Weekly Update 12-27-16

In the interesting but useless facts category, we have the following: “Santa Claus tends to come to Wall Street nearly every year, bringing a short, sweet, respectable rally within the last five days of the year and the first two in January. This has been good for an average 1.4% gain since 1969 (1.4% since […]

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Q & A : IRA ROLLOVERS

A recent report from the GAO suggests that IRAs are becoming an increasingly important element of retirement security. An estimated 43 million taxpayers have IRAs, worth an estimated $5.2 trillion. Some 42.3 million of these IRAs are worth less than $1 million each, and 800,000 are worth more. 314 taxpayers have IRAs worth $25 million […]

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I NEED PROTECTION FOR MY 401(K) DISTRIBUTION

Dear Employee Benefit Officer: When I retire in about a year, I’m expecting a six-figure distribution from my employer’s 401(k) plan. The success of my retirement turns on what I do with this money, and I’m more than a little unsettled by the prospect. What should I do to keep my all my options open? […]

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ARE YOU A LIVING TRUST CANDIDATE?

Any comprehensive review of an older person’s financial planning is likely to touch upon the value of a revocable living trust for investment management. THE TRUST APPROACH provides a great tool for delegating investment responsibility into experienced hands without giving up control of assets. Anyone with a substantial portfolio should consider a trust and the […]

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Weekly Update 12-19-16

One of the financial writers I follow began his Wednesday afternoon post with the headline, “The Fed didn’t tighten today”. Scott Grannis, retired economist and financial professional, summarized current interest rates and the Fed’s long awaited rate decision better than I can: The Fed increased its target short-term interest rate today to 0.75%, but that […]

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Weekly Update 12-05-2016

The S&P 500 price return as of December 9 was up 5.6% since the election and 10.55% for the year to date. The yield on the 10-Year Treasury also rose again last week finishing at 2.46%. The week ahead will be busy and includes the Fed’s FOMC meeting on Tuesday and Wednesday. We remain focused […]

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Weekly Update 12-05-2016

Stocks ended modestly lower last week, ending their three week winning streak. The 10-Year Treasury extended its streak of higher yields to four weeks, closing at a yield of 2.39%. Higher rates are beginning to affect the prices of interest rate sensitive stocks. Traders bid the price of oil back over $52 after news of […]

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