LifeSteps Briefing

LifeSteps Financial Briefing | July 2018 | Issue 2

Henry's Take

Everyone seems to be on vacation this time of year. It’s a great time to enjoy relaxing – with family and friends. As we “unplug” to take time off, the financial markets are still active. Trade wars, interest rate speculation, mergers & acquisitions and other economic factors are affecting the financial markets.

As we have been saying in our Financial Planning series: It’s all about the planning. We are actively watching and monitoring changes that may have long term effects.

In the meantime, enjoy the summer, your friends and family. One of my daughters is tearing up the Motocross tracks. She competed in her class (11-16 year olds) and has qualified for the Loretta Lynn MX National race in August which has kept us busy this summer!

Stay Safe, Stay Cool and Enjoy the Summer!

Henry Ford, Principal

Summer Fun Time Does Fit Into Financial Planning

Financial Planning: Enjoying the Journey (part 4 of 4)

Financial Planning is truly a journey.

Financial Planning: A Philosophy

We began this Financial Planning series in April by talking about Philosophy by giving you an investor’s point of view. To be an investor, you must have the philosophy of a long-term horizon. And, you need a plan.

Financial Planning: Mapping the Experience

Our second article, Mapping the Experience focused on the purpose of having a plan. We looked at planning in the context of embracing the market, diversifying broadly, focusing on what you can control and tuning out the noise (which lead into the third article).

Financial Planning: Tuning Out the Noise

Tuning Out the Noise can be difficult, especially with all the technology in our lives to

Did You Know?

TOP COUNTRIES

More than half (55%) of the manufacturing in the world is done in just 4 countries: China, the United States, Japan and Germany.

Source: United Nations Conference on Trade and Development

Data reproduced with permission from

By the Numbers

HOW MANY STRAWS?

The oft-quoted statistic that Americans use 500 million plastic straws per day was created in 2011 by a then 9-year old Vermont grade schooler (Milo Cress) who claims that he and his mom Odale completed the numerical research for a food column that they wrote 7 years ago.

?Source: NBC News

Data reproduced with permission from

By the Numbers

Giving Back

This month's featured charitable organization is Hope through Housing Foundation.

Hope through Housing Foundation's mission is to break the cycle of generational poverty by advocating for policies and implementing programs that empower individuals and change communities.

To kick off the season in style, Hope through Housing will be hosting its very first fashion show, highlighting the latest fall fashions for men, women, and children. Join the fun on Saturday, August 11 at Victoria Gardens in Rancho Cucamonga.

Proceeds from the KidzFest Fall Fashion Show will be used to prepare children from our community to be successful in school, from backpacks filled with new school supplies to afterschool programs that provide a safe, nurturing place for children to go after school – fostering a love of learning and supporting academic success.

One Last Thing...?

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This report is for information purposes only and is not a recommendation for any particular security. Mention of individual securities should not imply that we own the security or have owned it in the past. In addition, the information provided here should not form the basis for investment decisions. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. This information should not be used in any transaction without the advice and guidance of your Tax Professional. LifeSteps Financial has not independently verified, or attested to the accuracy or authenticity of the information, including any investment performance measurement.

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