How do you find the time?

When I tell people of my interest and involvement in local food, cooking, herbs and gardening, their response is almost always the same: ”How do you find the time?”

Since I have the same 24 hours a day that we all receive, I really have no idea. The truth is I focus on what is important to me. I nurture the activities that give me energy, generate fulfillment, inspire enthusiasm and feel like a contribution to others. Somehow time takes care of itself.

We have learned to think of life as two dimensional, divided into work time and play time. “Work” is generally regarded as something we show up to do every day for a paycheck. We work at our businesses or job and we play when we are not at work. I do get a paycheck at work, but with the exception of that detail the lines between work and play are very blurry for me.

Yes, I work. Sort of. I have an office, title, a company to run, clients to take care of, and strategy to implement. These are just a few of my roles at Mackey Advisors. Yet, except for the fact that calling it work is a habit, it does not feel like “work”.

I love what I do. As the Mackey Advisors’ team works with clients, I witness them gaining more financial freedom, confidence and power. The results are enlivening and fulfilling. Being part of a team achieving results like this does not feel like “work” to me. I feel blessed by what I do because I know that others are blessed by our work. If I had 30 hours a day suddenly given to me, I would spend more time and energy at Mackey Advisors just because it is fun.

Then there is the part of my life called home, fun, play. That is enlivening too. To be a part of RedSunflower Farm is also what many people would call “work. “ I “work” in the greenhouse and plant in the raised beds. I cook amazing food grown in our annual and perennial beds. I get to walk and play with my three big dogs, Wiley, Jedi and Baxter. Since there is always something to do, I rarely sit down at home except to eat or read. But it doesn’t feel like “work.”

I feel blessed to be surrounded by an ever-changing portrait created by Mother Earth each day. When I think of RedSunflower Farm, I think of nurturing not only the land, but also my own body and soul. This is not “work.” It is enlivening and fulfilling.

I have been blessed with the opportunity to create a life filled with soul. This means that every facet of my life gives me energy, nurtures me in some special and unique way, and brings me joy. Living life from this perspective, time takes care of itself.

May you always have time in your life for those things that enliven and nurture you,

Mackey

Go Green: What Shade of Green do you want your Home to be?

Color is such an expression of who someone is, and what message they want to send into the world. We can be bold, innocent, happy, sad, or just plain blah depending on the colors we use in our lives. So can our homes express themselves in color? I think so…..

Do you get giddy over a bold Kelly Green:
Francie Rehwald bought 55 acres in Malibu, California and is building her new home out of a decommissioned Boeing 747 Jumbo Jet with the help of architect, David Hertz.

More Pictures & article here: http://www.shelterpop.com/2010/11/09/plane-home/

Or would you prefer a tradition Hunter Green:
Scottsdale, Arizona based Meritage Homes has brought green to traditional suburban living. Meritage Homes is the only top-10 homebuilder that’s 100% Energy Star qualified at no additional cost. All of the homes they build feature: Energy Star Certified appliances, minimum SEER 14, Low-E windows, low flow faucets, programmable thermostats, and low VOC paints and finishes.

Article here: http://www.earthtechling.com/2011/04/new-green-homes-come-to-texas/

How about an earthy Moss Green:
In Festus, Missouri there is a home that has been sold on eBay twice since 2003, but that’s not all that makes this modern home famous! It features a natural stone roof, 17,000 square feet of living space, and costs as much to heat and cool as a 2,000 square foot home. Oh, and it’s built into a CAVE!!!

More pictures & article here: http://dornob.com/huge-cave-house-unique-modern-underground-mega-home/

I know! Maybe you prefer a relaxing Sage Green:
This 3,500 sq. ft. San-Francisco adjacent hilltop home has a LEED Platinum certification, and feels as if you are in the quaintest of country cottages. SB Architects really focused their attention on not only making the environmental impact of the home as small as possible, but also on designing a home that would aesthetically be in partnership with the environment it was built upon.

