Dear Clients,

Recently, I returned from an amazing trip to Kenya, Africa. It was my sixth time traveling to the African continent. Africa is a very special place. Barbara and I travel there to go on safari. It is the only place where we can see endangered animals living in a natural environment. The beauty of the landscape and the diversity of the continent is just breathtaking.

This trip we went to special conservancies in search of Black and White Rhino, Leopards, Gravy Zebra and Reticulated Giraffe. We were successful in seeing and photographing all the above animals.

I am going to relate a story to you about one of the safari days. On this particular day we decided to look for the elusive leopard. Very rare and its numbers diminishing quickly because of poaching and habitat loss.

We started out just before dawn. Leopards are most active in the mornings and in the evenings. Our tracker and guide is a 3^rd generation Samburu tribe elder. He was taught tracking by his father and grandfather. He has no formal education from school on animals or tracking. What Sambara the guide has is all the practical knowledge that no textbook can teach. I can identify the different types of animal tracks but have very little tracking experience.

After about one hour of searching we found the tracks of a leopard. We followed the tracks to a baby impala that was hanging in the tree, which was the leopard’s dinner. We continued following the tracks for about one quarter mile when the tracks disappeared into a thick bushy tree. Sambara drove the vehicle around the tree and said the leopard was hiding in the tree. We stopped the vehicle and started searching the big thick leafy tree. After about 10 minutes Sambara said he sees the Leopard and points to where it is. I see nothing. I took out my binoculars and looked into the tree and still saw nothing. After 10 minutes of staring a second vehicle with another group of people and a guide pulled up to the tree to see what was going on. The Leopard now starting to feel closed in moved and started to make its escape out of the tree to find better cover. It was at this point I finally saw the Leopard. The Leopard walked very nonchalantly in front of the vehicles and went deeper into other undercover. I was able to get some good photos of this Leopard.

My analogy of this story is markets can be confusing and seeing what really is in front of you takes skill and knowledge. Craig is 3^rd generation finance educated in our firm. Craig’s grandfather started our family business in New York and passed on all the wisdom of finance to me. I moved the firm to California and grew it. I followed the advice and knowledge my father imparted to me. Now, as I get ready to retire at the end of the year, I am confident that Craig has all the wisdom and knowledge to guide you into a great future.

Craig sees the Leopard way before you can.