Many of us are small businesses and work with small business owners. Dr. Rice made a point of, "Affirming the importance of private sector-led growth." This garnered roars of agreement from her audience of thousands. She reminded, "The U.S. is a country of immigrants...It keeps us young," and "It's not enough for the American Dream to be alive for people who come here. It has to be alive for people who are from here." Again, the ballroom could not agree more. The last time I saw so many smart phones rising up and camera flashes going off was at the Glee Live! concert. Condoleezza Rice began speaking, and it was a matter of minutes before some of LPL's top Financial Advisors were Tweeting her truisms (@jamesacoxiii - "I'm listening to condi rice speak right now. She said "today's headlines and history's judgment are seldom the same" timely advice; @Ashleyhodge - "Rice: biggest competitor to US is US gone bad. Growth must come from private sector- needs certainty; low taxation.") Kudos to my LPL Financial peers who can text faster than my old-fashioned longhand and who web-texted these encapsulations.
I called a lovely older lady today who just is not ready to make any decisions concerning a financial plan for her millions. I let her know that she and her husband can call me any time to talk. Through sharing knowledge comes comfort, and hopefully trust. Financial advisors are conveniently situated to lead in our knowledge-based economy. For, if we can teach people to hold onto their wealth, it goes a long way toward remaining an economic power. And remember, according to Condoleezza Rice, the minute we lose our desire to learn, educate well, and to lead, is the moment the U.S. is in risk of losing our status as a world superpower.
The opinions voiced in this material are for general information only and are not intended to provide specific advice or recommendations for any individual. To determine what may be appropriate for you, consult your financial professional.
Lisa A. Ditkowsky, CFP, is the president of Pllush Capital Management Inc. and can be reached at 847-859-2530.