Good Retirement Planning Doesn’t Stop Once You Retire

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Retirement planning can involve many different products and solutions, sequenced over a great span of your working life. Planning early certainly can open you to more options and opportunities. But retirement planning—especially for this generation of retirees—is a living process, meaning that it should be subject to evaluation to ensure needs are still being met. Regular review is critical as you accumulate retirement income and good retirement planning doesn’t stop once you retire.  Here are four reasons why.

Your Needs May Change

Your needs may change during the accumulation phase of financial planning and they can change once you are in retirement. The difference between the two is that in the latter you have generally stopped working. This can make being financially prepared for these changes challenging, which is why a financial advisor can be very beneficial.

Examples of changing needs:

  • Need to address new medical needs/costs
  • Want to leave a financial legacy
  • Want to finance a vacation, college education, or other high-expense items, but need to evaluate impact on your overall retirement plan

You May Need To Preserve More

Preservation is a key phase of retirement planning (taking place after accumulation and before retirement). In the preservation phase, you will identify ways to ensure that assets are protected and structured to give you the most upon retirement. But preservation can (and should) be an activity you perform while in retirement. Why?

  • Because you may have lived longer than expected and your retirement resources need to stretch further.
  • A change in the tax-environment may take larger portions of your distributions
  • Inflation/higher cost of living as you age

In a situation where you need to preserve more of your retirement income to last longer, a financial advisor may be able to find opportunities that can help.

A Key Retirement Account/Strategy Reach Maturation/Completes

Some retirement strategies and accounts are only structured to last for a certain period. This can be something that was selected when you first created your retirement plan. So if your annuity runs out (why didn’t you select the lifetime income rider?), what do you now? Do your contingencies still project you and give financial security in retirement?

It May Be Time To Trigger A Key Account/Strategy

Some retirement accounts/strategies may be delayed well into retirement. For instance, in may be to your advantage to delay Social Security benefits to full retirement age (66) or beyond. Or you may have an annuity that’s ready to trigger. Consulting with your financial advisor as you trigger these accounts can help you understand next steps and highlight new opportunities.

 

Perspectives Monthly Lifestyle eNewsletter for June, 2019

/in /by

Beckett Financial Group      825 Meeting Street, West Columbia, SC 29169      BeckettFinancialGroup.com

(803) 939-4848

JB Beckett

JB@BeckettFinancialGroup.com

JB Beckett presents:

 

SMART TIP:

Looking for stress relief? Try petting a dog or cat. Studies show that playing with a companion animal can lower your levels of cortisol and increase oxytocin. Don’t have a furry friend of your own? Visit a friend who does or consider volunteering at a local animal shelter or rescue group.

 

WHO SAID IT?

“The price of greatness is responsibility.”

 

[GET THE ANSWER]

 

TEST YOUR

KNOWLEDGE:

Q:

 Roughly what percentage of workplace retirement plans now have a Roth feature?   

 

A)

25%

B)

30%

C)

60%

D)

70%

 

[GET THE ANSWER]

 

 

June 2019

Furthering Your Fluency

What steps can make learning a new language more fun, more rewarding, and less intimidating?

[CLICK TO READ]

 

 

Retaining Your Tax Records

Just how long should you keep income tax forms?

[CLICK TO READ]

 

 

How Much Coffee Is Too Much? 

Is there a level at which coffee consumption becomes more harmful than helpful?

[CLICK TO READ]

 

 

Recipe of the Month

Hearty Make-At-Home Ramen Bowls 

[CLICK TO READ]

 

Furthering Your Fluency

Maybe you have thought about learning another language; maybe you need to. While this may be a challenge, it may not be as hard as you think. Language learning has shifted to a new paradigm: the activities brought to you by today’s most popular language apps seem more like a game where the effort you put forth to learn seems more like play and less like work. Some help you link a word (and a corresponding image) to a real-life situation. Some provide instruction in short, efficient segments of time (10-15 minutes), working on the principle of spaced repetition – the idea that you learn and retain more when you return to the same content or lesson rather just “one-and-done” instruction. Beyond the apps, television is also a great way to witness how another language is used in real life, even if the dialogue seems dizzyingly fast (turn the closed captioning on if no subtitles are provided). Online meetups – which bring fluent and novice speakers of languages together from around the world – also have the potential to accelerate your learning curve. Finally, grammar rules should not intimidate you. You can learn proper conjugation and tense for another language the same way you learned them in English as a kid – by speaking the language daily, rather than studying rules in a textbook.

1

 

 

Retaining Your Tax Records

How long should you keep your income tax forms around? An old adage says seven years, but there is no simple answer to that question. The Internal Revenue Service advises you to hang on to your 1040 forms and other federal tax forms until the period of limitations applying to them runs out – in other words, until the deadline to amend your return passes as well as the I.R.S.’s capability to assess additional tax for that tax year. The agency advises every taxpayer to retain tax records for at least three years. If you file a claim for a loss from worthless securities or bad debt deduction, the recommendation is seven years. If you have tax records pertaining to real estate transactions, you should keep them until you either sell or transfer the property, which could mean holding on to them for as long as you live. As a last note, a tax professional, attorney, insurer, or creditors may prefer that you retain your business or personal tax records for longer than the 3-7 years the I.R.S. recommends, depending on your financial, legal, or business situation.

2

 

 

How Much Coffee Is Too Much?

