Financial Consultants

FIVE STAR (http://www.fivestarspeakers.com/) Speaker Spotlight Newsletter – Issue 12, December 2008

I think we would all agree that we are clearly experiencing some “interesting times” in our economy and in our nation. We have seen a big shift in the marketplace over the past three months. Our clients are now focusing primarily on the things that create direct success for their businesses. The focus has been on customer events, sales training and more than our share of economists who can tell us how we got here, and what’s coming next. FIVE STAR is excited to continue to bring these resources to our clients in this, our 20th year. We know that the organizations that focus on business growth issues will look back at the end of 2009 knowing they made the right choices. We have the new and cutting-edge ideas ready to share with you. (See also http://www.fivestarspeakers.com/international-speakers-trainers-bureau/speakers-trainers-news.aspx)

Steve Gardner, Partner

Paul Schmidt, Partner

Five Star Speakers About Us: http://www.fivestarspeakers.com/international-speakers-trainers-bureau/about-us/about-us.aspx

Hot Speaker

Todd Buchholz – Trend Forecaster, Investor, Author & Political and Global Economy Expert

A former director of economic policy at the White House, a managing director of the $15 billion Tiger hedge fund, and an award-winning economics teacher at Harvard, Todd Buchholz targets his entertaining remarks to the cutting edge of economics, finance, and business strategy. Todd Buchholz “lights up economics with a wickedly sparkling wit,” says the Associated Press. Todd recently jousted with James Carville and Ben Stein, and Successful Meetings Magazine named him one of the “21 Top Speakers for the Twentieth Century.” His editorials in the Wall Street Journal correctly forecast the 2001 slowdown in the U.S., and the New York Times has turned to him to decipher terrorist threats and the job market. “Witty, iconoclastic, and engaging” says the Wall Street Journal of Buchholz, while BusinessWeek raved about his book Market Shock, which warned of quicksand facing the stock market. He entertains audiences, showing them how to thrive in a chaotic economy, while gearing up for prosperity….more on Economic, Financial and Political Speaker, Todd Buchholz

Fee Range: $15,000 +;

Travels From: California, USA United States of America

Ask An Expert

Top Economic Speakers

Jordan Goodman – America’s ‘Money Answers Man’ & Practical Financial Advisor

Fee Range: $7,000 +;

Travels From: New York, New York, USA United States of America

Barry Asmus - A dynamic, world-class economist who communicates his insights in a captivating and entertaining manner.

Fee Range: $15,000 +;

Travels From: Phoenix, Arizona, USA United States of America

Ed Barlow – Futurist; “The Art of Looking Backwards From Tomorrow”

Fee Range: $8,000 +;

Travels From: St.Josephs, Michigan, USA United States of America

David Zach – Dave is one of the few people on this planet with a degree in Studies of the Future.

Fee Range: $10,000 +;

Travels From: Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA United States of America

Gary Hoover - Founder of Bookstop (later became the cornerstone of Barnes & Noble) and Hoovers.com.

Fee Range: $10,000 +;

Travels From: Dallas, Texas, USA United States of America



Jeff Thredgold - The only economist in the world to have earned the CSP honor.

Fee Range: $12,500 +;

Travels From: Salt Lake City, Utah, USA United States of America

Musical Entertainment

Mike Rayburn – The World’s Funniest Guitar Virtuoso

Mike Rayburn is an award-winning speaker and entertainer with a truly unique presentation. Known as the Worlds’ Funniest Guitar Virtuoso, Mike uses his astounding guitar creations, uproarious songs and presentation skills to encourage, challenge and inspire his audiences to step beyond their perceived limitations. Mike draws from a wealth of life experiences as an adventurer, comedian, published songwriter, author, philanthropist, and father, to deliver a keynote presentation which is completely energizing and entertaining….more on Corporate Entertainer & Musician Mike Rayburn

Fee Range: $8,500 +;

Travels From: Aldie, Virginia, USA United States of America

Featured Business and Leadership Speaker’s Book Review

David Houle – A futurist and strategist who has been involved in launching such brands as MTV, Nickelodeon, VH1 and CNN. Author of The Shift Age

The Shift Age is about humanity’s new era. As the Information Age gives way to the Shift Age, we are entering a time of transformation and change that offers both great risk and incredible opportunity. Why do things happen so fast? Why do we feel unsettled, even out of control? David Houle identifies and explains the dynamics and forces that already have reshaped and will continue to reshape our world for the next 20 years. He comments from the front lines of the Shift Age on issues and topics that affect our lives. We have entered the final, global stage of humanity’s cultural, social, and economic evolutionary journey: the Shift Age…more on Futurist Speaker and Economic Author David Houle

Fee Range: $7,500 +;

Travels From: Chicago, Illinois, USA United States of America

Sports Celebrity

Jim “The Rookie” Morris – Subject of the award-winning Disney hit film “The Rookie,” starring Dennis Quaid

