Quote of the Week:

Sounds Crazy Might Work

"It is possible to do whatever you choose, if you get to know who you are and are willing to work
with a power greater than ourselves to do it."

~ Oprah Winfrey
Talk Show Host
Entrepreneur


Good Morning...

This email is long overdue.

I have met many people lately who do not completely understand the control they have over their
401(k) & IRA plans. 

THIS is IMPORTANT.

YOU have complete control to do what you want with your 401(k) as it pertains to choice of
investments, how much to contribute, whether or not to keep all of your money in your fund
managers investments or in cash or both, etc., etc.

Most of the people I meet do not take their 401(k) as seriously as they should yet, when surveyed
about how they will retire comfortably, the first thing most refer to is their 401(k) or IRA. That's like
someone saying that being healthy is important while smoking a cigarette! It just doesn't work that
way so, taking it seriously is something that all should do.

Please everyone, please... it is crucial that you pay close attention to the markets, your retirement
depends on it.  If you do not want to pay attention to the markets, hiring someone to do that for you
is an absolute must.  You need someone looking over your money, even if it's in a 401(k) and
especially if it's in an IRA that you started on your own or as a result of a rollover from a job you
no longer have. Your plan administrator will not do it so, someone has to.   Who do YOU have
advising you right now?

ASK ME WHY. If you have money in a 401(k) with an employer your no longer work for, it's
important that you roll it over to an IRA ASAP.  It's especially important to do that THIS year!

DID YOU KNOW? By law your 401(k) administrator / company cannot give you financial planning
advice.  It's true.  It's a conflict of interest to advise you because they have a financial interest in
your plan. Yep, you heard me right. 

There is a serious breakdown in this country as it pertains to retirement planning.  A 401(k) is a
great tool but, a useless one if no-one is intelligently advising you on what investments to choose
within your plan, IF ANY, especially NOW! Ask me why.  Makes sense to have someone giving
you advice on your future, doesn't it? 

Let me just put this out there so you'll understand how important this is.  Let's suppose you
used to work for Enron.  Yes, just play along.  I have no doubt in my mind that Enron indirectly or
directly encouraged their employees to invest their 401(k) money in company stock, which is
of course illegal. Had those employees hired a competent advisor instead of listening to their
employers advice, they wouldn't have lost their entire retirement.  Why? Simple, a good advisor
would never encourage someone to put a large portion of their retirement into company stock.
Are there exceptions to the rule? Oh absolutely but, those exceptions are hard to come by and
I'm sure that conservative stop losses were put in place in every case.

This is just an opinion but, soon and maybe even now may be an important time to move a
majority or all of your 401(k) investments into cash or other safe than most investments. 
Again, you CAN do that.  My million dollar (literally) advice to you is to have your 401(k) reviewed
immediately by a strong advisor that is willing to advise you to make investment moves with your
interests in mind before his own. I have an IRA and I have it reviewed regularly, so should you. If
you do not know and trust any, I can refer you to someone I trust who can help.

Be careful with your future.

To Your Financial Wealth,

Kurtis Kooiman
President
Silverstar Finance, Inc.
DRE Lic. 01213343
Society for Financial Awareness
Kurtis's LinkedIn
Bus: (714) 274-9325 Ext. 14
Fax: (714) 274-9365

P.S. Not excited about talking money? Ok, fine. Just fax or email me your retirement statements
and I'll have them reviewed for you. Sheesh!