As the amount of information that we receive continues to increase instead of decrease, we wanted to remind you that your investment information is available electronically.

CIRstatments.com is the place where you can view most of your accounts that are either held or serviced by our firm—in one place.

We believe this is another way to simplify your financial planning and reduce paper clutter.

We also offer an electronic version of this quarterly newsletter. If you would like to skip the paper copy of the newsletter or get signed up for online investment account information, a phone call to our office is all it takes. Call Susan at (815) 842-4393.

You may have noticed a new voice answering the phone. We would like to introduce the newest addition to our team: Susan Strubhar, our Client Services Manager.

We have asked Susan to make sure that everything we do is focused on meeting our clients' expectations and building strong relationships.

As part of that, we want communicate with you in the most effective way possible. If you would like us to have your email or cell phone on file and use that as your preferred contact method, let us know. In addition, if you have any change to your information, Susan can help you get everything updated with the different investment/product companies.

Call Susan at (815) 842-4393.

Discard old newspapers daily. By the time you get around to reading day-old news, you will have heard most of it through TV, radio or social media.

Share your magazine subscriptions. Take a magazine with you to every appointment—doctor’s office, car service center, salon—but once you’re called back for your appointment, leave the magazine in the waiting room.

Don’t bring junk mail in the house. Keep a recycle bin in your garage and toss away junk mail before you walk in the door. Be sure to shred any credit card offers or pieces of mail with sensitive information.

(Source: FlyLady.net)

If you are looking for a quick and easy way to get some good exercise once a day, then we would recommend trying this free computer application download.

Based on 'The Scientific 7-Minute Workout' routine posted in the American College of Sports Medicine's Health & Fitness Journal and highlighted by The New York Times it features 12 exercises deploying only body weight, a wall and a chair.

It especially makes sense for you if you have a smart phone as you can download the application on to your phone and use it almost anywhere you are with your phone.

Here is one of Dave's favorite recipes for Goom Bars that are sure to be a hit at any party are super simple to make.

Goom Bars

Ingredients:

• 1 box of German Chocolate Cake mix

• 1 egg

• 1 cup of butter or margarine

• 14 oz bag of caramel

• ½ cup evaporated milk

• chocolate chips

• nuts (optional)

Preparation:Mix cake mix, egg, and ½ cup of melted butter together in bowl. Press all but 1 ½ c. of mix into bottom of a greased 9 x 12 pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 10 minutes or browned. Cool.Melt over stove top caramels, ½ cup butter, and evaporated milk. Pour caramel mixture over top of browned bottom layer of cake mix. Drop remaining cake mix (1 ½ cups) over caramel layer and bake for additional 20-25 minutes at 350 degrees.Optional: Chocolate chips or nuts can be added into caramel layer or on top