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Committed to providing superior financial advice and service for almost 20 years, Suzie Pierce Sawyer is a registered Financial Advisor who helps her clients pursue their financial goals. Suzie is a graduate and active alumnus of the University of Mississippi. Prior to her career as a financial advisor, she was associated with WLOX Broadcasting for 14 years. Suzie is associated with Trinity Investment Services, which offers securities through Century Securities Associates, Inc., Member SIPC & FINRA, a subsidiary of Stifel Financial Corp. and sister firm of Stifel, Nicolaus & Company, Incorporated. Stifel is a full-service investment firm established in 1890, which provides brokerage, trading, investment advice, and related financial services to individual and institutional investors. Trinity Investment Services specializes in providing retirement plan solutions for individuals and businesses utilizing the vast resources and other experienced professionals at Stifel Nicolaus. Trinity was honored to be a recipient of the Better Business Bureau 2008 Business Integrity Award sponsored by the Better Business Bureau and Mississippi Business Journal. We were also the 2008 Tapestry Award winner in the category of Personal Services presented by the Mississippi Gulf Coast Chamber of Commerce. It is a privilege for us to be recognized publicly as persons of honor, especially when we strive for this in our lives. In an effort to provide advice and service to the community, Suzie is a featured contributor for several publications. Throughout her career, Suzie has also been affiliated with professional organizations. She has been a member of the FINRA (formerly NASD) Board of Arbitrators since 1995. Locally, she has served as a former member and officer of the Board of Directors for Coast Transit Authority and Westminster Academy, and is a current member of the Gulf Coast Chamber of Commerce, the Better Business Bureau of Mississippi, and a Board member of the Harrison County Beautification Committee. She is an active member of St. James Catholic Church in Gulfport, where she serves as a Eucharistic Minister. Suzie has been married to her husband and business partner, Bob, since 1982, and they have two children, John and Betsey.
Submitted by Anonymous from Biloxi
Q: I’ve noticed that there have been many articles in national publications this past year about 401(k) plans and in most cases it seems like it’s either an exposé on the problems of the 401(k) or misinformation and bad press. In your opinion, which is it?
Answered 10/28/09 15:38:05 by Suzie Sawyer
A: When I read articles on the supposed problems with 401(k) plans I try to figure out what or who is the culprit here? Is it the 401(k) or is it the fact that the clients a) retired early, b) with inadequate savings, and c) are overspending to an enormous degree? Many articles cite the biggest problem with 401(k)s as the fact that they could drop a lot in the year you decide to retire. A little forward thinking would suggest that risk management and asset allocation are important parts of the equation – also it would be a good idea to scale back your risk level in the few years before you retire. Certainly a lot can be done to improve an employee’s retirement readiness with a 401(k). Help with investment decision-making, counseling on the appropriate savings level, and assistance with asset allocation and risk management are all needed. And let's not forget why individuals clamored for 401(k) plans in the first place: the age of a lifelong company employee was over and workers were tired of forfeiting pensions with 5-year or 10-year cliff vesting when they changed jobs. 401(k) plans are portable and your contributions are always fully vested. My assessment is that almost every problem these retirees are having has little to do with the structure of the 401(k) plan. In my opinion, almost every problem stems from: 1. lack of knowledge of other retirement income products 2. lack of risk management and/or poor asset allocation decisions as one nears retirement 3. inadequate savings rate 4. overspending in retirement I find it hard to believe that anyone who can’t afford to retire would do so – let alone retire early! And let's face it: math is math. If you don't save enough while you are working, you won't have enough when you retire. It’s that simple.Submitted by Anonymous from Gulfport
Q: I have a 401(k) at my work, but my employer is not able to help me with this. I am concerned that my investments may be too risky. I also don’t know how to invest my money for the future
Answered 09/24/09 14:10:51 by Suzie Sawyer
A: Today many companies (i.e. employees) do not receive the necessary service and education for selecting and maintaining their 401(k)s, but the employer is otherwise reasonably satisfied with their investment choices and provider. Employees and employers alike are very concerned about what has happened to their accounts over the past 18 months and are wondering whether they are well positioned going forward. As Investment Advisor Representatives, we can help you assist yourself, as an employee, or work with your employer to offer independent, objective, and professional advice for a reasonable fee. This process would typically involve an initial face-to-face meeting between our team and the plan participant or employer (whatever the case may be). At that time, an assessment of the plan participant’s financial goals, investment objectives, risk profile, and unique financial situation will be discussed and a questionnaire completed. We would receive the plan participant’s most recent retirement plan account statement for review and analysis. We would then independently review the retirement plan’s investment options, including company stock. A written allocation and strategy recommendation believed to have a risk/reward ratio consistent with the participant’s financial goals and situation would then be delivered.Submitted by Anonymous from Gulfport
Q: Why should I consider investing with you?
