Kevin Ferrier: A Fine and Dandy Life

Kevin Ferrier has touched and influenced many lives, and this is evidenced by the cards, phone calls, visitors to Family night, and those of you in attendance today.

Kevin had a trademark response when asked how he was doing, and we will all carry it with us in our hearts moving forward, and I would like to briefly discuss:

• What is fine and Dandy?
• What exactly did it mean to Kevin?
• How can one live a life in which one’s purpose is defined by such a statement?

John 15:13 says “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.”

I have been blessed to live my life in a very close knit family, and having my grandparents, [Bill & Patsy (to you), nanny & paw paw (to me & a few special individuals in attendance)] as probably the biggest earthly influence on my life has allowed me to understand the foundation in which Kevin began his life. His parents (my grandparents) are the embodiment of Christ and provided Kevin with the Love & spiritual foundation required to live a “fine and dandy” life.

My uncle & friend , Kevin Ferrier, was born in 1958 with a handicap, as he was born with his umbilical cord around his neck. The lack of oxygen to his brain may have affected his motor skills, but it did not impair his ability to touch the heart and lives of EVERY individual he encountered, friend or stranger. When asked how he is doing, he always replied “Fine and Dandy”(except when snowed in and unable to help at the Moose or volunteer at the bowling alley, in this case he huffed and puffed and prayed for the snow to stop), and his spirits were lifted through the giving of his time to others. His charitable work is easily confirmed through his recognitions and volunteer work throughout the community of Waynesboro. He was a Sunday morning staple here at the Blue Ridge church of Christ, The Waynesboro Moose, Wayne Lanes, Generals Games, Little League Baseball, Girls Volleyball, Waynesboro Library and more

Fine and Dandy can easily be related to Rick Warren’s book “A Purpose Driven Life”, in that the core of “Fine & Dandy” has to be rooted and grounded in an unchanging, supernatural force which has its foundation in LOVE. Not a love for self, material possessions, or money, but the true & pure definition of love described in I Corinthians 13. If not properly grounded we will only create a lot of useless noise, and this is best described in verse 1 of 1 Corinth 13 when it says “I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.” Imagine being in a room of 50 2 & 3 year olds with cymbals, drums, and various other noisy instruments. Now Imagine all of these children playing their own tune as loud as they can! Now imagine The New York Philharmonic with these same instruments and the beauty they can create. This is what we can sound like when our lives are lived solely for the purpose of glorifying God through our Loving work to win others to him.

I would like to use the points that Rick Warren mentions in his book to better define what “fine & dandy” meant to Kevin & to bring a challenge to each of you here so that you can help us as a family continue the work that Kevin’s life has begun in each of us. Please allow me to describe this to you in 5 easy steps that you can follow in your daily life

1. We were planned for God’s pleasure, so your first purpose is to offer real worship.Worship in love, with a purpose of becoming more like Christ. Kevin was a faithful & active member of his church, and his smile, handshake and Sunday greeting with a bulletin has welcomed a lot of you every Sunday
2. We were formed for God’s family, so your second purpose is to enjoy real fellowship. Fellowship was at the core of Kevin’s “fine and Dandy”, and he loved being around people. Whether it was keeping score for a sporting event, working at the bowling alley running food drinks, working at the Moose selling raffle tickets & serving food, Kevin did more than enjoy fellowship, I boldly say he made fellowship enjoyable!
3. We were created to become like Christ, so your third purpose is to learn real discipleship. Discipleship by example is the best form of leadership. What better example than Kevin! He has taught all of us here the value of living a life to glorify his Heavenly father, & that lesson will live on in each of us here.
4. We were shaped for serving God, so your fourth purpose is to practice real ministry. All of my life I have observed Kevin giving freely of his time to so many people, and most of you here today have been recipients of his benevolence. As a businessman I would question him many times as I picked him up from the Moose or bowling alley. I would ask him WHY do you do all of this for free? I would ask him why he did not apply for a job at the Moose or Bowling Alley, as I was sure you would hire him! Kevin would always emphatically respond with a tone of annoyance, “No, no, no I could not take money for it. I love being with my friends at the Bowling alley or Moose”. As a family we had to share Kevin with you on Thanksgiving as he was so excited to spend his day serving you while attempting to keep up with the football scores. On Christmas he would be restless at home, and his greatest joy was to spend it with his friends at the Moose serving you with his smile & cheer.
5. We were made for a mission, so your fifth purpose is to live out real evangelism. Kevin’s life was a living example of personal evangelism. Matthew 5:16 says “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. Kevin’s light still shines brightly in our hearts and minds & God knew what he was doing when he made Kevin, and his handicap allowed him to fulfill God’s purpose for his life

Now that I have defined what “fine and dandy” meant to Kevin I want to  briefly discuss and challenge you on How you can have a “fine and Dandy affect” on the lives of people you encounter in your lives. We all are a product of Kevin’s Joy, and no discussion needs to be had on the WHY is it necessary to be joyful, as we have all personally benefited from Kevin’s joyous smile, hug and handshake.

