Bee offers online help on finances

What's a person to do?

The stock market is down. The stock market is up.

That 401(k) isn't worth what it used to be and the old retirement fund is shrinking.

With real estate values in the Northern San Joaquin Valley continuing to drop, cashing out some home equity might not even be possible.

If all this economic turmoil has got your head spinning, there's one consolation: You're not alone.

Plenty of people are wondering where the economy is heading and what their next financial moves should be.

To help address some of those questions, Modesto Bee business editor David W. Hill and Jason M. Gordo of Valley Wealth Inc. will hold a question-and-answer session on modbee.com on April 4.

Gordo is the co-founder of Valley Wealth, a Modesto-based financial planning and services company. A chartered retirement planning specialist, he provides money management and consulting for individuals, families, professionals, businesses and charitable organizations. A Modesto native, he attended Modesto Junior College, University of Phoenix and California State University, Stanislaus, earning a bachelor's degree in business management.

Anyone with questions about current market conditions, investment strategies, retirement planning, diversifying portfolios or other personal financial issues can submit them via e-mail to dhill@modbee.com by Tuesday.

The Bee plans to use the questions as the basis for the program April 4.

While there are no easy answers to all the current economic conditions and the resulting fallout, this online presentation is being conducted to stimulate a discussion of some of those issues and encourage people to carefully examine their financial situations.

In today's tough economy, experts agree that taking the time to explore personal finances is one of the best investments anyone make.

Bee business editor David W. Hill can be reached at dhill@modbee.com or 578-2336.