JP Bio PicJ. PINK ASSOCIATES, Inc.,

FINANCIAL ADVISORS
 
 
555 Taxter Rd. Suite 190                                      Ph- (914)524-7770
Elmsford, NY  10523                                          Fax- (914)524-7771
 
 
500 Summit Lake Dr. Suite 120
Valhalla, NY  10595
Weekly Market Review
In This Issue
Market Commentary
Notable Numbers
Client Spotlight
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Greetings!
JP Bio PicI hope you're doing well and getting the chance to enjoy the beginning of spring, I sure am. It's time to take out my diagram for my garden and review to see if I need to make any changes.  I'm sure there will be a plant or two that will need to be replaced with something that will thrive more than the existing plant. I'm equally sure there will be a few plants that need to be moved to a better location in the garden in order to have a greater chance of flourishing.

It's kind of funny, as I sit at my desk writing this I am realizing just how similar gardening and financial planning are.

For example;
  •  If you plan BEFORE you get started you have a better chance of success
  •  Even if you started before developing a plan, it's not too late to lay out a plan for the future
  •  Spending even small amounts of time, regularly, on maintenance can produce profound results
  •  Sometimes moving a few thing around can really have a dramatically positive effect
  •  Sometimes moving things around that maybe shouldn't be, can produce disastrous results
  •  Take the time to plan the moves before hand and have a desired result in mind
  •  While planning moves of any sort, consider what will thrive where
I guess I'm not as well rounded as I thought I was 15 minutes ago. The similarities are overwhelming. It seems my passions are very similar after all. I guess it's time to try to expand myself and find another hobby.  Rock climbing, bungee jumping, cooking lessons, wine tasting anyone??? ...

Market Commentary

 
JP Bio Pic
It was Washington's version of Super Bowl Sunday.  Bearing in mind that President Teddy Roosevelt first surfaced the concept of national health care more than 100 years ago, the significance of the day was clear.  Depending upon an individual's political leanings yesterday was either one of the greatest or the worst days ever in the history of social legislation.  At 10:48 P.M. Eastern time Sunday night, the House voted 219-212 to approve the Senate version of health care reform, just minutes before they also passed the reconciliation bill.  The first bill now goes onto President Obama for his signature, leaving only the "fix-it" bill to make its way through the Senate (source: Congress). 
 
The Fed met last Tuesday (3/16/10) and decided to leave short-term interest rates unchanged for a 10th consecutive meeting.  The Ben Bernanke-led group continues to be concerned about tight credit conditions and weaknesses in the commercial real estate industry but they believe that stability is returning to the labor market.  Advancing stocks have now outpaced declining stocks for 6 straight weeks on the NYSE, a signal that confidence is slowly coming back to Wall Street (source: Federal Reserve, Barron's).    
 
Tension with China over its perceived manipulation of its currency is back in the news.  14 senators introduced a bill last Tuesday (3/16/10) that would escalate pressure on China to let the Chinese yuan rise in value versus the US dollar and calls for trade sanctions if China does not act, a threat that has been voiced before (source: Senate).

Notable Numbers

1.     AT LEAST TWO YEARS LONG - The shortest bull market for the S&P 500 in the past 50 years lasted 26 months.  The S&P 500 is an unmanaged index of 500 widely held stocks that is generally considered representative of the US stock market (source: BTN Research).    
 
2.     AND BORROW WE DO - The yield on the 10-year Treasury note was 3.84% on 12/31/09.  The yield on the 10-year Treasury note was 6.45% on 12/31/99.  Thus, for the same annual cost of money that our government would have paid a decade ago, we can borrow +68% more money today than we did 10 years ago (source: BTN Research).   
 
3.     NOT EVERYONE HAS IT - The deduction Americans receive for the home mortgage interest expense they pay reduces tax receipts taken in by the Internal Revenue Service by $70 billion a year.  Citizens of Canada and Britain do not have a deduction for home mortgage interest expense paid (source: IRS, Newsweek).  
 
4.     GETTING OLDER - Life expectancy at birth of Americans has increased by 10 years in the last 60 years, reaching 78.3 years today.  Thus since 1950, life expectancy at birth has increased by 2 months every year (source: Center for Disease Control).

Client  Spotlight - Butch Gilbert, Effective Electric

 
Butch GilbertOur first client in the "Spotlight" is Butch Gilbert.
 
Butch and his wife, Danielle live in Cortlandt Manor, NY with their two children. Butch owns Effective Electric LLC. Effective Electric is a full service electrical company. 
 
Q. What type of customers do you serve?
A. We are able to handle all phases of residential and light commercial electrical work.
 
Q. Is any job too small, or for that matter, too big?
A. No, we are full service electrical contractor. We will provide services from replacing a broken light fixture or switch, to installing new electrical wiring for a renovation or addition.
 
Q. What geographical area do you serve?
A. All of Westchester and Putnam counties. We also serve the neighboring sections in CT.
 
Q. Do you have a website?
A. Yes, www.EffectiveElectric.net 

Q. How can people contact you if they need you?
A. They can call me at (914) 737-2651 or they can email me at EffectiveElec@aol.com 

Q. How do you typically get new Customers?
A. The majority of our new business comes in as referrals from our existing customers.
 
Q. What sets you apart from your competition?
A. We work directly with the customer and keep them informed/ involved from the estimate to
    completion, while always keeping their budget in mind.
 
Q. Are you licensed?
A. We are fully licensed and insured in Westchester and Putnam counties as well as in CT.
 
Q. Do you have a slogan?
A. "We make sure you're never in the dark."
 
Q. If a customer needs work that requires a permit; can you help in getting that permit?
A. Yes, an electrician is required to obtain the proper permits for any job they do where a permit    is necessary. We often have to show that our insurances and licenses are current and in good         standing in order to obtain that permit.
 
Q. Do you charge for job estimates? If so, what is that fee?
A. No.
 
Q. Is there a way to be sure an electrician is licensed and insured??
A. Yes, you can check them out at (www.westchestergov.com) then go to consumer protection, then to the specific contractor.  You should ALWAYS be sure that the electrician you hire is licensed and insured.
 
As always, if there's anything we can help you with, please feel free to call the office anytime.
 
I hope you have a great week.
 
 
Sincerely,
 
John

John W. Pink, Sr.
J. Pink Associates, Inc.,
Financial Advisors
 
 
At J. Pink Associates, we do comprehansive financial planning and wealth management for families and small businesses by getting to know the unique details of your financial
world and thoughtfully crafting a strategy to identify and support your goals.
 
 
This material represents as assessment of the market and economic environment as a specific point in time and is not intended to be a forecast of future events, or a guarantee of future events, or a guaranteew of future results.  Forward-looking statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties.  Actual results, performance, or achievements may differ materially from those expressed or implied.  Information is based on data gathered from what we believe are reliable sources.  It is not guaranteed by NFP Securities, Inc. as to accuracy, does notpurport to be complete and is not intended to be used as a primary basis for investment decisions.  It should also not be construed as advice meeting the particular investment needs of any investor.  The indices mentioned are unmanaged and cannot be directly invested into.  Part performance does not guarantee future results.  The S&P 500 is an unmanaged index of 600 widely held stocks that is generally considered representative of the US stock market.
 
Securities and Investment Advisory Services offered through NFP Securities, INc. a Broker/Dealer, Member FINRA/SIPC and a Federally Registerd INvestment Advisor.
 
 NFP Securities, Inc. does not offer tax or legal advice NFP Securities, Inc. is not affiliated with J. Pink Associates, Inc., Financial Advisors.