First let me begin by pointing out that your personal “Fine & Dandy” mentality must be grounded in Jesus Christ, as this was the source of Kevin’s love for all of us here. Kevin had more than a head knowledge of Jesus, he had a heart knowledge. You must first have Jesus Christ in your heart to affect the lives of those you meet just as Kevin changed each of your lives here. Without this personal relationship you will sound just like a room of toddlers with loud musical instruments. You must 1^st recognize that Christ died for YOU, ask Him for forgiveness of your sins, and allow Him control of your Heart and life

Second You have to have a desire, a real love for others, and the recipe for this can easily be understood by using the acronym JOY. Jesus, Others, Yourself. I never knew Kevin to be a selfish person, and even though I questioned his giving away freely of his time, I never questioned his heart and love for you. I now see that the laying down of his life for his friends paid far greater rewards than could be given monetarily. The Bible says, “lay not up treasures on earth where moth and rust doth corrupt and thieves break through and steal. But lay up for your selves treasures in Heaven”. Kevin is now the Bill Gates of Heaven, LOL.

As you watch this video of Kevin’s life, and see firsthand the man behind the smile, I want you to be thinking about YOUR LIFE.

What is the PURPOSE of your life and existence here on earth?

What are you doing to have a positive, Christ like influence on the lives of those you meet?

We often become discouraged because things do not go our way. Maybe you did not get the job/ promotion you wanted, your favorite team does not win, your car breaks down…, but if you have JOY as your success formula, none of these superficial and material things will matter or control your happiness. If you live your life for the betterment of your fellowman, you will always be like Kevin, “Fine & Dandy”.

So I challenge you to take a good look at yourself in the mirror, & contrary to popular opinion tell yourself that YOU do not matter, rather WHAT you do with your time is most important. Call that long lost friend & see how they are doing, hug a friend or family member for no reason other than you love them, tell your spouse you love them OFTEN, visit a sick or widowed person, take a neighbor to dinner & get to know them, and if you have children; hug them tightly, love them unconditionally, cherish every moment they breathe for tomorrow may never come.

I trust that the seed planted in your heart by our dear Kevin will grow into a beautiful Oak tree to stand strong through the storms of life, and that you would be a source of love and support for those around you.

In closing I want to Challenge you to make each day you are blessed to live one that is fine and dandy. Each morning when you wake up, take a look at yourself in the mirror, think of Kevin’s smile and tell yourself “Today is a fine & Dandy Day”. Then as you proceed through your day make sure you pass that “smile and greeting” on to each person you come in contact with.

Please enjoy the video of the life of Kevin FERRIER, and remember to ask yourself:

What is the PURPOSE of your life and existence here on earth?

What are you doing to have a positive, Christ like influence on the lives of those you meet?

God Bless you all, and thanks for the love that you gave to our beloved Kevin.

What’s LOVE Got to Do With It

Fine and Dandy

What’s LOVE Got to Do With It

Putting your thoughts on paper is therapeutic when faced with difficult and trying times, so I ask that you bear with me as I express my joy and sorrow. I trust that after you read this your outlook on life as well as your purpose for living will be changed for the better.

I have spent the last 2 weeks in a family waiting room at the University of Virginia Medical Center, waiting and watching as 3 of the people I love the most are suffering. I am blessed with having lived my life under the umbrella of a very close knit family, and now I have to help hold this umbrella up. My grandparents have had more influence on my life than any other persons on this planet, and are loved by more people than I can count. Their daily walk with Christ has allowed them to touch the lives of so many people in their 80+ years on earth, and now that love is being reciprocated by so many people. This has become personal for me these last 2 weeks as I watch a steady stream of visitors come in and out of the waiting room, as well as answering the waiting room phone and providing constant updates of the condition of my personal hero and role model.

