March 2006
A Publication
of Heritage Bank
Group
Member FDIC
Aurora
Doniphan
Grand Island
Hastings
Kearney
Neligh
Stromsburg
Wood River
CHAIRMAN’S PERSPECTIVE
Foreign Ownership of American Assets
Congress is up in arms
about allowing a foreign
corporation from Dubai to take over the
operation (not ownership) of six large
United States coastal seaports.
Apparently, there is some evidence that
links this Muslim country to the
September 11 attacks in New York. A
commission charged with the responsibility to review this transaction to
determine if the transaction will jeopardize national security has already
approved the transaction. That committee is made up of Executive Branch
(Bush Administration) employees. This
group determined that the United Arab
Emirates was our friend and ally in the
Middle East. Congress, in part due to
political reasons during an election
year, is considering legislation to block
the transaction. I do not have the
knowledge or experience to even guess
who is correct on this.
eral debts? First, because the US
Government does not have the money
to pay it back. Second, the lenders,
who today are foreign central banks,
do not want the money back. Third,
it’s too easy to just refinance the debt.
Why pay back debt when your lender
will roll it over again and again.
Technically, it takes a federal budget
surplus to reduce and repay debt.
Paying back federal government debt
would take a sacrifice on the American
people that our politicians are not willing to force on us. Paying back the
debt would require the federal government to either raise more tax dollars
or slow the growth in spending.
Neither proposition garners a lot of
election votes so politicians put their
heads in the sand and create “outrage”
when foreigners end up owning more
of our assets. Go figure.
Sam Moyer
However, I am shocked at the
Congressional outrage (during an election year) with this matter of a foreign
corporation running a seaport, when this same Congress has quietly
participated in the greatest transfer of American assets to foreigners in
the history of our nation. You see, America is now the world’s largest
debtor nation. That is, America borrows more money than any other
country. Besides being the largest borrower, you should know the
United States seldom pays its debts back. Why do we not repay our fed-
Annual deficit — the amount that
the US government spends each year
greater
than
they
take
in.
Approximately $500 billion in 2004
and also in 2005.
National debt — the accumulation of all the annual deficits. The
total amount of direct promises of the US government. About $8.1 trillion in 2004. If you include the implicit liability for social security,
Medicare, and now the new Medicare Part D drug benefits ($8.1 trillion
CHAIRMAN’S PERSPECTIVE Continued on page 2
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CHAIRMAN’S PERSPECTIVE CONTINUED From Page 1
itself), the total fiscal exposure of the federal government is about
$43.3 trillion; about $147,000 per person.
Trade Deficit — the dollar amount by which our imports of
foreign goods and services exceed our exports of the same, measured
annually.
Total US Household Net Worth — the total net worth of all US
citizens is $48.5 trillion.
The Federal Reserve reports that approximately 54% of America’s
publicly held debt is held by foreigners, namely Japan and China. Of
the United States debt owned by foreigners, an even greater concern
is that sixty percent of such ownership has been purchased by
“foreign central banks”. This is concerning because the motivation
of foreign central banks to hold this debt (to be a lender) is different
that those of a private investor. Private investors invest for profit
motives. Foreign central banks can use their huge lender status as
“leverage” to effect exchange rates, trade deficits, and for other
geopolitical causes.
The point is this. The so-called outrage of our Congress is a little
feigned. Foreigners already own over two trillion dollars of our
public debt. A debt is simply an indirect claim against an asset.
These debt obligations can be exchanged on any given day for our
cash or other assets, i.e. United States companies, real estate, etc.
Worse yet, foreigners are purchasing (and we are selling) another
$500 billion of our debt/assets/country every year.
It’s easy to compute that number. America’s savings rate actually
hit zero in 2005, the lowest since the great depression. If Americans,
as a group, are saving at zero and our government creates a $500
billion a year federal deficit, then foreigners must be financing it all.
Having American bankers involved in our life is bad enough. I am
not sure we want the Chinese or Japanese government to be our
banker tomorrow. What would happen if our banker/lender (a
foreign central bank) elected not to refinance our debt tomorrow?