Answered 09/01/09 15:10:25 by Suzie Sawyer
A: First of all, let me say that Century Securities is a subsidiary of Stifel Financial Corp. and a sister company to Stifel, Nicolaus & Company, Incorporated, which was established in 1890. Our unique relationship with Stifel Nicolaus allows us to take advantage of all Stifel’s resources. Our team is nurtured by years of trust and understanding and by shared goals and shared successes. It is our relationships and the commitment to those relationships that motivate us to provide superior service. We are constantly studying and researching in order to bring you the resources to help meet any challenge. That is our goal – to meet your demands and to rise to your expectations in the utmost professional manner. That being said, we employ an adaptive, systematic investing strategy. This strategy is designed to change holdings as the market environment changes. We adhere to both the buy and sell side of our decision making process and let the discipline help us navigate this market and this stormy economic environment. We believe this strategy sets us apart from the standard “buy and hold” strategy. As Investment Advisor Representatives, we help clients manage the risk in their portfolio. Historical perspectives help guide us through any apparent “uncharted territories.” Always keeping in mind that past performance of the market is no guarantee of what will happen in the future.Submitted by Anonymous from Gulfport
Q: How do I select an Investment Professional?
Answered 07/21/09 15:46:15 by Suzie Sawyer
A: Today’s investors have a wide variety of investment choices available, and it can be difficult to wade through vast amounts of information to determine the best possible options. Before you can cultivate a quality relationship with your investment professional, you must, of course, find a professional to work with. Whether you are searching for an investment professional for the first time, or considering making a change in advisors, it’s important to seek out a qualified and experienced person who places your needs and goals first and who shares your values when it comes to investing. •Advertising – Financial Professionals are allowed to advertise with the approval of the Compliance Department of their firms. You can often gather pertinent information from those ads as to the education, experience, and expertise of that professional as well as information about the company they represent. •Referrals - An excellent way to meet an investment professional is through referrals. Talk with your friends, family, and colleagues to determine if they’re already working with someone whom they trust and respect. •Interviewing - Your investment professional is working for you, so why shouldn’t you interview them first to ensure that they are the right person for the job? You’ll first want to inquire about his or her credentials, licenses, and education. In addition, you’ll want to find out how long he or she has been in the investment industry, as well as his or her prior work experience. Be sure to ask for references. I believe this is very important and often over-looked by both the client and the broker. I have a brochure on my desk and make it a part of every initial meeting. •Before selecting an investment professional, you’ll also want to determine how he or she is compensated. Some firms offer both commission-based and fee-based investing programs. During the interview, ask how you’ll be charged for the services you receive. •A final thing to consider is longevity. Make sure the investment professional you choose is dedicated to developing a long lasting relationship with you and will always be there to serve your needs as you work towards your financial goals. You’ll want to find someone who will work in your best interests (instead of simply “pushing products”) and a firm that has the financial strength to stand the test of time. Investing for the future requires a long-term commitment from a professional and a firm you can trust. After all, you’re not just investing for your self, but for your loved ones as well.Submitted by Anonymous from
Q: How do I know if I need a financial professional or broker to help me?
Answered 06/25/09 10:23:57 by Suzie Sawyer
A: In my opinion, everyone needs professional financial advice and assistance. We have become a very specialized society. We hire people to help us with everything so our time and energy can be spent on things we want to do, like to do, and are well-equipped to do. I find that most people are better off seeking the expertise, experience, information, and discipline provided by a financial advisor. Specifically, financial professionals can help to: • Avoid costly mistakes, manage risk, save time, and develop strategies designed to help improve your overall investment results. • Guide you through the maze of retirement options – 401(k), IRA, Roth IRA, pensions, annuities, etc – and can help put you on course to pursue the type of retirement you've always dreamed of. • Decrease your estate tax liability, thereby aiding the financial stability of your loved ones. • Pursue your education savings goals through 529 Plans, Coverdell savings accounts, and other techniques. • Determine the type and amount of insurance you need to help protect yourself, your family, and your assets. • Minimize your taxes and plan to help reduce future tax impact. • If you own a business, develop a strategy to manage your business finances, including cash management, financing, employee benefits, and more. Furthermore, a financial professional provides the emotional discipline required to make sure plans are acted upon, changed as needed, and/or maintained. She or he can provide guidance, reassurance, support, and stability to help you stay on course and pursue your long-term goals and make the most of the circumstances in your life – career, marriage, children, assets, liabilities, etc. You can make financial decisions by yourself or buy advice from an experienced professional. The financial decisions of individuals are commonly costly and mediocre, and, alternatively, the appropriate financial professional will help you make good decisions for you and your family at a comparatively low cost.Submitted by Anonymous from Gulfport
Q: How can we tell if the market has reached a bottom?