Please allow me to introduce you to someone near to my heart who exemplifies the spirit of   giving and has given freely of his time while facing physical adversity.

My uncle, Kevin Ferrier, was born in 1958 with a handicap, as he was born with his umbilical cord around his neck. The lack of oxygen to his brain may have affected his motor skills, but it has not impaired his ability to touch the heart and lives of EVERY individual he meets. When asked how he is doing, he almost always replies “Fine and Dandy”(except when snowed in and unable to help at the Moose or volunteer at the bowling alley), and his spirits are lifted through the giving of his time to others. His work is confirmed through his recognitions and volunteer work throughout the community of Waynesboro.

Kevin graduated in 1978 with the 1st special education class at Waynesboro High School, and began a life of serving others that has continued to today. He has volunteered with the YMCA youth basketball league and was chosen volunteer of the month for his work. He was recognized on several occasions for his volunteer work with the Special Olympics. He ran the scoreboard for the Waynesboro Generals for many years, and still pulls for the “home team”. He kept score for so many little league, farm league, and church softball teams that we have lost count. He is loved and known at the Waynesboro Va bowling alley for his tireless efforts and assistance in their league play. Ask anyone who visits the Waynesboro Moose and they will tell you tales of his work in assisting their fundraising efforts and civic work. Visit the Blue Ridge Church of Christ on Sunday mornings and you will be greeted by Kevin, handed a program, and receive help finding a seat for the worship service. He currently volunteers 4 mornings a week at the Waynesboro library, and is a constant at the Waynesboro Moose Lodge where he serves on the board and has been Legionnaire of the Month on 2 occasions.

When I decided to write about Kevin I had knowledge of his service through my childhood memories of his involvement with little league baseball and church softball teams, but I never stopped to consider how many lives he has touched through his smile and service. There are those people on this earth that have been blessed with the ability to spread this magic through their loving interaction with others. It is this action that makes this world a great place to live, and I am blessed to have witnessed this magic in action through the life of this special person.

Now as we sit in the waiting room awaiting a miracle, my grandparents are faced with the most difficult decision any should ever have to make. To live or not to live, that is the question. You see Kevin has had a recent history of seizures, but the one he suffered 2 weeks ago left him laying in the floor overnight, and the lack of brain activity resulted in a stroke, his liver and kidneys shutting down, a stress related heart attack, fluid on his lungs, swelling and hemorrhaging of his brain and the loss of his right side.

Anyone who knows Kevin (and there are MANY) knows that Kevin never sits still. Even if he is watching his favorite baseball team (NY Yankees) on TV he still flips channels to watch 3+ shows at the same time. If he is listening to his favorite gospel cd, you will hear his feet stomping the floor keeping time to the music. Never stopping, never resting, until now.

Now he lays motionless in a hospital bed, and except for 1 day in which he was awake and alert he has not moved. While the doctors and staff are wonderful, they have no definitive answers, solutions, or long term prognosis. I tell you all of this to get to this.

My countless hours in this waiting room have taught me the most valuable lesson of my life. It doesn’t matter WHO you are, rather what matters the most is HOW you treat others. It matters how you first interact with those you meet, how you continue to treat them, what you do for them, and the WHY must be a core belief that OTHERS matter more to you than you matter to yourself.

Kevin exemplifies Christ in EVERY aspect of his life, every day of his life. This is evidenced in the constant visitation, phone calls from concerned people that we have never met, and the full mailbox everyday when I take my grandparents home. There are so many cards and letters just waiting for Kevin to read, that if one did not know better they would think he was a Hollywood movie star.

Now, I have resolved to live my life in such a fashion that everyone I meet walks away feeling better about themselves, and that they know that God is real and loves them. You see we live in such a politically correct nation that it is difficult or intimidating to express how we truly feel. That is something Kevin never had to worry about, he was always “Fine & Dandy”. I now understand that if you are what you believe that you will never need to tell people how you feel, they will know by your smile, hugs, & hand shake. That example will peak the interest of people you meet and they will WANT what you have. JOY. Do not confuse joy with happiness, as happiness is based in feelings, joy is based in your knowing that God is in control and no matter what happens, he cares for you.

We often become discouraged because things do not go our way. Maybe you did not get the job/ promotion you wanted, your favorite team does not win, your car breaks down…, but if you have JOY none of these superficial and material things matter. If you live your life for the betterment of your fellowman, you will always be like Kevin, “Fine & Dandy”.

