Welcome to the Fall Edition of The Ultimate Guide For the Successful Steward, Fourth Dimension Financial Group’s newsletter.
This issue of the Steward marks the five-year anniversary since it began. In October of 2012, we introduced you to this oddly named newsletter, featuring case studies, investing commentary, and even the occasional book review. We’ve witnessed client family vacations shown through your own photos, and also discussions of the critical components of a well-built retirement plan through our Back To the Basics features, which was a client-requested section. Before our Fourth Dimension Weekly email newsletter existed, the Steward arrived in homes every month, admittedly a herculean logistical task. While change is a requirement in serving you as best we can, what’s funny to me is how little has changed in our world over these five years, as evidenced by this excerpt from the opening paragraph in that first issue:
On one of those rare occasions when I turn on the television or sneak a listen to what’s passing as news on talk radio, I am shocked by what I see and hear. War, indecency, lying, profanity, and downright small-mindedness. And that’s just the presidential election. It seems that we cannot escape the tumultuousness of these trying times.
While we’re not in an election cycle at the moment, this all sounds too familiar. As a result, I find comfort in knowing that the work we do does in fact change and evolve, but we’re able to look back and see that there are some things we can count on continuing on.
Our mission hasn’t changed. We still work tirelessly to provide planning services to allow aspiring retirees to achieve ‘enough.’ We know that retirement can mean a lot of different things to different people, yet we fundamentally want the same thing. We want to live a life that has meaning and purpose without the worry that can often flood our minds when it comes to money matters. We want to free ourselves from financial anxiety by way of sound income planning, disciplined investing, and adjusting as we go. We seek to identify the many risks facing a retiree and hedge those risks through prudent use of financial tools designed to do just that. When these matters have been tended to, we can confidently get back to living fully, which is the very point of it all.
In light of this continued mission, we’re fortunate to have contributions from our friends, Richard Chamberlain of Chamberlain Law Group, and Stephen Hanley of Evergreen Wealth Management. Richard shares some great advice concerning the way we own and pass on assets, while Steve illustrates how a crazy farmer can derail our investing efforts if we’re not aware and disciplined. Both provide extremely valuable insights, so thanks to each for their efforts.
Thanks to you for continuing to stay engaged with us. Without you and your steadfast commitment to excellence, we’d have no reason for ours. It’s truly an honor to serve you and play a role in your life. Where will we all be in five more years? I’m excited to walk alongside you as we figure it out.
All the best,
Adam B. Cufr, RICP®
With a new baby in the house, it’s great to have older girls to help. Here’s Anna, Rosalie, and Nora having fun.
