" seems so obvious that it shouldn't need saying, right? Well, it does need saying. Just take a look at commercials, financial magazines, websites, etc. and you will see just how many people are trying to convince investors that they can do exactly that.

Because NO ONE can accurately predict the future consistently, no one can predict what the market, or individual stocks will do in the future. If they could predict the future, why would they tell you?

We're Now in Oshkosh

2011-11-04T10:32:00.001-06:00

We are excited to announce the opening of our new office in Oshkosh, Wisconsin! Jeremy Burri will divide his time between Plymouth and Oshkosh, and other staff will use the Oshkosh office for meeting with those of you who will find that more convenient.

Office hours at the Oshkosh location will vary, so call before stopping by.

The address is:

923 South Main Street, Suite E

Oshkosh, WI 54401

Phone: 920-893-5689

Jeremy outside the entrance to our Oshkosh office.

In the reception area

The office space

Happy Halloween from the Staff at Veritas Financial Services

2011-10-31T13:29:00.003-06:00

Perhaps you have seen some of the photos of the Occupy Wall Street protesters dressed as zombies?

We understand being spooked by the traditional financial industry. However, the secret to being a wiser, more successful investor is NOT to get out of the market altogether, nor is it to move everything to cash, nor to hide your money under the mattress, nor to purchase the next "safe" sounding insurance product.

If you are an investor, should you do nothing and hope for the best? No.

Anonymous "corporate zombie"

VERITAS Financial Services offers a non-traditional, more efficient, less costly method of investing. We do not try to sell you a product. We do not recommend the tool most American investors use -- actively-managed mutual funds). We also do not think (in most cases) that annuities are the investment of choice. (For more information on why not, click the "annuities" link in the sidebar.) We also don't try to pick the next "winning" mutual fund manager or hot stock.

We do offer a better way. What is that way? Structured, free-market funds. These funds are diversified, academically proven, and involve fewer costs and fees. Find out more. Join us for an investor education class (see the Learning Opportunities tab on the top of the blog) or call 920-893-5262 and talk with Margaret or Jeremy.

Meanwhile, have fun today, but don't let Wall Street scare you!

Congratulations, Cathy Knuth!

2011-10-26T14:32:00.000-05:00

We are pleased and proud to announce that Cathy Knuth, our office manager and all-around "go to" person has completed her studies in Organizational Managment and Marketing, receiving the Bachelor of Arts degree Magna cum Laude. GREAT JOB, Cathy

Some of us were able to join Cathy and her family for the graduation ceremonies. Here are a few pictures of the day.

Dorcas, Paulette, Cathy (the GRAD!) and Margaret

Cathy is happy but already wondering what she will do with all the free time ahead...

A hug from Paulette

Cathy in cap and gown. The cord is for consistently making the Dean's List and the stole is for being a member of the honor society of Alpha Sigma Lambda

Wearing Purple Today

2011-10-25T13:36:00.000-05:00

If you happen to stop by the Veritas office today you will see that several of us are wearing purple. Why? October is “Domestic Violence Awareness Month.” By wearing purple on October 25th, we are joining a national effort to raise awareness about the prevalence of domestic violence in our community. By wearing purple we are saying:

Yes, we will…

• Be violence free and never commit, condone, or stay silent about an act of violence

• Educate myself and others about healthy relationships

• Call 911 if I witness domestic violence

• Talk about domestic violence and break the silence

• Teach my sons to respect women and that strength is not defined by violence or domination

• Teach my daughters (and sons) self-esteem and self-worth

• Support programs that provide crisis intervention

• Believe victims

We believe that support and services should be available to all victims of abuse. These simple gestures recognize that it takes the support of many to bring an end to domestic violence.”

What Do You Believe (Who's Side are You On)?

2011-10-13T12:12:00.004-05:00

There is a battle raging in the world of finance. Two ideologies are at war, and every investor, even you, has taken a side. Does this sound surprising? Did your financial advisor ever ask you whose side you were on?

The stock market, with its images of bulls and bears, Wall Street, ticker tape, and bell ringing, is a part of American culture. The allure of “getting rich” in the stock market has attracted investors for decades.

Benjamin Graham was one of the first people to seriously study investing. His book, Security Analysis, was considered the ultimate stock picker’s guide. He was very much admired by a young Warren Buffet, so much so that Warren used Graham as a middle name for one of his sons. Many of Graham's ideas live on today.

Jim Cramer is picking stocks on CNBC. You can watch shows like Fast Money (also on CNBC). Many brokers are touting their “stock picking” ability, and a legion of mutual fund managers are dutifully trying to pick the "best stocks" to include in their mutual funds.

In the 1960s, academia first started to take an interest in the markets. A burgeoning mutual fund industry was emerging. Scholars wanted to determine if all of these stock pickers could add any value to investing. Could they "beat the market" by finding the best stocks, thus delivering a superior return to their clients? This was first tested in 1965 with a study by Beckencamp, and it was determined that mutual fund managers were NOT beating the market. But the industry was not concerned as people at that point had no alternative.

But in 1976, shortly before his death, the very father of stock picking said the following:

I am no longer an advocate of elaborate techniques of security analysis in order to find superior value opportunities. This was a rewarding activity, say, 40 years ago, when [the bible of fundamental stock analysis, Graham and Dodd's Security Analysis] was first published; but the situation has changed. I doubt whether such extensive efforts will generate sufficiently superior selections to justify their cost.

But the industry forged on unaffected. Fast forward to today, and the lines are clearly drawn. Academia has come a long way since the 1960s, and volumes of academic work have been produced which show repeatedly that stock picking and “active management” do not work. But we still have a flourishing financial services industry, using investor’s money to pick stocks, speculate, and gamble with your hard earned money.

Not in your portfolio you say? Really? Can you tell me the turnover rate of your mutual funds?

So I ask you, what do you believe? Do you believe that someone can "beat the market" through stock picking and speculation (the methods of many in the financial services industry)? Or do you believe academia and in their findings that the market is random and not easily beaten by any money manager, financial guru, or stock picker?

If you believe in the later, don’t give up hope. There are ways to invest in the market which avoid Wall Street’s games. If you are interested in learning about this disciplined, common sense approach, please contact us at 920-893-5262.

Jeremy Burri

Investment Advisor Representative

Veritas Financial Services

Golf Outing 2011 Pics Are Here!

2011-10-06T09:46:00.001-05:00

Click here to read a little about our Charitable Golf Outing - 2011. And to see some of the pictures of this terriffic day, click the "Events" tab at the top of the blog, To see them all, click on the Facebook link in the sidebar to go to our Facebook page.

Back Row, L to R, Golf Pro Lynn Stellmann, Paulette Ruminski, Cathy Knuth and Golf Pro, Debbie O'Connell
Front Row, L to R are Dorcas George, Margaret Wittkopp, and Jeremy Burri

Global Stocks on Sale Now!

2011-09-26T10:35:00.000-05:00

Did you read our post a few days ago, "What to Do When the Market Takes a Dive?" If not, click HERE to take a look. And then come back. :-) because we have some something else related for you to think about.

With equity markets seeing significant downside volatility in recent weeks, and the economic uncertainty across the globe, many investors have given up on international diversification.

In order to win long-term, investors need to build a globally diversified portfolio that includes small-cap and distressed stocks which are great diversifiers across the board.

