 Too Young to Think About Investing? Think Again!
"How did it get so late so soon?" -- Dr. Seuss
Dr. Seuss's whimsical take on life has been delighting children of all ages for generations. His simple, but powerful words continue to resonate today,  even in the context of planning for a financially secure future. Because when you get right down to it, the younger you are, the more you potentially have to gain by taking advantage of the time ahead of you.
Compounding: A Snowball Effect
The word compounding describes what happens when your investment earns money and this amount is reinvested and generates more earnings. The process of compounding has often been compared to the way a snowball grows as it rolls downhill. You might say that a longer investment time frame is akin to a bigger hill, because each creates conditions for greater growth potential.
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The Markets
Markets Calm During Q3 2016
Markets were relatively calm during the third quarter of 2016, yet they  delivered some attractive returns overall. In the United States, all three major U.S. indices posted record highs twice during a single 7-day period in August, reported CNBC.com. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index (S&P 500) experienced a 51-day streak without at least a 1 percent decline. The index returned 3.3 percent in the third quarter.
Investors were fairly complacent until comments by Federal Reserve officials raised awareness the Fed might raise rates during 2016, possibly as early as September. The S&P 500 lost 2.5 percent and the VIX, known as the market's fear gauge, rose 40 percent in a single day.
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By the Numbers
Notes: S&P 500, Gold, DJ-UBS Commodity Index returns exclude reinvested dividends (gold does not pay a dividend) and the three-, five-, and 10-year returns are annualized ... more important disclosure mentions found here. (We urge you to read the entire disclosure statement.)
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