So I challenge you to take a good look at yourself in the mirror, & contrary to popular opinion tell yourself that YOU do not matter, rather WHAT you do with your time is most important. Call that long lost friend & see how they are doing, hug a friend or family member for no reason other than you love them, tell your spouse you love them OFTEN, visit a sick or widowed person, take a neighbor to dinner & get to know them, and if you have children; hug them tightly, love them unconditionally, cherish every moment they breathe for tomorrow may never come

God Bless you all.

How is Money Created (Part 1)

How is Money Created (Part 1)

So you think money grows on trees do ya?

“The study of money, above all other fields in economics, is one in which complexity is used to

disguise truth or to evade truth, not to reveal it.”

~ John Kenneth Galbraith , economist, author

The creation of money is one of the biggest and best kept secrets in American culture. Personally I believe more people know who shot JFK than know how Money is actually created. As I poll and survey people from all walks of life the common answer is that money is created by the Federal Reserve or Treasury. This could not be further from the truth, and in reality only a very small amount of money is actually created by the Federal Reserve. After having spent the last 10 years of my life in the Banking and Finance Industry working with numerous people from different socioeconomic back grounds I have noticed that virtually 100% of the people believe the same myths that I was taught growing up.

These myths come in many different shapes and sizes, and it wasn’t until I took a deep long look at where I spent most of my money that I began to ask myself the question of “Why and How is money created”. You see most of us believe that money is created by the government and that we the hard-working middle class trade hours for dollars to pay our monthly bills. Most of us believe that banks lend out money that has been entrusted to them by depositors. Easy to picture, But not the truth. As children we are taught to place the money that we earn in the bank so that it can earn INTEREST! I have vivid memories of opening my first savings account (joint with my parents), and remember the value that I placed on my bank savings book. I was 13 years old, and believed that I was on my way to riches from saving my money. Now fast forward many years later and I now know how much that money was really worth and I will demonstrate to you in a series of articles,  just How Money is Really Created.

“The process by which banks create money is so simple the mind is repelled.”

~ John Kenneth Galbraith, Economist

To understand money and the mystery as to how it is created it is important to take a look at the early beginnings of money and currency. Currency evolved from two basic innovations: the use of counters to assure that shipments arrived with the same goods that were shipped, and later with the use of silver ingots to represent stored value in the form of grain. Both of these developments had occurred by 2000 BC. Originally money was a form of receipting grain stored in temple granaries in Sumer in ancient Mesopotamia, then Ancient Egypt.

Gold and silver were attractive, soft and easy to work with, so some cultures became expert with these metals. Goldsmiths made trade much easier by casting coins, standardized units of these metals whose weight and purity was certified. The goldsmith soon had another problem, that of a place to store and protect his gold. Hence, the first vault was created. Solving the problem of security and storage presented yet another problem, his fellow merchant friends and townsfolk were asking if he could assist in storing their valuables. It wasn’t long before the goldsmith had rented every inch available and began to profit from his small rental business.

It did not take long before the goldsmith realized that the people to whom had rented space rarely came in to check on or remove their (deposits), and further they NEVER all came at once. The reason for this is actually the beginnings of currency. This currency was a promissory note issued by the goldsmith based on the amount of precious metals deposited in his vault.  This currency provided the goldsmith (aka banker) with a brilliant idea, as the depositors had found the promissory note a much more convenient method of trade. (HEY can you imagine carrying a cow or bag of coins around today, vs. the credit card you presently carry!! ) The goldsmith began to lend out gold, charged interest, and he began to PROFIT greatly from other peoples money.

Now, this is where the story takes a wide turn. You see the towns people began to notice mister goldsmith driving around on a nitro charged camel, living in a 3 story home, and wearing custome designed robes made of the finest materials. In other words the gig was up!!! Rather than putting a stop to the whole sha-bang they decided it was time he cut them in on the profit. Well the goldsmith was a little reluctant to cut others in on his profits, so he devised a BOLDER scheme to compensate for paying off the townsfolk. He began lending more than he really had in his vault, and it wasn’t long before his idea went BOOM!!!

So you see this could be considered the first run on the bank. The people began demanding gold instead of the promissory notes he had issued. Now we have the beginning of regulation. Credit had become such an important part of European growth that it had become vital to the economy (sound familiar). Bankers agreed to abide by limits on the amount of fictional loan money that could be lent out. The limit would still be a number much larger than the actual value of gold & silver in the vault. Quite often the ratio was 9 fictional dollars to 1 actual dollar in gold.