Uncertainty is bad for the economy but academic studies show that it increases long-term expected returns for equities. If investors wait until they feel the uncertainty is gone from the economy and the stock market, they will have missed significant growth opportunities.

For more on this, see our friend Mark Matson's recent interview. Click HERE to be redirected.

Call us if you would like to discuss this further with Margaret or Jeremy. 920-893-5262

Financial Confidence at Any Age

2011-09-23T12:13:00.001-05:00

Our friend, Michelle Matson, Vice President of Matson Money (who joined us earlier this year for our Dressed to Invest event--see picture), shared a great blog post recently.

Ladies, click HERE to check it out.

If you would like to know more, call us at 920-893-5262.

And if you would like to see pictures of our "Dressed to Invest" event, click the events tab at the top of the blog.

Seven Deadly Investor Mistakes

2011-09-21T15:16:00.002-05:00

Yesterday we promised a follow-up post about Margaret Wittkopp's SEVEN DEADLY INVESTOR MISTAKES presentation at Veritas' Charitable Golf Open. Unfortunately, we can't share the whole thing, but here are some highlights.

Mistake 1: Missing the Basics
     Own equities (small and value)
     Diversify
     Rebalance (so you buy relatively low and sell relatively high)

Mistake 2. Poor Design
Do you know there is a "science" of investing based on Nobel-prize winning research? One that does NOT involve, market timing, track-record investing or trying to pick the next hot stock? Most people don't.

Mistake 3. Investing on Instinct
What "feels" right is often wrong!

Mistake 4. Focusing on the Wrong Things
It can be hard, when the market is see sawing, to take the long view, but if you don't your finances will suffer.

Mistake 5.
No TRUE Diversification
Most American investors have a lot of "stuff" (most often in actively-managed mutual funds) but no real diversification.

Mistake 6. No Discipline
Most of us tend to overextend, overcompensate and overreact.

Mistake 7. No Coach
You may have a planner, an advisor, a broker, a wealth manager...but that is not the same as a Financial Coach. Margaret Wittkopp and Jeremy Burri are financial coaches.

What does a coach do? A coach:
Motivates
Educates
Helps you Strategize
Adjusts for "false feel"
Specializes in one thing
Analyzes

Would you like to know more about the science of investing and what the academic research reveals? Would you like to find out if you are genuinely diversified or just have lots of "stuff?" Do you need help to become a more disciplined, peaceful investor? We can help.

If you are in the Plymouth area, pleas join us for one of our upcoming classes. Just click on the Learning Opportune tab at the top of this to find topics and dates. Or you can call Margaret or Jeremy for a no-cost initial consultation, 920-893-5262.

For more about Margaret's journey from "advisor" at a large brokerage firm to "coach" at her own firm--and why it matters--click HERE.

Veritas Charitable Golf Outing--2011

2011-09-20T14:44:00.005-05:00

Here is the Veritas staff with Debbie O' Connell last year.
Jeremy and Dorcas are on the left, Debbie is in the middle, and
Margaret and Cathy are on the right.

It was a cool, crisp, sunny day last week as Veritas staff and golf pros, Debbie O' Connell and Lynn Stellmann (of Ladies Links Fore Golf) welcomed guests to the third Veritas Charitable Golf Open. Once again, we were hosted by Tom and Rachel of Quit Qui Oc Golf Course, Elkhart Lake, WI.

The day began with light refreshments, and then guests accompanied our gold pros ooutside for a couple of coaching clinics and some time at the putting green.

Later, Debbie shared some common golf mistakes and Margaret presented "Seven Deadly Investor Mistakes" as guest enjoyed lunch.

Lots of laughter echoed around the course as our clients and their friends tried out the tips they had learned during a nine-hole golf "scramble." The day concluded with a complimentary photograph of each foursome, drinks, snacks and conversations with our golf pros, and Margaret, Jeremy, Paulette and Dorcas, Veritas Financial Services "pros."

Veritas sent a total of $2,000 in donations, in the names of our winning guests, to the following:

The American Cancer Society

Sheboygan County Humane Society

Family Services of Sheboygan

Holy Rosary Roman Catholic Church, New Holstein

Jubilee Assembly of God Church, New Holstein

Sheboygtan County Salvation Army

If you would like to be included in future special events, just contact us at 920-893-5262 or email Cathy at cathy.knuth@veritasinvesting.com to be kept informed.

The photo up top is from last year's event, but we will post pictures from this year soon. Just check the "events" tab at the top of this blog page.

Would you like to know the SEVEN DEADLY INVESTOR MISTAKES? Check back tomorrow!

Lies and Truths #8 -- Information is Toxic

2011-08-31T16:26:00.002-05:00

To see the entire series, click on the "Lies and Truths" link at th bottom of this post or the one under LABELS in the sidebar. If you would like a copy of the book "The Lies My Broker Taught Me: and 101 Truths About Money and Investing," just give us a call at 920-893-5262.

Here is the next truth. Information is toxic.

Since we usually believe the saying, "information is power"--a very positive thing,--why is #8 so negative?
The nightly news, daily stock market shows, and cable new (think about the scrolling market info on some channels) focus on variability. This is to get your attention. They bombard you with the equivalent of "noise," short-term data, and statistics that are mostly useless. Paying attention to the short-term market fluctuations and newspaper headlines will completely disintegrate your peace of mind and ultimately your portfolio.

A Lesson from Investment History

2011-08-29T14:15:00.003-05:00

If we roll back the clock to 1974, investors (like today) were not feeling particularily thrilled about their portfolios. The Dow Jones was down more than 40% (and fell further still by the end of that bear market*). Although we don't advocate any actively-managed funds, Jim Fullerton, former chairman of The Capital Group, offered some very fitting perspective to the investment community at the time, perspective that I'd like to share. He began by taking his audience back to 1942.

One significant reason why there is such an extreme degree of bearishness, pessimism, bewildering confusion, and sheer terror in the minds of brokers and investors alike right now, is that most people today have nothing in their own experience that they can relate to, which is similar to this market decline. My message to you, therefore, is: “Courage! We have been here before. Bear markets have lasted this long before. Well-managed mutual funds have gone down this much before. And shareholders in those funds and we, the industry, survived and prospered.

I don’t know if we have seen the absolute bottom of this prolonged bear market, (although I think we’ve seen the lows for a lot of individual stocks). Each economic, market, and financial crisis is different from previous ones. But in their very difference, there is commonality. Namely, each crisis is characterized by its own new set of nonrecurring factors, its own set of apparently insoluble problems, and its own set of apparently logical reasons for wellfounded pessimism about the future.

Today there are thoughtful, experienced, respected economists, bankers, investors and businessmen who can give you well-reasoned, logical, documented arguments why this bear market is different; why this time the economic problems are different; why this time things are going to get worse — and hence, why this is not a good time to invest in common stocks, even though they may appear low.
Today people are saying: “There are so many bewildering uncertainties, and so many enormous problems still facing us — both long and short term — that there is no hope for more than an occasional rally until some of these uncertainties are cleared up. This is a whole new ball game.”

In 1942 everybody knew it was a whole new ball game. And it sure as hell was. Uncertainties? We were all in a war that we were losing. The Germans had overrun France. The British had been thrown out of Dunkirk. The Pacific Fleet had been disastrously crippled at Pearl Harbor. We had surrendered Bataan, and the British had surrendered Singapore. The U.S. was so ill-prepared for a war that the cavalry school at Fort Riley was still teaching equitation, and I would guess that probably 75% of our field artillery was equipped with horse-drawn, French 75mm guns, Model 1897 (including the battalion in which I was then serving).

