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Show Page 8 The OGDEN VALLEY NEWS Volume I, Issue XI August 1999 Dr. Iverson Receives Prestigious Fellowship Award from The Academy of General Dentistry Vern Q. Iverson, DDS of Huntsville, Utah, is one of a select group of dentists nationwide to receive the Academy of General Dentistry’s (AGD) prestigious Fellowship, recently awarded during the Academy’s annual meeting held July 24, 1999 in Salt Lake City. As a Fellow of the Academy of General Dentistry (FAGD), Dr. Iverson has been recognized by the Academy’s members as a leader who is committed to excellence in patient care. The FAGD award symbolizes the professional responsibility of general dentists to remain current in their profession. To achieve this award, Dr. Iverson completed a comprehensive written exam and a minimum of 500 hours of quality continuing dental education. The Academy of General Dentistry The AGD is an international organization of 35,000 general dentists from the United States, its territories and Canada. As a member, Dr. Iverson and his colleagues are dedicated to continuing dental education to ensure the best possible care for patients. Members of AGD are required to take 75 hours of continuing dental education every three years. Dr. Iverson graduated from Creighton University School of Dentistry in 1988. Since then, he has been in private practice in Eden, Utah. In addition to the AGD, Dr. Iverson is also a member of the American D e n t a l Association, a Delegate of the Utah D e n t a l Association and a Committee Chair in the W e b e r District D e n t a l Association. He is an a c t i v e member of Boy Scouts of America. Currently, he lives with his wife Kim in Huntsville, and is the proud parent of Kali, Jarett, and Hunter. Learning The Language Of Mutual Fund Investing By Calvin D. Welling It sounds like an overheated discussion in the hat department: “Is that a small-cap value?” “No, it’s a mid-cap blend.” “What I really need is a large-cap growth.” But the caps in this conversation aren’t worn on heads, and the term “blend” doesn’t refer to the combination of cotton and polyester. No, this is the language of mutual fund investing, a distinctive dialect where a three-word description can summarize a fund’s approach to investing. By learning the lingo, investors can get a better understanding of the funds they are investing in. Even more important, they can develop a keener understanding of how different types of funds can work together to create a well-diversified portfolio. The three-word characterizations (small-cap value, mid-cap blend, etc.) so common in the world of mutual funds give investors two key pieces of information: · The fund’s investment philosophy. Many funds take either a “value” or “growth” approach to investing, or adopt a “blend” of both. · The size of the companies in the fund’s portfolio. The term “cap” is short for market capitalization, a measure of size based on the market value of a company’s outstanding shares of stock. shopper who scours the discount racks in hopes of coming across designer clothing. Growth investors, on the other hand, look for companies that are showing significant growth opportunities for the future. Because growth stocks historically have demonstrated the potential for positive performance, they tend to be higher priced than value stocks. There are funds which have adopted a neutral stance, buying value or growth stocks as they see fit. These funds are typically labeled as “blends.” And The Winner Is... So who’s right? Fortunately for individual investors, both are. At times, growth stocks tend to outperform value stocks. At other times, value stocks come out ahead. For fund investors, it doesn’t come down to swearing allegiance to either the growth or value school. A wellthought out portfolio based on asset allocation principles will include both value and growth stocks as a way of diversifying investments. By understanding the terminology, investors can make sure that they’ve covered their bases with the funds they choose. Taking Size Of Your Investments Mutual funds also are differentiated by the size of the companies they invest in: small, medium and large. Where a company fits depends on its market “cap,” short for capitalization. To arrive at a company’s market capitalization, multiply the number of shares of common stock by the stock’s market price. For example, a company that has issued one million shares currently valued at $8 each would have a market capitalization of $8 million. Small companies are generally defined as firms with market capitalization of $300 million to $1 billion. Medium companies, such as Woolworth’s and Hormel Foods, fall into the $1 billion to $5 billion range. Large companies—the Coca-Colas and Microsofts of the world—have market capitalizations of $5 billion and up. Companies of different sizes perform differently in the economy’s various stages. Large company stocks typically don’t fall as far in a down market. Small company stocks typically roar ahead at the beginning of a recovery. For the smart investor, the trick is not to try to choose the correct company size. It’s to make sure the portfolio includes funds that invest in companies of varying sizes. In the case of mutual fund investing, it’s not a matter of one-size fits all, but of all sizes fitting one. The one in this case being you, the individual investor. By understanding some of the key terms of mutual fund investing, investors increase the odds of a good fit between their needs and the funds they choose. This information has been provided to you courtesy of Calvin D. Welling, CLU, ChFC, CFP 2506 Madison Ave. Ogden, UT 84401 801/399-5409 Ascend Financial Services, Inc., Securities Dealer, member NASD/SIPC. 98-0227-85002R A Philosophical Difference The terms “value” and “growth” refer to distinct approaches to investing. Value investors look for deals, stocks that are underpriced for one reason or another. They’re like the Buy 3 Bagels, get 3 FREE Special! Buy 2 loaves, get 1 FREE Only one coupon per visit. Not valid with any other offer. Expires 9/16/99 392-8801 Phone Orders Welcome Five Points Family Center (Next to Key Bank and Harmons) |
