December 22, 2012 Great Northwoods Journal Page 17

Regular readers know thatone of my hobbies is raisingchickens. Over the years I’veraised hundreds of them; Itook great pride in the factthat my loss ratio was lessthan 1% —most people willtell you that 10% is a morerealistic number. Although Iam always wary of the pridebefore the fall, I did let myguard down—and it cost me17 chickens in one night. I hadapproximately 50 hens at thetime, so my loss amounted to34%, and my long-term aver-age is now much closer to10%.

The past year has been apretty good one for investors.Volatility has presented uswith many buying and sellingopportunities. It would beeasy to attribute success toskill, but perhaps the biggestskill an investor can exhibit isthe ability to remain disci-plined. In the case of my hens,I had a pretty rigorous—almost obsessive—attentionto detail. When I eased up, Ilost.

Overconfidence is a termused in Behavioral Finance, astudy of how investorsbehave. Sometimes a few goodtrades are all that is needed toturn a logical soul into a trad-ing fiend, but to quote an arti-cle I recently read, “invest-ment techniques constantlyneed refining… just aboutevery overconfident investoris only a trade away from avery humbling wake up call.”

Efficient Market Theorysays, basically, that all theinformation available isreflected in a security’s price.What this means to traders isthat while you may figure outa system that works, eventu-ally everyone else will figureit out also—and then the sys-tem won’t work anymore,because someone will figure

out how to make money bybetting against it.

Staying properly allocatedis a basic discipline that everyinvestor should master.Although I have to point outthat allocation does not insureagainst loss or guarantee suc-cess, it has been shown to beresponsible for over 90% ofinvestor returns—more thanstock selection or market tim-ing. My personal opinion isthat within the parameters ofa properly diversified portfo-lio, you can find opportunities,but by remaining allocated,you can manage risk.

I don’t know what opportu-nities and challenges willpresent themselves in 2013.Money managers do have tomake forecasts, called CapitalMarket Assumptions, abouthow different types of invest-ments are going to perform inthe coming year. These areuseful numbers, perhapsmore useful than looking athow things went in the past,but they are essentially edu-cated guesses.

My intent this week was tosuggest that you use the holi-days as a time to reflect: notonly on the past, but on thefuture. You probably don’texpect the coming year to be arepeat of the last year— like-wise your portfolio may notperform in the coming yearlike it did this year. The wis-est thing to do is to reviewyour portfolio, your currentfinancial picture, time hori-zon, and risk tolerance tomake sure that you are prop-erly allocated. Think of it asgoing through your closet,throwing out the clothes youdon’t wear anymore, and mak-ing room for the things youneed now.

LPL FinancialMember FINRA SIPC

steven.bissonnette@lpl.com

FIVEBy Steve Bissonnette, AAMS

Looking Past the Past

Weeks State Park Association has set up a picture journal anda BCC email tree. The blog is at http://wsp-picture-journal.posterous.com/1218 These photos are some that areon that blog. They were taken on Mount Prospect inLancaster. (Photos by Al Rossetto

These children were in Mrs. Ingerson’s pre-school Mon./Thurs. class. They are from left toright: Jasmine Hook, Parker Colby, Kasen Smith, Gracie Allen, and Chase Anthony. In theback are Lancaster Lion Tim Phillips, Alma and Charlie Watson, with their daughter LindaRibolini of the Amherst Lions Club, and Lancaster Lions Don Freddette and Denis Skora.

(Photo by Lyndall Demers)

Members of the LancasterLions Club distributed some 400hats recently, to youngsters inPre-school, Kindergarten, andfirst grades in Whitefield,Jefferson and Lancaster.

On Thursday, Dec. 6, TimPhillips, Don Fredette andDenis Skora, visited LancasterSchool to pass out the hats tostudents. Accompanying themwere Alma Watson, who knittedthe hats, and her husbandCharlie, along with their daugh-ter Linda Ribolini who belongsto the Amherst Lions Club.

Students in Mrs. Hicks’skindergarten class are, in thefront, from left: Thomas Crain,Isabelle Nadeau, Dylan Ploss,Aubrey Merrill, Deakin Allin,Daniel Hartlen, Jada Ingerson,Reese McFarland, LeeannahSirois, Taylor Christle. Behindthem is Andrew Carpenter. Inthe back row are: Lions Don

Fredette and Tim Phillips,teacher Mrs. Linda Hicks, andLion Linda Ribolini, her momAlma Watson and Lion DenisSkora.

