As you’ve no doubt noticed, your trips to the gas station have been a lot more pleasant these past several months.

Certainly, low oil prices have been welcome to you as a driver. But when oil is cheap, is that good for you as an investor?

There’s no clear-cut answer. But consider the following effects of low oil prices:

• Positive impact on economy — When you spend less at the gas pump, relative to recent years, what will you do with your savings?

Like most people, you’ll probably spend most of it on goods and services. If you multiply the amount of your increased spending by that of millions of other Americans saving money on gas, you can see that consumers are likely adding billions of dollars to the economy.

Typically, a strong economy is also good for the financial markets — and for people who invest in them.

• Varying results for different sectors — Different sectors within the financial markets may respond in different ways to low oil prices, even if the overall effect is generally positive.

For example, businesses such as consumer goods companies and auto manufacturers may respond favorably to cheaper oil and gas. But the picture might be different for energy companies.

You could spend a lot of time and effort trying to adjust your investment portfolio in response to low oil prices. In fact, you may want to consult with your financial professional to determine which moves might make sense for your individual situation.

There’s actually a bigger lesson to be learned here: Don’t overreact to temporary developments. Oil prices' recent decline has certainly had an economic impact, but no one can predict how long these prices will stay low or what other factors may arise that would affect the financial markets.

That’s why you can’t reconfigure your portfolio based on particular events, whatever they may be — oil price drops, interest-rate fluctuations, political squabbles at home, natural disasters in faraway lands, and so on.

If you can keep from being overly influenced by specific events, you may be able to gain at least two key benefits.

First, by not making trades constantly in reaction to the day's headlines, you can avoid piling up heavy fees and commissions — costs that can reduce your investments' return rate.

Second, you’ll find that if you aren’t always thinking about what’s going on in the world today, you can focus investment efforts more intensely on where you want to be tomorrow.

The most successful investors set long-term goals and don’t focus on factors they cannot control, such as oil prices, interest-rate changes or other economic events.

Instead, these investors make adjustments, as necessary, to accommodate changes in their goals as well as other changes, such as revisions in tax laws — but they basically stick to their same approach for the long term.

So be aware of low oil prices, but don’t get so “pumped” about them that you sludge up your consistent investment strategy — because that strategy has the energy to keep you moving toward your important objectives.

This article was written by Edward Jones on behalf of Crestview Financial Adviser Yvonne Shanklin.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: FINANCIAL FOCUS: What do low oil prices mean for investors?

Take a breath — thank a tree. Enjoy nature — thank a tree. Save money — plant a tree.

Florida’s Arbor Day is the third Friday in January; this year, that's Jan. 16. Nationally, Arbor Day is celebrated every year on the last Friday in April, but each state recognizes the holiday based on the most suitable tree planting season.

Florida’s climate in January allows trees to be dormant and easy to transplant with minimal risk of shock.

Additionally, the ground is not frozen, so installation doesn’t require intensive labor or heavy equipment.

But trees are critical to our everyday life, not just something we recognize annually. Consider this:

•They are an important component of the natural landscape because of their ability to prevent soil erosion and preserve the integrity of topsoil, as well as slow water runoff, and absorb polluted water, naturally improving water quality.

•Trees also play an important role in producing oxygen and reducing the atmosphere's carbon dioxide. One mature tree absorbs carbon dioxide at 48 pounds per year.

•Trees help people heal faster. Research has proven that individuals recovering from illnesses or injuries recover more quickly when they can view trees and nature from their windows.

•Trees planted on playgrounds, along walkways and in housing areas decrease ultraviolet exposure, muffle noises, and calm people. Studies have shown that neighborhoods with more trees have fewer incidents of violence than communities with fewer trees.

•Homes landscaped with trees are worth 4 to 15 percent more and sell sooner than homes without trees.

•Studies have shown that people walking or driving down a street lined with trees are more inclined to spend more time shopping. These patrons are willing to pay up to12 percent more for goods and services when the atmosphere is enjoyable.

•Studies have shown that parts of cities without cooling shade from trees can literally be "heat islands," with temperatures as much as 12 degrees Fahrenheit higher than surrounding areas.

•Trees can lower a household or business' air-conditioning and heating costs by decreasing energy use. If the right tree is planted in the right place, it can reduce the utility bill by up to 40 percent.

In Northwest Florida, over 30 percent of the trees have been removed due to storms and development. That is the same percentage of trees remaining on the world's land area.

With Arbor Day fast approaching, now is the time to plant more trees.

Sheila Dunning is a Commercial Horticulture Extension agent at the Okaloosa County Extension office in Crestview.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: EXTENSION CONNECTION: Trees — not just important on Arbor Day

DESTIN — The Down and Dirty Destination Destin Author Bash is scheduled for 1-4 p.m. Jan. 31 at Emerald Grande at HarborWalk Village.

More than 40 authors — including S.M. Donaldson, author of "Letting Lox In" — will be present.

Tickets cost $10 per person, with a $1.24 processing fee. See the "Destination Destin Author Bash" Facebook page to order.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Author bash coming to Destin in January

If you’re an investor, you probably had a pretty good year in 2014. But what’s in store for 2015?

It’s impossible to precisely predict financial markets' performance — but it is possible to identify economic conditions and market forces that may help shape the investment world's 2015 outcomes.  

By paying close attention, you can gain valuable insights as to which investment moves might make sense for you.

Here are a few of these moves:

•Consider adding stocks. With stock prices having climbed higher and higher for more than five years, you might wonder if it’s time to scale back on your ownership of equities. After all, no “bull” market lasts forever.

Still, some factors point to continued strength for stocks over the long term.  First, we are seeing signs of improving economic growth; employment gains and low oil prices are giving consumers more confidence, leading to a boost in spending. Second, corporate earnings — a key driver of stock prices — were quite strong in the second half of 2014, and companies appear poised to show more good results in 2015. Third, stocks — at least large-company stocks — are still reasonably valued, as measured by their price-to-earnings ratios.

Given these factors, you might want to think about adding quality stocks to your holdings — assuming, of course, these stocks can help meet your needs for a balanced portfolio. And be aware that even the most favorable conditions can’t assure a continued run-up in stock prices, which can and will fluctuate.

•Prepare for rising interest rates. For several years, interest rates have been at, or near, historical lows. Given the strengthening economy, and decreased need for stimulus, the Federal Reserve may well raise short-term interest rates in 2015, perhaps as early as this summer.

But long-term rates may start rising even before then, so you may want to take a close look at your bonds and other fixed-rate investments.

As you probably know, when interest rates rise, the value of existing bonds typically falls because investors won’t pay full price for your bonds when they can get newly issued ones that pay higher rates.

One way to combat the effects of rising rates is to build a “ladder” consisting of short-, intermediate- and long-term bonds. With such a ladder, you’ll be able to redeem your maturing short-term bonds and reinvest them in the new, higher-paying bonds.

•Seek investment opportunities abroad. Although economic growth has been slow in some parts of the world, especially China, many countries have initiated policies to spur economic growth. These actions can create opportunities for international equity investments.

Keep in mind: International investing involves particular risks, such as currency fluctuations and political and economic instability. So if you are considering foreign investments, you may want to consult with a financial professional.

There are no guarantees, but by following these suggestions, you may be able to take advantage of what looks to be a fairly favorable investment environment for 2015.

Yvonne Shanklin is a Crestview financial adviser. This article was written by Edward Jones for use by your local Edward Jones financial adviser. 

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: FINANCIAL FOCUS: What does 2015 hold in store for investors?