Answered 05/07/09 10:43:53 by Suzie Sawyer
A: Looking for a bottom in a falling stock market is more art than science. Technicians have their charts, and fundamentalists have reams of data to support their positions. I like to cross reference and employ both strategies. I believe using common sense requires a couple of basic assumptions. First, when investors are scared, for whatever reason, they tend to flee (sell) stocks and seek out less risky places to put their money, like U.S. Treasury Bonds. This typically drives the price of bonds up (increased demand), lowers bond yields, and depresses stock prices. Second, the process typically reverses itself when dividends and stock earnings’ growth become more attractive than the return from U.S. Treasuries as bond prices fall. Using the approach outlined above, let’s look at current markets. As of May 5, 2009, the S&P 500 (unmanaged index)* closed at 903.80. Estimated earnings for 2009 are $61.30. This equates to an S&P 500 Price/Earnings of 14. Forward projected earnings for 2010 are $77.07, or an S&P 500 P/E of 11.13. Conversely, a current 10-year Treasury bond is yielding 3.16%, the equivalent P/E of 32. At some point investors begin comparing returns between bonds and stock. With a P/E for stocks of 14 compared to a Treasury equivalent P/E of 32, investors might be coaxed to take money from Treasuries and buy stocks, indicating a bottom has been reached. An investment in stocks will fluctuate with changes in market conditions. Government bonds, unlike stocks, are guaranteed as to the payment of principal and interest by the U.S. Government if held to maturity. Keep in mind that this is a simple answer to an extremely technical question, as market movements from tops or bottoms tend to be influenced by many factors other than the returns from stocks and bonds. However, if you are happy with earnings estimates from S&P, the Fed’s action, and you have a little faith in Congress, in my opinion you might actually call this a bottom. *Investors cannot directly invest in an index.Submitted by Anonymous from Gulfport
Q: With interest rates so low, should I still be buying CDs? If not, what other investments should I consider?
Answered 04/03/09 10:21:58 by Suzie Sawyer
A: Dear Investor – thank you for your questions. Interest rates are at historic lows – that’s good for borrowers – not so good for savers! CDs are FDIC insured, however, the price you receive on a sale prior to maturity depends on prevailing interest rates and may be more or less than you paid. CDs are defined as time deposits for a specific term and usually at a specific interest rate. They are issued by banks and savings and loans (also available to purchase through investment firms). There are many other fixed income investments that are available as well. Before embarking on an investment strategy, it is imperative that you determine your personal tolerance for risk. Risk can be defined in different ways. Using the current national average yield of 0.33% for tax-free money markets, $1.00 would double in value to $2.00 over a period of 210 years! (Source: Rasmussen Reports). With inflation historically being 3.50% annually, you must consider the returns you are receiving vs. the risk you are taking. Just because the investments are safe, doesn’t mean you’re not taking on risk. There are ways to determine, analyze and reduce risk in your investment strategy. If you had a cavity in your tooth, you wouldn’t try to fix it yourself – you would call a dentist. Your investment professional should meet with you periodically to discuss changes in your lifestyle, financial goals, circumstances, and timeframes in order to assure you’re on the right path. Please call us if we can help you.Submitted by Anonymous from
Q: If my company quit matching my 401K, should I still contribute to my 401K or look into something else?