The demand for long-term treasury and US agency debt would go
down. To entice other savers to buy these bonds . . . the price of the
bonds must come down and the interest rates on the bonds must go
up. Higher rates will cause harm to our nation’s economy.
Finally, the way America handles its excessive consumption, lack of
savings and rolling over its debt is very important. I think we have
found that the true source of American power is not our military, but
our economy. We have allowed ourselves to become the world’s
largest debtor nation and with that comes repercussions. We need
to start saving again in America or we will all end up with a foreign
banker.
Sam L. Moyer, President & CEO
Heritage Bank
[email protected]
www.bankonheritage.com
2
Drowning in paper?
Just give us a call and we’ll burn your 2005 bank
statements to a CD-ROM for easier long-term
retention. It will contain not only your statements,
but also images of all deposited items and checks
you wrote. All of your Heritage Bank accounts can
be on one CD. So, lose the shoeboxes full of paper
and call today to request your CD-ROM.
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Wall Street Insights
Inflation Is on the Move—What It May Mean for Your Investments
After several years of modest
inflation, the Consumer Price Index
(CPI) has inched up, breaching the
4% threshold during 2005 amid
Mike Landgren stubbornly high-energy prices. The
CPI jumped 1.2% last September to
a 4.7% annualized rate before easing to 4.3% in
October and 3.5% in November as oil prices
moderated. The rise in inflation has been a matter
of concern to policymakers, with the Federal
Reserve repeatedly lifting short-term interest rates
to dampen inflationary pressures. Rising inflation
should serve as a reminder to investors, who should
consider the potential impact of inflation on their
long-term financial plans.
Learning From Experience
Although a sharp rise is not expected —
Standard & Poor’s, for example, is forecasting that
the CPI will decline to the 2% to 3% range in 2006
— the recent increase may have made you more
aware of inflation’s effect on your cost of living. But
have you taken the next step, applying this
awareness to your financial plans and considering
how inflation could affect your portfolio over time?
Keep in mind that inflation affects financial plans
in a number of ways. First, inflation increases the
future cost of goods and services. Also, it potentially
erodes the value of assets set aside to meet those
costs — if the assets earn less than the rate of
inflation. In turn, inflation can alter your income
needs from year-to-year.
If inflation were to increase at a 4% annual rate,
for example, an automobile that costs $23,000
today would cost more than $50,000 20 years from
now. At the same time, $100,000 in cash today
would be worth $44,000 in 20 years if inflation
remained steady at 4%. Certainly, such examples
should raise the brow of investors. However, they
only tell part of the inflation story as it pertains to a
long-term portfolio.
In reality, inflation does not rise or fall at a
constant rate; it is quite variable over time. So too
is the case with the returns one might garner from
the investments in their portfolio. It is this
variability that potentially may have a dramatic
impact on a long-term income-producing portfolio
— such as a retirement portfolio, which may need
to generate income for upwards of 30 years.
Consider the fluctuations in the annual inflation
rate since 1970. From 1970 to 1990, the average
rate was approximately 6%, but the annual peak
was 13.3% in 1979. Since 1990, inflation rates held
in the 2% to 3% range before rising to 3.3% in
2004 and the 4% range in 2005. Now, consider how
this variability in inflation could potentially affect a
retirement portfolio’s ability to generate income
over three different 30-year periods. The following
example assumes that retirement assets are held in
cash (and, therefore, not invested) to isolate the
impact that inflation may have on a long-term
portfolio.
For the 30-year period ended December 31, 2004, a
retiree who started with $100,000 cash and withdrew
$5,000 per year adjusted annually for actual historical
inflation would see their portfolio last approximately
11 years, according to Standard & Poor’s. For the 30year period ended December 31, 1994, the assets
would last about 13 years based on the same
distribution assumptions. And going back another
ten years (to the 30-year period ended December 31,
1984), $100,000 in cash would last approximately 16
years. As point of reference, the same $100,000 would
last 20 years if no inflation was factored in. Keep in
mind that this example is hypothetical and assumes
that the assets were not invested.
