In the Know with the CEO  by David Long

June 18, 2010

Rumor has it there are three very “hot” Chargers running around.  Yes, it is true, the bank has purchased three new fleet cars and I decided to have a little fun with them.  They sport custom paint jobs created and applied by Jim Defew at Defew’s Custom Painting.  Many thanks go to Jim and his team for creating what I believe to be rolling art work.  The cars are designated by distinctive license plates numbered 1 – 3.  Whether you like them or not, I think you’ll notice them and that is really the whole point.  We plan to have some contests and games kind of in the, “Where’s Waldo” concept as the summer rolls on, so be looking for those announcements from the “Hottest Bank in Town”.

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May 14, 2010

Well, a couple of people have asked me where my updated blog was.  It is comforting to know that there are at least a couple of people who actually read it so here goes.

 May is the month for graduations, a rite of passage which signals the end of one chapter and the start of another.   It is good to do some “self assessment” at such times to see if things have actually panned out as you thought they would.  I suspect that most of us have had a few successes accompanied by a few failures.  Hopefully we learn not to get too “up” from the successes or too “down” from the failures.

I had a guy tell me one time that life makes you cynical.  I think I understand what he meant.  Life’s lessons make your dreams a little smaller and the perceived risks a little greater.  What could we accomplish if we didn’t allow the cynicism to creep in and diminish our dreams? Probably a great deal more than we realize.  Any thoughts?

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April 1, 2010

I recently had the opportunity to visit Washington, D.C.  It was the first time I’ve ever been in our nation’s capital and it was a memorable visit.  Visiting all of the monuments and the famous buildings associated with the founding of this nation was something I’ll never forget.  To witness the dedication of the soldiers guarding the tomb of the unknown soldier, seeing the endless sea of crosses at Arlington National Cemetery, as well as reading the inspirational words of many of our founding fathers, made me truly proud to be an American and mindful of the cost that so many who came before us paid for the freedoms we sometimes take for granted.

It is disappointing that it is difficult to be proud of much of what is going on in Washington, D.C. today.  Regardless of political leanings, whether Democrat or Republican, liberal or conservative, I think we the people would be far better served if our elected representatives kept in mind that they are Americans first and foremost with an obligation to do what is best for the country as a whole rather than their party in particular.  Perhaps they should revisit some of the sights I saw on my visit that they pass by every day and probably don’t even raise their head.

Oh well, speaking of the government, April is tax time!  Don’t forget about IRA accounts as a tool to minimize taxes.  Consult with your tax professional or stop by any First Kentucky office to inquire.

Any thoughts?  

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March 15, 2010

If you’re a college basketball fan, this time of year is about as good as it gets.  I spent about an hour last night listening to the talking heads discuss “bracketology”.  By the way, is it just me or is it obvious that Bob Knight is never going to have anything good to say about UK?  Anyway, I hope the Kentucky teams UK, Louisville and Murray State all have good runs in the tournament.

The thing that strikes me as a little peculiar is the energy and thought spent on filling out these tournament brackets.  I realize that it’s fun and heightens interest in the games.  However, I wonder how many people spend more time working on their tournament brackets than on their financial plans for the future?  I have often heard it said relating to managing finances that people don’t “Plan to fail but fail to plan”.  Given the stakes involved, a secure retirement, etc. isn’t it worth at least as much thought as the upcoming tournament brackets?  That’s just my opinion, any thoughts?

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March 1, 2010

Well, I can honestly say that I never thought I would be writing a blog.  It was only a couple of months ago when I discovered what a “blog” was.  With a wife and three children that are more “techno savvy” than me, I suppose it was only a matter of time before I was pushed into the world of Facebook.  Also, let me say for the record that the name of my blog was not my idea, but was arrived at by other staff members here that are far more creative than me. 

Seriously, we wanted to become a part of Facebook to establish direct communication with fans, and to take advantage of a great marketing tool.  Facebook will allow an exclusive look inside First Kentucky through pictures, videos, posts, etc.  But most importantly, we wanted to connect with our existing and potential customers more closely and this seemed like a great place to start.  So, if there are any topics that you would like to hear my thoughts on, let me know.  I may not know the answer but I probably will have an opinion, right or wrong. 

By the way, I got to see Clapton Saturday night in Nashville.  He was awesome!  If there has ever been a better guitarist in the world, I’d like to know who.  Any thoughts?