Your Money and Your Life
In my first article, since moving to Donaldson Capital Management, I return to the message format I’ve used for over twenty years. Although I’m now an employee of a much larger firm, the words are, and always will be, my own.
This title is borrowed from the clever Michael J. Fox movie about a teenager who travels thirty years back in time to help his father have a better life as an adult. His trip to the past leads to significant changes when he returns, including having inspired Chuck Berry’s music, saving a friend’s life, and having a much happier family.
Wouldn’t it be nice to see into our future somehow? Anyone possessing such foresight would have won numerous Super Bowl bets over the years, not to mention making a killing in the stock market.
However, reality usually diverges from wishful thinking. In real life, killings are rarely made in either sports betting or investing. History shows us that sticking to a carefully considered strategy is a more likely path to financial confidence in the real world. Neither I nor anyone at DCM would ever guarantee the success of our strategies, but I believe that the DCM approach is a good one. When I was a broker in the little town of Logansport, Indiana, I introduced Greg Donaldson to the foundation of the church we attended. Nearly thirty years later, that church foundation remains a DCM client.
This leads to my own ‘Back to the Future’ story. Greg was a mentor of mine when I entered the world of investments as a stockbroker at the Indianapolis-based investment firm Raffensperger, Hughes & Co. I left the firm when I moved to Columbus in 1996 and soon founded a financial planning practice, then known as Warren Ward Associates. The new owner’s changes in that practice's philosophy allowed me the opportunity to come back into the Donaldson fold as a Senior Investment Advisor at DCM’s Columbus Office.
Although my title suggests a certain level of investment experience, my skills relate to financial planning. I earned my CFP® certification over twenty years ago, and my articles predominately address planning topics. DCM is blessed to have an experienced team of investment strategists and traders who play a crucial role in our investment decisions. This allows me time to focus on working one-on-one with my planning clients. I join Ron Patberg, CFP®, and JK Keach, ChFC®, as Senior Advisors here in the Columbus office— all of us striving to make the financial dreams of our diverse clients a reality. We are supported by Lead Advisor Leeanne Lollar, CFP®, and two Associate Advisors, Chris and Bryce, who are studying for their own certifications.
While your own DCM advisor will be your primary resource for personalized advice, I’d be happy to address more general questions in this column. I’m in the office Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday—you can reach me at (812) 402-7852 or wward@dcmol.com.
Warren Ward, CFP®
Senior Investment Advisor
We are thrilled to welcome Senior Investment Advisor Warren Ward, CFP® to DCM.
To learn more about Warren, you can read a brief biography here.
Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards Inc. owns the certification marks CFP®, Certified Financial Planner™ and federally registered CFP (with flame design) in the U.S., which it awards to individuals who successfully complete CFP Board’s initial and ongoing certification requirements.
This was prepared by Donaldson Capital Management, a federally registered investment adviser under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940. Registration as an investment adviser does not imply a certain level of skill or training. The oral and written communications of an adviser provide you with information about which you determine to hire or retain an adviser. Donaldson Capital Management, Form ADV Part 2A & 2B can be obtained by visiting https://adviserinfo.sec.gov and searching for our firm name. Neither the information nor any opinion expressed is to be construed as solicitation to buy or sell a security of personalized investment, tax, or legal advice.