Adjusting Expectations
It’s advisable to keep an eye on inflation trends and
adjust your expectations for its potential impact
periodically, keeping in mind that the variability of
inflation rates can have an impact on future
portfolio values as well as a portfolio’s ability to
generate income.
On a final note, also make a point of thinking
about inflation’s effect on long-term investment
returns and the likely inflation-adjusted value of
your future income needs. You may also want to
review your investment mix to assess its potential
for outpacing inflation.
This article is not intended to provide specific
investment or tax advice for any individual. Consult me,
Mike Landgren, with questions at (402) 461-2192 or
(888) 463-6611.
Mike Landgren, Investment Officer
Heritage Bank
[email protected]
Securities and Insurance Products offered through
Linsco/Private Ledger, member NASD/SIPC. Not FDIC
insured. No Bank Guarantee. may lose Value. Not a
deposit. Not insured by any Federal Government Agency.
Heritage Bank is not a broker/Dealer nor affiliated with
Linsco/Private Ledger.
Premier Club
Travel Opportunities
“It’s A Mystery!”
Sunday, June 11th
$39 per person
Shhh! There’s a Mystery Trip coming up soon.
You’ll be traveling on the 11th of June. Far be it
from us to lead you astray. Eat lunch at home and
then we’ll go. Where we’re heading, only we know.
We guarantee a fun-filled day so call your favorite
Heritage Bank branch to sign up today. Good food,
friends and entertainment await. The seats will fill
fast, so don’t be late!
Pickup points include Grand Island, Doniphan,
www.bankonheritage.com
Hastings, Aurora and York.
Price includes
entertainment/admissions, treat, and Heritage
Bank escort. Snack stop will be made on the way
home (on own). Reservation deadline is May 1st.
“We’re In the Money”
Tuesday, September 5th
$39 per person
The Premier Club travel year wouldn’t be
complete without a little casino getaway! This year
we’ll be traveling to one of the casinos for several
hours of gaming and their lunch buffet. But first,
we’re going to learn all about “the green stuff” with
a tour of the Omaha Branch of the Federal Reserve
Bank. First opened in 1917, this office of the Fed is
still an active hub for shipments of cash and
checks. Perhaps our currency knowledge will bring
us all good luck when we “hit the boats”!
Start the day with deluxe motor coach transportation
from Hastings, Doniphan, Grand Island, Aurora & York.
Trip price includes: Federal Reserve tour, $5.00 off meal
coupon, $5.00 cash to spend at the casino, games &
prizes en route, and Heritage Bank escort. Snack stop
will be made on the way home (on own). Reservation
deadline is August 15th.
Service You Can Bank On
3
Convenience Services
Check cards---What are they and how do you use them?
Visa check cards are available to individual and business
checking account holders at Heritage Bank. But what are they
and how do you use them? Visa check cards combine the key
elements of ATM cards, credit cards, and checks --- instant
Penny Eichman access to cash, worldwide acceptance, and the funds come
directly out of your checking account.
This payment method is a convenient and fast way to transact
business at all retailers that accept Visa and the best part is that
the funds are deducted directly from your Heritage Bank
checking account. This means that you don’t have to carry
Melanie Mustion cash or a bulky checkbook and you don’t run up interest
charges. You will not have to show identification or give out
personal information when you use your check card. This can reduce your
chance of being a victim of identity theft. Also, because purchases are listed on
your monthly statement you can track your spending better.
At the point of sale, most retailers will ask you if you want to use the
card as a “credit” or “debit”. You should always opt to sign and say you want to
use it as a “credit”. Even though you say credit, your funds will still be
deducted from your checking account. By signing for the transaction, you are
being protected by the same rules that protect you when you use your Visa
credit card. If you do use a PIN number for transactions or for an ATM
withdrawal, keep your PIN number private and don’t choose a number that is
obvious to an outsider.
