Sundance Scoop

There is a certain satisfaction gained from experience. It really revolves around the people you meet along the way. In the decades of my involvement in the finance industry, one particular time comes to mind, and I think about it quite often. The period is the late 1990's when I was a Senior Lender working for Farm Credit Services. Our particular market segment were large and complex loans. We served clients throughout the Midwest mainly, but also as "far out" as California.

Blog 1720/20…2020 used to connotate good vision in fact the rough definition is as follows:So, if you have 20/20 vision, you can see clearly at 20 feet what typically should be seen at that distance. But if you have 20/100 vision, you must be as close as 20 feet to see what a person with normal vision can see at a 100-foot distance.Of course, 2020 the year from many accounts has presented its share of challenges. This has affected many of us and a short list is as follows:-Covid-19 of cou

Not the feline variety nor the oil version.  Our version is Ally Hoff our summer intern.  Ally is a native of Norfolk and is currently enrolled in the financial planning curriculum at Kansas State University-which of course uses the Wildcat as their mascot. It appears summer has landed with the 90 plus degree temperatures and of course a fair amount of wind in Northeast Nebraska.  Speaking of wind, we are in an election year which of course can make things ‘wild’

Not to be confused with the social networking site or claims to the universe, today it means six feet.  This is the accepted amount of ‘socially acceptable distance’ as prescribed for best practices during the days, nights, weeks, and now months of COVID -19. We thought we would give an update as to our practices during this ‘outbreak’ all the while, hoping for ‘break-out’ soon. We have remained on the job throughout the pandemic.  We did r

You may have heard or seen that phrase associated with Mad Magazine in the past, coupled with their freckle faced character Alfred E. Neuman.  Mort Drucker who recently passed away had provided his cartoonist skills to many of the magazine’s stories.  For those of you who are seventies buffs, he also created the poster for ‘American Graffiti’ the movie from George Lucas back in the day.  The magazine of course was and is known for satirical humor and humorous por

The average depth of the ocean according to NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Assn.) is about 12,100 feet with the deepest part about 36,000 feet.How deep is a market decline? From JP Morgan, the average decline is about 22 months and peak decline about 42%.  The average bull market is 54 months long and the average gain is about 166%. Thus, to use the above as a reference, if you journey across the ocean the water is only at its deepest only the minority of time.  The market

The average age for an American soldier serving in WWII was about 26 years of age.  The average size was reportedly about five feet eight inches and about 144 pounds.  On June 6th 1944 many of these ‘average’ Americans were tasked with piling into Higgins Boats (landing craft) and come face to face with German machine guns, mines and heavy artillery.  The Germans had months to prepare and sight in their guns for just such an occasion. The place was Normandy France.&nbs

GET REALREAL IS DEFINED AS actually existing as a thing or occurring in fact; not imagined or supposed according to Webster’s Dictionary.  This was also something of a favorite phrase a contemporary of mine used back when I was in college.  As a matter of practicality, getting real means avoiding the opposite which is fantasy or simply not real. Reality has different meanings for all of us as it applies to what is going on in our lives.  Perhaps a child or grandchild wa

Remember that movie series from back in the 80’s?  If you don’t the movies starring Michael J Fox, featured a time traveling automobile which allowed the actors character to move back or forward in time. What would you do if you could time travel like that?  What would you have done differently?  What difference would that make now?  Fantasy like that can be thought provoking but serves us if only to contemplate what might have been or what could be. In

Taken from that famous song which was popular in the nineties (full disclosure: I still like it), which conjures up an image of ever changing events which shapes our lives. I think we can all relate…