A large morning latte or mocha… a cup of coffee with lunch… maybe an iced cappuccino with friends in the evening… it all adds up to a lot of caffeine per day for a great many of us. Yes, caffeine has some health benefits, but judging by two newly released studies, it seems that 2-4 cups of coffee per day can be good for you, but 5-6 cups per day marks a tipping point. A paper just published in the

European Journal of Epidemiology

suggests that there is a link between drinking 2-4 cups of coffee daily and lowering your risk of dying from heart disease, lung disease, diabetes, and cancers. (This was actually a mega-study analyzing 40 prior studies on caffeine intake involving nearly 4 million subjects.) A new study appearing in

The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition,

however, concludes that drinking six or more cups of coffee per day can raise an individual’s risk of heart disease by as much as 22%. So, enjoy your coffee, but in moderation.

3

 

 

Recipe of the Month

Hearty, Make-At-Home Ramen Bowls

 

Ingredients:

1 tsp. sesame oil

1 tsp. olive oil

2 to 4 cloves garlic, minced

2 to 4 tsp. ginger, freshly grated

½ cup carrots, shredded

½ cup shiitake (or other) mushrooms, sliced

4 cups broth (chicken, beef, or vegetable)

1 Tbsp. rice vinegar (optional)

3 to 4 Tbsp. low-sodium soy sauce, to taste

1 to 3 Tbsp. Sriracha sauce, to taste

6 oz. of plain Ramen noodles

 

Toppings:

Sliced chicken, beef, or pork

Seaweed or nori

Sliced scallions

Asian pickles

Corn

Bean sprouts

Sesame seeds

Shredded carrots

Soft-boiled egg

 

Directions:

 

Begin by adding the olive oil to a 5- to 6-qt. Dutch oven, warmed on medium heat. Sauté onions until translucent. Then, season with salt and pepper, add minced garlic, and cook for a few additional minutes.

Next, crush the tomatoes by hand, and transfer into the pot, then add chicken stock, bay leaves, and dried oregano. Heat to a simmer, then reduce heat while still maintaining a low simmer. Cook for about 20 minutes.

Warm up a large frying pan on medium heat and add the remaining olive oil into a sauté pan. When the oil is hot, evenly spread the cubed bread onto the pan. Toss to coat with oil and brown the sides of the bread evenly.

 

After the soup has cooked for approximately 20 minutes, add the browned bread cubes. Cook for about 5 more minutes, then turn off the heat, cover the soup, and let stand for 15 minutes. Remove the lid, then extract the bay leaves and discard.

Set aside about

?

of the soup. Purée the rest with an immersion blender or pour it into food processor and blend until smooth. Re-incorporate the blended and unblended soup. Pour into bowls and serve with grated parmesan and chopped fresh parsley or basil.

 

Recipe adapted from www.killingthyme.net

 

JB Beckett may be reached at

(803) 939-4848 or jb@beckettfinancialgroup.com

BeckettFinancialGroup.com

 

WHO SAID IT?

 

Winston Churchill

 

TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE ANSWER:

A:

 D, 70%.

4

 

This material was prepared by MarketingPro, Inc., and does not necessarily represent the views of the presenting party, nor their affiliates. This information has been derived from sources believed to be accurate. The publisher is not engaged in rendering legal, accounting or other professional services. If assistance is needed, the reader is advised to engage the services of a competent professional. This information should not be construed as investment, tax or legal advice and may not be relied on for the purpose of avoiding any Federal tax penalty.

 

 

Citations

.

1 – mashable.com/article/best-way-to-learn-language/ [8/15/18]

  

 

2 – irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/how-long-should-i-keep-records [5/1/19]

 

3 – techtimes.com/articles/243232/20190513/study-reveals-the-amount-of-coffee-you-should-drink-everyday-to-live-longer.htm [5/13/19]

 

4 – fool.com/retirement/2019/05/12/3-reasons-to-save-for-retirement-in-a-roth-401k.aspx [5/12/19]

 

 

 

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Weekly Economic Update for May 20, 2019

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In this week’s recap: tariffs and U.S.-China trade tensions once again become the talk of Wall Street, and U.S. stocks end up lower, week-over-week.

Weekly Economic Update

 

Presented by JB Beckett, May 20, 2019

 

THE WEEK ON WALL STREET

Stocks fell sharply at the start of last week over trade tensions, then recovered with help from strong earnings and indications that U.S.-China trade talks would continue. Even so, the major indices had a down week. The S&P 500 lost 0.76%, while the Nasdaq Composite fell 1.27%, and the Dow Jones Industrial Average declined 0.69%.

In contrast, the MSCI EAFE benchmark for international stocks rose 0.19%.

1-2

 

THE LATEST TRADE DEVELOPMENTS

A broad selloff occurred Monday after China announced it would respond to increased U.S. tariffs by boosting its own import taxes on $60 billion of U.S. products. Friday morning, the Street breathed a sigh of relief as the Trump administration decided to delay 25% tariffs planned for imported cars and car parts; they had been slated to take effect on May 18. Just hours later, President Trump announced an end to U.S. tariffs on metals coming from Canada and Mexico.

At midweek, Secretary of the Treasury Steven Mnuchin told reporters that he expected the U.S. to resume trade negotiations with China in “the near future.”

3-5

 

 

Earnings Season Winds Down

The first-quarter earnings scorecard is nearly complete, as more than 90% of S&P 500 companies have reported actual Q1 results.

