Hitting Your Financial Targets by Mike Kern

Michael L. Kern, Jr., CFP, is the founder and President of Kern & Company Advisory, Inc., a Registered Investment Advisor with six offices throughout Michigan. He is also a NASD Registered Principal & Registered Representative of Mutual Service Corporation (Member NASD/SIPC). He has been a Certified Financial Planner (CFP) since 1987. In addition to Mike's corporate responsibilities, his personal clientele includes individuals, trusts, estates, companies and pension plans, Mike has taught financial planning classes in the adult education departments of several school districts since 1984. He has been the featured speaker at seminars sponsored by companies, governmental bodies, schools, churches and civic organizations in Michigan and Ontario, Canada. He is a published author. Mike took up bowhunting in 1994 and it was love at first shot! His company now sponsors an annual Bowhunters' Shoot Off & Party. According to Mike, there are many parallels between financial planning and being a successful bowhunter. We think you will find his columns interesting, informative and motivational. Our purpose for this monthly column is to help our visitors reach what ever financial goals they seek. This all began when we contacted Mike because he was our 100,000 recorded visitor to Bowhunting.Net.

Hitting Your Financial Targets
by Mike Kern

List Of Mike Kern's Columns

I have been a bowhunter for only three years although I was an avid rifle hunter while growing up in Montana many moons ago. After moving to Michigan in 1968, I hunted with a rifle for a couple years but decided to quit after an uncomfortable experience relating to safety while hunting on public land.

Many of my friends are bowhunters and after listening to their intriguing tales over the years, I finally decided to buy a bow. The first bow I ever shot was the one I had just paid over $400 for. Fortunately, it was love at first shot!

Wanting to be a responsible hunter, I spent many hours practicing from various positions and distances. I wanted to bring down my first deer with a well-placed shot. This fall I had my first opportunity to do so and in spite of all my practicing, I missed a beautiful 6-point buck! It’s a sad story but then many of my bowhunting friends have told me of similar experiences. That’s not much comfort though.

I was lucky enough to have a second opportunity at another shot but couldn’t reach my quiver without my movement being detected. Only a novice like me would hang his quiver on the back side of the tree! I was forced to sit motionless for 15 minutes while that buck stood broadside at 7 yards casually munching. Believe it or not, I actually enjoyed every moment. Being that close to such a magnificent animal without being detected was awesome but not nearly as awesome as I had envisioned the results of my first opportunity to arrow a deer would be. There’s always next year . . . I hope.

As the Franklin Quest Company says, practice does not make "perfect", it makes "permanent", so practice right. Here are the lessons that buck taught me. Practice under real-life hunting conditions, from your tree stand, wearing full hunting clothing, from all kinds of pretzel positions and with the quiver on the bow or at least an arrow within easy reach.

For a story with a happier ending, check out the Third Annual Kern & Company Advisory Inc., Bowhunters’ Shoot Off & Party which I sponsor. Consider organizing something like this in your town. You and your bowhunting friends will be glad you did. Also, here is a link to my company web site Kern & Company Advisory, Inc..

Good hunting! . . . . Mike Kern