More pictures & article here: http://freshome.com/2011/04/08/sustainable-residence-by-sb-architects-nestled-in-the-hills-of-mill-valley-california/

By: Gracie Mohr

Practical Prosperity: April 2011

Springtime is as good of a time to clean up your finances, as well as your home and yard. One piece that often gets overlooked even after extensive financial and investment planning, is your credit report and score. These are important pieces of your financial picture that can benefit from occasional monitoring.

You are entitled to a free credit report from the three reporting agencies once a year and can obtain this information at www.annualcreditreport.com. Here you will see your payment accounts and your status with each. Electric bills, parking tickets, credit card bills, home mortgages, and more show up on this report. Use this to check that no one has reported a late payment or unpaid balance this is incorrect. If something doesn’t look familiar, check it out to make sure someone hasn’t opened a credit account in your name!

Fair Isaac Corporation takes this information from the three agencies and creates your credit score or FICO score, which ranges from 300 to 850. This number will allow credit card companies, automobile lenders, and mortgage lenders to decide how much to lend you and at what interest rate. The score is based on a combination of your payment history, the amounts you owe, the length of your credit history, how many accounts you have recently opened, and the types of credit available to you.

The best rates on a loan or credit card are given to scores over 700, so it is important to know where you fall. Before applying for a loan, check your credit report and score. If something is incorrect, submit it http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifto the agency for investigation and get the issue corrected BEFORE applying for the credit.

If you are not going to be shopping for credit anytime soon, the annual check of the report should be okay for you, however getting your actual FICO score from www.MyFico.com is important if you are looking for a new car or home.

As a general rule, paying at least your minimum payment, on time, and restricting your credit balances to less than 1/3rd of the credit available to you, will keep your score high and your interest rates low. This means more money in your pocket and continued financial prosperity.

by Andy Pulsfort

The Journey to a New Building: Part 1

Over a year ago, we began looking for a new home for Mackey Advisors. If I had known how difficult this journey would be, I would have likely said, “I think I will pass.” The road to our new space has been filled with potholes, detours, missing map pieces and lots of orange barrels!

We have two goals. The first is to have a space that is simply large enough! We have grown, and subsequently become terribly cramped for space in our current location. We are short of conference room space and have people tucked into every possible corner. Our second goal is to occupy a space that is a living example of our brand.

The first objective was easiest to approach. Taking the number of people times the amount of square feet equals how much space you need. The second goal, creating a living example of our brand, has been a much more challenging task. Naturally, it requires that we have a fundamental understanding of our brand from the inside out.

We began the journey in Covington and Newport with two old and potentially beautiful buildings. We eventually chose not to pursue the one in Newport because it had the misfortune of being located next to a bar painted in the bright orange and black of the Cincinnati Bengals. We were all in agreement that this themed décor did not shout “Prosperity!”

In Covington we found an old bank building and decided to focus our attention there. Sadly, after investing much time and energy into the project we could not make the financials work on the building. Cost effectiveness and conscious spending are two components of Prosperity, so the bank building was soon off the table.

At this point we found ourselves going back to the drawing board. As we continued to look we found spaces that were too big and just as many that were too small. Like Goldilocks, we were having a difficult time finding one that was “just right.”

Unable to find a home in Covington or Newport, we began to broaden our horizons and the small community of Bellevue soon caught our attention. After looking at several buildings we stumbled upon one that, with an addition, would be just right. For the last few months we have been designing, attending public hearings, going through inspections, applying for financing and attending to the many details involved in making this building a new home for Mackey Advisors. If all goes to according to plan, we will be closing by this time next week! We will still have much to do, starting with demolition and ending with a complete remodel.

Along the weaves and turns, we also learned more about our brand, Prosperity. We have always known that Prosperity is more than just money, but usually we are looking at Prosperity from an individual point of view. Throughout this process we had the opportunity to look at it from a business and community point of view.

