Learning from ex-Presidents

Last week we attended the TD Ameritrade conference for RIAs in Orlando, FL. One morning the conference keynote speakers were the former two presidents, Bill Clinton and George W. Bush, in a conversation type format. They sat alongside of each other and were asked questions by TD Ameritrade Institutional's Tom Bradley. What struck me the most about this "conversation" between them was how much they seemingly liked each other.

After the earthquake devastated Haiti, President Obama asked the two men to co-chair the Haiti Relief Fund much like Bill Clinton did with George H.W. Bush did for the Tsunami a few years back. While working alongside one another it seems that two men who once seemed so opposite have managed to become friends. Even more amazing they seemed to agree to some degree on many of the issues they were asked about. They were given the chance to reflect on the decisions and actions they were most proud of while in office as well as what issues or circumstances they wished they didn't have to address. Side note: Bill's infidelity was never brought up.

While both of these esteemed gentlemen have appeared to have benefited from time to reflect on their time in office, and in someways changed for the better because of it, they still remain themselves. Clinton still gives elaborate answers that are very polished and make sure to make everyone feel good. Bush, with more Texas attitude than ever, gives shorter answers. They were both quick to point out the good in each other and the sympathy they had for one another's crisis situations they dealt with while in office. For most of the hour and a half conversation you would think that they hardly disagreed on anything, that is until in the last question on the issue of health care was brought up.

On the issue of health care they were very much divided along party lines. President Bush began by advocating for a private sector solution suggesting that the two biggest problems that needed to be fixed were the ability for insurance carriers to compete over state lines and the need to end frivolous law suits by trial lawyers. President Clinton followed with his strong opinion that there needed to be a public option to truly create competition. He hammered his point home by asking that the audience consider the countries across the world who spend less of their income and receive better health care than we do, and look at how they handle health care.

Both men were dogmatic about their beliefs on health care, which I believe we can all sympathize. Everyone has strong feelings and opinions about health care and how the current government ought to handle it. I would love to hear what you think. What legislation do you think they should pass? What legislation will they pass? How will this affect your investments and your financial future?

Remember, opinions are like bellybuttons: everyone has one, but some are harrier than others!