Stock market analytics firm FactSet notes that 76% of these firms have beaten consensus earnings-per-share estimates. Overall earnings for S&P 500 components have surpassed expectations by 5.4%. Both of these percentages are above 5-year averages.

6

 

FINAL THOUGHT

The market is quite sensitive to trade developments at the moment, and it is unclear whether this will be a short-term trend or a long-term influence on prices. While the U.S. prepares its next moves, China is also preparing its response to any new U.S. tariffs, which could include manipulating its currency.

 

T I P   O F   T H E   W E E K

 

A small, but growing, percentage of companies now offer

student debt assistance

as an

employee benefit

. If you are looking for a new job and have outstanding education debt, research whether a potential employer can help you pay down your student loan balance.

 

 

THE WEEK AHEAD: KEY ECONOMIC DATA

Tuesday:

The April existing home sales report from the National Association of Realtors.

Wednesday:

Minutes from the Federal Reserve’s May policy meeting.

Thursday:

April new home sales figures from the Census Bureau.

Source: Econoday / MarketWatch Calendar, May 17, 2019

The Econoday and MarketWatch economic calendars list upcoming U.S. economic data releases (including key economic indicators), Federal Reserve policy meetings, and speaking engagements of Federal Reserve officials. The content is developed from sources believed to be providing accurate information. The forecasts or forward-looking statements are based on assumptions and may not materialize. The forecasts also are subject to revision.

 

THE WEEK AHEAD: COMPANIES REPORTING EARNINGS

Tuesday:

AutoZone (AZO), Home Depot (HD), Kohl’s (KSS), Nordstrom (JWN)

Wednesday:

Analog Devices (ADI), Lowe’s (LOW), Target (TGT)

Thursday:

Best Buy (BBY), Intuit (INTU), TD Bank (TD)

Friday:

Foot Locker (FL)

Source: Morningstar.com, May 17, 2019

Companies mentioned are for informational purposes only. It should not be considered a solicitation for the purchase or sale of the securities. Any investment should be consistent with your objectives, time frame and risk tolerance. The return and principal value of investments will fluctuate as market conditions change. When sold, investments may be worth more or less than their original cost. Companies may reschedule when they report earnings without notice.

 

 

Q U O T E  O F  T H E  W E E K

 

“Every great

mistake

has a halfway moment, a split second when it can be

recalled

and perhaps

remedied

.”

PEARL S. BUCK

 

 

 

T H E   W E E K L Y   R I D D L E

 

Can you name

two

 

perennial

 

vegetables

? (That is, vegetables that don’t need to be replanted and can live on to produce in a future growing season?)

 

LAST WEEK’S RIDDLE: Name three words in everyday English that begin with the letters “dw.”

ANSWER: Any three of these five words will do: dwell, dwelling, dwarf, dweeb, and dwindle

.

 

 

JB Beckett may be reached at (803) 939-4848 or jb@beckettfinancialgroup.com 

BeckettFinancialGroup.com

 

Know someone who could use information like this?

Please feel free to send us their contact information via phone or email. (Don’t worry – we’ll request their permission before adding them to our mailing list.)

 

This material was prepared by MarketingPro, Inc., and does not necessarily represent the views of the presenting party, nor their affiliates. The information herein has been derived from sources believed to be accurate. Please note – investing involves risk, and past performance is no guarantee of future results. Investments will fluctuate and when redeemed may be worth more or less than when originally invested. This information should not be construed as investment, tax or legal advice and may not be relied on for the purpose of avoiding any Federal tax penalty. This is neither a solicitation nor recommendation to purchase or sell any investment or insurance product or service, and should not be relied upon as such. All market indices discussed are unmanaged and are not illustrative of any particular investment. Indices do not incur management fees, costs and expenses, and cannot be invested into directly. All economic and performance data is historical and not indicative of future results. The Dow Jones Industrial Average is a price-weighted index of 30 actively traded blue-chip stocks. The NASDAQ Composite Index is a market-weighted index of all over-the-counter common stocks traded on the National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotation System. The Standard & Poor’s 500 (S&P 500) is a market-cap weighted index composed of the common stocks of 500 leading companies in leading industries of the U.S. economy. NYSE Group, Inc. (NYSE:NYX) operates two securities exchanges: the New York Stock Exchange (the “NYSE”) and NYSE Arca (formerly known as the Archipelago Exchange, or ArcaEx® , and the Pacific Exchange). NYSE Group is a leading provider of securities listing, trading and market data products and services. The New York Mercantile Exchange, Inc. (NYMEX) is the world’s largest physical commodity futures exchange and the preeminent trading forum for energy and precious metals, with trading conducted through two divisions – the NYMEX Division, home to the energy, platinum, and palladium markets, and the COMEX Division, on which all other metals trade. Additional risks are associated with international investing, such as currency fluctuations, political and economic instability and differences in accounting standards. This material represents an assessment of the market environment at a specific point in time and is not intended to be a forecast of future events, or a guarantee of future results. MarketingPro, Inc. is not affiliated with any person or firm that may be providing this information to you. The publisher is not engaged in rendering legal, accounting or other professional services. If assistance is needed, the reader is advised to engage the services of a competent professional.