Now we have the beginning of the Fraction Reserve System of lending.

To be Continued……………

RodFerrier@FinancialFreedomFighter.com

Whatever Happened to All That Bailout Money?

So THEY just SQUEEZE us for MORE

Understanding TARP

Whatever Happened to All That Bailout Money?

When the financial sector collapsed, banks were buried by their own bad loans. Congress started bailing out the largest banks, and automakers then jumped on board. Now, Congress has promised $700 billion under the Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP).

Neil Barofsky, TARP’s special inspector general said in January, “What remains almost entirely opaque, however, is what has been done with the TARP money.” How does 700 billion dollars disappear?

So far, Congress has paid out about $540 billion in TARP funds to 829 recipients. Only two businesses were asked to report what they would do with the money. To this date we have been paid back $194 billion.

Biggest Bailouts

AIG

Bailout: $69.8 billion

Paid Back: $0

Amount Owed: $69.8 billion

On March 15, 2009, AIG paid out $165 million in bonuses to executives who work in the business unit that was primarily responsible for sinking the company.

GM

Bailout: $50.7 billion

Paid Back: $1.3 billion

Amount Owed: $49 billion

In June of 2009, GM declared bankruptcy. The U.S. treasury now owns a 60 percent stake in the restructured GM. Canada owns 11.7 percent.

Bank of America

Bailout: $45 billion

Paid Back: $45 billion

Interest Earned by U.S. Government: $3 billion

Sheila Blair, who oversaw Bank of America’s bailout, took out loans for $1 million from Bank of America during negotiations. In January 2010, she received a retroactive conflict of interest waiver.

Citigroup

Bailout: $45 billion

Paid Back: $22 billion

Amount Owed: $20 billion

The U.S. treasury owns 7.7 billion shares of Citigroup, or a 34 percent stake in the company.

JPMorgan Chase

Bailout: $25 billion

Paid Back: $25 billion

Interest Earned by U.S. Government: $1.7 billion

In 2009, JPMorgan Chase spent $6.2 million, a 12 percent increase, lobbying congress in an attempt to persuade law makers not to tighten banking regulations.

Wells Fargo

Bailout: $25 billion

Paid Back: $25 billion

Interest Earned by U.S. Government: $1.4 billion

Days before the bailout, Wells Fargo rejected an offer to buy Wachovia. Six days, $25 billion and some hasty tax changes later, Wells Fargo flip flopped, first admitting in a memo that the government loan enabled them to make the deal and then publicly denying it.

How Much is $700 billion, Anyway?

Here’s a comparative look at what money can buy:

The total U.S. donations to Haiti were $466 million.

Supplying clean drinking water to the entire country would cost $30 billion.

The cost to insure all Americans without health insurance would be $70 billion.

The cost to run the U.S. welfare system is $354 billion.

The allotted TARP funds were $700 billion.

TARP Recipients by State

New York companies received about $170 billion in TARP funds. Michigan companies received about $80 billion in TARP funds. North Carolina Companies receive about $50 billion in TARP funds. California companies received about $30 billion in TARP funds. Delaware companies received about $15 billion in TARP funds. Companies in other states received about $75 billion in TARP funds.

TARP Reforms

• Equity Stakes

The Act requires TARP recipients to give up stock in the company equal to the value of the assistance received. By requiring the company to buy back stake in itself, the government can make a profit off of the bailout.

• SIGTARP

In February 2009, a special commission was formed to investigate what TARP recipients did with the money.

• Limits on Executive Pay

Companies who accept TARP money must now also submit to limits on executive compensations, which include not signing “golden parachute” contracts as well as severely limiting bonuses for risky behavior.

• The Recoupment Act

This provision requires the government to report, five years after the signing of TARP, whether or not they have recouped their losses from the program. If they have not, the president is required to submit a plan to recoup the losses from the business sector so that the TARP program won’t add to the long-term national debt.

• Disclosure and Transparency

New laws have been passed requiring organizations that participate in TARP to publicly disclose how they spent TARP assets.

The Lobbying Bailout Circle

Senator Chris Dodd of Connecticut, chairman of the Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs, received $854,200 from TARP beneficiaries in the 2008 election cycle.

President Obama collected at least $4.3 million from employees at these companies for his presidential campaign.

