PlusFour, Inc. is pleased to present our monthly newsletter in the hopes it not only represents a useful business tool, but can bring a smile to the faces of our readers. If there is a subject you would like to see addressed, feel free to contact us. Your comments are always welcome.
Congratulations to this month's winner! FOOTHILL VILLAGE APARTMENTS will receive a $50.00 gift certificate to PANDA EXPRESS. Each month, we select one of our clients from a random drawing of those who submitted new collection accounts with us during the previous month. It's as easy as that, and you could be the winner announced next month - Good Luck!
In the old Norse religion, an event believed to occur around the same time of the year as Halloween was the alfablot, which involved the blessing of food and sacrifices to which creatures?
Congratulations to last month's Trivia Winners - Manuela from EMC Medical, Dr. John Herr, Rita from Fara Thomas, D.D.s, M.P.H, Betty from EMC Medical, Sandra from Net Com and Debra from Bone & Joint Specialists. They will all receive a gift certificate to the BARNES & NOBLE BOOKS.
Remember, if you don't even take a guess, you'll never know if you could be next.
The answer to last month's question is: November 6, 1929. Chicago Cardinals & Providence Steam Rollers.
Please send your responses to lisa@plusfourinc.com or fax them to 866-256-2779.
NEW STOCK MARKET TERMS
CEO - Chief Embezzlement Officer
CFO - Corporate Fraud Officer
BEAR MARKET - A 6 to 8 month period when the kids get no allowance, the wife gets no jewelry, and the husband gets no sex.
BULL MARKET - A random market movement causing an investor to mistake himself for a financial genius.
VALUE INVESTING - The art of buying low and selling lower.
P/E RATIO - The percentage of investors wetting their pants as the market keeps crashing.
BROKER - What my financial advisor has made me.
STANDARD & POOR - Your life in a nutshell.
STOCK ANALYST - Idiot who just downgraded your stock.
STOCK SPLIT - When your ex-wife and her lawyer split your assets equally between themselves.
FINANCIAL PLANNER - A guy whose phone has been disconnected.
MARKET CORRECTION - The day after you buy stocks.
CASH FLOW - The movement your money makes as it disappears down the toilet.
PROFIT - An archaic word no longer in use.
October 9, 2008
Although some investors are reacting to the economic downturn by changing their strategy, the majority are maintaining their approach.
The current state of downbeat financial news is leading many consumers to shift toward a more conservative investment strategy, according to recent survey data, though a majority claims to be sticking with the same investing approach despite market conditions.
When asked how a down market like the current one affects them, 30 percent of U.S. consumers said they have become "more conservative" in how they think about and make investment choices. In contrast, only 7 percent of survey participants said they have become "more aggressive," while a 63 percent majority reports no change in approach.
Survey interviews were conducted the week preceding the bankruptcy of Lehman Brothers and the rescue of insurance giant AIG.
The proportion of consumers who are becoming more conservative in their investment strategy does not vary much across demographic groups. However, consumers now claiming a more aggressive investment approach are more likely to be from affluent households ($100,000-plus income) and more apt to be men than women. Not surprisingly, consumers nearer retirement (age 55 and up) are much less likely to be moving toward a more aggressive investment posture.
Like you I have watched the markets and financial institutions here and around the world become unraveled. Wall street is down 37% for the month and has just had it's worst week in history. It is hard to believe what has happened, but it has. I would expect that the markets have probably hit their low and the recovery, although very slow, will now begin.