If you don’t have a Visa check card today and would like more
information about how to obtain one---please stop by and visit with one of our
personal bankers today!
Penny Eichman,
Heritage Bank, Hastings
402-463-6611
[email protected]
Melanie Mustion,
Heritage Bank, Grand Island
308-398-4040, ext 24
[email protected]
Ag Focus
When area farmers have been asked what is one of our
most valuable resources many answered ground water. In
our area we have thousands of acres irrigated by both ground
water as well as surface water. In the State of Nebraska there
are over 85,000 irrigation wells registered that provide water
Curt Mickey
to irrigate an estimated 9 million acres. I am sure all of you
are aware of the litigations with Wyoming and Kansas regarding the water
supply. The U.S. Supreme Court approved the settlement with Kansas in
2003. The settlement states that Nebraska has to assure that there is a
proper amount of surface water entering Kansas. Based on reports from
2003 and 2004 and estimates for 2005, Nebraska may have exceeded its
allocation by more than 90,000 acre-feet of water. This clearly indicates
that our water consumption has to decrease.
In 2004 the State Legislature passed Bill LB 962 that requires the
Natural Resource Districts to develop a plan to assure that the groundwater
consumption does not exceed the amount that is recharged. How this will
be accomplished is unknown. We have seen restrictions on the drilling of
new wells. We have seen proposals to have acres removed from irrigation.
What actions will be necessary to be in compliance with the lawsuit with
Kansas? After all of the effort and costs to develop real estate for irrigation,
are we going to be limited on the number of acres irrigated? If we are
restricted by the number of acres irrigated or the amount of water that can
be applied during the irrigation season, think about the impact that it will
have. It will no doubt affect real estate values and the local economy.
Curt Mickey, Relationship Manager
Heritage Bank Grand Island
www.bankonheritage.com
4
Service You Can Bank On
We’ve Got You Covered
Allow us to introduce the insurance professionals
in our corporate family. Founded in 1952, our
insurance agency has grown from one office in
Wood River back then to seven offices today. The
professionals of Heritage Insurance are available to
assist you with all of your risk management needs
including farm owner, commercial, crop,
homeowner, auto and life coverages. You shouldn’t
attempt to insure every risk in life. Our team can
help you determine your tolerance for risk, and
then customize an insurance solution to meet your
unique needs.
Why Heritage Insurance? First, we’re an inde-
pendent insurance agency with many different
insurance companies at our disposal. That means
we can shop around and find you the best possible
value. We also have a special relationship with
Allied Insurance that enables us to get you better
rates and extra discounts for multiple policy coverage. Second, you’ve grown to trust and respect
your Heritage Bank Relationship Manager over the
years. You can expect the same level of expertise
and professionalism on the insurance side as well.
Third, our ability to understand your total financial
picture, from both the insurance and banking perspectives, puts us in better position to help you
manage your risk. That means added convenience
and peace of mind for you knowing you have no
more and no less coverage than you truly need.
And lastly, because we’re a locally owned and managed business too, we face the same challenges you
do every day. Adding our day-to-day experience to
your decision making team will be a value-added
proposition.
We would appreciate the opportunity to earn
your insurance business. Please give us a call for a
complimentary review of your coverages and let us
see if we can help you use your dollars more
efficiently and effectively.