CITATIONS:

1 –

wsj.com/market-data

[5/17/19]

2 –

quotes.wsj.com/index/XX/990300/historical-prices

 

[5/17/19]

3 –

reuters.com/article/us-usa-trade-china/tough-talk-from-china-leaves-trade-talks-with-u-s-in-limbo-idUSKCN1SN207 

[5/17/19]

4 – marketwatch.com/story/mnuchin-says-he-expects-to-go-to-beijing-to-continue-trade-talks-in-the-near-future-2019-05-15 [5/15/19]

5 – npr.org/2019/05/17/724357441/u-s-to-lift-tariffs-on-canadas-and-mexico-s-steel-and-aluminum [5/17/19]

6 – insight.factset.com/market-punished-sp-500-companies-reporting-negative-eps-surprises-in-q1 [5/17/19]

 

CHART CITATIONS:

wsj.com/market-data [5/17/19]

 

quotes.wsj.com/index/SPX/historical-prices [5/17/19]

 

treasury.gov/resource-center/data-chart-center/interest-rates/Pages/TextView.aspx?data=yield [5/17/19]

 

treasury.gov/resource-center/data-chart-center/interest-rates/Pages/TextView.aspx?data=yieldAll [5/17/19]

 

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Retirement In Sight for May, 2019

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Beckett Financial Group      825 Meeting Street, West Columbia, SC 29169      BeckettFinancialGroup.com

(803) 939-4848

JB Beckett

JB@BeckettFinancialGroup.com

Monthly News and Information for Current and Future Retirees

Presented by JB Beckett 

–

 MAY 2019

QUOTE OF THE MONTH

 

“To know oneself is to study oneself in action with another person.”

BRUCE LEE

RETIRING WITH A CASH RESERVE

Many people want to enter retirement with a) investments that may have benefited from years of growth and compounding, b) a manageable debt position, and c) a cash reserve for emergencies. Just how large should that cash reserve be? There is no simple answer to that question because the answer is different for each retiree.

As pre-retirees save and invest, in pursuit of their retirement objectives, they are commonly encouraged to create a portfolio and accept some market risk. After all, keeping too much money out of the financial markets could carry an opportunity cost (lost yields, lost tax benefits). Retirees, however, may wish to maintain a cash reserve to deal with the unexpected. A health emergency may come with significant out-of-pocket costs. An air conditioner or water heater may break down, a storm may damage a roof or cause flooding – and a retiree household may face sudden home repair costs. In these situations, monthly cashflow may be disrupted and having a cash reserve can certainly help.

1

Golf TIP

Your address position might be affecting your putting

If your putts often come up short, the way you address the ball might be the culprit. Your stance over a putt should allow the putter to strike the ball when the putter is either level to the ground or about a quarter-inch above the ground at the moment of impact.

Source: GolfInfluence.com

THE MEANING OF “RETIREMENT”

Americans across different age groups seem to share a common vision of what their retirements will be like, a new whitepaper from the Transamerica Center for Retirement Studies suggests.

The Center surveyed baby boomers, Gen Xers, and millennials to assess their feelings and perceptions about their futures. All three generations saw retirement as a period of increased free time, yet 55% of all respondents felt their retirements would include some work. The top nouns and adjectives associated with retirement were “freedom,” “stress-free,” and “enjoyment.” Some of the findings are definitely intriguing. Just 39% of millennials indicated they were worried about the future of Social Security, compared to 49% of boomers and 48% of Gen Xers. Only 40% of all respondents indicated that they were prioritizing keeping their job skills up to date, a factor which could help them continue their careers longer. While 74% were concerned about maintaining their health in retirement, just 22% said that they took their long-range health into account when making lifestyle decisions.

2

 

DID YOU KNOW?

 

Ben Franklin was (street)wise

Franklin was regarded as one of the great minds of his time, yet his formal education ended at age 10. He went to work for his older brother’s printing business at age 12.

3

ON THE

BRIGHT SIDE

Eighty-two percent of the retirees surveyed for the 2019 edition of the Employee Benefit Research Institute’s (EBRI) annual

Retirement Confidence Survey

 said that they felt confident they had enough savings to live comfortably for the rest of their lives.

4

BRAIN TEASER

 

You saw me where I never was and where I could not be. And yet within that very place, my face you often see. What am I

?

STUMPED? CALL (803) 939-4848 FOR THE ANSWER!

JB Beckett may be reached at (803) 939-4848 or jb@beckettfinancialgroup.com 

BeckettFinancialGroup.com

 

This material was prepared by MarketingPro, Inc., and does not necessarily represent the views of the presenting party, nor their affiliates. This information has been derived from sources believed to be accurate. The publisher is not engaged in rendering legal, accounting or other professional services. If assistance is needed, the reader is advised to engage the services of a competent professional. This information should not be construed as investment, tax or legal advice and may not be relied on for the purpose of avoiding any Federal tax penalty.

 

CITATIONS.

1 – kiplinger.com/article/retirement/T047-C032-S014-how-much-cash-should-retirees-hold.html [6/18/18]

2 – foxbusiness.com/personal-finance/retirement-baby-boomers-gen-x-millennials [5/3/19]

3 – history.com/topics/american-revolution/benjamin-franklin [1/18/19]

4 – ebri.org/docs/default-source/rcs/2019-rcs/2019-rcs-short-report.pdf?sfvrsn=85543f2f_4 [6/18/18]

 

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Weekly Economic Update for May 13, 2019

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In this week’s recap: domestic and international stocks sell off as higher tariffs go into effect for Chinese goods coming to the U.S., while the wave of notable initial public offerings continues.

