Several years ago, a book titled "Men Are From Mars, Women Are From Venus" was quite popular.

The book argues that men and women are vastly different from each other, particularly in their emotional needs and in the way they communicate. Most of us probably agree that the two genders frequently behave differently — and various studies and anecdotal evidence suggest these differences in the way that men and women invest.

Consider this:

• Men tend to trade more often than women. Men seem to buy and sell investments more frequently than women. This difference could result in an advantage for women investors; if women trade less, they may incur fewer commission charges, fees and other expenses, all of which can eat into investment returns. Also, by holding investments longer, women may be able to take better advantage of market rallies. During the 2008-2009 financial crisis, for example, men were more likely than women to sell shares of stock at market lows, which led to bigger losses among male traders — and fewer gains when some of the stock values began to rise again — according to a study by Vanguard, a mutual fund company.

• Men tend to invest more aggressively than women. Perhaps not surprisingly, men seem to be more willing to take risks with their investments. This trait can be positive and negative. On the positive side, risk is associated with reward, so the more aggressive the investment, the greater the potential for growth. On the negative side, taking too much risk pretty much speaks for itself. Ideally, all investors — men and women — should stick with investments that fit their individual risk tolerance.

• Women are more likely to look at the “big picture.” Although male and female investors want information, women seem to take a more “holistic” approach — instead of focusing strictly on performance statistics, they tend to delve deeper into their investments’ background, competitive environment and other factors. This quest for additional knowledge may help explain why all-female investment clubs have achieved greater returns than all-male clubs, according to a study by the National Association of Investors Corp., which represents thousands of investment clubs across the country.

• Men may be more optimistic about the financial markets. Some studies show men are more optimistic about key economic indicators and future stock market performance. Optimism can be a valuable asset when it comes to investing; if you have confidence in the future, you’re more likely to invest for it, and to continue investing. On the other hand, false optimism may lead to over-confidence, which can have negative results for investors.

Neither men nor women have a monopoly on positive investment behaviors; each gender can probably learn something from the other.

Ultimately, it’s your decision-making — not your x- or y-chromosomes — that will determine your ability to make progress toward your long-term goals.

Educate yourself about your choices, and get the help you need from a financial professional, as you invest through the years.

Joe Faulk is a Crestview financial adviser.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: FINANCIAL FOCUS: Different sexes, different investment moves

The “dog days” — summer's hottest, muggiest days — usually fall between early July and early September in the northern hemisphere.

The actual dates vary from region to region, depending on latitude and climate.

In ancient times, when artificial lights didn't obscure the night sky, the Romans tracked seasons with stars.

The brightest constellation, Canis Major (Large Dog), includes the “dog star," Sirius. In the summer, Sirius used to rise and set with the sun, leading the Romans to believe it added heat to the sun.

Although the period between July 3 and Aug. 11 is typically summer's warmest period, the heat is not due to the added radiation from a far-away star, regardless of its brightness.

The heat of summer is a direct result of the earth’s tilt.

Spending time outdoors this time of year is uncomfortable, potentially dangerous, due to the intense heat.

However, chinch bugs are very active in St. Augustine grass, and the summer flowers need water, so take care of those tasks early in the day and then retreat to the air conditioning to plan your fall planting.

Plant tomato plants in August for tomatoes in October. Varieties such as Sun Leaper, Florida 91, Sun Chaser, Solar Set and Heat Wave are good selections for setting fruit in high temperatures.

Many bedding plants flower quickly and can add color to the fall landscape. These include pentas, African marigolds, torenia, zinnias, melampodium and scaevola.

Dependable fall blooming perennials include lion’s ear (Leonotis leonurus), pineapple sage (Salvia elegans), firebush (Hamelia patens), cigar plant (Cuphea micropetala), yellowbells (Tecoma stans) and firespike (Odontonema strictum).

Webster’s second definition of “dog days” is a period of stagnation or inactivity.

But even when the heat forces you to slow down on labor-intensive work, there is plenty of gardening “activity” to do.

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: Dog days are a good time to plant for fall

Baseball’s best players gathered in Minneapolis this week to participate in the All-Star Game.

If you’re a fan, or even a “weekend athlete,” you can admire these players' abilities, even if you — like most people — can’t hope to duplicate them. But if you’re an investor, you may be able to learn some practical lessons from the All Stars.

So let’s look at a few common All Star traits to see how they might apply to investors:

• Consistency — All Stars typically don’t just have a few good weeks or months — they are consistently excellent, year after year. As an investor, you, too, need to strive for consistency. Instead of periodically chasing after “hot” stocks, try to follow a long-term strategy by staying invested in the financial markets, through “up” and “down” periods, and by rebalancing your holdings, as needed, to reflect life changes.

• Ability to avoid errors — Everyone makes mistakes, but All Stars seem to make fewer of them. Whether it’s fielding balls cleanly, successfully executing a sacrifice bunt or not walking a player with the bases loaded, All Stars seem to avoid errors while making the right moves at the right time. When you invest, you need to avoid common “errors,” such as investing either too conservatively or too aggressively. Instead of going to either of these extremes, build a portfolio appropriate for your risk tolerance but still capable of helping you reach your goals.

• Preparedness — All Stars stay in great shape and often develop additional skills as the years go by. By preparing themselves in this way, they can take advantage of opportunities as they arise. As you invest, you will also need to be prepared to take advantage of new opportunities. One such way to prepare is to have enough liquidity in your portfolio to make appropriate investment moves. In addition to preparing for opportunities, prepare for challenges that could jeopardize your investment strategy. For example, you may want to build an emergency fund containing six to 12 months’ worth of living expenses. With such a fund in place, you may not have to dip into your long-term investments to pay for short-term needs, such as a major car repair, a new furnace or a big bill from the dentist.

• Awareness of limits — Not even the best All Stars do everything well. A good “singles hitter,” for instance, won’t waste much effort trying to hit home runs; a powerful, but slow, slugger might not attempt to steal a base. Investors have limits, too, based on their sophistication and their financial resources.

Some wealthy and highly experienced investors may embark on complex or risky strategies, or purchase hard-to-understand investments. But these risky techniques and complex investments are not for everyone. Smart, “everyday” investors know this and stick with proven strategies and comprehensible investments.

You may never step foot on a baseball diamond. But as an investor, you can still pick up some gems of wisdom from the All Stars.

Joe Faulk is a Crestview financial adviser.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: FINANCIAL FOCUS: What investors can learn from baseball stars