Happy Birthday National Park Service!

The National Park Service celebrated its 100th birthday on August 25, 2016.  President Woodrow Wilson signed the act forming the National Park Service.  John Muir, Marjory Stoneman Douglas, Enos Mills, Charles Young, and Theodore Roosevelt were early pioneers in creating the NPS.[1]  Yellowstone was established as a public park in 1872, and the rest, as they say, is history.[2]  Today the NPS includes over 400 areas in the United States covering 84 million acres.[3]  There are currently 58 national parks from Acadia to Zion. 

Ansel Adams introduced millions of people to the parks through his amazing black and white photographs of Half Dome, the Snake River and other storied locations.  Last year 305 million visitors visited at least one of our country’s beautiful parks.[4]

My family and I have been to a number of National Parks over the years – Yosemite, Yellowstone, Grand Teton, Joshua Tree, Assateague Island, and the Rocky Mountain National Park.   One of our favorite hikes was to Sentinel Dome in Yosemite.   Once atop the dome we were treated to a 360-degree view of the park. 

The vision and foresight of the early founders and leaders of the National Park System should be applauded.  Their decisions have benefited legions of visitors.  The NPS was forged with no end date.  Their objective was perpetual.

When planning your future, it’s imperative to think long term.  Short term thinking will derail most investment plans.  With 24/7 access to news it’s easy to get spooked out of your investments and seek shelter in safe haven products.   When establishing you’re plans it would be wise to follow the trail of John Muir and the others. 

How to think long term?

1. Think about your family. Investing for generational wealth will shift your focus from short term to long term thinking.   Buying stocks for your grandchildren’s children will allow your investments to grow and develop over time.  A Sequoia tree grows for hundreds of years before it reaches maturity.
2. Avoid making investment decisions during market hours. If you hear news about your holdings, don’t react.  It’s best to review your investments after-market hours so you don’t feel the urge to trade.   When doing research at night or on the weekend it will give you time to make a thoughtful decision on how to proceed.   Of course, if you decide to buy or sell you must make the trade when the market is open but this can be done after you’ve done your homework.
3. Review your financial plan and investment goals on a consistent basis. A return to your roots will remind you why you’re investing in the first place.
4. Focus on charity. A gift to the National Parks or your favorite charity will allow your investment to benefit others.  The return on this investment is priceless.

Our National Parks are treasures for all to explore.   Here is a link to the NPS website so you can find a park in your state - https://www.nps.gov/index.htm

Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth…  ~ Mathew 6:19

Bill Parrott is the President and CEO of Parrott Wealth Management, LLC.  www.parrottwealth.com

September 1, 2016

[1] https://www.nps.gov/bestideapeople/, accessed 9/1/16.

[2] Ibid.

[3] https://www.nps.gov/aboutus/history.htm, accessed 9/1/16.

[4] https://www.nps.gov/aboutus/news/release.htm?id=1775, accessed 9/1/2016