In April 1942, inflation was rampant. A Federal Reserve bulletin stated: “General price increases have become a grave threat to the efficient production of war materials and to the stability of the national economy.” Today there is concern about the slump in housing construction. On April 8, 1942, the lead article in the Journal was: “Home construction. Total far behind last year’s; new curbs this week to cut further …private builders hard hit.” Today almost every financial journal or investment letter carries a list of reasons why investors are standing on the sidelines. They usually include (1) continued inflation; (2) illiquidity in the banking system; (3) shortage of energy; (4) possibility of further outbreak of hostilities in the Middle East; and (5) high interest rates. These are serious problems. But...April 11, 1942...the Wall Street Journal stated: “Brokers are certain that among the factors that are depressing potential investors are, (1) widening defeats of the United Nations; (2) a new German drive on Libya; (3) doubts concerning Russia’s ability to hold when the Germans get ready for a full-dress attack; (4) the ocean transport situation with the United Nations, which has become more critical; and (5) Washington is again considering either more drastic rationing with price-fixing or still higher taxes as a means of filling the ‘inflationary gap’ between increased public buying power and the diminishing supply of consumer goods.” (Virtually all of these concerns were realized and got worse.)

On the same day, discussing the slow price erosion of many groups of stocks, a leading stock market commentator said: “The market remains in the dark as to just what it has to discount. And as yet, signs are still lacking that the market has reached permanently solid ground for a sustained reversal.” Yet on April 28, 1942, in that gloomy environment, in the midst of a war we were losing, faced with excess-profits taxes and wage and price controls, shortages of gasoline and rubber and other crucial materials, and with the virtual certainty in the minds of everyone that once the war was over we’d face a post-war depression in that environment, the market turned around.

What turned the market around in April of 1942?

Simply a return to reality. Simply a slow but growing recognition that despite all the bad news, despite all the gloomy outlook, the United States was going to survive and that strongly financed, well-managed U.S. corporations were going to survive also. The reality was that those companies were far more valuable than the prices of their stocks indicated. So, on Wednesday, April 29, 1942, for no apparent visible reason, investors again began to recognize reality. The Dow Jones Industrial Average is not reality. Reality is not price-to-earnings ratios and technical market studies. Symbols on the tape are not the real world. In the real world, companies create wealth. Stock certificates don’t. Stock certificates are simply proxies for reality.

Now I’d like to close with this: “Some people say they want to wait for a clearer view of the future. But when the future is again clear, the present bargains will have vanished. In fact, does anyone think that today’s prices will prevail once full confidence has been restored?” That comment was made 42 years ago by Dean Witter in May of 1932 — only a few weeks before the end of the worst bear market in history. Have courage! We have been here before — and we’ve survived and prospered.

I hope this has given you some positive perspective and hope regarding the future of our country. So much in the media today is fear-based rhetoric. I believe in the strength and resourcefulness of the American people, and (as we have shown in the past) in our ability to meet adversity head on. I witness it every day in class when I teach. I can't tell you how many single mothers, returning military, and laid off manufacturing workers I have taught in my Economics class. American may be adjusting to a new world, but we certainly are not taking it lying down.

Jeremy Burri
Investment Advisor Representative
Veritas Financial Services

* A "bear market" means things are heading downward, and a "bull market" means things are heading upward.

Baby Boomers, Medicare and YOU

2011-08-16T10:54:00.002-05:00

Dorcas George

Insurance Advisor Coach

The dramatic increase in births from 1946 to 1964 is called “The Baby Boom.” In the USA, 79 million babies were born during those years. Many of us grew up with Woodstock, the Vietnam War, and John F. Kennedy as president.

Listening to the radio this a.m., I heard that most people say “old age” begins at 60. Boomers say 70. I’m not surprised (since I hate to even use a Senior Citizen discount). Remember the silly adage, “Never trust anyone over thirty?” Well, in 2011, the oldest Baby Boomers turned 65 years old, including the first two Baby Boomer presidents, Bill Clinton and George W. Bush. This means the first wave of “boomers” were enrolled in Medicare, the federal health insurance program primarily for people 65 or older but also available for certain disabled individuals. More than 2.77 million people turned 65 in 2011.* That's 7,596 people aging into Medicare every day!

We boomers may never admit to being “old” but the fact is that most of us will enroll in Medicare. Enacted in 1965, the program has changed somewhat over the years, but Medicare is still designed primarily to cover acute medical care, and there are still significant gaps in coverage. Most Medicare members also purchase insurance designed to fill in the gaps.

It’s important for boomers to be informed about the details of Medicare, which tends to be more complicated than many insurance policies offered by employers.

Some people delay enrollment, but signing up late can cost thousands of dollars in extra premiums and expenses over a lifetime. The enrollment period for first-time Medicare beneficiaries spans seven months surrounding your 65th birthday. If you are eligible for Medicare due to disability, your seven-month window begins three months before your 25th month of receiving Social Security disability payments. In either situation, the initial enrollment period is also the best time to sign up for any additional insurance.

Open enrollment for those who’d like to switch insurance plans will begin Oct. 15, 2012 and ends Dec. 7, 2012. If you make a change during this period, your new coverage will begin Jan. 1, 2013.

It’s a good idea to familiarize yourself each year with the changes in Medicare, so you can make sure that the insurance plan you have continues to be the right one for you.

If you would like to learn more about Medicare and ways to finance the coverage gaps, join my colleague, Paulette Ruminski, and me for a“Medicare and You” class, offered in the spring, summer, fall and winter here at Veritas, and occasionally in other places like Chilton, Fond du Lac, etc.

Call 920-893-5262 for the schedule or email me at dorcas.george@veritasinvesting.com for more information.

If you are unable to join us but would like to compare options, we will be happy to meet with you. Our independent status allows us to help you compare several popular plans to see what works best for you.

Neither Dorcas George nor Paulette Ruminski nor Veritas Financial nor its agents are affiliated with the Federal Medicare Program. The classes mentioned are educational events only and no plan specific information will be shared.

What to Do When the Market Takes a Dive

2011-08-09T09:29:00.005-05:00

Margaret Wittkopp
Investment Advisor Representative
Veritas Financial Services

This is the headline you might have seen on Monday morning: “Investors Panic as Wall Street Plummets Amid Global Fears.” Whew! Sounds terrible, doesn’t it? None of us like to see those negative numbers. Is it time to panic? To get out of the market altogether? To buy nothing but fixed income--or--?

Here is my advice: AVOID WALL STREET MEDIA HYPE!

It will get better—and no, I’m not being a “Pollyanna.” We know that our economy is in a slump, and we know there may be hard times ahead for many, but here’s something else we know, a bit of investing wisdom almost everyone has heard but few follow, “Buy low. Sell high.” When the market drops and people panic and start selling, someone else (the next "Warren Buffet," perhaps?) is buying. Why?

Here is a simple example from everyday life. Let’s pretend you are going shopping for a new dress. And let’s say that last week you saw “the dress” in a window with a $100 price tag, but this week it’s on sale for only $50. Would you see a great opportunity to buy the same dress for less money, or would you wait till the price went back up? You know the answer, of course. You’d buy the sale item and go home happy at your bargain.

