Last weekend, we had the opportunity to attend the Berkshire Hathaway Annual Shareholders Meeting in Omaha, Nebraska. “Woodstock for Capitalists” is a bucket list item for many investors and we finally crossed this epic event off our lists. For as long as we can remember, our Investment Team has discussed traveling to Omaha to take part in the Annual Shareholder’s Meeting and have the chance to see and hear Warren Buffett and Charlie Munger in person. Of course, our trip was one year too late, as Munger passed away in November, just one month short of his 100th birthday. It was the first time any of us had been to Omaha and we thought it would be fitting to have lunch at Buffett’s favorite steakhouse, Gorat’s. Gorat’s isn’t fancy or modern, but reservations were hard to come by and the restaurant was filled with Berkshire Hathaway shareholders from around the world. A cut-out of Buffett is just inside the door and we could tell why he likes this place so much. Since Gorat’s is a popular destination in Omaha, they added lunchtime hours to accommodate more people and featured a special menu on Berkshire Hathaway Shareholders weekend, complete with commemorative merchandise. The scheduled activities started on Friday afternoon with the Shareholder Shopping Day at the CHI Health Center, which featured unique products from Berkshire Hathaway companies including Benjamin Moore, BNSF Railway, Duracell, GEICO, Jazwares, International Dairy Queen, Nebraska Furniture Mart, Oriental Trading, Pampered Chef, Pilot Company and See’s Candies. We explored the exhibits, enjoying $1.00 treats from Dairy Queen, taking pictures of the Marmon Wasp, cutouts of Buffett in his Pampered Chef apron, and Buffett and Munger outside the Borsheim’s store. CHI Health Center was also home to the Shareholders Meeting and because of our proximity, we could walk to the arena Saturday morning. While the meeting didn’t start until 8:45 am, our adventure started before sunrise as… | Read More »
General
Weathering storms
April in Wisconsin offers countless opportunities to develop life skills like patience and adaptability. A single spring day could feature a romp through all four seasons, with a couple of extras like gnat and lake fly seasons rolled in. The same daily forecast that allows daffodils to bloom can include measurable snow and a wind so brisk it hurts your face. So, you adjust. You wear layers you can remove when the frost burns off, and boots that won’t wilt in the ensuing mud. You prepare for any weather on any given day. Investing is like that too. Days that begin with sunshine and optimism can end with headwinds and dramatic dips. As inflation updates or corporate report nuances swing sentiment, markets react accordingly. Sometimes, they even act inexplicably in their initial runs. So, we build layers into our portfolios, some conservative allocations designed to protect and some more aggressive positions to take advantage of growth opportunities. We mine sectors and industries for long-term investment opportunities. Our investment team members understand both the seasons they face as portfolio managers, and the seasons our clients move through as they make their way to and through retirement. That understanding informs the investment decisions they make. Harry Chapin wrote about the seasons spinning round again and years that keep rolling by. It’s our job and our privilege as investment managers based in Wisconsin to understand and appreciate the swift passage and specific beauty of each fickle season.
Five scams that target seniors
Due to their own diligence and good habits, senior citizens often find themselves targets of scams. Retired people generally have built up an attractive pool of financial resources through a lifetime of hard work. Those assets can attract nefarious people who haven’t been as responsible with their life choices. Additionally, senior citizens can be more trusting, and they may not be as adept with modern technology. All of this means they need to keep up with various financial and technological scams. Here are five scams listed by the U.S. Department of Justice: The Social Security Imposter Scam This is a telephone scam in which the caller claims the victim’s Social Security number has been suspended due to suspicious activity, or because it has been involved in a crime. They ask to confirm the victim’s Social Security number, or they may say they need to withdraw money from the victim’s bank and to store it on gift cards or in other unusual ways for “safekeeping.” Victims may be told their accounts will be seized or frozen if they fail to act quickly. This can appear as a robocall during which victims may be told to “press 1” to speak to a government “support representative” for help reactivating their Social Security number. They also use caller ID spoofing to make it look like the Social Security Administration is calling. With such trickery, perpetrators convince victims to give up their Social Security numbers and other personal information. The Tech Support Scam Callers claim to be computer technicians associated with a well-known company or they may use internet pop-up messages to warn about non-existent computer problems. The scammers claim they have detected viruses, other malware, or hacking attempts on the victim’s computer. They pretend to be “tech support” and ask that the victim give them remote access to his or her computer. Eventually, they diagnose a non-existent problem and ask the victim to pay… | Read More »
Accepting the Kindness in the Workplace Challenge
In honor of Random Acts of Kindness Month, our office has taken the Kindness in the Workplace Challenge. We are looking forward to formally incorporating the six concepts of kindness into our daily routine — respect, caring, inclusiveness, integrity, responsibility and courage. We anticipate a seamless transition as our workplace is already full of people who exude these principles. One of our co-workers showed up on Valentine’s Day with chocolate hearts for us all and tulips for the front desk. Another so regularly exceeds his job description that his first name has become a verb around here. We have a talented colleague who crochets and donates hats and mittens, another who volunteers her very green thumb to keep the plants around here thriving. Our remote co-worker encourages us in very specific ways every week to exercise, drink water and take care of ourselves. She also heads up our monthly charitable donations. We have people who bring in delicious treats for every occasion, and so many see-a-problem-solve-a-problem staff members that most issues get resolved before anyone else is even aware of them. Our Winch Financial team has worked hard to foster a family-friendly environment and to extend that courtesy to a broad range of families, including the four-legged members. The Kindness Challenge offers specific activities throughout the year. Follow along with us via our social media channels, or swing in to see us in person. It’s going to be a great year!
Things AI can not do
The use of artificial intelligence has exploded exponentially in recent years, and AI related companies including Microsoft (part owner of Open AI, the developer of ChatGPT) and NVIDIA have driven the stock market to record highs. AI can achieve some miraculous things. It allows users to unlock their phone with their face, correct spelling mistakes they didn’t even realize they made, receive specific directions to new locations, keep homes and cottages at just the right temperature and detect fraud in financial accounts, among a million other things. And that’s just the simple stuff. AI will continue to transform our lives in ways we can’t even imagine. But, it can’t do everything. You can use an App to determine the amount of money in your account, the various rates it might accumulate based on the ways you invest it, and the optimum number of years you should spend working to build that account before you begin the withdraw from it. Those are just numbers, though, and retirement planning involves so much more. AI can’t solve the very human situations we all encounter as we cycle through life. For instance, AI would not talk you through your options when a diagnosis scuttles all those careful retirement plans you made as a young, healthy couple. You’d need a human financial advisor who will listen to your fears and guide you through the sometimes painful adjustment of your goals. An advisor can help you figure out a way to buy that RV you have your eye on so you and your spouse, who has just been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s Disease, can make the most of the time you have left together. You need an empathetic human to walk you through ways to protect heirs who have developed addictions that would make a windfall inheritance dangerous to them. And only a human advisor can help you evaluate your long-term care options from a personal, emotional… | Read More »