To say these are strange and unsettling days is an understatement. We hope everyone is well, staying home and doing everything they can to put this virus behind us. If you or any member of your family are in the front lines and putting yourselves at risk for all of us, we can’t thank you enough and please stay well.

We know this is a very difficult time for everyone and especially for people who are temporarily out of work and have loved ones to support.

I wanted to keep my comments short but really wanted to stress that we will get through this and as the saying goes: “This too shall pass.”

I am a huge Winston Churchill fan and at times like this I can’t help but think of what he endured and the inspiration he not only gave his country but the entire world in a time of a terrible crisis, World War II.

I have a clear acrylic paper weight on my desk at home and the saying on the bottom in bold black print is:

“These are great days.” –Winston Churchill

On October 29, 1941, Winston Churchill gave a speech to Harrow School. I have attached the link below to the International Churchill Society and I would strongly recommend you listen, it is only 4:04 minutes long.

https://winstonchurchill.org/resources/speeches/1941-1945-war-leader/these-are-great-days/

That was a different war being fought then, than the one we are dealing with now but we can certainly draw similarities to our thinking then to today. Hopefully this will help provide comfort and inspiration to move forward.

There were so many points made in Churchill’s speech that day but I have highlighted the paragraph below which I do believe is very relevant today.

“You cannot tell from appearances how things will go. Sometimes imagination makes things out far worse than they are; yet without imagination not much can be done. Those people who are imaginative see many more dangers than perhaps exist; certainly many more than will happen; but then they must also pray to be given that extra courage to carry this far-reaching imagination.”

It is times like this that investors forget that by owning common shares in a wonderful business that they are part owner of that company. This ownership should not be viewed any differently in my mind than the ownership of your house, cottage, farm or a business you personally own. Yet, when people’s imagination sees more danger than perhaps exist, the first thing they want to do is sell their holdings in common shares. Believe me I fully understand this reaction, but it is moments like this that we have to think long term and remember that these wonderful businesses don’t close their doors but continue to function and have been through economic hardships in the past.

Companies respond to these difficult days, through new inventions and continue to provide services such as access to the internet, products, whether food or medical supplies, I think you get my point. As Churchill, comments: “Yet without imagination not much can be done.”

Paula, Ellen and I are still working through this crisis and are 100% available. If you or any family members need our assistance please feel free to call us.

Stay safe and healthy

Jim Seyers

“Never give in. Never give in. Never, never, never, never--in nothing, great or small, large or petty--never give in, except to convictions of honour and good sense. Never yield to force. Never yield to the apparently overwhelming might of the enemy.”

-Winston Churchill

 

“How will you replace your current income in retirement?”

-Jim Seyers