Bill Luehr - Wood River
308-583-2266 ext 15
& Grand Island
308-398-4040 ext 34
[email protected]
Chad Buzek - Stromsburg
402-764-4341
[email protected]
Bob Herbek - Hastings
402-461-2187
[email protected]
Jim Rennau - Wood River
308-583-2266 ext 19
[email protected]
Donna Havranek - Neligh
402-887-4140
[email protected]
Curt Mickey - Grand Island
308-398-4040 ext 12
[email protected]
Linda De Witt - Wood River
308-583-2266 ext 18
[email protected]
Paul Fullerton - Neligh
402-887-4140
[email protected]
Sam Moyer - Aurora
402-694-3117 ext 221
[email protected]
Marlene Wagoner - Wood River
308-583-2266 ext 11
[email protected]
Rod Peters - Kearney
308-698-5004 ext 105
[email protected]
Glenn Rauert - Aurora
402-694-3117 ext 214
[email protected]
Kathy Clausen - Wood River
308-583-2266 ext 16
[email protected]
Craig Moyer - Kearney
308-698-5004 ext 102
& Grand Island
308-398-4040 ext 18
[email protected]
Karen Joseph - Aurora
402-694-3117 ext 211
[email protected]
Sara Arnett - Wood River
308-583-2266 ext 17
[email protected]
Rick Klamm - Hastings
402-461-2186
[email protected]
Andrew Griffith - Aurora
402-694-3117 ext 216
[email protected]
Wayne Beck - Stromsburg
402-764-4341
[email protected]
www.bankonheritage.com
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5
Community Spotlights
AURORA
“Something Special”
Aurora’s New Housing Market
If you have driven down Highway 34 over the
past couple years, you have seen some changes in
the direction of the housing development in
Aurora. The three new subdivisions that come to
mind are Lincoln Creek, Prairie Fire, and North
Acres, all located northwest of Aurora with a very
“rural” feel to them. Many people have made
positive comments on the recent trend of building
“new”and what it brings to our community. It
shows that Aurora is a growing community with a
lot to offer, and that we are firmly established in
our area. In the three new sub divisions there are a
total of 71 lots that are available with 47 already
being sold or spoken for. This is just another sign
of Aurora’s positive growing trend.
So where do we go from here? Believe it or not
we are just scratching the surface of what this
community is hoping to achieve. With the recent
200 acre land acquisition by the Farr and Wortman
Foundation, just north of Streeter’s Park off of
Highway 34 and to the west of Highway 14, one can
truly understand the planning that has gone into
the development of Aurora’s future. These acres
will be used for future housing expansions along
with recreational needs. This project is proposed as
a “20 year plan” to add to Aurora’s already beautiful
community. So where will Aurora be in 20 years?
Every time I hear that question I smile and grin,
because if the next 20 years are like the last 20
years we are in for something special!
DONIPHAN & WOOD RIVER
Nebraska Bird Observatory at
Crane Meadows Visitor Center
Crane Meadows
is one of the best
places in the
world to experience prairie wildlife,
especially
during
spring
migration.
The
Sandhills Crane
Nebraska
Bird
Observatory (a private membership supported non-
www.bankonheritage.com
6
profit organization) provides programs and
workshops, lectures and tours throughout the year.
The Visitor Center and the Celebrate Nebraska! gift
shop are open to the public EVERY day from 9-5
with extended hours (8 am to 6 pm) in March. The
gift shop features made-in-Nebraska products such
as bison, Village PieMaker pies, foods, books and art
as well as a Prairie Naturalist department for your
convenience.
Join an eagle-watch in January, a waterfowl tour
in February and a crane-watch in March and April when the Platte River fills with the largest
congregation of Sandhill Cranes on earth. The
wildlife spectacle continues through May with
Prairie Chicken and Sharp-tailed Grouse viewing
opportunities. Expect to see Prairie Dogs,
Burrowing Owls, bats, butterflies and grassland
songbirds throughout the summer. And don’t miss
our “Celebrate NEBRASKA!” fall festival in
September.
Starting March 4th, Big Apple Bagels of Grand
Island is providing a food and beverage service,
(breakfast and lunch) including coffee, espresso, hot
chocolate, soda and soup.
The center has an extensive schedule of special
events planned. There are also ample opportunities
for Spring Migration viewing, with programs such
as Breakfast with the Cranes, a free Crane Natural
History movie, and hourly visitor orientation
programs. Visitors are able to take guided tours to
view the crane flight from the center’s bridge over
the Platte, from the center’s blinds on the Platte,
and even view the prairie chickens at their lek. Feel
adventurous? Come experience a “birds-eye-view of
Crane Migration”, a new aerial sightseeing option
(by reservation) at $150/hour for 3 seats. You’ll
receive a 1-hour flight over the Platte and
Rainwater Basin wetlands, and take home some
incredible memories! To learn more, you can call
the center at 308-382-1820, or visit their website
www.cranemeadows.org for a complete listing of
special events and programs.