When the market is down, your investing dollar buys more. When the market rebounds, as it historically has always done, you have more than you did to start with. For example, let’s say that you have a Simple IRA that invests $100 a month for your future. We’ll keep it simple and say that last month your stock purchasing dollars bought ten shares at $10 a share. And then the S&P 500 index drops 10% (as it did on Thursday). Time to panic? No. Now your same $100 buys more than eleven shares. What a bargain! It’s like getting a share of stock for free because eventually, over time, the market rebounds.

Here are some other things we know about the stock market:
• Without the volatility (risk) that goes hand-in-hand with stock ownership, the returns associated with stocks would diminish, and so would the attendant wealth

• We have never endured a recession that hasn't ended.

• The highest historical returns have followed a crash. In fact, the single largest recovery followed the single largest crash.

While I am saying that it is not a time for panic, I am not saying that you should do nothing. Here are some things to consider:

• Are you appropriately diversified across a wide range of asset classes, or do you have lots of overlap and similar “stuff” in your portfolio? (Hint: You can’t just go by the name of your mutual funds. You must take a look at the holdings inside.)

• Are you taking a long-range and disciplined approach to investing, or are you trying to find the next hot stock or fund?

• Do you have a financial coach? Investors are emotional about finances (aren’t we all?) and usually need someone to help them stay on track.

To learn more about investing, join us for our next Investor Education class or call Jeremy or me at 920-893-5262.

Annuities: A Great "Guarantee?"

2011-07-19T09:45:00.001-05:00

Here is another article about annuities. Does the word "GUARANTEE?" make you feel safe? Jeremy Burri urges you to take a closer look. To read more about annuities, just click the link at the bottom of this post.

Annuities have enjoyed a profound resurgence over the last 15 years as the average investor’s portfolio has been whipsawed back and forth.

Essentially a life insurance product that insures against outliving income, annuities have brought the investor a sense of safety through their advertised “guarantees.” An investment designed to provide a "guaranteed income" is not new. A hundred years ago you could have purchased what is now called an “immediate annuity,” and you still can purchase one today. A new feature in many annuities offers “guaranteed income for life” while keeping your money invested in the market. Does this sound familiar to you?

Assume you are a 55 year old who plans on using an annuity for retirement income at age 65. You could buy a deferred annuity, with special riders, today and in 10 years (at age 65) have guaranteed income for life. Or you could wait until age 65, buy an immediate annuity, and get that same income for life (again, assuming you are only considering annuities.) Both options can give you what you want at age 65. So how do these options differ? Which is better? Further, what is the insurer actually guaranteeing you, since the stated guarantees on the deferred annuity do not relate to the cash value (like a CD guarantees a rate of return)? How do you translate these guarantees into an actual number you can relate to?

Let’s say you chose option one, and at age 55 you purchased a deferred annuity with riders that guarantee that your “income base” (the amount of money you put in) will grow at 5% a year and that you can receive a 5% income benefit each year, no matter what happens to your contract or to the market. If you start with a $100,000 investment, by age 65 your income base will grow to $162,890. (Remember, this is not cash value, and you cannot withdraw it.) Based on that income base, you can receive $8,144 per year (5% of $162,890) for the rest of your life.

You could also have chosen option two, waiting 10 years to buy an immediate annuity to provide yourself with the same $8,144 for life at age 65. However, if you only have $100,000 now at age 55, it will need to grow some in order to provide you with the same amount of income in 10 years. How much growth is “enough?” If you wait, you run the risk that in the meantime your investments will not earn enough, or worse yet, decline in value.

Let’s do the math. In order for the immediate annuity to be the better option, over the ten year wait your $100,000 must earn only 3.1% per year. Do you believe that is an attainable goal? If so, then you would be better off not paying for the guarantees of the deferred annuity. These costs, seldom discussed in detail, are very high and have significant impact. Furthermore, many times once these extras are selected on the contract, they cannot be dropped.

But this is not to say that the immediate annuity is the investment of choice. We believe there are even better, more cost-effective, non-annuity options. If you would like to learn more about annuities and other investments, please give me a call at 920-893-5262 or email me at jburri@veritasinvesting.com to learn more.

Who Wants to be a Millionare?

2011-07-13T11:05:00.000-05:00

Our friend, Michelle Matson, shares some info about what it actually takes to be a millionaire. It is possible for many of you! (This is the Michelle Matson who joined us for our recent "Dressed to Invest" event; pics available under out EVENTS tab up top.)

Lies & Truths #7 The Graveyards are Full of Gurus

2011-07-12T10:40:00.002-05:00

Today we continue our Lies and Truths series (from the book pictured at the left with our own Margaret Wittkopp on the cover). To see the entire series, just click on the link at the bottom of this post or in the sidebar.

The media loves to promote the wisdom and insights of managers with ""hot hands" or the "Midas Touch." They gleefully put them in advertisements and on magazine covers. These gurus are often featured one or two years later in derogatory articles about how their investing prowess has mysteriously disappeared. They die in the the pages of the Wall Street Journal or Money Magazine.

The truth is, stock picking does not work. Period.

Annuities: Buyer MUST be Aware

2011-07-07T09:48:00.002-05:00

This is the first of several articles we'll be sharing from time to time about annuity products. This one is from Margaret Wittkopp, Investment Advisor Representative and President of Veritas Financial Services.

When financial markets head downward, many investors become fearful and look for “guarantees.” Every day I am bombarded with offers from insurance companies that promise me, “easy sales and BIG commissions” for selling indexed annuities and other “stuff.”

Annuities are retirement savings tools backed by life insurance companies. Annuities can sound great, but there are many reasons for caution when purchasing annuities. These include: loss of control (once you annuitize, your decision is final), sometimes unfavorable tax consequences, and hidden costs and fees. These include either “back end” surrender charges (called Contingent Deferred Sales Charges), which can last as long as 20 years and be as high as 13%, or “front end” charges (commissions). You will pay an “add on” charge for each benefit rider. Hidden mutual fund fees are also charged in sub accounts. These charges are buried into the cost of your annuity contract and take away from your returns. Make sure you can calculate your total fees and that they are not excessive.

Annuities offer “guaranteed income.” To receive just $12,000 yearly ($1,000 a month), you would need to invest $264,000 in an immediate annuity at age 60. If you die before age 82, the insurance company keeps the remainder of your investment—not your intended beneficiaries. Consider inflation and longevity--what will $1,000 buy in 20 years? How long will you live?

Here’s something to think about, using data from 1973-1994. Twelve thousand dollars is about 4.5% of $264,000. Invested in a moderate, balanced Free Market Fund, you could receive 4.5% (that same $1,000 a month), and by age 82 your yearly income would have grown from $12,000 to $64,000. Your portfolio value would be $1,486,000.

Complex insurance products and nice-sounding terms like “indexed annuities," “living benefit riders,” and “guaranteed withdrawal benefits” are the trendy thing today. These products make it seem as if you cannot lose. Unfortunately, you may not really win either.

Remember, insurance companies are in business to make a profit. They calculate the risks to assure they do not lose. Annuities can be a useful investment tool if you've exhausted all other tax-deferred retirement plan options, but the buyer must be aware. Companies are collecting outrageous (and needless) charges, and most commission-based financial advisors are highly motivated to sell these products to you. Want to know more? Have questions about your financial future? Call us at 893-5262.