Lancaster Lions Clubdistributes hats in schools

Midget is a pug mix thatcame to us with severe fleaissues, but is recovering verywell. She is about one yearold, spayed, up-to-date onvaccines and micro chipped.Midget is great with dogs,kids and cats. To adoptMidget please fill out anapplication at www.river -sideanimalrescue.org or call802-892-5300.

Moe is a wonderful littleguinea pig that was aban -doned at a rest stop. He issocial and good with smalldogs, kids and cats. T oadopt Moe, please fill out anapplication at www.river -sideanimalresuce.org or call802-892-5300.

Have a veryMerry Christmas!

Page 18 Great Northwoods Journal December 22, 2012

Wa n t e dAny VHS film taken of the GrandPrix or early snowmobiling. Wewill treat all films with care. Call788-2291. (1-15tfn)Paying cash for old watches andpocket watches (working or not).Gold silver, old religious items,Masonic and military items,knives, swords, pocket knives,American and foreign coins/cur-rency. (603) 747-4000. (12-22)Firearms wanted. Cash paid forused firearms. All types shotguns,rifles and handguns. Do not haveto be in working order. (603) 756-4235. (6-23EOW)

For Sale F i r e w o o d

Classified advertising

FIREWOODKiln Dry or Green

Cut, Split, Delivered603-788-3311

Lancaster Floral Design& Garden Center

Do you have something you'd like to sell?Are you looking for something?

Run a classified!Only $6/wk.for up to 30 words and

25¢ for each word over 30.Great Northwoods Journal

788-2660 or mail or drop your ad off at:98-B Main Street, Lancaster, NH 03584

Deadline is 4 p.m. on Tuesday. All classifieds are payable in advance.

Name:________________________________________________Address: ______________________________________________

_____________________________________________AD COPY:____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Phone:________________

Number of weeks to run: ________

For Rent

For Rent

For Rent For Rent

S t o r a g eStorage units for rent. Rte. 3,Northumberland. Secure, conven-ient location. Assorted sizes.Competitive pricing. Pay 6months, get one month FREE.Potato Barn Antiques, 603-636-2611. (5-5tfn)

Milking position available.Afternoons and weekends.Stratford 603-922-8377. (12-22)

Jones Brook Farm. Firewood forsale, 427 Granby Road, Guildhall,VT. (802) 328-2013. (1-5)

FIREWOODCut, split and delivered.

Dubois Firewood(603) 586-7764

Central Boiler E-Classic OUT-DOOR FURNACES. Heat yourentire home and hot water. EPAQualified. Call today 800-295-8301. 603-237-8301 (3-30)TO TA L WOOD HEAT. Safe,clean, efficient and comfortableOUTDOOR WOOD FURNACEfrom Central Boiler. AppalachianSupply, Inc. 802-748-4513.

(12-22)Winter is here! Cheap, mounted,radial truck tires. 10-22.5 four win-ter recaps. 2 new steer tires.Tread excellent 70%-80% left.Package deal $600 firm. Call 1-802-676-2659. (12-22)Honda Snowblower Model HS55,5-1/2 hp, excellent condition.Serviced regularly. $500 or BO.(603) 788-3082. (12-29)

Lancaster. One bedroom apart-ment, quiet area, heat and hotwater included. No pets and nosmoking, must have ref. $500plus security. Call 603-788-4179.

(11-17tfn)Lancaster. Lg. 1 BR apartment,and a 2 BR apartment, down-town. $550 mo. Pets considered.(603) 991-0264. (12-29)L a n c a s t e r. One bedroom apt.,second floor. $475/mo. plus utili-ties. Apply at Powell Real Estate,86 Main Street, 788-4848.

(10-13tfn)

Help Wa n t e d

Help Wa n t e d

Career Training

Lancaster. Spacious, 2 BR apart-ment, downtown. Recently reno-vated. Dishwasher, fridge,microwave and kitchen stoveincluded. No pets. $675 mo. Sec.dep. required. (603) 788-4663.

(12-22)Whitefield. Newer building. 2 BRapartment, refrigerator and stove,hookup for washer and dryer,heat and hot water. $700 a month.No pets. (603) 616-5383. (1-12)

Lancaster. In-town, 2nd floor, 2B R apartment. $800 monthly,includes heat and hot water.References required. First andlast monthʼs rent before occupan-cy. No smoking, no pets. Quietand responsible tenant, please.Call 603-788-4025. (1-12)Lancaster. Large, newly remod-eled, 1st floor apartment, 2 BRwith extra large kitchen. Includesheat and garage for parking.Walking distance to town. Nopets. No smoking. Sec. dep.required. $675. (603) 788-2424.

