A&I Financial Services Periscope

A & I Financial Services LLC Newsletter

For the Week of
June 27, 2012
 
Greetings!  

 

 

With the heat in Colorado, it may be hard to think about school season. However, the summer solstice has passed and every day is now (already) getting a little shorter, so why not think about school?

 

First, think about the costs and second, figure out how to pay for it.

 

College Costs Rose 15% per Year

 

Rapid increases in tuition among our nation's public and private colleges and universities is intimidating. The two-year hike (between 2008-09 and 2010-11) in tuition at this nation's public four-year institutions averaged 15%, with some universities in California, Georgia and other states raising tuition by 40% or more.  Private four-year colleges raised their tuition over this period by "only" 9.7% on average.

 

For more information on the costs of the colleges your kids and grandkids are considering, visit: http://collegecost.ed.gov/


Paying for College

 

Financial Aid is available to more people than many of us realize. FAFSA.ed.gov is a resource for college parents and grandparents who are funding college education.

 

As always, talk to your advisor for advice about ways to increase your college funding options.

Weekly Economic Update 

  

WALL STREET FINDS THE POSITIVE IN THE NEGATIVE
Moody's Investors Service downgraded 15 major banks late last week, yet financial stocks rallied Friday - Wall Street was bracing for deeper cuts. Investors also liked a new accord in Europe - Germany joined France, Italy and Spain in support of a €130 billion stimulus plan to help EU economies in the face of coming austerity cuts. It could be approved at this week's EU summit. Even with last Thursday's Dow dive of more than 250 points, the DJIA is up about 2% for June.(1) 
  
EXISTING HOME SALES FALL 1.5% IN MAY
In the view of the National Association of Realtors, a lack of cheap inventory was behind the downturn. The sales pace in May was still 9.6% better than a year ago with the median price up 7.9% year-over-year to $182,600, a 2-year high. May housing starts fell to 708,000, down from April's 744,000; building permits rose to 780,000 in May compared to April's 723,000. (2,3)
  
LEADING INDICATORS BOUNCE BACK
The Conference Board's June index of leading economic indicators rose 0.3% to 95.8, inching closer to the initial "normal" score of 100.0 that it was established with in 2004. The LEI was up 0.2% in March and down 0.1% in April. (4)
   
A VOLATILE WEEK TAKES DOW DOWN 1%
The DJIA lost 0.99%, to be precise; Friday, it settled at 12,640.78. The S&P 500 lost 0.58% for the week, closing Friday at 1,335.02. The NASDAQ pulled off a 0.68% weekly gain to get to 2,892.42. Oil dove 5.08% last week on the NYMEX to $79.76 a barrel; gold retreated 3.76% on the COMEX to $1,566.90 an ounce. Gas prices also fell slightly: AAA's survey fell to $3.45 a gallon last week. (1,5)
   
     

Market Summary

% Change

Y-T-D

1Yr Chg

5-Year Avg

DJIA

+3.46

+4.39

-1.08

NASDAQ

+11.03

+8.36

+2.34

S&P 500

+6.16

+3.72

-2.23

(Source: msn.money.com, bigcharts.com, treasury.gov, treasurydirect.gov - 6/22/12).  Past performance is no guarantee of future results.  Indices are unmanaged, and investors cannot invest in them directly
Create a beautiful week!

Karl Frank, MBA, MSF
Certified Financial Planner (R)
A & I Financial Services LLC
303.690.5070
 
Citations:   

 

1 - money.msn.com/market-news/post.aspx?post=95f998bd-6fbe-4de1-9b51-8cb1f437973a [6/22/12]
2 - articles.marketwatch.com/2012-06-21/economy/32343033_1_median-prices-prices-surge-home-sales [6/21/12]
3 - briefing.com/investor/calendars/economic/2012/06/18-22 [6/22/12]
4 - www.conference-board.org/data/bcicountry.cfm?cid=1 [6/21/12]
5 - montoyaregistry.com/Financial-Market.aspx?financial-market=common-financial-mistakes-and-how-to-avoid-them&category=29 [6/22/12]

 

  

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

""If you spend too much time thinking about a thing, you'll never get it done."
  
Bruce Lee

Karl Frank is Featured in the June 2012 edition of the The Journal of Financial Planning

 

Click Here to Read "Leadership in Action"  Article 

 

   Riddle of the Week

 

It can be told and made, and cracked and played - and yet, it is only spoken. What is it? 

      

  Last week's riddle:

 

 I can't walk, but at times I run and I am very difficult to hide. I am always with you. What am I?  

    

        Last week's answer:  

 

  Your Nose

Karl Frank was interviewed by 9News on March 28th, 2012 regarding "3 Things You Should Do if You Win the Mega Millions Lottery". 

Click Here to View Video 

 

 

 

Karl Frank In Investment Advisor Magazine

Holiday header
Investment Advisor - November 2011
 
Investment 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.