Answered 03/05/09 11:06:57 by Suzie Sawyer
A: Dear friend – Thank you for your question. With over 7% unemployment currently, first of all, be thankful that you are a valuable part of your company. In such an uncertain world, it’s more important than ever to be a team player and on top of your game. Ultimately, however, we are responsible for our own retirement. Social Security was started in 1935 as a way to get older men out of the workforce to make room for younger, newer ideas and ways of doing things. This paved the way for the innovations we enjoy today. Part of what has gotten us into this mess that we collectively find ourselves in economically is a feeling of entitlement. We are not entitled to company-sponsored healthcare or to retirement benefits – those are privileges. We have gotten used to these benefits, but we are not owed them. Many years ago (our parents’ and grandparents’ generation) people did not retire. They lived – they worked – they took care of their elderly – they died. So, to answer your question –emphatically yes, continue to fund your retirement. The definitive word is “your.” Many companies are trying to keep their proverbial heads above water. Employers want to reward their employees, and most will if they possibly can. By continuing to fund your retirement, you are taking advantage of an age-old strategy called dollar cost averaging. This simply means that by investing fixed amounts of money at regularly scheduled intervals, you will buy more shares of your investment when the price of that investment has declined and buy fewer shares when the price of your investment has risen. As a result, over a period of time, you may lower your average cost. This should only work to your benefit. Of course dollar cost averaging does not assure a profit or protect against a loss in declining markets. For dollar cost averaging to be effective, you must continue to invest during periods of declining prices. Here are a few more motivational statistics to ponder: 1) 52% of American households have saved $25,000 or less for retirement (source: AARP). 2) 37% of retired adults underestimated the amount of living expenses they would incur during their retirement years (source: Harris Interactive Poll). 3) The average monthly cost for nursing home care (semiprivate room) in the USA today is $5,566 (source: MetLife Mature Market Institute), and the average monthly Social Security check is $916.66. You should be so much more excited about investing today than you were 18 months ago. Everything is priced lower, in essence “on sale.” If you received a bad appraisal on your house, you wouldn’t run out and sell it. Your retirement account should be approached the same way. Maybe you need to rebalance, maybe you need to change your allocations, but you absolutely should continue funding your retirement.Submitted by Anonymous from Ocean Springs
Q: With stock prices so depressed, would this be a good time to buy or should we wait for them to turn around to see who is still in business? Adam
Answered 02/26/09 13:52:23 by Suzie Sawyer
A: Great question, Adam! We must concentrate on what we know. Each market is going to be a little bit different. However, cyclical downturns have historically been tied to credit excesses. This time is no different. Prudence in borrowing may be rewarded in the next cycle. What remains the same in all markets is supply and demand. We see that ebb and flow in the produce department of the grocery store every week. The ultimate measure of supply and demand in the market is a stock’s price. This is the net of all the buyers and sellers at any given moment. The largest government bodies in the world are acting to lessen the severity of this “crisis.” Remember, the media continues to scream about the stock market – these are journalists, not economists. What they’re mostly talking about is the Dow Jones Industrial Average – just 30 stocks – stocks you may not even own or want to own. The facts are: fewer and fewer stocks are participating in the drop. Since WWII, economic expansions have lasted five times longer than recessions and bull markets have been twice as long as bear markets. The S&P 500 is down 50.60% since its high on October 20, 2007. Depending on what you buy, when you buy, how your assets are divided, and your risk tolerance, I believe this is a great time to buy. Please consult a professional advisor who can help you navigate the sectors.Submitted by Anonymous from Gulfport, MS
Q: I recently lost my job. What should I do with my 401(k)?
Answered 02/17/09 16:36:54 by Suzie Sawyer
A: First of all, let me say that I am sorry to hear about the job loss. Most everyone knows how it feels to be in your position and how critical it is that you find the right job for you now. Oftentimes those types of situations – that seem like unmitigated tragedies – are just the thing that we needed to get re-energized and motivated. Now, about your 401(k); when you are no longer employed somewhere, you’re no longer part of that culture. Things that you would have been party to, you’re not – water-cooler gossip, healthcare updates, and the like. Although you will still receive statements from the 401(k) provider, by the mere fact that you are no longer there, you will not have immediate access to pertinent information – unless of course you monitor the plan daily. There are three options: #1. You may be able to leave it at your former employer with their 401(k) provider. If you know the financial advisor on the account, you can still access information and receive guidance. #2. Once you obtain another job, you may be able to roll those funds to the new employer’s 401(k) as soon as you are eligible. Most 401(k) plans have eligibility requirements, such as age and length of service, in order to get started. #3. Roll your 401(k) funds from your former employer’s plan to your own Individual Retirement Account. This would allow you to continue to grow your account tax-deferred with no penalties or taxes to be paid until withdrawal. If at some future point in time you need to access those funds, because you weren’t able to secure a job as quickly as you had needed or hoped, it would cost you less (in taxes and penalties if you are under 59 ½ years old) than if you took the money directly from the 401(k). It is critical, at this time, to talk to a financial advisor that can guide you according to your current situation. Please call us at (228) 864-4460 if we can help you further.
