Category: Personal Finances

145 posts categorized as "Personal Finances"

Behold the Power of Credit Cards

March 25, 2014

Content provided by Michele Prell, CLS New Business Manager How many of you remember going off to college and receiving your first credit card application in the mail? Opening it, filling it out, and getting that first powerful piece of plastic. It was one of the most liberating feelings, for me at least. That is…

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Value Investing 101 from Graham to Buffett

March 7, 2014

Content provided by Kostya Etus, CLS Investment Research Analyst I read a couple articles recently from The Wall Street Journal and CNBC about the basics of value investing. They described stories and research from some of the greatest value investors in history including Benjamin Graham, as well as Graham’s most prized pupil, Warren Buffett. I…

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Q & A with CLS Portfolio Managers

February 21, 2014

For advisors who manage their own money, what value does CLS add? Steve Donahoe, CFA, CLS Senior Portfolio Manager A question I would ask in reply is where does that advisor’s economic outlook come from in order to set their allocations?  At CLS we have an investment team of 14 Portfolio Manager’s and research staff…

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Don’t Forget to Give Back

February 19, 2014

Content provided by Steve Donahoe, CLS Senior Portfolio Manager I sit on a board of a local non-profit charity called Omaha Crimestoppers. We pay rewards to individuals that provide tips to the local police department that lead to the arrest of criminals. Recently there was a horrendous murder spree in Omaha that claimed the life…

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The Power of Delegation

February 12, 2014

Content provided by J.J. Schenkelberg Sometimes I’m a little embarrassed by this fact, I know I’m spoiled and I feel very lucky to have the opportunity to enjoy this luxury, but I’ll admit it. . . I have someone who comes and cleans our house every two weeks.  Actually, we’ve had this luxury since I…

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VBC’s “Always Be…”

February 7, 2014

Content provided by Rusty Vanneman, CLS Chief Investment Officer My son and I started a club a few years ago called the Vanneman Boys’ Club. It has a bunch of cool stuff, including secret handshakes, codes, and sayings.   It’s all quite top-secret, of course, but I think I can share one story from a few…

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A New 40(bama)1(k) Plan

January 31, 2014

Content provided by Nate Wattier, Client Services Manager Despite the overabundance of parentheses in the name, the new MyRA President Obama signed into creation in January seems (for now) to be fairly simple. Who can participate? The new retirement plan accounts are designed for low- to middle-income full and part time workers that do not…

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New Year, Same Plan

January 29, 2014

Content provided by Grant Engelbart, CLS Portfolio Manager I love to dig deep into the weeds and analyze industry sub-sectors, individual commodities, you name it. But sometimes it is important to “zoom out” and look at the big picture, especially when starting off a new year. There are many lessons to keep in mind for…

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Don’t Panic! Stay Disciplined

January 3, 2014

Content provided Paula Wieck, CLS Portfolio Manager For readers who have been following my blogs, you may recall that I was recently staying with my in-laws for several months while our new home was being built.  Finally, after over three months, we have moved into our new house.  My husband and our three girls have…

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The Importance of Accessibility

January 2, 2014

Content provided by Case Eichenberger, CLS Internal Wholesaler I hit the road this last week to work with, and meet, some of our advisors in the southeast. One of the points I picked up on and that came up in each meeting was: How accessible is your company to help me?  What can your firm…

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