Be Good, Do Well, Have Fun

In 2010, my stock picks beat all the stock market averages.  I was feeling good.
In 2010, my fantasy football team made the playoffs for the 4th year in a row and I made it to the finals.  I was feeling really good; and cocky.

In 2011, my stock picks lost to all the stock market averages.  But hey, at least I did not lose; much. (I basically broke even).
In 2011, my fantasy football team made history; I failed to make the playoffs for the first time; ever.

So why the discrepancy?  Like all “experts” I correctly guessed predicted profitable stocks and fantasy football players.  Then, like all “experts” I failed to correctly guess predict when bad news and, in the case of fantasy football, bad injuries would happen to said stud fantasy players and stocks.

I actually was up nearly 20% with my picks by July.  Then the Euro crisis hit. . .

So, in reality, I could say within 18 months my stock picking prowess netted over 60% returns!

And now, again like all experts, I am rationalizing and taking snippets of information and manipulating them to make me sound; well, like an expert.  This is exactly the point I was trying to make with my blog post regarding an email I received from Jim Cramer and company.  What I never would have predicted in a million years is that post would be read by Jason Zweig, an editor from the Wall Street Journal, and that he and I would exchange correspondence regarding marketing gimmicks; and that he would be super kind enough to reference my blog in a Wall Street Article.

These series of events were enough to make that one blog post one of my top 10 viewed posts for 2011.
Another prediction I would never had made is that a video I posted  would generate over 10,000 hits.
I’m actually less proud of the Dance video than I am of the Jim Cramer post.  I can only hope that I can be equally successful in 2012.
You can check out my current Top 10 lists further down this page below my post listings.  Over time, they will, hopefully change.

But, I am not going to make that prediction nor am I going to even put that on my New Years Resolutions for 2012.
Why?  Because, just like the experts; you never know what is going to happen.
Nope, for 2012 I am going a much more important and fundamental route to success.  Something that is more along the lines of a motto I have used in this blog many times.

Be Good, Do Well, Have Fun.

If I can accomplish 2 out 3 of those, my bet is that I will be doing OK.  And who knows, probably end up better off than all those so called experts out there.
So, for 2012 I am going to give you some expert Fumbled Returns advice.
Be Good, Do Well, Have Fun.
I am going to concentrate on the following:

• what is important
• what is necessary
• and something new and different

all the while keeping my motto in mind.

Family (This is the important one)

• Parents
• Wife and Kids
• Daughters College

Career (This is the necessary one)

• I need to re-energize my career in some way.
• Not that it is bad. I have a good job that allows me time for Family. Good Pay. Good Benefits. But, at the moment it is just that. A Job.
• OK, so now that I have actually put that down on virtual pen and paper, it doesn’t sound so bad. In fact, considering today’s economy, it sounds pretty good.

So I think I will put more emphasis on Family and my next topic.
Something New and Never Done Before (at least by me)

• eBook

I’ve always wanted to try writing a novel and I probably will, eventually, but I think I will start off with a short ebook just to get my feet wet.

So if anybody has any comments, suggestions or helpful hints, I would be greatly appreciative. Thanks.

Oh, and I will be updating my Fumbled Returns NFL portfolio returns and changing the format of this blog a little for the New Year.  So, If anybody has any suggestions or wants to help contribute please feel free to contact me.

I hope everyone had a great and wonderful 2011 and; if you want the best in sports and stocks for 2012 !!!   Well, you know where to find me 😉

Until next year and my next post . . .

Be Good , Do Well , Have Fun !

Beating those Bank Fees

If you are like me, you have either been hit with recent increases in banking fees, or received notice that you soon will be.

 

In my case, I am one of those lucky folks to have a Bank of America account.

 

Not only is Bank of America increasing the fees for debit cards and checking accounts, but they also have an “online fee” for using financial software such as Quicken or a financial site such as Mint.com.

 

Of course much of the reasoning for the increase in fees and such is a “credited” to the Credit Card and Dodd-Frank Act.  This act does cut the rates that banks can charge merchants for credit card transactions.  The theory is that merchants will pass the savings along to consumers and is part of the current administrations financial reform policies.  However, it also allows for the raising of rates for debit cards and other account services.

 

If you look around, you can still find banking institutions that have little or no fees at all.  One reason is pure and simple competition; other banks want your business.  But another, more important reason is that the Credit Card and Dodd-Frank Act primarily applies to large banking institutions with capital assets of more than $10 Billion.

 

This is where smaller regional banks and credit unions come into play.  And this is where I found a great local bank that is well run (no bail-out money), good history of controlled growth and excellent customer service and has no fees for any of their primary accounts.

 

So now I have started my own little form of protest, consider it my version of Occupy Wall Street, by opening an account with a local Bank, and starting the transition away from the Wall Street friendly Bank of America to the more people oriented and fee free institution of The Fauquier Bank (pronounced just like it is spelled “fawkeer”).  😉