Thiesen Dueker ~ The Extra Point eUpdate

Thiesen Dueker Group

It's beginning to look a lot like winter...Finally! It was a welcomed change to have cool weather for our last two Bulldog tailgates of the season. The past few months have been a whirlwind; time has flown by and we have had many opportunities to spend time with our clients and friends, and for that we are thankful. We hope you are enjoying this season with those you love.

In October, we were able to open our doors at our Fresno office for our annual open house party with wonderful food from Mattie's Pizza an d Sam's Italian Deli. If you missed this year, please join us next year; it's a wonderfu l time that we enjoy spending with awesome people like you! Our Visalia office held their first Open House in October as well. We had a great turn out at bot h events and it's always fun to show eve ryone around.

Our Annual Toys for Tots Fundraiser on December 3rd was a huge success; Held at Ferguson Bath, Kitchen & Lighting showroom, we filled some bath tubs with hundreds of toys, listened to some great music from Bryan Vickers and had delicious food and wine from Trelio Restaurant - they never disappoint with their excellent catering. Be sure to visit them at their restaurant in Old Town Clovis for an upscale dining experience. Thanks to the generosity of our clients and friends, we collected over $4,300 for Fresno Toys for Tots. We are happy to host this fundraiser to bring smiles to the faces of valley kids!

Welcoming New TD Group Team Members

We are pleased to share that we have expanded once again and have opened an office in Merced. The Fresno TD Team has been working very diligently to get this office up and running for our new advisor and his cl ients. Conrad Fournier, Partner & LPL Financial Consultant, brings decades of industry experience to Thiesen Dueker. Working with Conrad in Merced will be Michelle Shepherd, Client Services Associate. We welcome Conrad, Michelle and their clients to our family.

Thiesen Dueker Seminar Series

Don't forget that we offer an informative seminar series almost monthly throughout the year. We will be kicking 2016 off with a Market Outlook on Wednesday, January 20th . Please join us in our Fresno office and please bring a guest!

From our family to yours, Happy Holidays. Have a safe and happy New Year!!

Is 2016 the year you stop procrastinating about your Financial Plan?

Some things to think about as you get started.

Look at your expenses and your debt. Take a look at your core living expenses (such as a mortgage payment, car payment, etc.). Can any core expenses be reduced? Investing aside, you position yourself to gain ground financially when income rises, debt diminishes and expenses decrease or stay (relatively) the same.

Maybe you should pay your debt first, maybe not. Some debt is "good" debt. A debt is "good" if it brings you income. Credit cards are generally considered "bad" debts.

If you'll be carrying a debt for a while, put it to a test. Weigh the interest rate on that specific debt against your potential income growth rate and your potential investment returns over the term of the debt.

Of course, paying off debts, paying down balances and restricting new debt all works toward improving your FICO score, another tool you can use in pursuit of financial freedom (we're talking "good" debts).

Implement or refine an investment strategy. You're not going to retire solely on the elective deferrals from your paycheck; you're to going retire (potentially) on the interest that those accumulated assets earn over time, plus the power of compounding.

Manage the money you make. If you simply accumulate unmanaged assets, you have money just sitting there that may be exposed to risk - inflation risk, market risk, even legal risks. Don't forget taxes. The greater your wealth, the more long-range potential you have to accomplish some profound things - provided your wealth is directed.

If you want to build more wealth this year or in the near future, don't neglect the risk management strategy that could be instrumental in helping you retain it. Your after-tax return matters. Risk management should be part of your overall financial picture.

Request professional guidance for the wealth you are (or could be) growing. A good financial professional should help to educate you about the principles of wealth building. You can draw on that professional knowledge and guidance this year - and for years to come.

This material was prepared by MarketingLibrary.Net Inc., and does not necessarily represent the views of the presenting party, nor their affiliates. This information should not be construed as investment, tax or legal advice. All information is believed to be from reliable sources; however, we make no representation as to its completeness or accuracy.

New Website!

We are committed to providing you with personal service and ongoing communication as we guide you toward financial independence. As part of this commitment, we are happy to share that we have created a fresh new website with you in mind. This site offers you greater functionality and in-depth information on our philosophy, services and relationship with LPL Financial. Additionally, it will give you the convenience of checking and tracking your accounts online and is completely mobile friendly; Please bookmark our site so you can quickly access your account and other valuable information.

www.thiesendueker.com

Providing extra value in the form of superior online resources is important to us. We hope you enjoy the new format and that it becomes a valuable tool for continued financial information and success.

Chocolate Peppermint Biscotti

Ingredients

1 cup sugar

1 Tbsp hot water

3 eggs

1/2 tsp peppermint extract

1 Tbsp instant coffee

2 cup flour + 2Tbsp for counter

3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder + 2Tbsp for counter

1 tsp baking soda

1/4 tsp salt

11 oz white chocolate morsels

6 peppermint candy canes, crushed

Instructions

In mixer, beat sugar, hot water, eggs, instant coffee and peppermint extract together until smooth and creamy. Slowly add in 2 cup flour, 3/4 cup cocoa, baking soda and salt.
Batter will be very sticky. Line two cookie sheets with silpat or parchment paper. In small bowl mix 2 Tbsp of cocoa powder with 2Tbsp flour. Divide dough in half and sprinkle parchment with flour/cocoa mixture. With hands, press dough into two rectangles, about 4 in by 10 in (and 1/4 inch high).
Bake in a 350 degree oven for about 15-20 minutes. Remove and let cool 10-15 minutes. Slice rectangles into 1/2inch to 3/4 inch wide slices. Lay each slice on it's side and put back in the oven (on the parchment lined baking sheet) for an additional 15 minutes.
Remove from oven and allow to cool completely on wire rack.
Melt white chocolate morsels according to package directions, Spread bottoms of each biscotti with white chocolate then dip into the crushed candy canes. Allow to set, about one hour. Makes about 18 large biscotti. Enjoy!

Market Stats As Of

Dec. 21, 2015

Index	YTD
Dow Jones	+0.34%
Nasdaq	+0.62%
S&P	+0.40%

US Treasury Yield

Maturity	Last Yld
3 mo.	0.15%
5 yr.	1.67%
10 yr.	2.19%
30 yr.	2.91%

CNNMoney.com

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TEAM MEMBER SPOTLIGHT

Meet Conrad Fournier

Conrad has joined the Thiesen Dueker team with the vision of success for his clients' goals; he sees TD Group as a way to help foster that idea. Joining us with decades of experience in the industry, he can deliver a full range of investment planning strategies tailored to your unique needs. Whether you are investing for retirement, education expenses or some other goal, he will help you make informed decisions about your investment strategy. With dedicated, personal service and the right team of specialists to help solve any situation, he can explain complex situations to help you learn and be a part of your planning process. Conrad values his time with his wife, children and grandchildren and spends much of his free time on their Ranch, shooting targets and four wheeling. He also takes pride in his cooking for charitable events as well as his support of the SPCA.

Jeff Thiesen

Partner & LPL Financial Consultant

Lance Dueker

Partner & LPL Financial Consultant

Jasin Carlen

Partner & LPL Financial Consultant

Tom Fife

Partner & LPL Financial Consultant

Conrad Fournier

Partner & LPL Financial Consultant

Holly Bare

Associate & Retirement Plan Consultant

Thomas Frost