Why Invest in Growth Stocks?

Overview:

• A long market bias in favor of value stocks and a compression in valuations between growth and value stocks create the potential for growth stock outperformance through simple mean reversion.
• The U.S. economy is in a low inflation, low interest rate environment.  This type of environment presents a positive fundamental case for multiple expansion and the potential for growth stock performance.
• Economic indicators and the recent performance of growth stocks indicate that the growth/value cycle may be turning in favor of growth.

To read the article in its entirety, click here>

Monthly Education Program

Title:  Goldman Sachs Fixed Income Overview and Outlook

When:  Thursday, March 31, 2011

Time:  Noon to 3:00 pm

           (Lunch Noon to 1:00/Program 1:00 to 3:00)

Location:  MEC in Troy

Click here to download Registration Information!
  

Social Mixer

When:  March 22, 2011

Time:  5:30 pm to 7:30 pm

Location:  To be announced 

Lunch and Learns in Grand Rapids

When:  March 15, 2011

Time:  11:30 am to 1:00 pm

Where:  Brann's Steakhouse on Leonard Street

FPA of Michigan 2011 Annual Fall Symposium

When:  Thursday, October 6th and Friday, October 7th

Where: Inn at St. John's in Plymouth, Michigan

If you have suggestions for topics and/or speakers, please email your

ideas to admin@fpami.com. 

The FPA of Michigan Government Relations Committee is working for you!  Please take a moment to let us know your feedback on the following items:

• What legislative issues in the State are most important to you (issues that could affect your practice or clients)?
• How can the Government Relations Committee better serve your needs in 2011?   

To give us your feedback, please email your response to the above items to admin@fpami.com and put "GR Feedback" in subject line.  Thank you!

To honor the recent retirement of partner Marilyn Gunther, CFP®, the Center for Financial Planning, Inc. in Southfield will be gifting $10,000 ($1,000 per year for 10 years) to the FPA of Michigan for its student scholarship and mentorship programs.

Marilyn, in her response to the gift, remarked "the highest tribute the Center for Financial Planning could have given me was to recognize my interest in fostering the financial planning profession.  I am so pleased with the Center's contribution to the Michigan Financial Planning Association student scholarship fund.  Developing intelligent, ethical and skilled professionals  is the future of this wonderful profession."

Look for continued updates from your Career Development Activities, as they put this gift to work for the FPA of Michigan.

The FPA NEWSbrief is published bi-monthly.  This issue was compiled, written and edited by Mary Medonis, Ryan Smith and Troy Wyman.

FPA of Michigan Chapter Office:

Congratulations to the following members who have reached a milestone in their membership with the FPA:

5 years

New Benefits Available...

Now Available:  Life and Disability Program through Lincoln Financial Group

Effective October 1, 2010, the Small Business Association of Michigan partnered with a new insurance carrier for our group life and disability program - Lincoln Financial Group.  Lincoln is a reputable carrier with strong financial ratings of A+ by A.M. Best Company and AA by both Standard and Poor's and Fitch.  Lincoln is known for its world class service to its customers, providing excellent products at competitive rates.

Features of the new program include:

• Enhanced benefit offerings, including increased guarantee issue limitations.
• Competitive pricing that is more focused on your group specific demographics. 
• Current customers will see a decrease in premium or will maintain your current pricing through the transition. The good news is that even with the enhanced benefits, you won't receive a premium increase.
• New product and plan design options for employers to consider as part of their overall benefit package.
• Prompt and flexible claims submission and processing.
• Consolidated billing, enrollment, accounts receivable and customer service from SBAM.

If you'd like to learn more about enrolling in this life and disability insurance program, please contact Pierre LaVoie at (800) 362-5461 ext. 223 or pierre.lavoie@sbam.org.  You can also visit our website at https://www.sbam.org/Resources/Human-Resources/Lincoln-Financial/ for details on what's available.

Reminder:  You Can Save 25% on

Davenport University Tuition

With Winter Session 2 just around the corner (classes begin February 28), this is a great opportunity to make sure your organization is taking advantage of SBAM's 25% tuition savings at Davenport University.  Yes you read that right:  SBAM members - and their employees and dependents - can save 25% at Davenport! 

All you need to do is request a proof of membership at www.sbam.org/davenport to obtain the discounts!  The discount is open to students currently enrolled, or those eligible for enrollment, who pay full-price tuition.  Discounts are not retroactive.

Remember, these savings are open to all employees of SBAM member companies as well as their dependents!  To date, our members are saving over $70,000!  If you have any questions please contact SBAM's Sarah Miller at sarah.miller@sbam.org or (800) 362-5461 ext. 212.

New SBAM Member Benefit & the Chance to

Win a Nook Color!

Accident Fund Insurance Company of America is partnering with the Small Business Association of Michigan (SBAM) to offer a workers compensation group dividend program. This program offers SBAM members a 5% up-front discount on their workers compensation premium as well as the opportunity to earn dividends based on the group's performance.

To celebrate this partnership Accident Fund is giving away 10 NOOK COLOR e-readers. Sign up for the chance to win at http://www.accidentfund.com/groups/sbam/!