Heritage Bank congratulates Nebraska Bird
Observatory Director Heidi Hughes, the
organization’s board, staff and volunteers on
inspiring a greater appreciation of Nebraska’s
natural resources to all who visit. Crane Meadows
is a definite must-see for Nebraskans and out-ofstate tourists alike!
GRAND ISLAND
A Family Tradition
With spring’s arrival, it becomes a daily
occurrence that we see farmers working in the
fields planting crops. Toner’s, Inc. has been
preparing all
winter
for
spring. Toner’s
is owned by
Larry,
Steve
and Jim Toner.
Larry originally
purchased the
Steve & Jim Toner
Grand Island
location in 1974. Larry is now semi-retired, while
Jim and Steve take care of the day-to-day
operations and co-manage the locations. Toner’s
originally started with eight employees and has
grown to 20 employees today. On average each
employee has 10-12 years of experience in the
industry with some employees having over 30 years
experience.
What started in Grand Island eventually grew
into four agriculture equipment & repair locations.
The Toner family now owns Toner’s, Inc. in Grand
Island, Ord Equipment in Ord, Red Line
Equipment in Broken Bow and Mitchell Implement
in Atkinson, with the latter being acquired in
March 2004. Each location carries Case New
Holland agriculture equipment, J&M grain
handling equipment, and Cub Cadet lawn & garden
equipment. They also perform service work and
offer a full parts department.
With the acquisition of Mitchell Implement
came a huge restructuring of their inventory
system. They are now able to share the inventory
between the four locations online. This makes it
very convenient for customers. Instead of having
to wait for a part to arrive, it is likely that one of
the other locations has the necessary part in
inventory.
Heritage Bank has enjoyed a strong relationship
with Toner’s, Inc. since 1987. When asked what
Jim Toner likes about Heritage Bank, he said,
“Heritage Bank has been a good partner. Together,
we have realized opportunities for growth in
Central Nebraska. Our organizations have benefited
from Heritage’s guidance and dedication to the ag
industry.”
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Community Spotlights
HASTINGS
“Wet & Wild” Summer at the
Hastings Museum
The Hastings Museum will quench your thirst for
adventure this summer with a brand new traveling
exhibit, some great new large-format films, an
exciting new planetarium show and a selection of
classes to help pass the dog days of summer.
Gary Staab, who grew up in Grand Island, has
created
sculptures,
models,
exhibits and
illustrations for clients such as National
Geographic, Walt Disney Animation, Discover
Magazine, Smithsonian Institute and museums
worldwide. Staab will premiere his first interactive
traveling exhibit at the Hastings Museum in June
2006. “Bizarre Beasts: Past & Present” will take
you back in time to experience first-hand some of
the strangest animals ever to inhabit the Earth and
will let you see for yourself that often, fact really is
stranger than fiction!
Since experiencing a large-format film is almost
as good as actually being there, you can also get
wet and wild in the Lied Super Screen Theatre with
three super summer films opening June 6th: Coral
Reef Adventure, Amazing Caves and SolarMax.
The J. M. McDonald Planetarium lets you experience
the wildness of our universe everyday at the
museum. The summer feature, SkyQuest opens June
6. Plus, get a preview of the night’s sky with The
Sky Tonight, daily at 1 p.m. during the summer.
Weather permitting, our “Solar Observing” sessions
allow you to safely view our nearest star, the Sun, in
three different ways - with the unaided eye; through a
telescope equipped with a white-light solar filter; and
finally, through a hydrogen-alpha filter. “Solar
Observing” is offered every other Saturday during the
summer under clear skies.
If you’re looking for some great “edutainment” for
the kids during the school break, Runza’s “Wet N’
Wild SummerFun Classes” are the ticket to
adventure at the museum. There are a variety of
classes available for kids from pre-school age up to
high school. Call for details at 1-800-508-4629. Get
a little wet and wild today!
