Just as Mother Nature sends us “signals” to indicate seasonal changes — blooming flowers, falling leaves, warmer or colder temperatures and longer or shorter days — your portfolio will frequently indicate when you need to make adjustments.

Here are some indicators to heed:

• Out-of-balance portfolio — Even the best stocks can lose value when the overall market is down, but if you only own stocks, you could take a big hit during a downturn — and if it happens repeatedly, you may find it hard to stay invested. After all, stocks fluctuate in value, and protection of your principal is not guaranteed. Yet you can at least help defend yourself against market volatility by balancing your portfolio with a mix of stocks, bonds, government securities, certificates of deposit and other investments, with the percentage of each type of asset based on your individual goals, time horizon and risk tolerance.

• “Overweighting” of individual investments — You can keep too much money in a single investment, such as an individual stock or bond. Sometimes, this “overweighting” can happen almost on its own, as when a stock, or stock-based vehicle, has increased so much in value that it now takes on a larger percentage of your portfolio than you intended — possibly bringing more risk. As a general rule, no single investment should take up more than a small percentage of your entire portfolio.

Your life also may signal a time for change. These milestones may trigger necessary moves:

• New child — Review your life insurance to ensure it is sufficient to help provide for a newborn or newly adopted child, should anything happen to you. You may also want to begin investing in a college savings vehicle, such as a 529 plan.

 • New job — Assuming your new job offers a retirement plan, such as a 401(k) or similar vehicle, how much can you afford to contribute? How should you allocate your dollars among investment choices offered in the plan? How can you best integrate your 401(k) or other plan into your overall investment portfolio to avoid duplication?

• Impending retirement — As you enter retirement, you may want to adjust your portfolio to help reduce short-term fluctuations and provide more current income opportunities. At the same time, you may still need to invest for growth — you could be retired for two or three decades, and you’ll need to stay ahead of inflation.

Pay close attention to the messages coming from your portfolio and from life. These “signals” will give you a good idea of when it’s time to make the right investment-related moves.

Joe Faulk is a Crestview financial adviser.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: FINANCIAL FOCUS: Watch for signs to make portfolio changes

Now that fall is officially here, it’s time to think about chrysanthemums.

Every year, right around football time, mums make their appearance in nurseries, garden departments and grocery stores. 

These are some of the longest-lasting cut flowers, and if kept moist but not soggy, potted mums can last for weeks indoors and look wonderful.

APPEARANCE

Mums have dark-green, deeply lobed and aromatic leaves with soft grey undersides. They come in a wide variety of shapes, sizes and colors, from dark burgundy, bronzes and oranges, to lavenders, light pastel pinks and whites.

These hardy perennials make great container plants, are easy to grow, evergreen through winter and bloom prolifically.

All bloom when nights become longer, in late summer or fall, and many cultivars flower in spring as well. Some are low-growing, and some reach up to 5 feet tall.

CULTURE

Mums prefer slightly acidic soil, with organic components and moderate moisture, but they will grow in less than ideal conditions. 

Pinch back new growth throughout the spring and summer to produce a broader plant with more branching. For really big blooms, eliminate side buds to allow a larger terminal flower to develop.

Flowers will be lovely without such pinching, but there will simply be more flowers rather than bigger ones. 

Divide or thin plants, preferably in the spring before rapid growth begins or in the fall after blooming. Chrysanthemums are relatively disease and pest free, although they may be attacked by spider mites in hot dry weather. If conditions are dry, keep watered, especially if the plant is potted or in bud. 

Mums in the ground are fairly drought-tolerant once established.  However, fungal leaf spot can be a problem if plants are crowded and get poor air circulation.

Sheila Dunning is an agent at the University of Florida's Extension office in Crestview.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: EXTENSION CONNECTION: Let's talk about mums!

Florida hunters planning to hunt deer, moose or elk out of state this year need to be aware of certain laws and regulations aimed at preventing chronic wasting disease from entering our state.

CWD is a contagious neurological disease that has been found in captive and wild cervids (white-tailed deer, mule deer, moose and elk) within 22 states, two Canadian provinces and in South Korea. The disease causes degeneration of the brains of infected animals, resulting in emaciation, abnormal behavior, loss of bodily functions and death. There is no known evidence that CWD can be transmitted to livestock or humans.

Hunters need to know that it is against the law to bring into Florida whole carcasses of any deer from any of the above-listed areas. The purpose of this measure is to prevent CWD from being brought into the state. The infective agent is more likely to be concentrated within the brain, eyes, spinal cord, lymph nodes, tonsils and spleen of the animal. This infective agent, called a prion, can be accidentally deposited into the environment, where it can remain for years and can infect other deer. Many states have a prohibition in place that is similar to Florida’s.

It is OK, however, to bring into Florida deboned meat and finished taxidermy mounts, tanned hides, cleaned skulls, antlers and teeth from any of these places, as long as all soft tissue has been removed.

The disease has been detected in New Mexico, Utah, Colorado, Wyoming, Kansas, Minnesota, Oklahoma, Montana, South Dakota, Nebraska, Wisconsin, Illinois, Iowa, New York, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Michigan, Virginia, Missouri, North Dakota, Maryland, Texas, Alberta and Saskatchewan Canadian provinces, and in South Korea.

For more information about CWD or this rule, visit the Florida Fish & Wildlife Commission website. The site also provides links to wildlife and health agencies with more in-depth information about the disease.

Please report deer found sick or dead of unknown causes to the CWD hotline, 866-CWD-WATCH (866-293-9282).

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Floridians hunting deer out of state need to be aware of CWD laws