What Does Independence Mean to You?

2011-06-30T16:31:00.003-05:00

America's Independence Day celebrations will be taking place this weekend. We wish you a wonderful and safe holiday! Independence is a glorious thing. I value my independence as a citizen and also as a financial professional.

Veritas (Latin for truth) is the name of the company I founded after many years of working in the financial industry. I had discovered, to my increasing discomfort, that much of what I and my fellow financial advisors were taught was not really the whole truth. I was urged to sell products that increased the brokerage company’s bottom line but were not necessary in the best interest of our clients. I was also encouraged to push the next “hot mutual fund” or “safe” or "guaranteed" product, and I was unknowingly promoting actions that increased the costs of investing for my clients.

Veritas is an RIA (Registered Investment Advisor) which means we are an independent firm. We have no affiliations that require us to watch a bank or brokerage company’s bottom line. This give us increased control over fees and costs—savings we can pass on to you.

What else makes us different? Here is a brief comparison of retail financial products, mutual funds and/or other actively-managed funds at traditional financial firms:

• High turnover rates (undisclosed fees)
• Market timing (speculating with your money)
• Stock picking (gambling with your money)
• Track-record investing (past performance has ZERO correlation with future performance!)
• Overlap (not true diversification, just lots of ’stuff”)

In contrast, the Free-Market Platform we use at Veritas is:

• Focused on appropriate asset allocation & true diversification
• Grounded in Nobel-prize-winning academic research
• Focused on efficient market return
• Has NO hidden costs

Our independent status means more efficient investing, no revenue sharing (kickbacks to favored companies), no “smoke & mirrors,” genuinely individualized financial coaching, and an opportunity to gain greater peace of mind.

We serve clients who are as serious about their investing as we are. Are you ready to make your financial future a priority? Call 920-893-5262 to find your how you can become a more successful investor.

Margaret Wittkopp
Veritas Owner and President
Investment Advisor Representative

A Day in the Life of a Financial Advisor

2011-06-24T08:46:00.004-05:00

I recently heard Margaret Wittkopp laughing and subsequently found her viewing the hilarious video we are sharing with you today. I watched over her shoulder, and we laughed till we nearly cried.

Put out a "Do Not Disturb" sign, sit back with your cup of coffee (or whatever) and watch. (Disclaimer: There is one naughty word toward the end.)

After we finished watching the video, Margaret said, "That video was so funny but the sad thing is that I have heard every one of those things. Just not usually all at one time."

So, did you see yourself anywhere?

Lies and Truths #6: Magazine Covers

2011-06-22T13:24:00.001-05:00

This post continues our "Lies and Truths" series. To see the other posts, click on the link "Lies andTruths" found both at the bottom of this post and in the sidebar under LABELS.

Here is the next TRUTH:

No one ever prints a magazine cover with NEXT year's top performing funds.

Not even the fund companies or brokerage companies know what funds or stock are going to do well next year. If they did, they wouldn't NEED hundreds of funds and fund managers. Instead, they would have one predictably sound mutuall fund. They don't. They hedge their bets. They create new products for you.

In reality, they have no idea what their so-called "experts" will produce.

Long Term Care: Why NOW May be the Time to Act

2011-06-09T09:58:00.003-05:00

By Veritas Insurance Advisor Paulette Ruminski

Please take a minute of your valuable time to read this somewhat frank information about a very important topic.

Many of us put off thinking about Long Term Care (LTC). I know it’s not a particularly pleasant topic, and I would prefer to be talking about the beautiful summer months ahead or maybe the World Famous Walldogs coming to Plymouth in June! However, a delay in becoming informed about LTC could be a costly mistake, both short and long term. Why? Because the cost for LTC protection is based on both your age at the time of application (typically the younger you are, the lower the cost), and your health status. Unfortunately, many of us (even in our 50s) are finding that current health factors may not allow us to purchase LTC coverage.

As we go through life we face many risks: auto accidents, home fires, life threatening illness and even death. We usually protect ourselves, spouses, and families against these risks with insurance. Today, however, especially as we are living longer due to the benefits of enhanced medical technology, the overlooked risk is the risk of needing long- term care. In fact, did you know…

o   3 in 900 (.33%) = Odds of having a car accident

o   7 in 900 (.77%) = Odds of having a home fire

o   21 in 900 (2.3%) = Odds of being admitted to a critical care unit

o   630 in 900 (70%) = Odds of needing long term care

There also seems to be a false sense of security that Medicare and Medicare Supplements will cover our long term care needs. Take a look on page 4 when you receive Your Social Security Statement, the annual publication sent to all workers (or at http://www.socialsecurity.gov/). “Medicare does not pay for long-term care, so you may want to consider options for private insurance.”

The emphasis on plans today is not as much about a skilled nursing facility as it is to help you stay in your own home, pay you a guaranteed monthly benefit (regardless of expense), and even pay family or friends to care for you.

Would you like to learn more about your options, including 2011 tax deductibility advantages and your asset protection through the Wisconsin LTC Partnership Program? Please give me a call at 920-893-5262. If you are in the Sheboygan County area, you may want to attend our one-hour educational seminar, June 16, 2011 at 12:00 noon a.m. (lunch) or 5:30 p.m. (dinner) at Mill Street Grill in Plymouth. Seating is limited, so we would appreciate a call to let us know you will be joining us.

Investor Education: What's In It For YOU?

2011-06-01T10:11:00.004-05:00

At Veritas, one of our primary purposes is education. The more informed you are about how investing works, the less you will be swayed or distressed by the ups and downs of the stock market. If you stay fully invested, truly diversified, and maintain the proper asset allocation, you CAN withstand the fluctuations of the market—and may even profit from them.

Margaret and Jeremy, our financial coaches, often talk to people who say they are doing all right because their financial rate of return is about the same as everyone else's. While we understand the kind of malaise that can set in when things just seem overwhelming or unchangeable, now is NOT the time to be complacent. What you don’t know can hurt you, and what you do know can help you! If you take advantage of the many educational opportunities we provide, you can become a more informed investor—and most importantly—you can gain true peace of mind about investing!

Each month we offer another class from our Investor Education Series along with a complmentary lunch or dinner at the Mill Street Grill, Plymouth's newest restaurant. Most classes last about an hour or so. One hour out of a month to gain genuine understanding and peace of mind is worth making time for—don’t you think? We do too, and that is why we will keep finding ways to help you be a wiser, more confident investor.

Click on the "Learning Opportunities" tab in our blog header to see a list of classes offered in 2011.

Call us at 920-893-5262, or enail Dorcas at dorcas.george@veritasinvesting.com or Cathy at cathy.knuth@veritasinvesting.com and we will be happy to send you a reminder postcard when new classes are coming up.

We are also happy to provide complimentary workshops for your group, workplace, or other gathering and can offer classes designed for financial novices to seasoned investors (what you don't know can be surprising), for couples, and for high school or college-age groups. Just give us a call to explore options.

After the Crash: is the Sky Falling?

