|
|
 Personal Money Planning'se-Newsletter for January 16, 2010 (to look at past issues, click here) |
|
Click Through To Our Web Site
|
|
Send This Newsletter To A Friend 
|
|
Get Your Own Subscription 
|
|
Stats & Tidbits |
|
|
S&P 500
2009 - gain of 26.5%
Since 3/9/09 (market low) through end of year - gain of 67.8%
50 year average - gain of 9.4% per year
Last 10 years - (1/1/00 thru 12/31/09) down 9.1% in aggregate
Other 2009 Returns
Small-cap stocks as measured by Russell 2000 index - gained 27.2%
NASDAQ - gain of 43.9%
Gasoline prices - rose 63%
Oil prices - up 78%
Gold - gained 24%
Bond yields - up 1.62%
|
|
Disclosure |
|
|
|
This newsletter is produced by Gary Silverman, dba Personal Money Planning, a registered investment advisor located in Wichita Falls, Texas.
Information in this newsletter is believed to provide accurate and authoritative information in regards to the subject matter covered. However, the accuracy, timeliness, or applicability of the information is not guaranteed and is provided with the understanding that we are not rendering legal, accounting, tax, or other professional advice or services.
This publication should not be construed by any consumer and/or prospective client as Personal Money Planning's solicitation to effect, or attempt to effect transactions in securities, or the rendering of personalized investment advice for compensation, over the Internet. Nor should links provided to other sites be construed as the recommendation of the services or products mentioned on those sites. If such services are required, the help of a competent professional should be sought.
Remember that past performance may not be indicative of future results. Therefore, you should not assume that the future performance of any specific investment, investment strategy, or product made reference to (directly or indirectly) on this Website will be profitable or equal to indicated performance levels. Different types of investment involve varying degrees of risk, and there can be no assurance that any specific investment will either be suitable or profitable for your investment portfolio.
Historical performance results for investment indexes and categories generally do not reflect the deduction of transaction or custodial charges or the deduction of an investment management fee, the incurrence of which would have the effect of decreasing historical performance results.
A copy of Personal Money Planning's current written disclosure statement discussing Personal Money Planning's business operations, services, and fees (known as an ADV Part II) is available from Personal Money Planning upon written request (and can be downloaded from our web site).
Personal Money Planning does not make any representations or warranties as to the accuracy, timeliness, suitability, completeness, or relevance of any information prepared by any unaffiliated third party, whether linked to Personal Money Planning's web site or incorporated herein, and takes no responsibility therefore. All such information is provided solely for convenience purposes only and all users thereof should be guided accordingly.
| |
|
All my friends in North Dakota, Wisconsin, and other northern locales think we're a bunch of wimps. Sure, this was a rather normal storm when compared to what I used to see in upstate New York. But The Great Christmas Blizzard of '09 was a biggie for this area. After all, most trailer parks up north have more snow plows than our entire county. When snow falls here, it's not going anywhere for a while.
For those of you who missed it, here's a little report from one of our newspaper reporters who got stuck on the highway on Christmas Eve:
As for me, I rather enjoyed the snow. Other than not being able to venture the last 500 yards to make it to Mom's for Christmas, the Great Blizzard didn't cramp our style too much. Of course, it helps when you don't have much style to cramp.
Gary
Gary Silverman, CFP |
| seminar
announcement |
Roth Conversion Seminar |
We will be hosting another seminar spotlighting the IRA-Roth Conversion topic on Thursday, February 18th from 5:30 to 7:30. Location is in Wichita Falls at the new Courtyard Hotel.
The format will be similar to last time, with a CPA talking about tax issues and me (Gary) following with the Roth conversion discussion. If you missed last time, this is your chance. If you came last time, you're welcome to come back for a refresher. And, of course, let your friends know.
|
| seminar
announcement |
HR Update |
My friend, Penny Miller, will be presenting a HR Update this Wednesday, January 20, 9:00 a.m. - noon. Hosted by the Nonprofit Center, this seminar will be held in the Wells Fargo Silver Square Room on Kell Blvd. in Wichita Falls.
This program, applicable to both nonprofit organizations and for profit companies covers topics such as: performance management, new hire requirements (reporting an I-9), and common pay problems.