The Cinderella story of Jim “The Rookie” Morris is testimony to the power of dreams and their ability to inspire and transform human life. His story is the subject of the blockbuster film from Walt Disney, “The Rookie,” starring Dennis Quaid which won the ESPY for “Sports Film of the Year.”….more on Motivational Speaker, Business Speaker, Leadership Speaker Jim “The Rookie” Morris

Fee Range: $10,000 +;

Travels From: Dallas, Texas, USA United States of America

BELIEVE:

Joan Brock – Inspirational Speaker speaking on overcoming great obstacles [with her blindness as the perfect example]

Motivational speaker Joan Brock was forced to re-evaluate and transform her life when she lost her sight in just three weeks. At the time, ironically, Joan was a teacher of the blind and she was able to apply the skills she had been teaching to her own circumstances. Now, in her individually tailored presentations, Joan offers to organizations the benefit of her own experience. t transforming organizations by inspiring individuals to live their life at a higher level of performance. …more on Motivational Speaker and Author, Joan Brock

Fee Range: $10,000 +;

Travels From: Tucson, Arizona, USA United States of America

CONNECT:

Jim Carroll – A world-renowned futurist, trends & innovation expert – who will help you deal with the challenges of the economic correction through a focus on innovation.

Economic and Business Speaker, Jim Carroll is one of the world’s leading futuri
sts, trends & innovation experts. And it’s his inspirational, transformative thinking that will help you discover opportunity in an era of high-velocity change. And in his most recent keynotes and leadership sessions, he has been helping his clients meet the challenges of the economic contraction by focusing on innovation, and by aligning their strategy to fast-paced future trends….more on Economic and Business Speaker Speaker Jim Carroll

Fee Range: $12,500 +;

Travels From: Toronto, Ontario, Canada

INSPIRE:

Andrew Razeghi – A writer, educator, and adviser to organizations on growth strategy, creativity, and innovation.

Andrew Razeghi is a best-selling author, educator, and adviser to organizations on growth strategy, creativity, and innovation. As founder of StrategyLab, Inc. and a popular lecturer on innovation at the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University, his work spans industries, from consumer packaged goods to healthcare, tourism to media, and non-profit organizations to professional sports teams. His most-recent book, THE RIDDLE: Where Ideas Come From and How to Have Better Ones (Jossey-Bass/Wiley), was chosen by FAST COMPANY magazine as one of its “Smart Books” of the year. Andrew has appeared in a number of media outlets including BusinessWeek, CBS Interactive, The Chicago Sun-Times, China Daily, El Norte (Mexico), FAST COMPANY, Investor’s Business Daily, NPR, and The San Jose Mercury News…more on Growth Strategy, Creativity and Innovation Speaker, Andrew Razeghi

Fee Range: $30,000 +;

Travels From: Chicago, Illinois, USA United States of America

GROW:

David L. Smith – Economic, Futurist & Market Strategist Speaker

Internationally known speaker and author of Cyclical Investing and The Cassandra Chronicles, David L. Smith offers penetrating insight, accurate forecasts and profitable advice regarding: – U.S. and World economies – Financial and Investment markets – International Trade Global Energy Markets – U.S. Monetary and Fiscal policy – Specific industries and companies David L. Smith explains what is going on in the global economy and financial markets – the good, the bad and the ugly – and how investors and businesses can avoid surprises and deploy resources so as to avoid losses and capture profits in volatile times. If you want “nothing but blue skies,” try a sunshine pundit. However if you want to know what is really going on and how to profit from it, listen to David L. Smith….more on Economic and Futurist Speaker, David L. Smith

Fee Range: $10,000 +;

Travels From: Houston, Texas, USA United States of America

CELEBRATE:

Lisa Earle McLeod – Wickedly funny entertainer, inspirational author, and expert

at surviving economic angst with your dignity – and profit margins – in tact.

With her trademark wit and humor, Lisa reframes the economic challenges to show people how to stay optimistic, and productive, in the face of adversity. A syndicated humor columnist who took her family owned-business from the brink of bankruptcy to profitability, Lisa is a favorite of entrepreneurs, franchisors, real estate professionals, teachers and healthcare workers…more on Corporate Entertainer and Inspirational Humorist, Lisa Earle McLeod

Fee Range: $7,500 +;

Travels From: Atlanta, Georgia, USA United States of America

Sarah Whitten, Marketing Director

Meet Sarah Whitten. Sarah is the Marketing Director at FIVE STAR and has been with organization since March 2006…more on FIVE STAR Speakers Marketing Director, Sarah Whitten.

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Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:”Table Normal”; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:”"; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:”Calibri”,”sans-serif”; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:”Times New Roman”; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:”Times New Roman”; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} PREFERRING A DEPRESSION? February 20, 2009.

For several weeks I’ve been writing about the need for the government’s financial stimulus efforts to be supplemented by efforts to instill some degree of confidence in severely depressed consumers and investors.