2011-04-27T10:00:00.007-05:00

Margaret Wittkopp
Veritas President and Financial Coach
Investment Advisor Representative

On the wall at Veritas Financial Services hangs a photograph that my daughter, who was living in Virginia, sent me. It is not particularly impressive, just a car parked at a curb. The street and the nearby grass are dusted with about a half inch of snow. More about that in a moment.
Are you feeling skittish about the stock market? Do you wonder if you might be better off putting your hard-earned dollars in a certificate of deposit, your savings account--or under your mattress?

No, I wasn’t serious about the mattress, but I often talk to investors who are fearful about their portfolio. And who could blame them? After all, here are a few headlines from leading financial publications and newspapers. They probably will not surprise you:

1. “Wave after wave of selling again moved down prices on the Stock Exchange today and billions of dollars were clipped from values.”
2. “The…volume of retail sales went down an estimated 10% last year."
3. “In one hectic week, the paper value of the 1,545 stocks listed on the Big Board plunged by $30 billion—which is more than the GNP of Australia, Sweden, and Ireland.”
4. “The U.S. banking system has been stretched very nearly to the limit.”
5. “The recent crash bears an uncanny resemblance to the crash of 1929.”
6. “Most Americans have lost faith in the stock market.”

What may surprise you about this gloomy list of quotes is that the first one is from 1929, the next is from 1947, then 1962, 1974, 1989, and the last one is from 2002.

I could share many more such headlines, but the point is that market ups and downs do not mean that the financial sky is falling. They happen.

The reason stocks have historically returned more than fixed income over the long-term is precisely because stock holders endure the volatility of the market. Without the volatility (risk) that goes hand-in-hand with stock ownership, the returns associated with stocks would diminish, and so would the attendant wealth.

There are many positive things that we can learn from a look at investing history, including the crashes. Here are just two: First, there is ALWAYS a recovery, and second, the highest historical returns follow a crash. In fact, the single largest recovery followed the single largest crash! What happened to the investors who decided to “put their money under the mattress?” Right. They lost.

Remember the photograph story? My daughter sent it to me for a laugh. She was astounded that a snowfall that would hardly merit a passing comment in Wisconsin managed to shut down the entire city of Norfolk, VA. The picture hangs on the office wall to remind me of a very important fact: IT IS ALL ABOUT PERSPECTIVE.

If you would like to learn what else history’s market crashes have taught us, Jeremy or I would be glad to talk with you about your investments. If you are out of the area, we still may be able to set up a meeting, or perhaps we can connect on Skype.

Just give us a call at 920-893-5262.

Understanding Your Financial Statement

2011-04-21T11:14:00.000-05:00

Does your investing statement make your eyes glaze over?

We understand--and we can help you make sense of theose pie charts and graphs and numbers. You might be surprised what your financial statement reveals!

If you are in the Plymouth area, join us this evening at 5:30 at Mill Street Grill (506 East Mill Street) for a complimentary dinner and the lastest Investor Education class! Just call 920-893-5262 to let us know you can join us!

A Simple Way to Help Your Family

2011-04-13T16:56:00.000-05:00

This post is reprinted from our main website.

If you have a current will, count yourself among the minority of Americans who have done their heirs an important service.

A will’s primary purpose is to help convey titled property. It’s not a good place to communicate your wishes regarding personal matters or to provide specific instructions for your survivors in the event that something were to happen to you.

A letter of instructions can help your family cope during a difficult period by providing information that has no place in a will — such as the location of the will itself.

Where’s the Will?

A letter of instructions doesn’t need to be an eloquent treatise on the meaning of life and the importance of family. Its job is to guide the survivors, so it can take the simple form of a list or the casual tone of a letter to an old friend.

Here are some common topics to address:

• Where to find important legal documents, including wills and trusts, birth and marriage certificates, insurance policies, deeds to real property, and vehicle titles

• Bank and retirement account numbers, and the location of safe-deposit boxes and tax returns

• Contact information for people to notify, such as lawyers, accountants, and clergy

• A list of creditors and any bills that need to be paid in order to keep the household running smoothly

• Instructions for the funeral and any pre-arrangements with a funeral home and/or cemetery

• Your wishes for the distribution of personal possessions, jewelry, heirlooms, and other keepsakes

Once you have drafted a letter of instructions, tell key family members where it is kept and leave copies with trusted advisors. Take the time to review it regularly to help ensure that it contains the latest information.

Lies & Truths #5: You Don't Know What You Don't Know

2011-04-11T10:51:00.006-05:00

This post continues our "Lies and Truths" series. To see the other posts, click on the link "Lies & Truths" at the bottom of this post or the one found in the sidebar under LABELS.

Most investors know what the brokerage community or financial press want us to know. They have trained us to accept their version of reality over the span of our entire lives.

There is a complete body of investing information discovered and develped in the halls of academia. Most people do not even know that it exists. This is the real wisdom you need to create wealth and abundance.

We believe, "An fnformed investor is a better investor." This body of information is so vital to you that we offer at least two classes every month drawn from this proven, academic research. Click here to find our upcoming workshops, or call us at 920-893-5262.

Maybe You Need to "Look Under the Hood"

2011-04-06T11:12:00.004-05:00

Jeremy Burri joined our Veritas team a while back, he and Margaret had a talk about the integrity of the financial industry--or lack thereof. The advice in this little video is just as important today. Take a look.

Questions to consider:

Do you really know ALL the costs and fees associated with your portfolio? (Hint: Is "full disclosure" always what you think?)\
Is your portfolio really diversified? (Hint: Does your fund name really reflect what is inside it?)
Do you know the costs associated with changing the holdings inside your fund, or how often these changes happen? (Hint: Most people don't, and this may include your advisor.)

Want to find out how to take a detailed look "under the hood" of YOUR portfolio? Give us a call at 920-893-5262.

We're Back!

2011-04-04T10:00:00.012-05:00

Well, we never really left, but we did have to discontinue our blog for a while. We are now operating independently of a broker-dealer so we can utilize Blogger once again. We also have a Facebook page. To find our page just click the Facebook link in our sidebar.

Our series "Lies and Truths" will continue soon! You can check the first four entries in the series by clicking "Lies and Truths" in the Links section found in the sidebar.

We'll be tweaking things here for a bit, so bear with us and check back often.

Lies & Truths - #4 Almost Nobody Wants You to Know the Truth

2010-01-04T12:41:00.020-06:00

If you would like to read this series from the beginning, just click on the Lies & Truths link in the sidebar. You will find it under LABELS.
Back to our Lies & Truths series, here is the first TRUTH.

The financial industry and the financial press have a huge monetary interest in convincing investors that there is little or no difference between speculating and investing. They perpetuate the lie that by forecasting the future you can pick stocks, time the market or pick future winning money managers.

If you don't believe this works, they are out of business.

What Did 2009 Teach Us?

2009-12-31T09:07:00.010-06:00

Financial Coach, Margaret Wittkopp
This is what Emma Johnson of MSN had to say in a December 28 column.

DOW 36,000? So Much for Predictions!

A decade ago, some stock market soothsayers forecast that the 2000's would bring staggering gains. Even more staggering now is how wrong they were. These people owe us, right? The analysts, the pundits, the experts. Every year they look into their crystal balls and tell us how to invest, whet to invest, what to expect, and what the future looks like. Sometimes we listen to them. Yet, much of the time, it's all stunningly wrong.

We couldn't have said it better ourselves! Here is what Margaret Wittkopp had to say in our quarterly newsletter.