(12-29)

Vermont. 2 bdrm. duplex locatedin private rural setting. $750/mo.No utilities included. ContactPelletier Property Management603-444-6999 or emailpellproperties@hotmail.com

(12-1tfn)Whitefield. (2) 1 BR apartments.Heat and hot water included. Petsconsidered $600 mo. (603) 991-0264. (12-29)

Payment Plans & State Assistance Available

1-800-603-3320www.clinicalcareertraining.com

Contact: Clinical Career Training

Licensed Nurse Assistant TrainingBerlin, NH 01/21/13-04/03/13

Mon./Wed. 4:30 p.m. to 10 p.m.Lancaster, NH 01/09/13-03/20/13

Wed./Thurs. 4:30-10 p.m.

Lancaster, NH 01/19/13-03/23/13Sat./Sun. 7 a.m. - 1 p.m.

WHITE MOUNTAINS REGIONALSCHOOL DISTRICT2012-2013 School Year

COACHINGWHITEFIELD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

Baseball Coach Softball Coach

WMRHS JV Baseball Coach

Submit resumé to: Michael Curtis, District-wide Athletic Director

White Mountains Regional High School127 Regional Road

Whitefield, NH 03598(603) 837-2528

web site: www.sau36.orgPositions Open Until Filled

EOE

December 22, 2012 Great Northwoods Journal Page 19

Help Wa n t e d

Fall seasons ----------------(Continued from Page 15)

Game Turkey Biologist TedWalski. The preliminary 2012breakdown was 707 wild tur-keys harvested during the fallshotgun season and 311 turkeysharvested during the fallarchery season.

Final numbers from all theyear's hunting seasons will besummarized in the 2012 NewHampshire Wildlife HarvestSummary, which will be issuedin March.

New Hampshire’s successfulhunting seasons are a reminderthat hunting activities, madepossible by science-based wild-life management, contribute sig-nificantly to New Hampshire’seconomy. The recently released2011 National Survey ofFishing, Hunting, and Wildlife-associated Recreation reportsthat 56,000 people aged 16 andolder (resident and non-resi-dent) hunt in New Hampshire.These hunters generate about$61 million in hunting-relatedexpenditures each year.

The New Hampshire Fishand Game Department is theguardian of the state’s fish,wildlife and marine resourcesand their habitats. Visithttp://www.huntnh.com .

—N.H. Fish and Game Dept.

Noah and Isabelle Nadeau danced at the Lancaster Open-Micat the Methodist Church Hall in Lancaster.

(Photo by Lyndall Demers)

Lucia Nadeau of Lancaster, played some songs on her violinat Lancaster Open-Mic at the Methodist Church Hall inLancaster on December 15, to the delight of the crowd of over80 folks gathered for the evening. (Photo by Lyndall Demers)

Lancaster Lions Club delivered some winter hats to Lancaster School students on December6. They were made by Alma Watson. These students in Mrs. Graham’s kindergarten class arein the front from left: Olivia Manville, Skyla Whitman, Liberty Frink, Gabriella Cubero,Jada Ingerson, Elizabeth Perry, Tyler Vermette. In the back from left are: Ms. Harold(Primary Guidance Counselor), Chandler Bennett, Gannon Smith, Jeffrey Johnson, LiamWohld, Dawson Sumner. Mrs. Graham was not in the photo. Representing the Lions Clubwere from left, Tim Phillips, Alma Watson, Don Freddette, Linda Ribolini and Denis Skora.

(Photo by Lyndall Demers)

Students in Mrs. Hicks’s kindergarten class received winter hats from Lancaster Lions Clubon Thursday, Dec. 6. They are, in the front, from left: Thomas Crain, Isabelle Nadeau, DylanPloss, Aubrey Merrill, Deakin Allin, Daniel Hartlen, Jada Ingerson, Reese McFarland,Leeannah Sirois, Taylor Christle. Behind them is Andrew Carpenter. In the back row are:Lions Don Fredette and Tim Phillips, teacher Mrs. Linda Hicks, and Lion Linda Ribolini, hermom Alma Watson and Lion Denis Skora. (Photo by Lyndall Demers)

Page 20 Great Northwoods Journal December 22, 2012

At this most joyous time of year,we wish one and all a happy

holiday season and a New Year full of

Pe a c e, Hope and Love!Merry Christmas

and a veryHappy New Year to all!

From all of us at

98-B Main Street, Lancaster • 603-788-2660

Reta Gibson, center, made many gifts for distribution at theCol. Town Senior Citizens’ Christmas party last week inLancaster. John and Gloria Brooks of Lancaster, received thisfine painting. (Photos by Lyndall Demers)