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
 
for the week of - 3/28/2011
In This Issue
Market Commentary
Notable Numbers
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Last week we told you about the need to check your credit report so you could see just where you stand.  Once you have done that, there are basically three steps from here.

1.  Dispute any inaccurate information

2. Start to repair your credit

3.   Continue managing your credit to maintain the high score you have.

Dispute any inaccurate information - I've included a link below to a page at the Federal Trade Commission website. If you scroll about half way down they have a great sample latter to use for disputing any inaccuracies on your credit report you wish to address.

FTC website link - http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/pubs/consumer/credit/cre13.shtm

Start to repair your credit - if after reviewing your report you don't find any errors or inaccuracies (or you have already taken the time to dispute them), it's time to start repairing. There is no one right approach to repairing credit. My suggestion would be to create a spreadsheet that you can use to track all of your outstanding debt and start to pay it down in as timely a manner as you can. Doing this accomplishes several things.

1.       You have a handle on your debt (you can see exactly how much you owe and who you owe it to)

2.       You know what you're paying in interest (be prepared this can be a bit of a wakeup call)

3.       You can use this information to keep track of paying things on time

4.       You can also use this information to work on getting your outstanding balances paid off.

As I said two weeks ago, your payment history and total amount owed are the two biggest factors in calculating your credit score. So this approach should prove helpful in getting things on track.

I have created a spreadsheet, in Microsoft excel, that will help you in tracking your credit card debt. If you would like a copy emailed to you, please feel free to reply to this email and I'll get it right out to you.

Continue managing your credit - if after taking a look at your report, you find you have a good score and everything looks to be accurate, you will want to monitor your credit report on a regular basis. For most people, checking once a year will suffice. If you feel you want to look more regularly, there are plenty of websites that will help you in your efforts.

Market Commentary

 
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The performance of the stock and bond markets is a function of how well each responds to the unexpected twists and turns that both are given.  The latest quarter (which ends this Thursday 3/31/11) has included a major change in the political makeup of Congress, the violent protests in Egypt, followed by a massive earthquake in Japan, its largest tremor in at least 300 years.  Many Americans will also remember the first quarter of 2011 for the devastating winter storms that blanketed much of the country throughout January and February.  But in spite of all these troubles, the S&P 500 is up +4.9% YTD (total return) through the close of trading last Friday (3/25/11), just behind the +5.4% gain the stock index produced during the first quarter a year ago on its way to a +15.1% full year result (source: BTN Research). 

 

US employers have not added more than 200,000 new workers in a single month since October 2010.  That number will be the benchmark that economists are watching for when the government releases March 2011 employment data at the end of the upcoming week (source: Department of Labor).

 

The size of the US economy grew by +3.1% during the 4th quarter of 2010 (i.e., quarter-over-quarter change expressed as an annualized total), just below the +3.2% average quarterly gain achieved over the last 20 years.  Inflation fears globally remain high however as tensions in the Middle East pushed the price of gold to an all-time nominal record (i.e., non-inflation adjusted) of $1,438 an ounce last week (source: BTN Research).

Notable Numbers
 

 

 1.     DOWN THEN UP - After losing 16.0% over the previous 49 trading days through 7/02/10 (see bullet # 1 above), the S&P 500 gained +12.1% over the subsequent 3 months and +23.0% over the following 6 months.  The results were based upon the change of the raw index and do not include the impact of reinvested dividends.  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.     IS THAT ENOUGH? - 72% of American workers surveyed believe that they will need to accumulate no more than $1 million to enjoy a comfortable lifestyle during their retirement years (source: Employee Benefit Research Institute).

 

3.     STAYING ALIVE - The life expectancy at birth of an American male is 75.7 years today, an increase of 10.1 years since 1950.  The life expectancy at birth of an American female is 80.6 years today, an increase of 9.5 years since 1950 (source: National Center for Health Statistics).

 

4.     UP JUST ONE YEAR- The normal retirement age (NRA) in 2011 to be eligible for full Social Security benefits is 66 years.  The NRA in 1950 to be eligible for full Social Security benefits was 65 years (source: Social Security).
 
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.
NFP Securities, Inc. does not provide legal or tax advice.

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.