Dave Richmond pictured with Steve Palmitier (President of Midland National) and Cindy Reed (President of Sammons)

We are proud to announce that David Richmond, Chairman & Chief Investment Officer, was recently named the Sammons Securities Company 2010 Representative of the Year (based on gross revenue for the year ending 2010). This title is Sammon’s highest honor. Congratulations, Dave!

As this very important holiday approaches, we wanted to take a moment to wish you and your family a very joyful Easter celebration!

Easter tells us that life is to be interpreted not simply in terms of things but in terms of ideals.
-Charles M. Crowe

Please note that our office will be closed tomorrow, Good Friday, in honor of the holiday.

Is planning for retirement like maintaining your physical fitness? You may not see a correlation initially, but we found this publication from the Insured Retirement Institute that might make you change your mind after further review.

In honor of National Retirement Planning Week, read their step-by-step plan on how you can get financially fit!

With the prices at the pump steadily increasing, we thought we’d share some tips (and/or reminders) with you to help you lower the amount you spend to drive your car.

• Don’t put the pedal to the metal! Remember that gas mileage decreases as you accelerate beyond 60 mph, so reduce the temptation to speed. According to the FTC, you can also increase your gas mileage by up to 5% by avoiding quick starts and stops.
• Shop around. Websites like GasBuddy.com allow you to check gas prices in your zip code before you head out.
• Make sure your tires are inflated correctly. Comply with your vehicle manufacturer’s recommended air pressure level. A single tire under inflated by 2 PSI, increases fuel consumption by 1%.
• Get regular tune ups. Proper maintenance helps to avoid problems that can lower your gas efficiency (for example:  dirty air filters, old spark plugs, low fluid levels, incorrect grade of oil).
• Avoid idling over 1 minute. If you know you’ll be idling for over 1 minute, turn off your car. Restarting your car actually uses less fuel than letting it idle for this time.
• Use your cruise control. Help yourself maintain a constant speed over long distances to save gas.
• Get rid of the junk in the trunk. An extra 100 pounds in your trunk can lower your gas mileage by 2%, and luggage on a roof rack can decrease your gas mileage by 5%, according to the Federal Trade Commission.
• Plan your trips ahead of time. Combine multiple trips into one excursion to reduce total time spent driving your vehicle.

We hope you find these tips helpful and easy to follow!