Weekly Economic Update

 

Presented by JB Beckett, May 13, 2019

 

THE WEEK ON WALL STREET

As we noted recently, Wall Street has a wandering eye. Last week, it focused on the new tariff threats in the ongoing U.S.-China trade dispute. Stocks fell across five trading sessions: the Dow Jones Industrial Average lost 2.12%; the S&P 500, 2.18%; the Nasdaq Composite, 3.03%. International stocks also fell: the MSCI EAFE index declined 3.06%. 

Earnings and big-name initial public offerings mattered little last week. Traders were more concerned about how consumers and corporations might be affected by higher import taxes in future quarters.

1,2

 

TARIFFS INCREASE

At 12:01 am on Friday, duties on $200 billion worth of Chinese products coming to the U.S. rose from 10% to 25%. Just days earlier, President Trump had tweeted that the U.S. might also tax another $325 billion of Chinese imports, mainly consumer goods.

While the proposed new taxes might take months to implement, institutional investors reacted negatively to this information, perceiving that trade talks were stalled.

3,4

 

 

FINAL THOUGHT

A few weeks ago, market watchers noted the huge number of initial public offerings anticipated for 2019. One well-known tech firm completed its IPO on Friday, and the wave of tech IPOs is still building. According to research firm CB Insights, the average stock market valuation of the venture-capital-backed tech companies going public this year is $9.6 billion.

 

T I P   O F   T H E   W E E K

 

Getting married?

Think about whether you want to keep your finances

separate

or create some

joint

investment and bank accounts. If you want a joint investment account, you will need to agree on the investment style.

 

 

THE WEEK AHEAD: KEY ECONOMIC DATA

Wednesday:

April retail sales figures from the Census Bureau.

Friday:

The University of Michigan’s preliminary May consumer sentiment index, a measure of consumer confidence.

Source: Econoday / MarketWatch Calendar, May 10, 2019

The Econoday and MarketWatch economic calendars list upcoming U.S. economic data releases (including key economic indicators), Federal Reserve policy meetings, and speaking engagements of Federal Reserve officials. The content is developed from sources believed to be providing accurate information. The forecasts or forward-looking statements are based on assumptions and may not materialize. The forecasts also are subject to revision.

 

THE WEEK AHEAD: COMPANIES REPORTING EARNINGS

Monday:

Take-Two Interactive (TTWO)

Tuesday:

Agilent (A), Ralph Lauren (RL)

Wednesday:

Alibaba (BABA), Cisco (CSCO), Macy’s (M)

Thursday:

Applied Materials (AMAT), Nvidia (NVDA), Walmart (WMT)

Friday:

Deere & Co. (DE)

Source: Morningstar.com, May 10, 2019

Companies mentioned are for informational purposes only. It should not be considered a solicitation for the purchase or sale of the securities. Any investment should be consistent with your objectives, time frame, and risk tolerance. The return and principal value of investments will fluctuate as market conditions change. When sold, investments may be worth more or less than their original cost. Companies may reschedule when they report earnings without notice.

 

 

Q U O T E  O F  T H E  W E E K

 

“The

possible’s

slow fuse is lit by the

imagination

.”

EMILY DICKINSON

 

 

 

T H E   W E E K L Y   R I D D L E

 

Name

three words

in everyday English that begin with the letters “dw.”

 

LAST WEEK’S RIDDLE: There are two friends: one always goes to sleep as the other wakes up, and vice versa. They never see one another. What are they?

ANSWER: Night and day.

 

 

JB Beckett may be reached at (803) 939-4848 or jb@beckettfinancialgroup.com 

BeckettFinancialGroup.com

 

Know someone who could use information like this?

Please feel free to send us their contact information via phone or email. (Don’t worry – we’ll request their permission before adding them to our mailing list.)

 

This material was prepared by MarketingPro, Inc., and does not necessarily represent the views of the presenting party, nor their affiliates. The information herein has been derived from sources believed to be accurate. Please note – investing involves risk, and past performance is no guarantee of future results. Investments will fluctuate and when redeemed may be worth more or less than when originally invested. This information should not be construed as investment, tax or legal advice and may not be relied on for the purpose of avoiding any Federal tax penalty. This is neither a solicitation nor recommendation to purchase or sell any investment or insurance product or service, and should not be relied upon as such. All market indices discussed are unmanaged and are not illustrative of any particular investment. Indices do not incur management fees, costs and expenses, and cannot be invested into directly. All economic and performance data is historical and not indicative of future results. The Dow Jones Industrial Average is a price-weighted index of 30 actively traded blue-chip stocks. The NASDAQ Composite Index is a market-weighted index of all over-the-counter common stocks traded on the National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotation System. The Standard & Poor’s 500 (S&P 500) is a market-cap weighted index composed of the common stocks of 500 leading companies in leading industries of the U.S. economy. NYSE Group, Inc. (NYSE:NYX) operates two securities exchanges: the New York Stock Exchange (the “NYSE”) and NYSE Arca (formerly known as the Archipelago Exchange, or ArcaEx® , and the Pacific Exchange). NYSE Group is a leading provider of securities listing, trading and market data products and services. The New York Mercantile Exchange, Inc. (NYMEX) is the world’s largest physical commodity futures exchange and the preeminent trading forum for energy and precious metals, with trading conducted through two divisions – the NYMEX Division, home to the energy, platinum, and palladium markets, and the COMEX Division, on which all other metals trade. Additional risks are associated with international investing, such as currency fluctuations, political and economic instability and differences in accounting standards. This material represents an assessment of the market environment at a specific point in time and is not intended to be a forecast of future events, or a guarantee of future results. MarketingPro, Inc. is not affiliated with any person or firm that may be providing this information to you. The publisher is not engaged in rendering legal, accounting or other professional services. If assistance is needed, the reader is advised to engage the services of a competent professional.