As the year began we continued to experience the greatest continuous bear market (a decline that began in 2007) since the Great Depression. A turning point was finally reached on March 9, 2009.

We learned there will likely be no “quick fix” for our economy. And I found out that our investing philosophy works!

Market timing does not work!
Stock picking does not work!
Track-record investing does not work!

The financial industry talks a good game about Modern Portfolio Theory and the value of being diversified, but how do they apply it? Sadly, most of the time it is “business as usual,” and the emphasis remains on actively-managed funds. That works well for brokerage companies. Remember the big bonuses to CEOs? It doesn’t work so well for the individual investor.

A strategy of waiting out the market doesn’t work so well either. The road to the bull market is littered with the bodies of those who waited for just the right buying opportunity or just the right prognosticator. It was just about a year ago that Bernie Madoff admitted to his multi-year Ponzi scheme.

Sometimes we are more comfortable with our long-held illusions than with TRUTH. Remember when everyone believed the earth was flat and that the sun revolved around the earth?

So what does work? Our approach remains the same. Be fully invested at all times, with the right asset allocation and risk tolerance, and you can receive market rate of return over time. If you have long-term goals you won’t likely be hurt as much as the investor who sits with cash while the market rebounds well over 50% (as it has done since March 9th). Proper asset allocation and a truly diversified portfolio can tolerate (even profit from) fluctuations in the stock market.

How does your portfolio compare to the market as a whole? Would you like to find out? Call us for an individual Free Market Investment Analysis (FMIA). Make 2010 the year you gain peace of mind about investing!

If you would like to receive our newsletter, just let us know. Email Dorcas at dorcas.george@veritasinvesting.com to join others who want to learn the truth about investing.

Learning More About Money

2009-12-29T10:49:00.017-06:00

Do you know all you need to know about money, financial managment, and wise investing?

In 2010, Veritas will continue to offer our Investor Education classes. Here is the schedule for next quarter:

Tuesday, January 19 -- Examining Your Expectations

Thursday, March 18 -- Myths and Truths of Investing

Tuesday, April 20 -- Defeating Your Financial Demons

Each of these classes is offered at THREE different times so that more of you can take advantage of these opportunities to increase your financial/investing know-how.

They are held at 506 E. Mill St., Plymouth, Wisconsin, Suite 101.

Veritas Financial Services also offers a wide array of financial workshops for your church group, workplace, etc. Find out more at our main website.

Last fall Margaret and Jeremy taught a seried of seven financial classes to Sheboygan County employees, and we are excited to be able to do this again soon. We will post details when the class schedule is finalized.

Jeremy also recently completed his first semester of teaching Economics at Fox Valley Techinal College in Appleton, Wisconsin. Some of the comments he received included:

"I learned a lot in your class."

"Thanks for everything you taught me, and I really enjoyed your class."

"Thank you for a wonderful class."

Good job, Jeremy! He will be teaching again next semester, so look for him if you are a student at Fox Valley Tech.

We are committed to your financial wisdom!

Jeremy Goes Fishing

2009-12-23T16:23:00.003-06:00

An avid outdoorsman, Jeremy Burri enjoys ice fishing. Margaret, Cathy and Dorcas tend to question his sanity, but Jeremy is far from the only citizen of the Snow Belt states to enjoy sitting by a hole drilled into an ice-covered lake, at least when the fish are biting.

Along with anlers from New England to the Dakotas, Jeremy and his fishing partner, Nick, recently travelled to the “north woods” of Wisconsin, the broad belt of heavily forested land that is found in the northern part of The Badger State. They were entered in the NAIFC, the North American Ice Fishing Championship, held on Boom Lake in Rhinelander, Wisconsin. Jeremy has participated in ice fishing tournaments, but this was his first time to make it to the championship round.

They caught ten fish over the two-day championship, and their biggest fish weighed in at just under a half pound, which made them number 25 out of 72 teams. The fish were “not cooperative” and it was difficult fishing according to Jeremy, who says that on a really fun fishing day he might catch thirty fish in an hour.

Jeremy is happy not to be one of the sixteen teams whose score registered zero!

Congratulations, Jeremy, on making it to the championship level, and we wish you cooperative fish and easier angling next year!

It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like...

2009-12-16T13:39:00.004-06:00

TAX TIME!

At the beginning of each year, patriotic Americans across the country do their duty and settle affairs with our Uncle Sam. This year will be no exception.

As you look back at 2009’s experience, is there anything you would change? If someone prepared your taxes for you, did it take too long for your return to be completed? Did the price seem too high? Or if you did your own taxes, were you frustrated by the process or by how long it took to receive your return?

If you were unhappy with last year’s experience, please consider Veritas Financial Services for this tax season. We promise prompt service, fair pricing, and quality work. We can also help you with business start-up and other IRS issues.

If you have any questions please e-mail me at jburri@veritasinvesting.com or call us at 920 (or 888 if you are out of the area) 893-5262.

Here They Are: The [Dirty,Filthy] Lies My Broker Taught Me - #3

2009-12-14T16:02:00.015-06:00

As Mark Mattson told us here, sometimes these lies were known to be lies, and sometimes they were unintentional because your advisor just passed on what he or she had been taught.

But even an unknown lie is still--a lie!

Here they are:

1. Stock picking works. We know which stocks you should own to get above average returns.

2. Timing the market works. We have experts who can accurately predict market movements.

3. Our research works. If you trust us and buy and sell based on our analysis, you will beat the market.

4. Track-record investing works. We have expert money managers who, based on past performance, have a better-then-average chance of beating the market going forward.

5. Commissions work. We always put your best interest first. We work for you.

6. We know what is likely to happen next, and you can use that to beat the market.

7. Markets don't work. We know what the correct price of a stock or bond should be, and we can buy mispriced stocks so you can make a big profit.

A few more Mark Mattson quotes from the book before we move on to the TRUTH:

In the first three years of the new millineum, investors lost over 7 trillion dollars in the U.S. Market. This represented real money...entrusted to...brokers and financial consultants. This is money...needed to fulfill life dreams of retirement and financial security.

The media panders to the public with magazine covers that titillate and tantalize the human psyche with a voyeuristic rush. With little or no regard...they hook into the human instincts of fear and greed...These...abuses are paraded in front of the investor as reliable analysis and advice.

The drivel that Wall Street so profusely spews at the retail investor creates the...illusion that if you study their research you will receive superior returns. The problems and secrets that large broker-dealers have fought...to hide are coming to light. The financial community's reputation has been greatly tarnished by scandals, abuses and conflicts of interest.

Whew! No need to ask Mark to tell us how he really feels. Remember, Mark Mattson, like Veritas owner, Margaret Wittkopp, saw many of these abuses first hand. They both established independent firms as a result. As Margaret recently told me, "I had to find a different way or leave the industry altogether."

More next time...

Making the Transition From Financial Planner to Coach

2009-12-10T05:47:00.003-06:00

When I first met Margaret Wittkopp, Veritas' owner, I knew that she had worked in the financial industry as a financial advisor/planner for years. I soon discovered that she had been employed by a well-known brokerage firm that has offices all over the USA and overseas as well. You would know the name right away, and you might also be able to direct me to a location near you.

Soon after coming to Veritas I learned that we are aligned with Symmetry and Mark Mattson's Abundance Technologies, and I knew that this had been a big transition for Margaret and for Veritas.

