Search

 

 

New Page 1 New Page 1

Informative Articles

Do You Have A Press Package?
How do you make a friend of the media? A press package can go a long way in helping you deal with the media. It allows you to have everything you need handy. Many individuals in the media will ask you to send yourpress package to them, so it...
Eight Success Tips for Your First Trade Show Booth
Exhibiting in a trade show can involve a major investment of money and time. But the financial returns for your business can be excellent if you learn some of the secrets of trade show booth success before signing up for a show and investing in...
Five Tips To Wiser Investing
One of the most common requests I receive is for investing help. In this article, I try to present just a few basic investing tips to remember when you plan for your future through investing. 1. Have a plan and know where you are going with your...
Foreclosure Home Deals
Did you know that you can save tens of thousands of dollars on the purchase of your home by investing in a foreclosure or preforeclosure property? When you are trying to purchase a home for the first time, and you have limited resources and limited...
Real Estate Investing
Real estate investments may not be everyone’s cup of tea, but some people who have already tried investing in real estate know that it can be profitable. Real estate investment experts say there are several keys to making significant profits in...
 
It's Not All About the Money, But It Has Alot To Do With Investing

Sin and sorrow everywhere
People dying in despair
Happy Birthday to you; Happy Birthday to you.

When a kid, my grandfather gave me a crisp dollar bill for my birthday. It wasn't about the money; it was about him. As a kid, I also heard theological and monetary snipes at the church, "All the church wants is my money". This week, we are reminded that it is not all about the money; it is about the man.

Theological jargon ("sin") may not be germane to your conversations. However, sorrow always evokes loss, stirs questions about what matters, and tears become our vocabulary. So, what does this have to do with the stock market? Funny you should ask.

Every corporation (profit or nonprofit) portrays its leadership. Corporate boards and officers may hide for a while behind press releases and balance sheets, but revelation ultimately casts beams of light on the board room, the office suite, and the sacristy.

Forbes magazine maintains a "Corporate Scandal Sheet" It lists twenty-two New York Stock Exchange corporations under current indictment for accounting "imbroglios".

The sorrow? Abject disappointment for investors, pension recipients, company employees (mail room clerks, janitors), children, and tax payers. It is about the money.

Proxy season busies me with reading and voting on behalf of clients. Proxy votes give authorization to the directors to "elect", "approve", and "ratify". Shareholders submit proxy votes with confidence that the Board of Directors will act with integrity. Many don't.

During 2003, under John Paul II's direction, the Pope's charity authorized $69 million dollars in expenditures to help allay the "grave difficulties caused by tensions and conflicts" around the world. Congregants give with confidence that the Pope's Charity will act with integrity. He did.

About The Author

Ray Randall serves clients as a registered investment advisor with his firm, Ethos Advisory Services, Essex, Massachusetts http://www.ethosadvisory.com. He has wide experience within the financial services industry, writes a weekly newsletter for Ethos Advisory Services, and coordinates the developments at Echievements . Ray holds a Masters Degree from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, Hamilton, MA. You may email him or call (877-895-3756).

rayrandall@ethosasdvisory.com