In total, members of the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs, the Senate Finance Committee and the House Financial Services Committee received $5.2 million from TARP recipients in the 2007-2008 election cycle.

The Best Investment Ever

Several TARP beneficiaries in the finance and automotive industries spent a combined $114.2 million in the past year on lobbying and contributions toward the 2008 election. The companies’ political activities have, in part, yielded them $295.2 billion, an extraordinary return of 258,449 percent.

How To Get Rich and retire Wealthy

So Rod you ask, How Do I Get Rich? How do I live comfortably, not live paycheck to paycheck, never worry about balancing my checkbook, purchase what I want when I want it, Pay for private school and college, AND RETIRE wealthy?

So the title has your interest and you are now thinking I am going to tell you something profound like invest your money in medical stocks, contribute 20% to your 401(k), buy Real Estate or if you want to Get Rich Fast- rob a bank. Well no not exactly and I certainly do not recommend robbing a bank even though robbing a bank is just as risky as investing in stocks. I do advise that you invest in something that provides a guaranteed rate of return (15%), no risk of loss to principal, and full control over your money with no penalty.

Anthony Robbins has some good advice in the above video, especially where GOLF is concerned, and if you are like me you are tired of the same OLD advice given by Banks and our “so trustworthy” Government. SERIOUSLY, have you thought about who you spend most of your money with and what you spend it on. TAXES and INTEREST to the Banks and the Government. Aren’t they the ones always telling us how to spend our money?

Okay to the point. Let me start with introducing you to the 5 Laws of Gold from “The Richest Man in Babylon”. A must read!!

1. Gold cometh gladly and in increasing quantity to any man who will put by not less than one-tenth of his earnings to create an estate for his future and that of his family.

• If you start putting $100 a month away when your child is born @ 15% interest, continue to do so until he/ she is 19 and DO NOT TOUCH IT  by the time He/ She reaches age  50 they would have $9.6 million,  by age 60=$39.2 million, or by age 70= $158 million.

2. Gold laboreth diligently and contentedly for the wise owner who finds for it profitable employment, multiplying even as the flocks of the field.

• Invest your money where YOU HAVE NO RISK OF LOSS to principal, AND a guaranteed RATE OF RETURN. (Hint: not stocks, bonds, or 401(k)

3. Gold clingeth to the protection of the cautious owner who invests it under the advice of wise men in its handling.

• Anyone who tells you that RISK= REWARD IS NOT WISE

4. Gold slippeth away from the man who invests it in businesses or purposes with which he is not familiar or which are not approved by those skilled in its keeping.

• You SHOULD invest your money in YOURSELF and YOUR FAMILY as you LIVE. ( I can show you How easy this can be)

5. Gold flees the man who would force it to impossible earnings or who followeth the advice of tricksters and schemers or who trusts it to his own inexperience and romantic desires in investment.

• This INCLUDES ALL STOCKBROKERS, most financial advisers and planners as well as most bankers, and CERTAINLY The Government

In conclusion I  advise that you invest in A VEHICLE that provides a guaranteed rate of return (15%), no risk of loss to principal, and full control over your money with no penalty. Most Financial advisers do not know that this can be done, let alone THE AVERAGE EVERY DAY JOE.

To learn more visit www.FinancialFreedomFighter.com OR CONTACT ME @ RodFerrier@FinancialFreedomFighter.com

Are YOU A Person of Conviction or Compromise?

CONVICTION or CONVENIENCE

Do you operate on CONVICTION or COMPROMISE? Are you a person of Commitment or Convenience?

I had the pleasure of attending a men’s conference in Harrisonburg Saturday evening and had the privelege of meeting and listening to Francois van Niekerk speak. Francois is a former Special Forces Officer in Military Intelligence who saw combat in Angola.  He now pastors a church of 7,000+ congregants and his messages are heard worldwide on TV, Radio, and the Internet.  He is a Director of the African Christian Network which is made up of more than 400 churches across Africa.  After all this what strikes me most about him is that he is a servant at heart.

He challenged me with the same questions that I am now asking you. As a professional, individual, mother or father are you always looking for the path of least resistance OR is your life based on a system of principles and ethics to which you are committed?

We all know of people who in business are always “doing whatever it takes” to get the deal done. They are willing to compromise the lives of their clients, co-workers, friends (if they still have any), and the lives of themselves and their family. They do not operate on ethics, and their sole motive for existing is money$$$. I ask you is it worth it?

