Financial Planting

It’s that time of year again. Clean out the gardens and think, what do I want to pick from the garden in August? It’s hard to imagine hot nights after work when all you want to do is be outside, but it will be here before we know it. On those hot nights, there is nothing better than pulling a fresh pepper from your own garden and adding it to the grill for dinner.

When you plant your garden you probably will have a variety of fruits and vegetables. You may want some that are ready to harvest in a few weeks like leafy lettuce. You will also want a blend of hot peppers and sweet peppers. Tomatoes are pretty easy to grow so always include them for easy dividends…and there’s your hook to building a financial plan!

Like planting a garden, you need to imagine what you will want in the future. It’s important that you include different types of investments. Value stocks will pay dividends while growth stocks will look to increase in value through new products and expansion. Bonds tend to be less volatile and generate a regular stream of income through interest payments. All of these types of investments can complement each other and help your plan grow to success.

Every year I plant a garden but I must admit that I still don’t know what I’m doing. Therefore, I need help. Fortunately, there are people who garden full time and can help boost my weekend warrior garden. When designing and implementing a financial plan, you may have your own limitations including time, willingness, and ability. If any of these three will impede your plan, consider working with a CERTIFED FINANCIAL PLANNERTM professional for guidance and advice. There are an overwhelming number of books, investments, and companies to choose from. Working with a trusted advisor can help you understand what your optimal choices are.

Every year you plant new seeds in your garden. Every year new seeds planted in investments will appreciate in value, generate dividends, and earn interest. You may have a few bad crops along the way but in the long run it should be successful.

Happy investing.

