When I was probably about 10 years old, I went on my first big roller coaster at Busch Gardens Williamsburg with my Dad. I was very nervous about this ride, and Dad was trying to keep me calm as we waited in line. Right before we were about to board, he pointed out a sign that said how many people had rode the coaster (4 million + or so) and… Read More
The Master’s Minute – What Are Your Benchmarks?
In the investing world, it is typical for an investment manager to have their performance compared to a benchmark. A benchmark serves as a neutral measuring stick for potential investors to compare the success or failure of that investment manager. If the manager has worse returns than the benchmark, a conclusion is drawn that they have ‘underperformed”, while if they have better returns, the conclusion is that they have ‘outperformed’…. Read More
The Master’s Minute – Angels in Our Midst
I first met Chaplain Elizabeth at Lancaster General Hospital three years ago. She had left numerous voice messages for me about an accident in which my cousin and her husband had been involved. Having never been to LGH’s Emergency Department, I prayed heartily to God on the drive to the hospital that He would lead me to the right place. Not able to find a parking space near Emergency, I… Read More
The Master’s Minute – Heart Auditing
Most individuals do not get a warm feeling when they hear the term, audit. Typically, an audit means a lot of tedious work, and it can produce significant anxiety should any large discrepancies be found. Though an audit can cause some anxious moments, there is also a lot of good that can come from performing an audit. Performing audits in a retail business will help achieve higher inventory accuracy and… Read More
The Master’s Minute – We Got a Freebie
On March 23rd, 2020, the Dow Jones Industrial average reached its lowest position since November of 2016. From that point until the date of this writing, the index is up 58% and is sitting at its all-time high. Technically, this year will go in the books as a recession for the markets, but as I heard another advisor put it, we got a ‘freebie’ in terms of market corrections. We… Read More
The Master’s Minute – Turning the Page on 2020
This week we close the book on 2020 and look forward to the beginning of 2021! For many it may seem like a more significant event this year than it was in previous years. I have two specific wishes for all of us as we transition into a new year. These are not typical New Year’s resolutions, so allow me to explain. Let’s go back 15 or 16 years. I… Read More
The Master’s Minute – Behold
When I was in college, I participated in a mission trip to Nicaragua. While in Nicaragua, our team was primarily responsible for preparing the foundation of a new church building. That trip challenged me in many ways, and I had many great experiences during my time there. One of these special experiences was a trip to the Corn Islands, just off Nicaragua’s eastern coast in the Caribbean Sea. While visiting… Read More
The Master’s Minute – Positive Disruption
You don’t need me to tell you that this year didn’t go as expected. Although I had a delicious and enjoyable Thanksgiving Day dinner with my immediate family, it was disappointing not to spend the day in the way I typically do with extended family members. As we approach Christmas, most of our usual gatherings and group celebrations are being put on pause while we’re already fatigued with months of… Read More
The Master’s Minute – Generous Relationships
On Thursday, many of us experienced a Thanksgiving that was different from ones we had enjoyed in the past. Some of us may have stayed home instead of traveling, others had a smaller gathering than usual, and a few of us may have been responsible for more cooking this year than in past years! I suspect that in this unusual year, many of us were more reflective than we would… Read More
The Master’s Minute – Generosity & Stewardship (Part II)
Have you ever seen what happens when you put Mentos breath mints in a two-liter bottle of Diet Coke? If you haven’t, here is a YouTube link for you to see what happens. In brief, when the Mentos react with the Diet Coke, a massive eruption occurs. This is the second article in our current Stewardship and Generosity series. I recently read an article entitled “How to Enjoy Wealth to… Read More