I was thinking in terms of President Reagan’s strategy upon inheriting the similar economic collapse of the 1970’s. He provided financial stimulus, including huge increases in defense spending, some of it wasted, such as launching the costly but never completed ‘Star Wars’ anti-missile system, etc., but created jobs. He augmented the spending with upbeat assurances about the greatness of America, and how the country would soon begin to pull out of the seemingly impossible mess. Similarly President Bush provided a large stimulus package after the terrorist attacks in 2001, and supplemented it with confidence-building speeches about how Americans should get out of their terrorist-inspired fear modes and spend, “to show these terrorists who would tear down our economic system that they won’t succeed.” Both times the ‘jaw-boning’ was as important as the financial stimulus in lifting the confidence and determination of consumers and investors.

My columns along those lines resulted in an avalanche of criticism, the mildest of which asked how I could advocate that the government attempt to brainwash the population, should attempt to hide the facts of how serious the situation is. That is not what I said. What I said was that for two years consumers have been fed a steady diet of doom and gloom, are well aware of the seriousness of the situation, and it’s time for the government’s financial stimulus efforts to be supplemented by efforts to instill some degree of confidence in the nation’s future.

If that is brainwashing, then the problems were created in the first place by someone brainwashing people into thinking they could safely buy a house they couldn’t afford because home prices would just keep rising forever.

Meanwhile, I have been saying since the real estate bubble burst and collapsed the economy, that the economy cannot recover until the housing industry recovers.

So I was disappointed that stimulus efforts had to begin with the rescue of banks and the financial system, then moved to bailout efforts for the auto industry.

I was delighted that rescue efforts have finally begun to focus on the housing industry, where home foreclosures are accelerating, sending home prices and buyer confidence even deeper into gloom and doom, and sinking the economy even faster. But I have been surprised that rescuing the housing industry, which mostly affects the folks on Main Street, apparently has even more opposition than bailing out Wall Street and the auto-industry.

Just how unpopular the plan is was revealed by CNBC reporter Rick Santelli on Thursday.

By now most of the country, if not the world, is aware that Santelli, noted for his daily rants from the Chicago Board of Trade about what he believes to be wrong with the country, took aim at the Administration’s housing rescue bill. During his rant he shouted this question to traders on the floor of the CBT, “How many of you want to pay for your neighbor’s mortgage because he can’t pay the bills? Raise your hands!” Amidst yells of agreement from the traders Santelli turned to the camera and shouted “Are you listening, Mr. President?”

A landslide of approving e-mails apparently encouraged Santelli to announce that he would organize a “Chicago Tea Party” demonstration, a revolution he called it.

He surely hit a nerve with his opinion that those who are losing their homes and jobs should not be bailed out by those who are in good shape on their homes, finances, and jobs, with calls of ‘Santelli for Senate’, and ‘Santelli for President’ spreading over the Internet.

It does have its amusing aspects, given that the economic mess was created by the financial industry, in part by its creation of high-risk derivatives, including mortgage-backed securities, and the wild leverage provided to hedge funds. Santelli became a CNBC reporter in June, 1999, almost at the top of the stock market bubble, leaving his position as a vice-president at Sanwa Futures LLC, where he handled institutional trading and hedge fund accounts. Prior to that, he served as managing director of the Derivatives Products Group of Ge
ldermann Inc.

And now he is the hero of those who feel abused by the collapse of the house of cards created by the questionable products and greed of Wall Street firms?

But of more concern to me is the apparent majority opinion that “I don’t care if the value of my home keeps dropping due to foreclosures on my street. I didn’t make any mistakes, and I don’t want my tax money used to bail out those who are in over their heads. I don’t want the banks saved with my tax dollars. Let then go bankrupt. I don’t want the auto-makers bailed out. They deserve to go bankrupt. I don’t care if it causes the whole country to fall into the next Great Depression.”

I suppose the same argument could be made about giving blood, or contributing to food banks, unemployment insurance, cancer research, the Red Cross, education. Hey, I didn’t get sick, I didn’t lose my job. I’ve got my education.

Do they even realize how much worse a depression is than a recession?

The Bush Administration tried to get things turned around by spending a few trillion dollars of taxpayer money, and the new Administration is trying. The results of those efforts won’t be known for awhile. But both administrations ran into a lot of opposition from those who would rather let those with problems (banks, auto-makers and millions of individuals) go bankrupt and see if the system can recover on its own or not. One often repeated additional reason is that it’s unfair to saddle future generations with larger deficits.

If a few years from now the economy has worsened into a decades-long global depression, thanks in part to the unwillingness of even the folks on Main Street to unite in the common goal of trying to rescue the economy, because their money might go to someone less fortunate, who will they look back and blame that on? And how much worse off will their children be than if the national debt is stretched even further now?

In his rant Santelli asked, “Are you listening, Mr. President?”

I ask, “Are you listening America?”

 

 

Sy Harding publishes the financial website www.StreetSmartReport.com and a free daily Internet blog at www.SyHardingblog.com. In 1999 he authored Riding the Bear – How To Prosper In the Coming Bear Market. His new book is Beat the Market the Easy Way! – Proven Seasonal Strategies Double Market’s Performance!