April 22, 2014 • Page 2 shop online at www.missourivalleyshopper.com Dave Says Emily led the group of five into the Mule Barn, through the coffee shop itself, and into what is known locally as “the banquet room” when it isn’t being used for storage. Fraternal groups representing several animals used it monthly, and the Rotarians and Kiwanians weren’t unknown there, either. But this was different. As Emily led them into the room and told them to please sit together at the one long table, they could see that Dewey was already here, standing at the head of the table and greeting each with a handshake and a grin. The favored few included Doc, Mrs. Doc, Anita Campbell, Steve the cowboy, and Delbert McLain, our Chamber of Commerce. Loretta came in with menus. Her mouth dropped open when she saw Dewey was wearing a necktie. “I’m so glad you could make it … today,” Dewey said. “You order whatever you like for lunch while we talk about manure and worms.” His girlfriend, Emily Stickles, stood up quickly from her seat at the other end of the table. “Thank you, Dewey, hon. Maybe I should explain.” She motioned for him to sit down. He did. “This …” she said, brightly, spreading her arms out to encompass all five of their friends at once, “is a focus group. You were hand-picked by me and Dewey to help us with the spring campaign.” “You’re running for office?” asked Steve. “Of course not,” she laughed. “The spring advertising campaign. For Dewey’s business. The soil amendment division …” she looked down at the puzzled look on Delbert’s face, “… that’s the fertilizer, Delbert … is always good. It seems plants just need it in order to do their best. But one of our new divisions needs some help. Some advice. That would be the vermiculture division … worms, Delbert. Red wigglers. Fishing worms. “And we’ve asked you to share your lunch hour with us to get your ideas on how we can sell more worms. So just enjoy your lunch and then we’ll talk worms afterward, okay?” Dewey look through his friends, over his necktie, down the table, all the way to the woman of his dreams, the one with the unbelievable cheekbones. Emily, he thought, I couldn’t raise a worm without you. -------------Brought to you by the new CD “Having Fun in New Mexico,” Fifteen stories by Slim Randles. www.slimrandles.com. MV Shopper CLASSIFIEDS M I S S O U R I VA L L EY IN PRINT & ONLINE To place your ad call... 605.665.5884 AR! R CA LEN D OU CLE SAT., M TORCYRUN 24AY O M TH R POKE M ARK Y YANKTON MOTORSPORTS 4306 W. 8th St. • Yankton, SD • (605) 665-3500 Read & Recycle! One & two bedroom apartments. Scotland Apartments, 821 Main St. Scotland, SD 57059. Laundry. Rental assistance available to those who qualify. For appointments or applications please call 605-624-5218 or visit www.oakleafpm.com. www.yanktonmotorsports.com Equal Housing Opportunity Your Bank’s Advice Is Bad BY DAVE RAMSEY Dear Dave, I want to roll over a 401(k), and my bank is encouraging me to roll it over to fixed annuities. Is this a good investment? — John Dear John, Dave More times than not, when you go to a bank for investment advice, what you’ll get in the bargain is bad advice. And that’s the case here. I’d move toward a traditional IRA, in a series of good growth stock mutual funds. Put it across four types of accounts: growth, growth and income, aggressive growth and international. What you’re looking for, John, is a great track record for your investments. You want a track record so ridiculously good that it gives you a great sense of comfort, even though there’s no guarantee of what’s to come. And there are mutual funds out there that can do just that for you. I own one that’s over 70 years old, and it has averaged nearly 12 percent over that time. Lots of people talk in “what ifs” when it comes to investing. Well, you can play that little game all day. But if the economy goes completely down the tubes, and the government destroys things like mutual funds and real estate completely, your little bank-recommended annuity RAMSEY isn’t going to make it, either. The banking system as a whole will fail if all the mutual funds close because they’re all based in publicly traded companies. And that means virtually every business you drive by on your way to work would be out of business. A bank’s not going to survive that kind of thing. If you’re looking for things to help you survive the apocalypse, you’re talking about food and water. But if you want rational, well-reasoned investments, you need to look at growth stock mutual funds and paidfor real estate. That’s what I do! — Dave NUMBER OF PAYMENTS ISN’T THE PROBLEM Dear Dave, Why do you think debt consolidation is such a bad thing? — Tessa Dear Tessa, Debt consolidation is a bad thing because it makes you feel like you really did something to get out of debt and change your financial world when you didn’t. People come to me all the time saying stuff like, “Dave, I got a second mortgage. I paid off all my debt!” Well, no you didn’t pay off all your debt. You just moved it www.missourivalleyshopper.com Please Recycle When Done Reading! Men’s & Women’s Total Support Boston 3rd • Yankton • to Boots Shoes 665-9092 312 W. Missouri Valley Shopper www.missourivalleyshopper.com When you ?nish reading, Please RECYCLE. 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Spenco orthotic quality arch and heel support Find What You’re Looking for in a Snap! around. That’s part of the catch when it comes to debt consolidation. If you get a lower payment and move things around a little bit, you feel like you actually accomplished something. The problem with that is you don’t do anything to address the real problem, which is you. Interest rates aren’t your problem, and the number of payments isn’t your problem. Your problem is the person you look at in the mirror every morning, Tessa. Until you fix that person and get mad enough at your financial situation and the real cause of it, you’ll never make any progress toward getting control of your finances. Trying to borrow your way out of debt is not a good plan! — Dave IN PRINT & ONLINE To place your ad, call: 605-665-5884 Don’s Dust Control • Horse Arenas • Private Drives • Unpaved Roads • Elevator Access • Free Estimates 605-384-3201 Cell: 605-491-2133 We are Your HONDA Walk Behind Equipment Dealer