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Is a picture worth a 1000 words?
No BS Weekly Update - November 21, 2011 |
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In This Issue
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They tell us that a picture is worth a thousand words. I was reminded of this recently while reading a Dean Koontz novel. One of the characters is mentally challenged and can't write but yet he composes poetry through the use of pictures. Pictures sometimes have the ability to help us connect and understand things in a way that words can't. With that in mind, here are a few pictures to ponder.
The Markets
Markets are looking weak around the world.
Unemployment and Income
Private job levels have recovered all the way back to November of 1999 levels.
Median incomes have fallen all the way back to 1996 levels (in inflation adjusted dollars).
Real Estate
Real estate prices have fallen back to 2003 levels and show no signs of recovery.
This is part of the problem.
Social Mood
And where have our last two Treasury Secretaries come from? You guessed it, Goldman Sachs.
This is a trend that started under Clinton and continued under both Bush and Obama.
Dr. Prechter at Elliottwave as well as Harry Dent have both been warning about this shift in social mood where people are looking for someone to blame. As social mood changes, the "rich" will come under increasing attacks. What I think is really going to shock many people is how the definition of rich will continue to fall until it encompasses many of you who read this update.
How Do You Protect Yourself?
By having a strategy! There are many that hope we are not getting ready to see 2007-2009 repeat itself. Just remember, hope is not a strategy!
We have been preparing for this situation and developing our strategy for the last several years. If you're not sure how to protect your hard earned assets from what you see happening right before your eyes then please give us a call and schedule an appointment. We'd love a chance to share our strategies with you face to face as a way of earning your business.
ECONOMIC CALENDAR:
Monday - Existing Home Sales
Tuesday - GDP, FOMC Minutes
Wednesday - Durable Goods Orders, Personal Income and Outlays, Jobless Claims, Consumer Sentiment, EIA Petroleum Status Report
Thursday - U.S. Holiday, Thanksgiving
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Performance 
 Notes: All index returns exclude reinvested dividends, and the 5-year and 10-year returns are annualized. Sources: Yahoo! Finance, MSCI Barra. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Indices are unmanaged and cannot be invested into directly. N/A means not available. |
"Make it a habit to tell people thank you. To express your appreciation, sincerely and without the expectation of anything in return. Truly appreciate those around you, and you'll soon find many others around you. Truly appreciate life, and you'll find that you have more of it." -Ralph Marston
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Pumpkin Cheesecake  Indulge your senses with this gingersnap-crusted cheesecake from Midwest Living.
3/4 cup crushed gingersnaps
1/2 cup toasted ground almonds
1/4 cup butter, melted
3 8-ounce packages cream cheese
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
2 tablespoons cognac, brandy or milk
4 eggs
1-1/2 cups canned pumpkin
1/4 cup dairy sour cream
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
1/2 teaspoon ground cardamom
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
Directions:
1) For crust, in bowl, combine gingersnaps and almonds. Stir in butter. Press onto bottom and 1 inch up the side of a 9- or 10-inch springform pan.
2) For filling, in a large bowl, beat cream cheese, granulated sugar, brown sugar, and cognac with an electric mixer until combined. Add eggs, beating on low speed until just combined. Stir in the pumpkin, sour cream, cinnamon, ginger, cardamom, and cloves.
3) Pour filling into crust-lined pan. Place in a shallow baking pan. Bake in a 375 degree F oven for 55 to 60 minutes for 9-inch pan or 35 to 40 minutes for 10-inch pan, or until the center appears nearly set when gently shaken.
4) Cool in pan on a wire rack for 15 minutes. Loosen crust from side of pan. Cool 30 minutes more. Remove side of pan; cool cheesecake completely. Cover; refrigerate for at least 4 hours before serving.
Nutrition Note:
Trim some fat by substituting lower-fat versions of the cream cheese and sour cream.
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Trim the Fat
Yes, eating becomes a national pastime during the holiday season, but that doesn't mean you have to sabotage your weight. When cooking your favorite recipes, just cut back a little to save some calories. Here are a few suggestions:
- Use fat-free chicken broth. - Use sugar substitutes in place of sugar. - Reduce oil and butter wherever you can. - Try plain yogurt or fat-free sour cream in creamy dips, mashed potatoes, and casseroles.
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Share the Wealth of Knowledge!
Please share this market update with family, friends, or colleagues. If you would like us to add them to our list, simply click on the "Forward email" link below. We love being introduced!
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Securities offered through Foothill Securities, Inc. Member FINRA/SIPC.
Reames Financial is not an affiliate of Foothill Securities, Inc.
Investing involves risk including the potential loss of principal. No investment strategy can guarantee a profit or protect against loss in periods of declining values. The Standard & Poor's 500 (S&P 500) is an unmanaged group of securities considered to be representative of the stock market in general.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average is a price-weighted average of 30 significant stocks traded on the New York Stock Exchange and the Nasdaq. The DJIA was invented by Charles Dow back in 1896.
The MSCI EAFE Index was created by Morgan Stanley Capital International (MSCI) that serves as a benchmark of the performance in major international equity markets as represented by 21 major MSCI indexes from Europe, Australia and Southeast Asia.
The 10-year Treasury Note represents debt owed by the United States Treasury to the public. Since the U.S. Government is seen as a risk-free borrower, investors use the 10-year Treasury Note as a benchmark for the long-term bond market.
Google Finance is the source for any reference to the performance of an index between two specific periods.
Opinions expressed are subject to change without notice and are not intended as investment advice or to predict future performance.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
You cannot invest directly in an index.
Consult your financial professional before making any investment decision.
Fixed income investments are subject to various risks including changes in interest rates, credit quality, inflation risk, market valuations, prepayments, corporate events, tax ramifications and other factors.
These are the views of Reames Financial and not necessarily those of Foothill Securities, Inc., and should not be construed as investment advice. Neither Phil Reames, Reames Financial, nor Foothill Securities, Inc. gives tax or legal advice. All information is believed to be from reliable sources; however, we make no representation as to its completeness or accuracy. Please consult your financial advisor for further information.
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Phil Reames
Reames Financial 1856 Skyler Dr. Kalamazoo, MI 49008 269-349-3966
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