Blown Off Course

Read Time / 2 Minutes

Theme / Financial Planning

“Let your eyes look straight ahead; fix your gaze directly before you.” (Proverbs 4:25)

I have taken up a new hobby of locating and identifying ducks, which is part of the larger practice called birding. To be successful, I’ve had to study ducks, including their sizes (small, large), shapes (head, bill), shades (colors, tones), sounds (quacks, whistles), and space (marshes, lakes). To successfully locate ducks at different times of the year, it is important to know their migratory habits. During the Spring, many species of ducks migrate north from Mexico/Central America to Canada/Alaska, following historical migratory routes called Flyways. In Idaho, we are on the Pacific Flyway. East of us is the Central Flyway, Mississippi Flyway, and Atlantic Flyway.

Occasionally, ducks who try to fly in severe weather and wind get blown off course and become vagrants (yes, that is an official duck term). They end up in locations far different than where they planned. This can be a blessing for birders who may be able to see an unusual species in their area, but it can be a non-blessing for the ducks. Vagrant ducks can die due to disorientation, starvation, or exhaustion from their travels. But hopefully they will survive until Fall migration when they head south again.

Sometimes our investment plans get blown off course and we start deviating from our financial goals. Life events, life decisions, and other factors can bring windy weather to our migration to financial finish lines. Working with a financial advisor may help you get back on course, helping you determine ways out of your vagrancy and back on the Flyway to your financial destination. If you have a financial advisor, reach out to him or her to schedule a review of your investments. If you don’t, reach out to us at Christian Wealth Management and we can help you. You may even learn more about ducks.

Doug Hanson, MBA

Wealth Advisor

208.697.3699

doug@christianwm.com