We live in an amazing, incredible time. Think about all the conveniences we have now that weren't available even 10 years ago - shopping online, getting directions on cell phones, GPS in cars, and things like that. And this trend will continue, our lives will continue getting better and better as more and more conveniences come online. One of my favorite things about living in our world right now is the amount of information I have at my fingertips. Just being able to hop on Google and find out the answers to questions is fantastic! This was brought into focus for me while reading one of the newsletters I get regularly in my Inbox, by John Mauldin. Here are a list of my favorite e-letters and newsletters, outstanding and interesting information you can get delivered into your Inbox on a regular basis.

• Thoughts from the Frontline, John Mauldin (www.frontlinethoughts.com) - great weekly letter on economics, mortgage markets, and financial information. Well written and very interesting, very engaging and smart author.
  
• Early to Rise, Michael Masterson (www.earlytorise.com) - interesting daily e-letter on being healthy, wealthy and wise written by a successful entrepreneur with a gift for helping other people become wealthy and lead great lives.
  
• Oxford Club (www.oxfordclub.com) - I follow their advice and recommendations for my stock portfolio, excellent research and performance over the last 3 years that I've been a subscriber. Highly recommended for stock investors.
  
• The Economist (www.economist.com) - great way to stay on top of world events, both political and financial. They have weekly e-letters on world cities as well as business news and political happenings.
  
• This is True (www.thisistrue.com) - humorous weekly e-letter on the stupid things people do, always makes me feel just a little bit smarter.

If you have a favorite letter that you'd like me to recommend to other readers, email me at carey@januaryfinancial.com! Hope you have a great weekend...

We recently presented the Investor Development Program Orientation for some of our investor clients and it was an outstanding success. The Investor Development Program was created by Robert Helms and Russell Gray, the Real Estate Guys (www.realestateguysradio.com). It teaches not only the technical side of investing, but also the mental side (which in my opinion is just as, if not more, important). After attending the orientation, prospective members can sign up for a 1-day class costing a total of $199, which will then open up the opportunity to join the Mentoring Club.

The Mentoring Club is a monthly meeting for like-minded investors where you're able to meet with other people going through the same things you're going through, talk about case studies, and learn more about investing in general as well as new investment opportunities and ways to increase your wealth. We are very excited about this opportunity for our clients. Please email me with questions or for more information, and please check out our website while you're at it!

One thing that I would highly, highly recommend to everyone is to read as much as they possibly can. If you're not a big reader, start out with something short and simple to get into it and start feeling comfortable. Eventually, it's probably a good idea to set aside a certain time each week to do some reading. To put a turn on an old class, not all regular readers are intelligent, successful people but all intelligent, successful people are regular readers.

Although there are hundreds of reasons to read, here are a few of my favorites:
- reading helps you become an interesting person.
- reading helps you learn how to write and spell correctly, and will improve your vocabulary.
- reading teaches you about things and subjects that are unfamiliar to you.
- reading introduces you to new ideas and concepts, and helps to explain them.
- reading takes you to times you've never experiences and introduces people you've never met, and can give you an amazing window into other cultures and ages.

Having said that, here area few books that I recommend for everyone. All of them can be picked up on Amazon. If you do end up picking up one of these books and enjoying it, please email me and let me know about it!!

Equity Happens - Russell Gray and Robert Helms
Rich Dad Poor Dad - Robert Kiyosaki
Think and Grow Rich - Napoleon Hill
The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People - Stephen Covey
How To Win Friends and Influence People - Dale Carnegie
The Richest Man in Babylon - George S. Clason
The E-Myth Revisited - Michael Gerber
How to Be Rich - John Paul Getty
Art of the Deal - Donald Trump
Freakonomics - Steven D. Levitt and Stephen J. Dubner