Greetings!
This week's Periscope comes from Cameron Morgan, an A&I Financial Services advisor of 4 ½ years.
A cartoon in The Denver Post made me chuckle last Sunday morning. It features a couple walking past some shops. Decorators are busy spraying artificial snow in the windows, stringing red and green twinkling lights around the doorway, and hanging HAPPY HOLIDAYS banners. The man says to his wife, "Ah, the Christmas decorations are going up - I guess Thanksgiving must be right around the corner!"
In the spirit of abundance, let's take a quick peek at what comes after Christmas. That's right, the New Year. And with the New Year comes my second-favorite way to show my gratitude: saving in a 401(k), 403(b), or similar plan. The limits are rising in 2012, everyone! What a wonderful time of the year!
That's right: beginning January 1, 2012, the 401k limits are rising to $17,000 per person, from $16,500 in 2011. If your plan offers a Roth 401(k) option, you can sock away an extra $500 a year after tax, and it may grow tax free. Folks over 50 can save an additional $5,500 in Catch-Up contributions.
Consider showing your gratitude for all you have this holiday season. Put a little more in your employer-based retirement plan, if you have one. You may be surprised at just how thankful you feel - if not now, then certainly later. You'll appreciate your young self, one day. (10)
Thanksgiving and its message really are the heart of all celebrations and holidays: gratitude, love, family time. From our family to yours, we wish you a Happy Thanksgiving! |
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| Karl Frank in Investor Advisor Magazine | |
 | | Investor Advisor - November 2011 |
Investor Advisor Magazine's November 2011 edition features Karl Frank. In the article "Never Satisfied" John Sullivan writes: Passion born of tragedy drives Karl Frank to do all he can to help business owners ensure a legacy for loved ones and heirs. Industrial age publisher and philanthropist Frederick Bonfils said there is no hope for the satisfied man. If that's the case, Karl Frank is full of hope.
"I'm never satisfied," Frank says matter-of-factly when asked about his advisory firm.....Read More. |
| Weekly Economic Update | |
CONSUMER PRICES RETREAT IN OCTOBER
For the first month since June, consumer inflation decreased. The biggest influence on the 0.1% decline in the Consumer Price Index? Falling retail gasoline prices. New car prices also saw their biggest one-month drop in nearly two years. Core CPI rose 0.1% in October; annualized inflation lessened to 3.5% with annualized core CPI at 2.1%. Producer prices declined last month as well, going -0.3% after a +0.8% September showing; core PPI was flat in October.(1,2)
RETAIL SALES, HOUSING STARTS, LEI ALL ENCOURAGE
The Commerce Department said U.S. retail purchases increased by 0.5% in October - the fifth consecutive monthly gain. While overall housing starts declined 0.3% last month, single-family home construction improved by 5.1%. October housing permits were 17.7% above year-ago levels. The Conference Board's index of leading economic indicators rose a striking 0.9% in October, with the boost in home construction a key factor.(2,3,4,5)
GOLD & OIL PRICES SLIDE
In fact, gold had its roughest trading week since September, with prices pulling back 3.5% to $1,720.10 at Friday's COMEX close. Oil prices also descended: crude settled at $97.41 per barrel on the NYMEX at week's end.(6,7)
STOCKS LOSE SOME GROUND
Investors weren't buying much last week, what with one eye on Europe and another on the "super committee" impasse in Congress. The Dow, S&P 500 and NASDAQ all pulled back for the week as follows: DJIA, -2.94% to 11,796.23; S&P 500, -3.81% to 1,215.67; NASDAQ, -3.97% to 2,572.50.(8)
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| Trust Company of America Announcement | |
Trust Company of America announces a new web site with new, easier-to-understand graphics and features. I think you will appreciate it. They did research with advisors like us and clients like you to find out how to improve, and they've done a great job. Here is a short video explaining the new software, called "Liberty." Check it out! (9)
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| Market Summary |
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% Change |
Y-T-D |
1Yr Chg |
5-Year Avg | |
DJIA |
+1.89 |
+5.50 |
-0.89 | |
NASDAQ |
-3.03 |
+2.31 |
+1.04 | |
S&P 500 |
-3.34 |
+1.59 |
-2.65 |
(Source: cnbc.com, bigcharts.com, treasury.gov, treasurydirect.gov - 11/18/11). Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Indices are unmanaged, and investors cannot invest in them directly. |
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Create a beautiful week!
Karl Frank, MBA, MSF
Certified Financial Planner (R)
A & I Financial Services LLC
303.690.5070
Citations:
(1) - www.businessweek.com/ap/financialnews/D9R1SFE00.
htm [11/16/11]
(2) - www.nytimes.com/2011/18/16/business/economy/us-retail-sales-rose-0-5-in-october.html [11/16/11]
(3) - www.latimes.com/business/realestate/la-fi-housing-starts-20111118,0,4792319.story [11/17/11]
(4) - www.dailyfinance.com/2011/18/18/index-of-leading-economic-indicators-rises/ [11/18/11]
(5) - montoyaregistry.com/Financial-Market.aspx?financial-market=retirement-investment-funds&category=3 [11/18/11]
(6) - www.cnbc.com/id/45346193 [11/18/11]
(7) - www.cnbc.com/id/45346195 [11/18/11]
(8) - www.cnbc.com/id/45354584 [11/18/11]
(9) - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y031CrTZBAo
(10) - http://www.money-zine.com/Financial-Planning/Retirement
/401k-Contribution-and-Catch-up-Limits/
This material has been prepared and is distributed solely for information purposes only. It is not a solicitation or an offer buy any securities or instrument or to participate in any trading strategy. There is no assurance that a particular trading strategy will achieve investment success.
Securities offered through Geneos Wealth Management, Inc., member FINRA/SIPC. Investment advisory services offered through A & I Financial Services LLC, registered investment advisor.
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| Words for Thought |
"Accept no one's definition of your life; define yourself." Harvey Fierstein |
| Watch Karl Frank on Channel 9 News & Read his article "Where to Invest in Times of Turmoil" | |
Click Here
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Riddle of the Week |
Gerald Ford was our 38th President, but he was actually the 37th man to take the job. Why was that?
Last week's riddle:
A sudden noise startles a gopher, an owl and a skunk at the edge of a forest. The owl flies off and the gopher retreats into his burrow, but the skunk runs for the trees. How far can that skunk run into the forest?
Last week's answer:
Halfway; after he gets halfway in, he's running out of the forest.
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