Everyone:

Welcome to 2009!!

This year there is a need for many changes.  I don’t just say this because, personally, I want changes.  I say this because the world has gone to hell in a hand basket!

War, political tensions, finances – to include government/markets/business/individual, and complete idiocy world wide.

2009 is the year of changes geopolitically; and if you chose to it is the year of personal financial changes.

2009 is not the year for the world financial markets.  This would in turn mean it is most likely not the year of “turn around” for most businesses either.  It is not the year for the markets to make a drastic turn around.  Are we seeing a trend here?  This is not the year for the governmental budgets (Federal, State, nor Local) to become balanced; no matter how much we desire that.

What do I mean by geopolitically; simply put we all will see changes.  Regardless of your geography, demography, economics, and most importantly in foreign policies of nations.  Now I’m not geopolitical college grad, nor am I the smartest match stick in the box at times albeit.  However, if you do not see these changes already steamrolling ahead beware, you’re about to get run over by a very large train!

As for personal financial changes, up to the individual of course, I feel that we all need to look at our personal finances.  Learn from the past decade of financial debauchery.  How do you see your finances?  Do you see being able to retire when you’d like to retire.  Be realistic about your retirement age when thinking about this.  Did you know if you were just to put away $25 a week you could live off the dividends by the time you’re around 35?  Why not start that now?  How did you fair with your 401k/personal investments; is it time to make changes there for your future?

Regardless of where you stand today please know that 2009 is a new year.  You can start now no matter your situation.  Become prepared for your future and the looming changes in the years ahead.

Happy New Year to you and yours!

Mike