To a long list of South Sound authors, add the name Ben Jennings.

He’s a fee-only financial planner in Lakewood and a contributor to “Investing in an Uncertain Economy for Dummies,” which was published just last month.

A CPA, CFP (Certified Financial Planner) and PFS (Personal Financial Specialist), Jennings wrote chapters 38, “Assess Your Ability to Absorb Losses,” and 67, “Make Sure You’re Accumulating Enough.”

Altogether, the book ($21.99) covers subjects including, among others: investments, risk, allocations, retirement and diversification of a portfolio. It’s simply written and the advice seems sound. You may not find detailed information on how to position derivatives and swaps in light of tomorrow’s Libor – but that’s probably a good thing.

I spoke with Jennings earlier today, and what with the economy being what it is, I asked him for one piece advice that I could pass along, free and exclusive, to Biz Buzz readers. He welcomed the opportunity.

He said, “After people get their October statements: Don’t panic. If they’re so bothered they can’t sleep, they should think about adopting a more stable portfolio, and moving slowly from stocks over to bonds. If they’re 70 percent in stocks, they might go 60. But don‘t pull the money out and sit in cash.”

DHL Express, the European package express carrier that bought Seattle's Airborne Express in 2003, said today it is exiting the domestic express business.

The company will lay off some 9,500 employees in the U.S. but maintain offices in the U.S. for international shipments, DHL announced today in Germamy.

The company said it is still negotiating with Atlanta's United Parcel Service to handle its business within the U.S.

A spokeswoman for DHL said the company didn't have a breakdown of layoffs by state or city. The halt in domestic shipments will happen Jan. 30.

Most dramatically affected will be DHL's air hub in Wilmington, Ohio. where many of its employees are concentrated.

The declining economy and competition from UPS and FedEx led to the decision to stop service between U.S. cities.

As U.S. automakers appeal to the White House for financial aid following steep sales drops, Washington auto dealers report grim conditions on the sales floors.

"Bad, bad, bad, bad and really bad," said Washington Auto Dealers Executive Vice President Vicki Fabre, describing the state of the auto business in the Evergreen State.

"Some dealers who've been around have told me its the worst it's been in 25 years, if not in history," she said.

Dealerships are being forced to close or consolidate, and surviving car stores are cutting back on personnel.

Through the end of the third quarter, Washington car sales are down nearly 14 percent, and the association predicts that sales will decline more than four percent further next year before finally rebounding in 2010.

Fabre said the sales decline is hurting not only the dealers themselves but the communities where they do businss. Sales tax collections from car sales are down steeply, she said, causing government to tighten its belt to compensate. Likewise local charities and civic causes are suffering because car dealers have tighened up their giving.

Sales figures through the third quarter show that domestic carmakers in particular are suffering in Washington.

Just 31 percent of Washington car sales were domestic cars this year compared with 40.7 percent nationwide.

The most popular make in Washington is toyota with a 20.8 percent market share. Honda was second with 13.6 percent of the market.

They were followed by Chevrolet with an 8.8 percent share and Ford with 8.7 percent.

Ford, General Motors and Chrysler, the domestic Big Three, reported sales down 23 percent in Washington this year so far while Japanese makes were off 8.4 percent and European car makers off 7.5 percent.
Korea brands' sales were down 13.2 percent.

The bright side of the miserable situation, said Fabre, is that for those looking for a new car, the deals are astounding.

Manufacturers are offering low interest and cash incentives, she said. And financing is still available despite the gloomy stories about credit cutoffs.

Should you need to do some banking tomorrow – Veterans Day – you may have a chance, depending on your bank.

Of the local major banks, most Wells Fargo and US Bank branches will be open for business.

Key Bank, Bank of America, Columbia Bank and Frontier Bank branches will be closed.

As will the Post Office.

But you'll still have a chance to tinker with your investments, as U.S. stock markets will be working. Well, maybe not working, but they will be open for business.

Boeing's diminishing backlog of 767 model airliner offers got a boost this week with an order for four 767-300ER airliners from Uzbekistan Airways.

The twin-aisle aircraft, built in Boeing's Everett factory, are worth $597 million at list prices.

With the 767 order, Uzbekistan Airways has on order a total of six Boeing jetliners, the four 767s and two 787-8s.

Uzbekistan Airways operates six Boeing 757-200s and five 767-300ERs.