What I did not understand was what changed a successful financial planner into a champion for TRUTH (Veritas), a crusader if you will, for change, education, and a more efficient way to invest. Margaret could have remained where she was and done quite well for herself. Instead, she has taken risks to do things in a very different manner.

If you are following along in our series you already know that it is not "investing as usual" at Veritas. Would you like to hear more about what happened to Margaret? Check out this ten minute video, an interview with Mark Mattson, where Margaret reveals that what turned her in a different direction was discovering the hidden costs she was unknowingly passing on to her clients.

If you are thinking, "Ten minutes? Too long..." think about how important money is to our lives and our futures!

So do you know the hidden costs in your portfolio? Do you know how to find out? (Hint: your financial advisor probably doesn't know and can't tell you.)

I recently saw an FMIA (the "Free Market Investment Analysis" that Margaret speaks about in the video) for a couple who are modestly invested in the Market. Margaret was able to show them how they can save nearly $100,000 in costs over the next ten years!

Are you ready to explore a different way?

Call us toll-free at 888-893-5262, or email Margaret at margaret.wittkopp@veritasinvesting.com to find out how you can request an analysis of your current portfolio, including your actual costs.

Holiday Open House Photos

2009-12-07T15:27:00.026-06:00

Cathy greets the guets.

So does Margaret's cardboard twin!

Luncheon guests

Jeremy talks about the importance of an investment philisophy.

Santa arrives and Penny tells him what she wants for Christmas.

Margaret warns us about hidden fees in many portfolios.

Dorcas says that Santa certainly looks familiar...

Ho Ho Ho...see you next year!

Margaret Wields Her Sword, "D.R.A.G.O.N.S. Slayer"

2009-12-06T04:01:00.001-06:00

Margaret recently won an award for slaying D.R.A.G.O.N.S. (Dirty Rotten Advisors Going on Nothing but Scams, Schemes and Sales Stories). In this short video she ponders what it is that makes us vulnerable to questionable sales practices or outright scams.

Lies & Truths - #2

2009-12-03T15:20:00.011-06:00

With this post we began a series from the book, "The Lies My Broker Taught Me and 101 Truths About Money and Investing" (pictured next to the Veritas piggy bank).

In an introduction, Mark Matson has this to say.

This is an insider’s look at the industry. As representatives of a large brokerage firm, we were fed a steady diet of…investing lies. Most of these lies were subtly implied, NOT loudly proclaimed or put down in writing. Most of them were lies of omission. The underlying message was that by using brilliant and knowledgeable experts and money managers, it was not only possible, but likely, that you would consistently and predictably pick the best stocks and time the Market.

This was taught to us in countless seminars, presentations, brochures, conventions, mutual fund pitches, conference calls, keynote speakers, books, magazines, and industry articles. The industry propaganda brainwashed us to believe really smart experts could, over time, make investors rich.

The truth is…you don’t have to believe any of the lies we believed to be a successful investor.
Do we have you wondering just what those lies are? We will share all seven lies in the next installment of this series.

The REALLY Bad Hair Day: Why Sometimes a Person Needs a Professional

2009-11-30T16:12:00.007-06:00

These are difficult financial times for many of us. Have you cut corners by doing something yourself instead of calling an expert? Have you, for example, attempted to fix the plumbing, replace a car engine, had a friend cut your hair...or? Sometimes that can be a sensible thing to do, but some things call for some expert assistance.

Dorcas recently had such an experience. She purchased a name-brand hair dye product and prepared to lighten her hair a shade or two. She figured it would turn out fine since it was the same brand, and even the same shade, that Cathy (our office manager) uses. And, Dorcas reasoned, she is no stranger to hair dye.

Imagine her shock and dismay when, instead of blond, her do-it-yourself dye job resulted in a shiny purple!

Margaret kindly suggested a visit to her excellent hair stylist, Keisha, from The Entourage in Sheboygan. She even gave Dorcas the morning off to get her hair back to something relatively normal. Perhaps Margaret thought Dorcas' mishap might scare away our clients.

Keisha took one look and calmly and confidently went to work.

Whew! All finished. No more purple hair!

The point of this story is simple. Sometimes doing something yourself is fine. But sometimes the most important things in life do call for some expert advice and attention.

Are you considering getting in, or out, of the Stock Market? Wondering if an particular investment is right for you? Wondering if your retirement funds are sufficient? Questioning the advice of your broker?

Our financial coaches would be happy to arrange a no-cost, no-obligation appointment with you. They can take you through a step-by-step process which will help you identify and clarify your situation and your personal financial goals. Then you can choose whether to have Margaret or Jeremy customize appropriate strategies for a sound financial program designed just for you.

The choice, of course, is up to you. Just remember, some things (like purple hair) may be fairly easy to fix. Other things are more significant and long-lasting.

What is more important than peace of mind and a sound financial future?

Is it time to talk to a professional?

The Lies My Broker Taught Me & 101 Truths About Money & Investing - #1

2009-11-24T15:53:00.011-06:00

The book in the picture is authored by Mark Matson and the preface is written by Veritas' owner, Margaret Wittkopp. Here is a little of what Margaret, who grew up on a rural Wisconsin farm, has to say :
Farming has a lot of lessons that relate to sound investing...[one lesson] I learned from the strawberry patch was...don't spend everything you make. It was tempting, but it was important not to eat all the berries I picked. If I ate all the berries, I would have nothing left to sell...and I'd get sores in my mouth and a tummy ache.
Margaret relates her childhood experience in the family strawberry patch to these lessons as well:

Preparation and knowledge are essential to good results.
Patience
It takes hard work and sacrifice to get ahead.
Ownership gives the most profit.
The amazing truth of savings accumulation.
Generosity begets wealth.
Saving is important.
Diversification makes a difference to the total return.

In the next few posts we will share some common misconceptions about Wall street and your finances, and then we will follow up with some truths that are essential to sound investing. No, we probably won't share all 101--but who knows?

If you would like to read how Margaret learned about prudent investing by picking and selling strawberries, or if you would like to read all the lies and truths, contact us to purchase your personal copy of the book.

Even better, contact us to find out how to get your FREE copy. Email Margaret at margaret.wittkopp@veritasinvesting.com or call us at 920-893-5262. Meanwhile, come back to learn about some of the lies many of us have believed.

Holiday Open House

2009-11-23T14:49:00.010-06:00

Veritas Financial Services, LLC

Friday December 4, 2009

12:00-6:00 pm at

506 E Mill Street
Suite 101
Plymouth, WI

Come and join us for lunch or a treat at your convenience. You are welcome to bring friends to join in the celebration of the season. We will be having special presentations throughout the day.

12:00 pm Luncheon provided

12-1:00 pm Cookie Exchange

Bakers—Bring your favorite cookie or bar and exchange for others

Live presentations:

1:00-2:00: Separating the Myths & Truths of Investing

2:00-3:00: Choosing Your Investment Philosophy

4:00-5:00: Examining Your Expectations

5:00-6:00: TALK TURKEY-Conversations with the coaches (open forum)

4:00-5:00 St. Nick

Visit with St. Nick and bring your children or grandchildren to celebrate in the spirit of giving and abundance.

Find Out: “How Smart Money Invests”
(DVD presentations available all day).

RSVP’s not required but appreciated

920-893-5262 or 888-893-5262 or email: Cathy.knuth@veritasinvesting.com