CITATIONS:

1 – wsj.com/market-data [5/10/19]

 

2 –

quotes.wsj.com/index/XX/990300/historical-prices

 

[5/10/19]

3 – cnn.com/2019/05/10/business/china-us-tariffs-trade/index.html [5/10/19]

4 – cnbc.com/2019/05/07/if-trump-slaps-china-with-all-the-tariffs-threatened-it-could-be-the-us-consumer-that-pays.html [5/7/19]

5 – nytimes.com/interactive/2019/05/09/business/dealbook/tech-ipos-uber.html [5/9/19]

CHART CITATIONS:

wsj.com/market-data [5/10/19]

 

quotes.wsj.com/index/SPX/historical-prices [5/10/19]

 

treasury.gov/resource-center/data-chart-center/interest-rates/Pages/TextView.aspx?data=yield [5/10/19]

 

treasury.gov/resource-center/data-chart-center/interest-rates/Pages/TextView.aspx?data=yieldAll [5/10/19]

 

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Weekly Economic Update for February 11, 2019

/in /by

In this week’s recap: minor gains for major stock indices, a March deadline looms for U.S.-China trade talks, and good news about the service industry.

Weekly Economic Update

 

Presented by JB Beckett, February 11, 2019

 

THE WEEK ON WALL STREET

Major U.S. stock benchmarks eked out slight gains last week, with corporate profit reports and news about U.S.-China trade negotiations vying for investor attention over five trading sessions.

The big three ended the week little changed from where they settled the previous Friday. The Dow Jones Industrials rose 0.17%, while the S&P 500 Index gained 0.05%. The NASDAQ Composite ended the week up 0.47%. Looking at international stocks, the MSCI EAFE index retreated 0.47%.

1,2

 

eARNINGS SCORECARD

As of last Friday, 66% of all S&P 500 companies had reported fourth-quarter earnings. So far, 71% of these firms have announced earnings exceeding estimates, and 62% have seen revenues top projections.

3

Halfway through earnings season, 2019 future guidance has been a mixed bag for S&P 500 companies. For Wall Street, future earnings can be just as important as current earnings. We keep a close eye on both.

 3

 

 

tariff TENSIONS

March 1 is the 90-day deadline set by President Trump for a trade deal with China. If no agreement is reached, the U.S. may consider a new round of tariffs. On Thursday, news that President Trump and Chinese President Xi may not meet before the March 1 deadline added to the market volatility.

The decision by the U.S. on new tariffs may hinge on how much progress has been made toward a new agreement. We do not expect that to become clear until the deadline nears.

 

STate of THE SERVICE SECTOR

Many indicators help economists take the pulse of the overall economy. The Institute for Supply Management keeps a critical, but not widely followed, index, which helps gauge the health of the service sector.

The January reading on this index came in at 56.7. Any reading above 50 shows that the service industry is seeing solid growth.

4

 

FINAL THOUGHT

Over the next several weeks, we are expecting more volatility as the markets digest economic news, a new wave of corporate earnings, and twists and turns on the geopolitical front. We will be watching to see if anything changes our short-term and long-term view. If you have any questions, do not hesitate to contact us.

 

 

 

T I P   O F   T H E   W E E K

 

New parents

should seek to

create an emergency fund

equivalent to 3-6 months of living expenses. Sticking to a budget can help a household save over time.

 

 

THE WEEK AHEAD: KEY ECONOMIC DATA

Wednesday:

January’s Consumer Price Index, which measures monthly and yearly inflation.

Thursday:

December retail sales figures (a delayed release due to the government shutdown).

Friday:

January’s preliminary University of Michigan consumer sentiment index, a gauge of consumer confidence levels.

Source: Econoday / MarketWatch Calendar, February 8, 2019

The content is developed from sources believed to be providing accurate information. The forecasts or forward-looking statements are based on assumptions and may not materialize. The forecasts also are subject to revision. The release of data may be delayed without notice for a variety of reasons, including the shutdown of the government agency or change at the private institution that handles the material.

 

THE WEEK AHEAD: COMPANIES REPORTING EARNINGS

Monday:

Loews Corp (L)

Tuesday:

Activision Blizzard (ATVI), HubSpot (HUBS), Occidental Petroleum (OXY)

Wednesday:

Cisco (CSCO), Hilton Worldwide Holdings (HLT), Yelp (YELP)

Thursday:

Applied Materials (AMAT), CBS (CBS), Coca-Cola (KO)

Friday:

Deere & Co. (DE), PepsiCo (PEP)

Source: Morningstar.com, February 8, 2019

Companies mentioned are for informational purposes only. It should not be considered a solicitation for the purchase or sale of the securities. Any investment should be consistent with your objectives, time frame and risk tolerance. The return and principal value of investments will fluctuate as market conditions change. When sold, investments may be worth more or less than their original cost. Companies may reschedule when they report earnings without notice.