The building in Bellevue makes financial sense. While Prosperity is not just money, if the money doesn’t work, nothing else does either. With the financials handled, we looked at the larger picture. Prosperity for Mackey Advisors means convenience for our clients and being just off I-471 was a perfect location. Long term, as our clients continue to grow outside the region and our work becomes more Internet based, we know that the building will primarily serve our team.

As we looked at what our team needs to be prosperous, we knew we needed green space. Our new office will have two green spaces, a courtyard and a deck. We will also have a large break room and kitchen. All of the spaces will be designed around the idea that our team needs a place to gather, commune and relax.

We know that the next generation is our future, and they will want to live and work in walk-able communities. Bellevue is one of the few completely walk-able communities in our region.

At Mackey Advisors, we believe Prosperity is for everyone, not just for the well to do. Bellevue has $100,000 homes and $1,000,000 dollar plus condos. It is a community for everyone, from those recently setting out on their journey to Prosperity to those who have been on the path for many years.

Over the next few months we will post pictures so you can follow our progress on our web site and Facebook page. We will also post what the process teaches us about Prosperity along the way.

As always, we welcome your comments and encourage your feedback.

May prosperity invade your space!
Mackey

Go Green & Red this Holiday Season

Tis’ the season for giving gifts, spreading joy & living in excess!

Here are 10 tips on how to become a lean, green holiday machine.

-We all love getting holiday cards in the mail, but this year save a tree and some money by sending out e-cards to your loved ones.

-If your family will gather around a tree this year why not make it a potted, living tree that you can either keep around for next year, or plant in the backyard as a reminder of a great holiday spent together?

-Purchase LED lights to make your tree sparkle! I will admit they take some getting use to, but you will be thankful when you energy bill comes due.

-Make your own ornaments from dough. This is a great activity for the whole family to take part in, and it only costs pennies.

-Pine cones can be used in all sorts of nifty ways. They can be made into a beautiful, inexpensive centerpiece with just a little spray paint or glitter, you can make bird feeders out of them with some peanut butter & bird seed, or you can give them as gifts by dipping them in candle wax to be used as a fire starter.

-Plan a holiday decoration swap meet! Invite your friends and family over to exchange their unwanted decorations. This is a great way to have fun, save money & get new-to-you decorations!

-Buy carbon offsets as a gift for friends & family who are traveling for the holiday season.

-Green your gift giving by hand making your own, re-gifting items, or buying LOCAL and/or battery-free gifts.

For more green gifting ideas you can visit treehugger.com and look through their 2010
Gift Guide.

After acquiring all of your groovy, green gifts remember to go light on the wrapping. Get inventive with your wrapping techniques. Use items around the house to make your own wrapping, or buy recycled wrapping paper.

Happy Holidays everyone!

Gracie Mohr

Practical Prosperity

December 2010

“Lucy – Incidentally, I know how you feel about this Christmas business, getting depressed and all that. It happens to me every year. I never get what I really want! I always get a bunch of stupid toys, or a bike, or clothes, or something like that.

Charlie Brown – What is it you want???

Lucy – Real estate!”

It’s the holiday season and I thought it would be perfect to quote one of my favorite holiday shows “A Charlie Brown Christmas”. Whatever holiday you celebrate this month, Lucy may just have a sound solution to your gift giving problems.

Real estate is cheap and buyers are still in command of the market. This year has been an interesting year in terms of the economy. Many expected real estate to have turned a corner and the unemployment rate to be falling. While manufacturing is up, corporate profits are strong, and prices are being held in check, our economy is still not firing on all cylinders yet. Let’s take a quick look at where we are as of November 30, 2010.