I am reminded of the story of Abraham and Lot in the Old Testament, and the outcome of Lot’s willingness to compromise. You see the path of CONVENIENCE always leads to COMPROMISE which always leads to the individual being CONQUERED by CORRUPTION.

The path of CONVICTION always requires COMMITMENT and always results in the individual CONQUERING through their CHARACTER.

So I challenge you on this fine Monday to decide whether you will choose a path of success or or inevitable failure!! I further challenge you to never compromise yourself and reputation as a professional, individual, mom or dad just to get the job done. The path of least resistance is always the quickest and shortest path to misery, BUT the commited person of character ALWAYS lives the happiest life.

Have a Blessed day, and a WONDERFUL week!!

Sincerely,

Rod Ferrier

RodFerrier@FinancialFreedomFighter.com

Lessons From my 5 year old Jedi Knight

Daddy and the Jedi Knight

As parents we are blessed with the opportunity to raise children, and as our children grow up we realize how quickly time flies. Early in our childrens life we are caught up in the awe of a new born baby, and then once those busy early years are a memory we are just looking to find a “pause button” in an effort to slow down their growth. It is at this exact point that we parents realize the ball is rolling down the hill, gaining speed  and we realize that it is time that we taught them everything we can before they reach the teenage years.

Well that is just where I am with my 5 year old son Ian. Ian is a bright, soft spoken, mild mannered, polite and loving 5 year old and frankly is an exact opposite of his little 3 year old brother (except the polite and loving part).  One night when Ian was 3 years old, I introduced him to Star Wars because I was so tired of Thomas the Train, Veggie Tales and Finding Nemo (still his favorite). I created a Star Wars junkie that night much to the disappointment of his mother (my wife). He has seen all 6 episodes numerous times, The Clone Wars movie, The Clone Wars animated Series on Cartoon Network, and is now captivated by the Lego Star Wars game for Wii. He can play his “star wars wii” for hours at a time, and I am amazed and impressed at how he progresses through each level, sometimes effortlessly without the ability to fully read the hints and menu screens.

He has learned many good lessons from Star Wars, such as honor, trust, reliability, dependability, patience, and respect for others. He began telling me at age 4 that he was my Jedi Knight, and I have used this platform to reinforce the character traits that he has learned from us and church.

I have learned alot myself regarding parenting from our many episodes in Star Wars, and Ian refers to me as his Jedi Master (maybe that is why I am resembling Yoda more each day). Just like in Finding Nemo, I have to trust his ability to make decisions, and provide a guard rail should he begin to deviate from course. He has a soft heart, and me being prior military and accustomed to barking orders have learned that just a glimpse of disappointment from dad goes a long way with Ian. I have learned that to be a Jedi master I have to be patient and allow him to navigate through life on his own, stumbling and falling down at times in order for him to master the game of life. I need to be ready to answer his call for help just as he does now if he reaches an obstacle that he finds too challenging. Respond not React

As a parent I need to be a bigger encouragement to him than he is to me. Tough task, but the force is with me.

God Bless and good parenting.

Is It Time To Retire The 401(k)

Are you tired of the 401(k) roller coaster, and the turmoil caused by seeing your retirement funds disappear?

I recently read an article from Time Magazine entitled “Why It’s Time To retire The 401(k)” by Stephen Gandel, and it took me back to the moment when I was first was first introduced to this retirement vehicle by my father. As a young man I had concerns regarding this “savings plan” in which there were no guarantees on your  growth, no idea on tax rate at retirement, and there was a risk of loss to the principal.

After reading the article several times, I thought that I would share some excerpts with you, as I am sure you are looking for a retirement plan that will not “retire” before you are able to enjoy it! While I agree that it certainly shows worse case illustrations, we can also agree that considering the current economic times we all know someone (maybe you) whose retirement has been diminished considerably. Please keep in mind that I am sharing and commenting from a view point that considers volatility and taxes when considering retirement planning. I do not consider HOPE a viable PLAN when planning for my long term future. So let’s start with a brief background by Mr. Gandel on the 401)k).

Congress was trying to close a loophole on executive bonuses when it  created the 401(k). Most companies intended 401(k)s — which were originally called salary-reduction plans but then renamed for the portion of the tax code that makes them possible — to be a perk for highly paid executives, not a pension replacement. That’s because lower-paid employees probably could not afford to defer a portion of their paychecks. So companies held on to their pension systems even as they added 401(k)s, which by law they had to make available to all employees. When the market took off in the 1980s, the rank and file clamored to get in.