 

 

Q U O T E  O F  T H E  W E E K

 

“In all affairs it is a

healthy thing

now and then to hang a

question mark

on the things you have long taken for granted.”

BERTRAND RUSSELL

 

 

 

T H E   W E E K L Y   R I D D L E

 

I have no eyes, ears, tongue, or nose, yet I have the

power

to see, hear, taste, and smell

everything

. What am I?

 

LAST WEEK’S RIDDLE: You can throw a ball 25’ and make it come right back to you, without the ball hitting anything or being caught by anyone. How can you make this happen?

ANSWER: Throw the ball straight up in the air

.

 

 

JB Beckett may be reached at (803) 939-4848 or jb@beckettfinancialgroup.com 

BeckettFinancialGroup.com

 

Know someone who could use information like this?

Please feel free send us their contact information via phone or email. (Don’t worry – we’ll request their permission before adding them to our mailing list.)

 

This material was prepared by MarketingPro, Inc., and does not necessarily represent the views of the presenting party, nor their affiliates. The information herein has been derived from sources believed to be accurate. Please note – investing involves risk, and past performance is no guarantee of future results. Investments will fluctuate and when redeemed may be worth more or less than when originally invested. This information should not be construed as investment, tax or legal advice and may not be relied on for the purpose of avoiding any Federal tax penalty. This is neither a solicitation nor recommendation to purchase or sell any investment or insurance product or service, and should not be relied upon as such. All market indices discussed are unmanaged and are not illustrative of any particular investment. Indices do not incur management fees, costs and expenses, and cannot be invested into directly. All economic and performance data is historical and not indicative of future results. The Dow Jones Industrial Average is a price-weighted index of 30 actively traded blue-chip stocks. The NASDAQ Composite Index is a market-weighted index of all over-the-counter common stocks traded on the National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotation System. The Standard & Poor’s 500 (S&P 500) is a market-cap weighted index composed of the common stocks of 500 leading companies in leading industries of the U.S. economy. NYSE Group, Inc. (NYSE:NYX) operates two securities exchanges: the New York Stock Exchange (the “NYSE”) and NYSE Arca (formerly known as the Archipelago Exchange, or ArcaEx® , and the Pacific Exchange). NYSE Group is a leading provider of securities listing, trading and market data products and services. The New York Mercantile Exchange, Inc. (NYMEX) is the world’s largest physical commodity futures exchange and the preeminent trading forum for energy and precious metals, with trading conducted through two divisions – the NYMEX Division, home to the energy, platinum, and palladium markets, and the COMEX Division, on which all other metals trade. Additional risks are associated with international investing, such as currency fluctuations, political and economic instability and differences in accounting standards. This material represents an assessment of the market environment at a specific point in time and is not intended to be a forecast of future events, or a guarantee of future results. MarketingPro, Inc. is not affiliated with any person or firm that may be providing this information to you. The publisher is not engaged in rendering legal, accounting or other professional services. If assistance is needed, the reader is advised to engage the services of a competent professional.

CITATIONS:

1 – markets.wsj.com [2/8/19]

2 – quotes.wsj.com/index/XX/990300/historical-prices [2/8/19]

3 – insight.factset.com/earnings-season-update-february-8-2019 [2/8/19]

4 – instituteforsupplymanagement.org/ISMReport/NonMfgROB.cfm?SSO=1 [2/5/19]

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Weekly Economic Update for February 4, 2019

/in /by

In this week’s recap: a hiring surge, a noteworthy remark from Jerome Powell, a dip for a respected household confidence index, and gains on Wall Street.

Weekly Economic Update

 

Presented by JB Beckett, February 4, 2019

 

February BEGINS WITH SOME EXCELLENT ECONOMIC DATA

Payrolls swelled with 304,000 net new jobs last month, according to the Department of Labor’s February employment report. (A Bloomberg survey of economists had projected a gain of 165,000.) The number of Americans temporarily laid off or working part time for economic reasons increased greatly in January as a consequence of the partial federal government shutdown; that left the unemployment rate (4.0%) and underemployment rate (8.1%) higher. Average hourly wages were up 3.2% year-over-year. Additionally, the factory sector expanded at a faster pace last month: the Institute for Supply Management’s purchasing manager index improved 2.5 points to a mark of 56.6.

1,2

      

FED HINTS AT THE POSSIBILITY OF PAUSING RATE HIKES

The Federal Reserve made no interest rate move last week, but at its January 30 press conference, Fed chairman Jerome Powell had an interesting comment for the media: “We believe we can best support the economy by being patient before making any future adjustment to policy.” To investors large and small, that remark sounded like a declaration that the central bank was ready to exercise extra caution in considering future rate increases. Powell noted the recent emergence of “some crosscurrents and conflicting signals about the [economic] outlook” as a factor.

3

     

HOW ARE CONSUMERS FEELING?

The latest readings on the country’s two most-watched consumer confidence indices look good, but one just took a major fall. The Conference Board’s monthly index went from a December mark of 126.6 to 120.2 in January. In its final January edition, the University of Michigan’s consumer sentiment gauge displayed a 91.2 reading, up 0.5 points from its preliminary version.

2

     

MAJOR INDICES MAKE ANOTHER WEEKLY ADVANCE

Last week, the Dow Jones Industrial Average, S&P 500, and Nasdaq Composite all gained more than 1.3%, thanks in part to some of the developments mentioned above. The S&P rose 7.87% during January. Oil ended the week at $55.31 on the NYMEX; gold, at $1,322.60 on the COMEX.