GDP (Gross Domestic Product)
2% - 2.50%
Inflation (Core CPI)
0% - 1.50%
Unemployment Rate
8.00% - 9.00%
Federal Funds Rate
1.00%
S&P 500 Return
8.16%
Bond Market Returns
4%

While it is shaping up to be a decent year for stock market returns, GDP and unemployment are still just barely hanging on. This prompted many to begin speculating a double-dip recession might be on the horizon. (We don’t believe that is the case.) What is most important is to remember, that things are growing. We may not be happy with unemployment and GDP, but they are slowly improving. Marrying these improvements with a reasonably priced stock market and strong corporate earnings, 2011 may also be shaping up for a pretty good year.

The amount of debt consumers took on was massive and we will see continued deleveraging for a number of years, however the savings rate is beginning to level off from its previous skyrocket. That means more money to put into the economy and if consumers feel good, that will happen.

On that note, its time to get merry! Let’s follow up on a tip I gave you in our December 2008 newsletter. Buy stock. Your $50.00 holiday gift would be worth this today:

Dow Jones $66.56 up 33.11%
S&P 500 $69.36 up 38.77%
NASDAQ $83.60 up 67.20%
Emerging Markets $92.89 up 85.77%

With return figures like that, if you were the lucky recipient, you should be quite merry. Giving a gift like this to a child or grandchild not only keeps on giving, but it teaches a great and necessary financial lesson.

Finally, each December it is also fun to take a look at the annual Christmas Price Index calculated each year by The PNC Financial Services Group. After little movement last year, the index had its 2nd greatest year of inflation in 2010, rising 9.2%. Gold rings surged 30% on rising commodities, and ladies dancing must be in high demand as their prices soared 15%. For some holiday cheer click here and waste an hour on a cold day laughing your way through an economics lesson.

So once again my calling, if you are just totally stumped on someone’s holiday gift, buy stock. Whether you have $50.00 to spend or $50,000 to spend, now is the time. Efficiently priced markets perform well independently of stellar economic returns. This is our environment and we should make the best of it. One of our missions at Mackey Advisors™ has always been for you to continually be prosperous. Whether that means giving gifts, volunteering time, hosting the family dinner, or helping a family in need make it your mission too this holiday season. A most safe and happy holiday to you and yours.

Andy Pulsfort

Partnership and Win/Win as a new Business Model

The growth of Mackey Advisors has brought us to the threshold of buying our own building. Just recently, I found a fabulous, unique space and I was prepared to make the purchase, as I could see Mackey Advisors growing and thriving there. After weeks of exploration and negotiation, I sadly walked away. Negotiations involve give and take, but it seemed that Mackey Advisors was doing all the giving and the developer was doing all the taking. As I step back, I realize that fundamentally, we have different approaches to doing business.

Business has traditionally been conducted as a win/lose venture. I have something to sell to you. You want a bargain. The deal is consummated when one of the parties feel they have the upper hand. I have not conducted business in this way for many years. My attitude is one more aligned with partnership, where both parties’ needs are heard, respected, honored, and met to the fullest extent possible. Compromise is the name of the game.

If I am in need of a product or service, I want to exchange my resources with a vendor who will meet or exceed my expectations at a fair price. AND I want the vendor’s price to support their operation and to allow a profit. After all, if they do well, they will continue to provide the valuable service of being attentive to and meeting my needs.

In all of our ways of “coming together” financially, as vendors, customers, business partners, or even spouses, we can do so from a place of win/lose, or we can adopt a win/win form of “partnership.” Not partnership in the traditional sense, but partnership in the sense of mutual respect, knowing that we are both in this together, and that we both have needs that must be met. It’s still competition, but with a cooperative twist. After all, if I thrive at your expense, where does that leave me the next time I need to partner with someone to accomplish my goals?

From this place, where each party looks to find a way to support, cooperate with, and meet the needs of the other, win/win is created. You might call it “cooperative negotiation”, and it is a transformational place from which to conduct business. In this place of win/win, both parties thrive. In the place of win/lose, one or both parties are damaged by the relationship. Think of all the dysfunctions that occur around money because one person is trying to get more than the other. Think of the possibility in a world where business is conducted in a place of win/win. What world do you choose? It is yours to create!

Mackey McNeill