KEARNEY
Help is on the way!
C-Tech Floors, Inc. is a Kearney based firm
specializing in flood and fire restoration and mold
remediation. Owners Jason and Shannon Godwin,
along with office manager Lori Carel, provide their
customers with fast, efficient, effective response to
emergencies. In its 10th year of operation, C-Tech
www.bankonheritage.com
Floors provides a complete ‘turn key’ solution from
content removal to storage to structural
reconstruction. Projects can range in scope and
size from small residential to commercial losses.
When a home or business is left damaged from
fire, C-Tech Floors follows industry standards when
providing specialized cleaning of furniture, clothing,
electronics or other property. The professionals at CTech Floors carry the industry’s highest certifications
in water loss management. The firm has a large
inventory of drying and dehumidification equipment
that meet the needs of most jobs. The key to
restoration is quick response combined with sound
practices and knowledge. C-Tech Floors offers its
clients 24/7 emergency services.
The firm will shortly begin offering a new service
to the Central Nebraska marketplace. Have you ever
wondered, “What would happen if a fire or flood
destroyed my home? Are my personal belonging
insured adequately?”
Generally a homeowner’s
policy has automatic contents coverage equal to 70%
of the coverage on the structure. Simply put, if your
home is insured for $100,000 you may have $70,000
contents coverage. If a fire or flood occurs, do you
have a list of personal property and their values? CTech Floors will photograph and value all of your
personal property today and store that information
for your future use. Insurance is a product we all
hope to never use. However, if a loss does occur,
you’ll have an accurate record of your personal
property. Accurate records make the loss adjustment
much easier.
C-Tech Floors website is www.ctechfloors.com or
call them at 308-237-3415.
Heritage Bank
congratulates this quality, locally-owned company
on their successful business enterprise!
NELIGH
Wheels Galore!
When coming into Neligh from the west, you
can’t
help but
notice
the rows
of new
and used
cars, pickups and sport utility vehicles available at
Jonny Dodge. The Chrysler, Dodge and Jeep
dealership is owned and operated by Jon and Kay
Schilling of Neligh. Formerly known as Contois,
Jon purchased the dealership in April of 2001 from
Tom Shrader of Neligh.
Jonny Dodge is a full-service dealership. Twenty-
three employees at Jonny Dodge are ready and
willing to serve their customers. Salesmen are
available to help you pick out the right car, pickup
or sport utility vehicle for you and your family.
Mechanics, auto detailers and body shop
technicians are ready to service vehicles in any way
needed, whether you just need to have the car
cleaned for the day, towed because you wanted to
go sight seeing with your Jeep and didn’t see that
tree, or have the transmission looked at because
you hear a funny sound. Also available at Jonny
Dodge is the heavy truck department for area
farmers and schools, among others, to have farm
trucks and buses fixed and serviced.
You may find more information and view current
vehicles at their website www.jonnydodge.com.
Stop in and let the employees help you with your
vehicle.
STROMSBURG
Unlimited Welding
The name says it all welding for anything
you need. Unlimited
Welding, located in
Stromsburg,
was
started on May 3, 1999.
The co-owners, Michael
“Woody” Woodard and
Dan Alt, have over 40
years
of
welding Stair railing crafted for Todd &
Tanya Tuls home, owners of
experience.
Woody and Dan are Double Dutch Dairy, Shelby, NE
well-versed in any
welding project you are looking for. They can work
with aluminum, stainless steel, and regular steel.
They can do agriculture projects from welding a
water bucket to a loader bucket. They have
maintained and repaired many types of equipment.
Unlimited Welding has become a favorite
subcontractor to many homebuilders. They have
created spiral staircases, handrails, gates, fencing,
wheel chair ramps, custom grills, ornamental
tables, park benches, and entry arches to
cemeteries and baseball fields.
Woody and Dan pride themselves in their quality
of work for every customer. Once you have
Unlimited Welding do a project for you there will
be no one else to consider for your next one.
