Invest Wisely

We invest money in securities to make money.

The term "securities" includes a broad range of investments such as stocks, bonds, and mutual funds. There are two broad categories of securities - equity and debt securities. Equity securities represent ownership of some part of a company. Debt securities represent a loan from the investor to a company or government entity.

Investing in equity and debt securities always involves some degree of risk. We invest hoping we will make money but sometimes we lose money just because of the nature of investments and how they perform in the markets. We increase our chances of making money by investing wisely. When making investment decisions, be aware that:

• The higher the expected rate of return, the greater is the risk. Depending on market developments, you could lose some or all of your initial investment, or a greater amount.
  
• Some investments cannot easily be sold or converted to cash. Check to see if there is any penalty or charge if you must sell an investment quickly or before its maturity date.
  
• Investments in securities issued by a company with little or no operating history or published information may involve greater risk.
  
• Securities investments, including mutual funds, are not federally insured against a loss in market value.
  
• Securities you own may be subject to tender offers, mergers, reorganizations, or third-party actions that can affect the value of your ownership interest. Pay careful attention to public announcements and information sent to you about such transactions. They involve complex investment decisions. Be sure you fully understand the terms of any offer to exchange or sell your shares before you act. In some cases, such as partial or two-tier tender offers, failure to act can have detrimental effects on your investment.
  
• The past success of a particular investment is no guarantee of future performance.

Confirm your complaint to the firm in writing. Keep written records of all conversations. Ask for written explanations.

If the problem is not resolved to your satisfaction, consider contacting one of the securities regulators:

The Georgia Securities Regulator
Business Services and Regulation Division - Investment Advisors
2 M L King Drive
315 West Tower
Atlanta, GA 30334
(404) 656-2894

U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission
Atlanta Regional Office
3475 Lenox Road, NE Suite 1000
Atlanta, GA 30326-1232
(404) 842-7600

National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc.
One Securities Centre, #500
3490 Piedmont Road NE
Atlanta, GA 30305
(404) 239-6100

Information from investor complaints helps regulators identify securities law violations and prosecute violators. Regulating organizations are not authorized to provide legal representation to individual investors or to get your money back for you. They provide a forum to resolve disputes between brokerage firms and their customers.

Maximize your investment earnings. Check out investment products and the sales representative carefully before you buy.
Reference: Invest Wisely, SEC.

Your Relationships

Grandparents as Parents

Today more and more grandparents are living with and raising their grandchildren. As of 1991, 3.3 million children in the United States were living with their grandparents instead of their parents. This is a 40% increase just in the last ten years!

Why are so many grandparents becoming parents for a second time? Reasons include:

• an increase in the number of unmarried teenagers who become parents and are not able to support their children,
  
• parent(s) becoming addicted to alcohol or drugs,
  
• parent(s) being physically abusive to their child,
  
• parent(s) getting a divorce and/or losing a job,
  
• parent(s) who are in jail or prison and cannot provide for their child,
  
• parent(s) who are terminally ill or have died.

If you are caring for your grandkids on a daily basis, here are some helpful suggestions:

• Be optimistic and positive about your new role It is normal for grandparents to feel overwhelmed, depressed and even angry at becoming a full-time parent again, but children often sense these feelings. Grandparents who are cheerful and optimistic about the future, instead of being angry and sad, pass these feelings on to their grandchildren and create a healthier living environment.
  
• Freshen up your parenting skills and learn about child and adolescent development in society today. Some seniors who have already reared their children are insulted at the suggestion to take parenting classes. Yet, growing up today is much different than when seniors grew up or even when their own children grew up. Kids today have to face many difficult situations (such as divorce, crime, and drugs) at much younger ages. Grandparents who learn about new strategies for raising children will improve their parenting skills and gain a better understanding of what their grandchildren are experiencing.
  
• Stay involved in your grandchild's school work and school activities. Go to PTA meetings and parent-teacher conferences to learn about how your grandchild is doing in school and to identify any problems. Contact with the school lets the school know that you are interested and involved in your grandchild's welfare.
  
• Become aware of any services available to help you in your parenting role. Support groups for seniors who are raising grandchildren are increasingly common. These groups provide seniors with a place to meet other grandparents in the same situation and share their experiences. Examples of these types of support groups include Grandparents as Parents (GAP), Grandparents Raising Grandchildren, Second Time Around Parents, and Raising Our Children's Kids. Groups like these are offered around the country. If none are in your community, consider organizing one!
  
• Take care of yourself!! Grandparents who raise grandchildren tend to feel overwhelmed and often overlook their own health and social needs. It is important for seniors in this situation to set aside regular periods of time for recreation, resting, hobbies, and friends. Simple tasks such as going to the store, attending church, or getting your hair done can help you to maintain a positive attitude.

Your Health

Does Your Mouth Tell You What to Eat?

Are some foods too hard for you to chew or do they hurt your mouth? A healthy mouth is free of disease and allows you to talk and eat in comfort. Diseases of the mouth include cavities and gum disease. You will enjoy food less if you have tooth loss or dry mouth.

Let's look at your mouth. Do you have all your teeth? Some people expect to lose teeth as they age, but many older people are keeping their teeth. You can get cavities at any age so brush and floss regularly.

If you already have missing teeth, you may have a bridge, partial or dentures. These appliances should not keep you from enjoying your food. Some people with dentures avoid food with seeds such as tomatoes or hard foods like nuts. But you can find substitutes. For example, eat peanut butter instead of nuts.

Next, think about your chewing. Proper chewing is important for digestion. Dentures that don't fit need to be adjusted by the dentist or fixed with adhesives. Arthritis of the jaw can make chewing difficult or painful. While arthritis cannot be cured, you can make chewing easier. One way is to drink fluids with meals. Another is to change food texture such as cooking raw vegetables or blending fresh fruits. You can also choose softer protein sources like fish, eggs or black-eyed peas instead of pork chops or steak.

Finally, how does your mouth feel? Is it moist or dry? A dry mouth can change how food tastes and can make your mouth feel sore or burning. A major cause of dry mouth is medicine. Medicines that can cause dry mouth include high blood pressure medicines, diuretics (water pills) and pills that help depression. If you have dry mouth frequently, talk to your doctor. Sometimes medicines can be changed or stopped with your doctor's help. If your medicine cannot change, drink more fluids that do not have alcohol or caffeine to help moisten your mouth.

Some seniors may not go to the dentist because they are going to so many other doctors. But a healthy mouth is important for a healthy you. If you have teeth, take good care of them. If you have bridges, partials or dentures that don't fit well, see your dentist for an adjustment.

An Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Organization Committed to a Diverse Work Force

DP-CFR-075 December, 1994

Issued in furtherance of Cooperative Extension work, Acts of May 8 and June 30, 1914, The University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences and the U.S. Department of Agriculture cooperating.

Gale A. Buchanan, Dean and Director