Shoulder the Load

This will probably be the last day of our body part concentration routine. I know I've had fun. It's a unique and good way to train sometimes provided you have 5 days per week to devote to weights. Plus you can really make strides in a body part you feel is lacking.

Shoulders. Not only do they cap off a chiseled, proportioned physique. They support our upper body and help protect our neck. They also act as a bridge between our neck, back and arms. Much of the heavy lifting in daily life is done in part by our shoulder muscles.

Get a load of this workout and see increased strength, flexibility, and shape to your boulders, er shoulders!

Smith Machine Military Press

1. Sit on an upright bench in the Smith Machine with the bar level with your shoulders. Grip the bar with an overhand grip.

2. Press the bar up until your arm are extended. Don't shrug your shoulders. Lower the weight with control to the starting position.

I like the Smith machine here until you're comfortable balancing the weight, just like squats. Here you will have a smooth range of motion and can use a little more weight.
3 sets x 10 reps

Upright EZ Bar Row

1. Stand upright holding a barbell in front of your thighs with an overhand, shoulder-width grip.

2. Maintaining an upright posture, lift the bar upward along your body, leading with your elbows to bring the bar toward your chin. At the top, your elbows should be pointing toward the ceiling. Flex your shoulders for a moment, then straighten your arms to lower the bar back to the start.

These are great for traps and even the lats to a certain extent.
3 sets x 10 reps

Seated Dumbell Lateral Raise

1. Sit with your abs contracted and feet shoulder-width apart. Hold dumbbells in to each side of your thighs with your palms facing each other.

2. Leading with your elbows, raise your arms up and out to your sides in an arc, stopping when they're parallel to the floor. Lower under control. Throughout the exercise, your elbows will remain straight, but not locked -- the movement should be generated in your shoulders, not your arms.

Perfect over-all shoulder move really sculpts and tones the shoulders.
3 sets x 10 reps

Market Musings.....

Where do the wealthy park their assets? After all, many, if not all of these families can afford a managed account where their financial advisor can run a private portfolio for them. Do they need indexed securities like the pedestrian mutual fund or its trendy cousin the ETF?

http://allaboutalpha.com/blog/2007/06/06/study-suggests-wealthy-avoiding-mutual-funds-in-favor-of-indexing/