Our Wishes

It is my hope you will take time to reflect on the many blessings we all share and begin the new year with a renewed vision, focus and energy for your family, job and community.

And may our politicians get their acts together in 2012!

Smell the Roses

Rose Bowl.... here we come.

Idea for the Holidays

Each year our entire family rents a cabin at the Wilderness in Lake Delton. Kids love the waterpark. Beautiful cabins. Recommend it.

Bells Ringing

I hope everyone empties their pockets of loose change whenever you pass a Salvation Army bell ringer. This organization does such a great job of serving the less fortunate during this time of the year. You will never miss what you give!

Payback Time

Well, the big game is almost here. Go Badgers! It certainly has been a good year to be a Wisconsin resident. Brewers, Badgers, Packers. Now if we could just get civil discourse among politicians!

Recall

I hope we have not entered a new era where dissatisfaction with enacted legislation results in a recall effort. I have always thought election days were for expressing our agreement or displeasure with elected officials.

Give Thanx

If you are looking for something special to do on Thanksgiving Day morning, check out the Berbee Derby in Fitchburg. It is a 5K run/walk or 10k run. Great way to start off the day of food, football and giving thanx for all the blessings we share.

Philanthropy

Last Friday I was presented with the Lifetime Achievement of Philanthropy by the Association of Fund Professionals. The luncheon was held at the Overture Center and was attended by some 400 persons. It was a wonderful event. It is at times like this that you are reminded of how much generosity truly exists in our Dane County community.

The Beauty of Wisconsin

On some of the recent beautiful days, I have taken short bike rides out into the rural areas. Observing all the farm machinery working in the fields reminds me how important those folks are to all of us. Long hours, big risks and love of independence gives us farmers who provide for our food needs. But it is so difficult for the smaller farm to survive. It is encouraging, however, to occasionally see signage that some farm land is a "No Spray Zone" and is organic.

Economics

You likely notice any new economic news on this blog. There is really not much to report on. Interest rates still historically low. If you have a home loan and have not refinanced within the last six months, you really should go to our web site at oakbankonline.com and check out the rates. My guideline: if your loan balance is over $200,000 and you can reduce your rate 1/2 percent, you should consider refinancing.

How About Those Cardinals?!

Two months ago the Cardinals were so far out of the pennant race that next season was already being planned. But here they are.... world champs! Just another example of Jimmy Valvano's "Never give up".

Hail Mary

I'm still suffering from the UW loss Saturday at East Lansing. It is always exciting to watch these Hail Mary attempts when it involves other teams; but hurts like h--- when it happens to your team AND it is successful! MSU is a good football team but I hope we get another shot at them in Indy on Dec 3!

Two Out of Three Ain't Bad

Well, it was a great run for the Brewers. I was at the game last night. Not usual for me to leave a game early, but I did. Couldn't stand to watch Cardinals celebrate on our lawn! I wonder where my grandkids get their competiveness?

Still got the Pack and Badgers!

Wow!

Can you ever remember a nicer week of weather than this? Brewers better cap off things tomorrow night. Don't want to be the first National League team to lose playoff series after leading 2-0 in best of five!

What a Weekend!

Has anyone experienced a more exciting sports weekend in Wisconsin than this weekend!? I had to give up Brewer playoff tickets for today's game, but will be going to Brewer game tomorrow. But had to give up Packers tickets for tomorrow! Thank goodness for grandkids!

Autumn

Ah, Autumn! My favorite season. Beautiful Wisconsin weather; Badger and Packer football. And this year.... the Brewers possibly in the playoffs!

I've been attending a lot of funerals lately. Reminds you that life is like a strand on a spider web. Fragile and too brief.

Enjoy every day. Especially this time of year!

T'is The Season

This is the best time of the year, in my opinion. Brewers in contention; big expectations of both the Badgers and Packers; wonderful weather and the anticipation of the changing colors of nature!

Enjoy every day!

Here and There

It is refreshing to see the political scene quieting down. There has to be compromise but the huge debt our grandchildren are going to have to service is a major problem. It will take sacrifice and courage to solve that dilemma.

Is this a great time for sports in Wisconsin! The Brewers, Badgers and Packers are among the best, if not the best, in each of their sports. A great time to be in Wisconsin!

As Madison trys to find a way to meet its budget problems, why is no one talking about the raises given public employees prior to the collective bargaining law taking effect??