Whether they are fixing an old item or welding a
new product, every weld counts. Their motto is “let
us weld your dreams into reality.” So, contact
Woody or Dan at 402-764-4661 or stop in and see
them at 220 Main, HWY 81, Stromsburg, NE or
visit www.stromsburgnebraska.com.
Service You Can Bank On
7
Wealth Management Strategies
Asset Allocation
I’ve written about asset
allocation before. But, like risk,
this is so important it is worth
talking about again and again.
Steve Arnett
What is asset allocation? Asset
allocation is the art of determining what
amount of your investments should be in a
certain category.
Let me review for a moment. To put the
decision-making process for an investor in a
nutshell…first determine your goals. Next,
determine how to allocate between stocks,
bonds or CDs, and real estate. Finally, within
stocks, you need to determine what particular
assets you will invest in. So, taking stocks as
an example, what broad categories can we
allocate to? There are big companies, there are
small companies, there are companies paying a
steady stream of dividends, there are
companies growing rapidly and introducing
exciting innovations, and there are companies
based in other countries. Do you know how
much you have in each? Does your broker?
How did you or your broker first come up
with your asset allocation? Was there a
conscious effort to include investments in
many different categories? Is it diversified
enough?
Is it periodically reviewed and
rebalanced?
Why is this important? Categories like small
companies and companies based overseas have
been providing much better returns in recent
years than some other categories. Many people
don’t think about including these investments
in their account. But just a small allocation can
make a big difference. There is more risk in
some of these investments, but where there is
risk there is also greater potential for reward.
And by including a more risky asset category
you may actually be reducing the overall risk in
your portfolio! Academics call this concept
Modern Portfolio Theory. Look that up on the
Internet and use it in your investing. Or save
yourself the extensive time commitment and
have it done right by a professional. Call me at
1-888-554-5499 to visit about our trust &
investment services.
Steve Arnett, Trust Manager
Heritage Bank
Investment products are not obligations or, guaranteed
or insured by the bank, the FDIC or any other
government agency. Investments are subject to risk,
including possible loss of principal.
Technology Solutions
Don’t Be A Victim
site that you are accustomed to. You then may
be asked to update your personal information
or to provide information for verification
purposes: your Social Security number, an
account number, your password, your driver’s
license number or other information that
would allow thieves to take out loans or obtain
credit cards in your name. Successful Phishing
scams can damage your financial history and
personal reputation and can take years to
unravel.
Identity theft continues to be
one of the fastest growing crimes
in the United States, and has
Kevin Henderson
ranked as one of the top
consumer concerns for the past several years.
Your personal information should be protected
so that you don’t become a victim of identity
theft. A popular method thieves are using is a
type of Internet piracy called “phishing”,
pronounced “fishing”.
Phishing typically
works by you receiving an e-mail that appears Tips on How to Protect Yourself
to come from a reputable company that you
Never
provide
your
personal
recognize and do business with. In some cases,
information in response to an
the e-mail may even appear to come from a
unsolicited request, whether it is over
government agency.
the Internet or the phone.
The e-mail may warn you of a serious
Never provide any personal passwords
problem that requires your immediate
over the phone or in response to an
attention. You may be encouraged to click on a
unsolicited Internet request.
button to go to a Web site. The Web site will be
Review account statements regularly to
phony, however, may look exactly like the Web
ensure all charges are correct.
www.bankonheritage.com
8
Never click on a “link” provided in an
e-mail if you believe it could be
fraudulent.
Do not be intimidated by an e-mail or
caller who suggests dire consequences if
you do not provide or verify personal
information.
If you believe the contact is legitimate,
go to the company’s Web site by typing
in the site address directly or using a
page you have previously book marked,
instead of a link provided in an e-mail.
If you fall victim to an identify theft attack,
act immediately to protect yourself. Alert your
financial institution. Place fraud alerts on your
credit files. Monitor your credit files and
account statements closely.
Kevin Henderson, Director of
Information & Technology
Heritage Bank
Service You Can Bank On