With a 401(k), contributions came out of your pay but were not taxed, and you had control of them. Contributions could be added or suspended. Best of all, when you left your company, your 401(k) traveled with you, removing a penalty for switching jobs that had been built into the pension system. On the corporate end, a change in accounting rules made the growing cost of pensions more apparent to shareholders. Cutting the pension was a guaranteed way to improve the bottom line. The rise of the 401(k) began.

SO we can see that the 401(k) is simply the area of the tax code that allows your retirement contributions to be deducted pre-tax thereby allowing you to reduce your taxable income, and delaying payment on those income taxes until a later date. Now I could write a whole article on this, but want to give you one thing to think about, “Do you think income taxes will go up, or down in the future”? Please consider the ever increasing costs of social security and Medicare in your thought process. SO let’s look at what Mr Gandel says about potential problems with the 401(k).

In theory, 401(k)s should provide much more of a retirement cushion than they do. A 2007 study from the National      Bureau of Economic Research (NBER) estimated that, on the basis of historical returns, by 2040 the average 401(k) of a near retiree would grow to an inflation-adjusted $451,944. That money, spread over 30 years, could replace at least 50% of the average retiree’s income. Add Social Security and even highly paid workers will probably earn more than 80% of their preretirement income. “The only reason these accounts haven’t lived up to their potential is that they haven’t gotten enough time,” says James Poterba, president of the NBER, who co-authored the study.

In practice, 401(k)s haven’t been nearly so rewarding. When Boston College’s Munnell looked at the returns 401(k)s have actually produced compared with the projections, the difference was sobering. The average 55-to-64-year-old should have a 401(k) balance of $320,000. In fact, at the end of 2007, the average 401(k) of a near retiree held just $78,000 — and that was before the market meltdown.

Why don’t these accounts amount to much? Munnell found a number of reasons. Some people don’t contribute as much as they should — essentially ignoring free money from company matches and tax relief. And, as the original engineers of the 401(k) suspected, the less you earn, the less you are likely or able to contribute. For most employees, the maximum contribution to a 401(k) is $16,000 annually. She found that just 5% of people earning $80,000 to $100,000 maxed out, compared with 30% of those making $100,000 or more.

Additionally, to get the hypothetical higher returns over time and avoid investing disasters, you have to hold a diversified portfolio of stocks and bonds. Many of us don’t. Munnell found that 14% of workers held no stocks at all, leading to weaker-than-average returns. On the opposite end, more than a quarter of all 401(k)s were 100% stocks, exposing those accounts to big losses when the market dropped.

Earlier this year, mutual-fund company T. Rowe Price tried to determine the optimum retiree portfolio — the mix of stocks and bonds that would produce the highest returns without the risk of the nest egg running out. To do this, the analysts ran something called a Monte Carlo simulation, which mimics the real-life ups and downs of the market. Most of the time, the market goes up slightly. But some years — ka-pow! — stocks and bonds do spectacularly poorly. What T. Rowe Price found should  frustrate anyone who has spent time wondering if 25% of a portfolio should be in international bonds or small-cap stocks. No portfolio is 100% safe from disaster.

So what does all of this mean? When you are considering your retirement plan remember that taxes and market  volatility can have a significant impact on your retirement future. This article goes on to give examples of people who have seen their retirement portfolios drastically reduced. For me, I do not need to read this article to meet people who can no longer afford to retire as I am related to or know numerous people who have been affected. I can no longer continue to base my personal long term plans on HOPE, or place money in a vehicle that is so volatile and in which your tax liability is not known.

I also understand that some people reading this letter may have a difference of opinion and I sincerely welcome your thoughts and feedback. I have read many articles, comments and books by the so called “media experts still recommending that you continue to put money in your 401(k), and find their recommendations to be alarming, as they still believe the 401(k) to be a good retirement vehicle. MMM, “stupid is as stupid does, jenny”. I will end with the following quote from Mr. Gandel’s article, “The market fell in four of the nine years since the beginning of the decade. That means anyone retiring this decade had a nearly 50% chance of leaving work in a down market. In fact, your chances of retiring into a down market are even greater than that: forced retirements spike in recessions just as the stock market is tanking.”

Should HOPE, Volatility and Taxes not be desired components of your retirement plan, Please call me today to  discuss what you can do to plan for your long term future.