Glorious Ride

Last Saturday I did a 100 mile bicycle ride as a fund raiser for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. We had 400 riders from all over the country and raised over $1 million, a record for a ride. We started in LaCrosse, crossed into Minnesota, then down the Mississippi to Lansing, Iowa. Then a 20 mile loop in the hills and back to Lansing for the return trip up the Missisip.

What a great group of riders. We had about 80 riders from the Madison Chapter of JDRF who will be friends forever. Hopefully a cure is in the near future.

Build Consensus

Hopefully our adverse political climate will return to some form of sanity. We need leaders who have courage to do what is right rather than cowtowing to special interest groups who contribute the money to get them reelected or elected. There is something wrong when it becomes all about money. And I am not against money, but it should not buy power.

Brewers, Badgers and Packers

I know of no other state that can be as proud of its three major sports teams as we are in Wisconsin! Brewers in first place in their division; Packers strong contenders for another Super Bowl; and the football Badgers talking about a National Championship!

Beauty in Wisconsin

If you have never taken a drive on the country roads in and around Hollandale, you need to do so. Just go out toward Barneveld on 12/18. Just before Barneveld, turn left on County Hwy K. A stop at Botham Winery is suggested. Then just meander. Incredible views.

Rocky Mountain High

Just got back from Denver. I was impressed by the cleanliness of the city. The views of the Rockies are awesome! And 300+ days of sunshine! But most of all, I was impressed by the friendliness of the people in Denver. Especially the police. How refreshing to meet public employees who really want to please you; unlike those who have forgotten who their "customers" are.

Summer is Here

Hopefully this summer will give our society time to discern the serious predicament we are in internationally, nationally, state-wide and locally as to the amount of debt we have accumulated. Keep in mind that the debt service requirements for interest alone accounts for a significant portion of our total governmental revenues. And this is during a historically low interest rate environment. Think of the additional burden when interest rates rise to more normal levels!

High Schools

I had the pleasure of attending one of my grandson's high school graduation this past weekend. He graduated from Evansville High. Over the years this grandson has participated in many musical and dramas at the school. I have been so impressed with this school's arts and music program. The school does an excellent job of balancing its arts and music program with its athletic program.

Hot Hot Hot

While one should drink lots of water in heat and humidity like this, one should also supplement the water with some form of electrolyte drink or tablets.

Memorial Day

Hopefully we will all take a minute or two to pause during this coming weekend and give thanks, each in our own way, to all those who have gone before us. But for many of them, we would not enjoy the freedoms we have today. We take our blessings for granted. And God bless those who still serve in our military putting themselves at risk of death each day.

Final Test

The fourth and final fundamental test every stock investor should use is the Debt Ratio Trend.

The debt ratio (long-term debt divided by total capital, which is combined long-term debt and stockholder's equity) can be overlooked, but it is the most important test of working capital.

The current ratio (current assets divided by current liabilities) can be misleading, especially if the company has allowed its long-term debt to grow in order to bolster cash, accounts receivable and inventory to keep the current test steady. A growing long-term debt is a big problem, because it translates to ever-higher interest and debt service in the future, and that means less capital remains for expansion or dividends. You want to see a steady or declining debt ratio from year to year, not growing levels.

Maps

Each year I offer readers of my blog the opportunity to get a copy of maps of Dane County Day Trips. If interested, send me an e-mail at rgorsuch@oakbankonline.com.

Another Test

A third fundamental test every stock investor should use is Dividends per Share. You will prefer to invest in companies whose dividend is growing each year. The dividend is easily overlooked, but it represents a major factor in your overall return from investing in stock. Reinvesting dividends increases dividend yield.


The best managed companies increase dividends each year, which is also a reflection of growing profits and well-managed working capital.

Fundamental Test #2

Here is the second fundamental test to apply when buying a stock for your investment portfolio.

Price-Earnings Ratio (P/E):

The price-earnings ratio is calculated by simply dividing the price by earnings per share. The multiple represents how many years of per share net earnings are reflected in the current stock price. A P/E ratio that is too high means the stock is probably overpriced; a P/E ratio that is too low indicates lack of interest in the company. As a general rule, the desirable middle ground is between 10 and 25.

Tools to Investing

As a follow up on last posting..... Tests to apply when considering the purchase of a stock.

