This is my yearly rant on things you should be doing or hopefully have already done.

Investors can present their heirs with unusual and unnecessary problems when they die. For instance, give the executor of your will and estate a break. Write everything down on paper.

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I lost my father about two years ago and settling his estate was a breeze because he had everything written down; what it was; where it was; who he trusted, which I thought was pretty smart; and everything was very orderly and matter-of- fact. There was no doubt about anything.

In the midst of winter is a great time to do that; please do it.

Something else you want to do is check your will. Actually, take time to read it. Things might have changed and it might not say what you want.

Another thing is to check the beneficiary of both your pension and any of your life insurance policies. I could tell you the horror story of a client who died and the ex-spouse got both the pension and the life insurance. This is serious stuff.

And finally, get a will written if you don't have one. You do not want the brother you really don't like or. even worse, the state of Pennsylvania deciding what to do with your estate.

For most people, these things are not expensive to implement. Even if they become expensive, do them. You won't regret it.

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Now is a great time to review everything in and about your investment account. January and February are the months I meet with clients to chat about just how we have done. It really is fun and productive.

Have financial conditions changed? Are you buying a new car or a condo in Florida? What are your needs expected to be this year?

I always like to know what is happening in my clients' lives. It helps me prepare them to deal with those issues in advance and if it is all finances, then I should be able to help. Most importantly, it is healthy.

The biggest complaint I ever hear, particularly from new clients, is that no one talks to them. If you are not getting some fairly decent communications from your adviser, then you need a change.

Don't forget about your Individual Retirement Account contributions. In most instances you have until April 15 to make your contribution. Be sure to indicate on the check the year the contribution is for.

Actually, you can be a year ahead if your want. For instance, you can make your 2010 contribution now if you want. Check with your tax adviser for all the qualification rules, but generally you can contribute $5,000, with those of us over 50 years of age having an additional $1,000 catch-up contribution.

Again, the rules can change, depending on your income situation, so check it out.

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The stock markets have been a little erratic. January was not particularly pretty with the Standard and Poor's 500 down 3.7 percent. The NASDAQ Composite was down 5.4 percent.

The foreign markets generally were weak also, with China down more than 9 percent; India, more than 8 percent; and Brazil, down more than 13 percent. Surprisingly, Japan actually was up about 1 percent.

What are the markets going to do? Earnings of corporations in the U.S., which is what it is all about, have been fairly good. Generally, if companies make money, they expand, borrow money and hire workers. These are good things.

As I said last month, we need to see lots of positive signs before employers are ready to hire. I think the markets are waiting for that also.

Investors want to see positive results before committing some of that $3 trillion that is still on the sidelines.

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I was telling the wife, the one who does not think I am funny, my experience of walking down the street the other day. Have you ever done this? After walking down the street for some distance, I realized that I was going in the wrong direction.

I told her that rather than just turning a 180 and walking back in the right direction, I had to look at my watch, saying something to myself, looking at the sky and then turning around and walking in the right direction.

My wife said, "Good move, Howie; you wouldn't want anyone to think you were crazy."

I don't much think she's funny.

Howie Pentony is a Butler financial adviser with UVEST Financial Services, member FINRA/SIPC.