Fundamental of the Week: #23 - TAKE PRIDE IN OUR APPEARANCE. Your personal appearance makes a strong statement about the pride you take in your performance. Dress neatly and professionally. The appearance of our office makes a similar statement about the quality of our work.

On Thursday, June 21, the U.S. Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, based in New Orleans, confirmed a March decision to strike down the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) fiduciary rule for persons providing investment advice for retirement accounts.

Fundamental of the week: #22 - LOOK AHEAD AND ANTICIPATE. Solve problems before they happen by anticipating future issues, planning for contingencies, and addressing them in advance. Work with appropriate lead times. Preventing issues is always better than fixing them.

Every value investor remembers the quote from Bernard Baruch, when asked for the secret of his stock market success: “Buy your straw hats in the winter time.” Baruch isn’t alone; a host of savvy investors, including people like Warren Buffett, are devoted believers in the principle of buying undervalued companies and holding them for the long Tags:

• Investments

Fundamental of the Week: #21 - RELENTLESSLY IMPROVE. “Because we’ve always done it that way” is not a reason. Regularly consider every aspect of your job to find ways to improve. Try a new approach. Look at it from a unique perspective. Think differently. Share what you learn so that others can benefit from best practices as well.

Students approaching graduation from high school are typically eager about entering the next exciting phase of their lives: leaving home for college, the prospect of new friends and new experiences, and taking their first major steps toward independence.

Fundamental of the Week: #20 - ASSUME POSITIVE INTENT. Work from the assumption that people are good, fair and honest, and that the intent behind their actions is positive. Set aside your own judgments and preconceived notions. Give people the benefit of the doubt.

Most of us have heard some variation of the quote famously attributed to Mae West: “If I had known I was going to live this long, I’d have taken better care of myself.” The celebrated actress died in 1980 at age 87, and it’s true that she had a well-earned reputation for knowing how to have a good time.

Fundamental of the Week: #19 - INVEST IN RELATIONSHIPS. Everything we do is built on trust and trust is built on relationships. Make smart decisions that enhance long-term relationships. Be fair with clients and our partners. Strong relationships enable us to more successfully work through difficult and challenging times.