1. Revenue & Earnings: You want to watch out for companies whose revenues are growing while profits are shrinking -- a very negative trend. The same observation applies when revenues are on the decline but net profit margin is declining more rapidly, also a big negative.

Fundamental Tests

I recently reviewed an article in an investment periodical I receive. The article was the four tests or indicators that every stock investor should use:

1. 5 years of revenues and earnings.
2. P/E ratio.
3. Dividends
4. Debt Ratio Trend

More on each later.

Finding More Time

I find myself gradually unwinding from some volunteer positions I have had for years and years. I am hopeful by doing so new opportunities will arise which will rejuvenate my enthusiasm for community involvement.

Budgets

Hard to know who to believe anymore in politics when it comes to budgets. But I personally feel Paul Ryan is the most capable and trustworthy elected official when it comes to fiscal soundness. It is time we all help eliminate the debt crisis, even if we have to pay higher taxes.

Time to Read

I have never read the book "Atlas Shrugged", but maybe it is time I do.

Go Brewers

I will be attending the Brewer opener in Milwaukee today. I think I have missed 2 openers in the last 36 years. The roof on Miller Park sure makes it more enjoyable that it has normally been. Thank you former Senator George Peatak for your vote making this possible!

Vote

I have always felt two of our most, if not the most, important rights are the right to a trial by jury and the right to vote. Be sure to exercise your right to vote next Tuesday, April 5. Much is at stake.

Financial Blogs

This is a long link but one you might find informative. It gets you to 25 financial blogs with various financial topics of importance. Here it is:

http://www.time/com/time/specials/packages/completelist/0.29569.2057116.00.html. Good luck.

Antics

Yesterday some of the anti-Walker protestors barged into the lobby of the M&I office on the Square with drums, signs and loud speakers. They were there demonstrating against M&I who they felt was a financial supporter of Walker. They were ignorant of the fact that corporations cannot contribute to individuals running for political office. Just another example of the mass miscommunication of information going on down on the Square.

VOTE

I was #6 to vote this a.m. at my polling place. The first nine voters were all men.

Beautiful day. Enjoy it and get out and vote.

Special Win!

One has to wonder what the impact of the Packer win will have on the state's economy. It seems to me the more positive frame of mind we are in, the more willing we are to make spending decisions. And consumer spending drives the economy. Well, anyway, just wondering.

Wow!!

Was that a storm to remember? Even by Upper Peninsula standards, that was a powerful storm! How could one not feel sorry for that UW student who was pictured in this a.m.'s "Wisconsin State Journal" trying to shovel his car out of a snow bank with a ice scraper! Oh, the power of Mother Nature!

This & That

With all the hype about the Super Bowl, the upcoming storm and Egypt, one wonders what else can be important right now.

Scary 2011 Economy

Much of the restrained economy over the last few years might be due to the rise in the savings rate. Going forward, some predict consumer spending will be around 2%. While it's not an exciting outlook, the U.S. economy will grow faster that the Congressional Budget Office anticipates it will grow.

In the meantime, a few risks in the outlook. China is trying to reign in growth; the social security system goes into a deficit in 2014; sovereign debt issues in Europe.

A Great Day

It's a great day in Packerland! Euphoria reigns!

State of the State

Come Monday, this State of Wisconsin will either be in euphoria or deep depression!!!! Go Pack!

More 2010 Highlites

Historical happenings in 2010 included the devastating earthquake in Haiti that killed 230,000 people; the BP oil spill caused the largest environmental disaster in history; Wikileaks dumped thousands of pages of classified material on the internet; 33 miners are saved in Chile after being stuck a record 69 days below the earth; a Pablo Picasso painting was sold for $106 mm, setting a new world record; the Tea Party movement hosted their first convention; the Boy Scouts of America celebrated 100Ys; Don't Ask, Don't Tell was repealed and signed into law.

2010 Again

The year 2010 was interesting and many things happened. It wasn't as crazy as 2008 when the credit crisis began, nor 2009, when the regulatory crackdown followed. It was, however, certainly full of surprises, twists and turns.

In banking and the financial markets, the crisis rounded the corner on its 2nd year and brought a flight to gold bullion.

In the invention area, the iPad might have been the coolest!

More highlights later.

Rose Bowl

Had a good time in California despite the outcome of the Rose Bowl. A lot of criticism is flying around about bad decisions, etc. I have learned that sports is a matter of if, if, if, if.