The National Strategic Investment Corporation (NSIC) is an education and training company on subjects of Alternative Economics™ (see Alternative Economics™ ). NSIC also manages and provides products, tools and non-advisory services (see Services) to a growing national investor group (See NSIG Membership). 

NSIC came from the dreams, ideas and research of two men, Steve Hettema and Charlie Williams.  It has been made possible by the vision and efforts of many including but not limited too:

Cindy Borgen, Barry Doll, Lynda Roger, Jeff Tassin and many others in the NSIG who donated suggestions and information.

Additionally, this dream has been made possible in large part due to the belief and generocity of four very special couples.  They are; Chuck and Dian Monteque, Rudy and Jeannie Swensen, Jerry and Judy Gilbert and Ron and Kathy Rider.  Thank you for your belief in us!

Here is a little information about the Co-Founders:

Steven Hettema

It was a warm early fall day in the orchard working together with my dad picking apples on opposite sides of a McIntosh tree. Like most days we were engaged in deep conversation while we worked. Most of the time it was me asking questions and him sharing stories containing valuable life lessons. We laughed a lot and in the process I learned a lot.

On this day the conversation was on a more serious subject. He spoke about honesty and corruption, valor, courage and standing up for what is right; not letting your beliefs waiver based on popularity or convenience. He explained how our actions are the proof of the faith that we have in what we say we believe.

At first the subject was general in nature but quickly focused on specific applications. He spoke about how many businesses and government programs started out with good intentions designed to benefit people but those initial intentions were abandoned along the way due to greed, self gain or mismanagement. Among other things, he mentioned his pension plan from his service as a fire fighter and the Social Security System. I don’t recall much of the details of what he said because it was the conviction and the concern in his voice that had my attention. All I knew was that he expected something really bad for a lot of people in the future and I could tell it really bothered him.

Still carrying a passionate tone that had reached a sort of peak, he said something about the troubles I and others my age would face in the future and then he fell silent. I didn’t know what to say so I said the first thing that came to my mind, "Why do things have to be that way Dad?" Still, only silence came from the other side of the tree. Curious and a little troubled to hear my dad so uncommonly intense; I walked around to the other side of the tree. There I saw him standing motionless with his large arms resting on either side of his apple tub staring down at the half full tub of apples he had just picked. When he saw me he glanced up forcing a half smile on his face. It was then that I noticed the one tear streaming down the cheek below his left eye and a puddle gathering in the other one. He reached out and pulled me under his arm with a hug and said, "I’m sorry I couldn’t make it different for you".

We talked a while longer about living our lives in a manner that would make a difference to others. He pointed out how important it is that we take it upon ourselves to make this world we live in a better place for those around us. Then we went on to lighter more jovial subjects.

Although our conversation had shifted to other topics, I couldn’t take my mind off the idea of living my life with a purpose to make a difference in the lives of other people. That message spoke clearly to something deep inside me. It was on that day that I received my calling. It was a call to a mission or cause that from then on stirred within my soul urging me to make a difference. Alternative Economics™ is the fulfillment of that calling. I sincerely hope you choose to allow Alternative Economics™ to make a difference in your life.

Please take the time to watch this life philosophy presentation:

Click Here


Charlie Williams

Over the last 20 years there has been a strong push to educate the public in understanding the benefits of investing in Mutual Funds. Almost on a daily basis you can find a Financial Planning seminar scheduled in your local newspaper. I believe this education has been good for the families in America, before this Mutual Fund investing was left up to the institutional investors.

I am a firm believer in education. What I learned about Mutual Fund investing was so intriguing to me that I went to school, studied and received my Series 6 and 63 licenses so I could teach these same concepts to my friends and relatives. I enjoyed the concept that took someone from no experience on how to save to having the ability to create a personal financial plan. They were also educated as to why Mutual Funds were the best vehicle for the Middle American family and gave them the security to know they were on the right track financially.

In my educational presentation I showed my clients that over the last 70 years the Stock Market has grown. It’s gone through the Great Depression, four major wars, recession, two Presidential assassinations and more and still managed growth at 12% per year. That is a great Return on Investment (ROI).

"Don’t put all your eggs into one basket."

Diversifying your portfolio is very sound advice and Mutual Funds give you that diversification. When you invest your money in a Mutual Fund you receive a couple of very powerful advantages.

First, you have the best portfolio managers because Mutual Funds are run by the top minds in the securities industry.

Second, you can purchase shares (units) in Mutual Funds that are diversified into many industries (and companies within those industries) in most cases some 30 – 50 industries and up to 500 different companies.

Instead of trying to figure out which stocks to buy from what company and in what industry you could invest your money in a Mutual Fund that takes care of all of these factors for you.

"Dollar Cost Averaging"

I loved teaching this. Your goal is to Buy Low and Sell High. This is great in theory but not quite so easy in practice. I compared a sophisticated investor that watched the market on a daily basis and was extremely good at buying stocks at the lowest point and selling them at their highest point. The odds of doing this are virtually impossible, but to make a point we compared this to what is called "Dollar Cost Averaging".

Dollar Cost Averaging is setting up an automatic withdrawal on the same day every month. This withdrawal will be used to purchase shares of stock or units in a Mutual Fund. If you compare this plan to the expert plan described above, the difference in the return on investment is only about 1.2%. Meaning that by using Dollar Cost Averaging you would almost create the same results as someone that could time the market every month and buy and sell on the very best days.

A lot of you reading this book have most likely been through a presentation like the one I am describing. I shared these concepts with everyone I could because I felt at that time this was the answer for the American family.

Becoming a Millionaire

Because of my age at the time (around 30 years old) most of my clients were about the same age. My plan was to make them Millionaires by the time they were 65. The plan was simple: Set up an IRA with an initial deposit $1000, then deposit $333.00 a month into the account. The IRA would be funded by a Mutual Fund. I would choose a Mutual Fund that showed an average return of at least 15% over the last 10 years.

The result would be:

Congratulations, if you invest $1,000 now and $333 monthly at 15.00%, you'll be a millionaire in 32 years at age 62.

You could still be a millionaire at age 65 if you:

· Decrease the amount you invest now to $0 , or

· Decrease your monthly investment to $213 , or

· Achieve a rate of return of 12.66%.

BINGO! Based on this plan all my friends and family are set to become Millionaires at retirement!

You can see why I was excited about what I was doing. It was a great pursuit and my clients were excited about their new financial plan and knowledge.

20 years later

I was working with two long time clients and friends, Jim and Pam. They were buying a condominium for retirement purposes so they could easily travel back and forth to Arizona for the summers. We were discussing their retirement and their finances because I was doing the mortgage for their condo purchase. I requested statements of their liquid assets. One of those statements was for the IRA I had created for them 20 years ago when I met with them and created their financial plan.

I asked them where all the money was, thinking they had moved it to other investments. I remember very well the look Jim gave me that day when he said "We haven’t moved any of it, that’s all of it."

At first I thought he was kidding….but he wasn’t. I believe I lost a good friend that day and it made me wonder why the plan wasn’t working. Everyone in the financial planning industry was teaching this same financial plan, as they are still.