If you have employees, I highly recommend this seminar.
The cost is $30 for Center partners and Wichita Falls Chamber members, $37 for others. To register, contact the Nonprofit Center at 940-322-4961.
Penny holds the prestigious Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) certification, has a Masters in Management from Troy State University, and brings over 25 years experience as a Human Resource professional in a variety of environments. She is the founder and president of Venture HRO, an HR consulting firm (www.VentureHRO.com).
|
| gary's Sunday newspaper column |
Sunday Newspaper Articles You May Have Missed |
From the last few issues of the Wichita Falls Times Record News
Investing Part 1 - Begin With Your Goals
Begin with you. Your needs. Your tax situation. Your tolerance to the ups and downs of the market. These shape your goals. Because without goals...well, as Yogi Berra said, "If you don't know where you are going, you will wind up somewhere else."
Investing Part 2 - Risk Before Return
Once you determine your financial goal, most investing books advise you to determine the return on investment you'll need to satisfy that goal. I believe they are skipping an important step: determining what amount of risk you can stand.
|
| article links from |
The Economist |
From the January 7 issue
Making a success of failure
http://www.economist.com/businessfinance/displaystory.cfm?story_id=15211818
Here's an interesting article from The Economist that looks at what's good about America's bankruptcy rules. Giving companies and individuals a do-over encourages entrepreneurialism. While abuses are prevalent, the writer feels that the positive impact to the overall world economy outweighs the corruption. |
| from gary's facebook page |
Stuff you may have missed on Facebook |
 Gary has a Facebook page where he regularly sends out links and notes during the week. This section repeats those that are still pertinent to our readers. Even if you are one of his Facebook "friends" you could have missed one or more of these, so you may want to peruse through them, just to make sure.
First some random, but interesting, articles...
Kids' Deployment Experiences
Some personal finance...
For Savers, It Was Hardly a Lost Decade
The " '00s" have been called the "lost decade" for investors. This New York Times article argues that it wasn't lost at all, and the average investor did moderately well.
Make Your 2010 Business Resolution to Become Credit Worthy!
Need credit? Become credit worthy. This one, while written to the self-employed, has tips for anyone trying to raise their FICO score.
And now for the Small Business Owner...
How to Become (And Stay) Self-Employed, According to the Law
HOW TO: Implement a Social Media Business Strategy
http://mashable.com/2009/12/28/social-media-business-strategy/ If you're in business, you've heard about the importance of Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, blogs, YouTube, etc. This article looks at how to integrate social media into your overall business strategy whether you are a multi-national conglomerate or a mom & pop startup.
When Avoiding a Tax Audit - the Best Offense is a Good Defense
If you get hit by an IRS audit, it is good to be prepared...in advance. Here are some survival tips.
Small Business Tax Preparation Tips - Stay a Step Ahead of "Tax Season" Today
This article contains tips businesses and individuals can use throughout the year to be proactive when it comes to your taxes.
And now for some curling...
The Colbert Report: Curling Team Tryouts
And you thought you'd get a reprieve! Here's a funny look at curling through the experiences of Stephen Colbert.
|
|
|
parting thoughts
Prayers for Haiti
And some money wouldn't hurt either
|
What can I say about the devastation that has rumbled through the island nation of Haiti? Turn on the TV or click on the news sites on the web. The pictures and stories are horrific. Their infrastructure was poor to begin with. What there was is no more. Joblessness and poverty were the norm, having so much of their housing and industries destroyed is certainly not going to improve matters.
If you are the praying sort, please spend more time to bring these suffering people before God. For all of us, consider ways that you can support the efforts being made there. It might be a donation. Maybe it's helping gather and transport supplies. Or it could be to make it easier for those with the training and experience to put their lives here on hold and give of themselves to the people of Haiti.
That's all, for now.
Gary
Gary Silverman, CFP
Personal Money Planning
| |
|
|
|
|
©2008 Personal Money Planning. All rights are reserved by Personal Money Planning and content may not be reproduced, disseminated, or transferred in any form or by any means, except with the prior written permission of Personal Money Planning unless specifically noted. (Permission is not difficult to obtain.) The one exception is for downloading and printing information this newsletter for general education by the original recipient. |
|
|
|
|
|