4,5

       

 

T I P   O F   T H E   W E E K

 

Does your employer offer

long-term disability coverage

in its benefits package? Do you know how much income that coverage would pay out if you become disabled? Check to see if the

income

would be adequate; if it appears inadequate, consider arranging

supplemental coverage

.

 

 

THIS WEEK

Alphabet, Beazer Homes, Clorox, Gilead Sciences, Panasonic, Seagate Technology, Sysco, and The Hartford release earnings news Monday. | On Tuesday, ISM’s January non-manufacturing PMI complements earnings from Allstate, AmeriGas, Anadarko Petroleum, Archer Daniels Midland, BP, Chubb, Electronic Arts, Estee Lauder, Genworth Financial, Mitsubishi, Pitney Bowes, Ralph Lauren, Snap, Viacom, Voya Financial, and Walt Disney Co. | Wednesday, earnings arrive from Chipotle, Cummins, Eli Lilly, General Motors, GlaxoSmithKline, Humana, MetLife, Prudential Financial, Spotify, Take-Two Interactive, and Valvoline; in the evening,

 

Federal Reserve chair Jerome Powell takes questions at a Washington, D.C. town hall meeting. | On Thursday, the earnings roll call includes news from ArcelorMittal, Dunkin’ Brands, Fiat Chrysler, Kellogg, L’Oréal, Marathon Petroleum, Mattel, Motorola Solutions, News Corp., Philip Morris, Twitter, Tyson Foods, and Yum! Brands. | Friday, Exelon, Hasbro, and Phillips 66 present Q4 results.

 

 

Q U O T E  O F  T H E  W E E K

 

“Have

patience

with

all things

, but chiefly have patience with

yourself

.”

St. Francis de Sales

 

MARKET INDEX

CLOSE

WEEK

Y-T-D

DJIA

25,063.89

+1.32

+7.44

NASDAQ

7,263.87

+1.38

+9.47

S&P 500

2,706.53

+1.57

+7.97

 

 

 

 

TREASURY

CLOSE

WEEK

Y-T-D

10 YEAR NOTE

2.70

-0.06

+0.01

 

Sources: wsj.com, treasury.gov – 2/1/19

4,6,7

Indices are unmanaged, do not incur fees or expenses, and cannot be invested into directly. These returns do not include dividends. Weekly and year-to-date market index returns are expressed as percentages. 10-year Treasury note yield = projected return on investment, expressed as a percentage, on the U.S. government’s 10-year bond. Weekly and year-to-date 10-year Treasury note yield differences are expressed in basis points.

 

 

T H E   W E E K L Y   R I D D L E

 

You can throw a ball 25’ and make it come

right back

to you, without the ball 

hitting anything

 or being 

caught by anyone

. How can you make this happen?

 

LAST WEEK’S RIDDLE: All around you in the day, and you will notice it in the dark. You can see it, but you will never hear it. What is it?

ANSWER: Light

.

 

 

JB Beckett may be reached at (803) 939-4848 or jb@beckettfinancialgroup.com 

BeckettFinancialGroup.com

 

Know someone who could use information like this?

Please feel free to send us their contact information via phone or email. (Don’t worry – we’ll request their permission before adding them to our mailing list.)

 

This material was prepared by MarketingPro, Inc., and does not necessarily represent the views of the presenting party, nor their affiliates. The information herein has been derived from sources believed to be accurate. Please note – investing involves risk, and past performance is no guarantee of future results. Investments will fluctuate and when redeemed may be worth more or less than when originally invested. This information should not be construed as investment, tax or legal advice and may not be relied on for the purpose of avoiding any Federal tax penalty. This is neither a solicitation nor recommendation to purchase or sell any investment or insurance product or service, and should not be relied upon as such. All market indices discussed are unmanaged and are not illustrative of any particular investment. Indices do not incur management fees, costs, or expenses. Investors cannot invest directly in indices. All economic and performance data is historical and not indicative of future results. The Dow Jones Industrial Average is a price-weighted index of 30 actively traded blue-chip stocks. The NASDAQ Composite Index is a market-weighted index of all over-the-counter common stocks traded on the National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotation System. The Standard & Poor’s 500 (S&P 500) is a market-cap weighted index composed of the common stocks of 500 leading companies in leading industries of the U.S. economy. NYSE Group, Inc. (NYSE:NYX) operates two securities exchanges: the New York Stock Exchange (the “NYSE”) and NYSE Arca (formerly known as the Archipelago Exchange, or ArcaEx® , and the Pacific Exchange). NYSE Group is a leading provider of securities listing, trading and market data products and services. The New York Mercantile Exchange, Inc. (NYMEX) is the world’s largest physical commodity futures exchange and the preeminent trading forum for energy and precious metals, with trading conducted through two divisions – the NYMEX Division, home to the energy, platinum, and palladium markets, and the COMEX Division, on which all other metals trade. Additional risks are associated with international investing, such as currency fluctuations, political and economic instability and differences in accounting standards. This material represents an assessment of the market environment at a specific point in time and is not intended to be a forecast of future events, or a guarantee of future results. MarketingPro, Inc. is not affiliated with any person or firm that may be providing this information to you. The publisher is not engaged in rendering legal, accounting or other professional services. If assistance is needed, the reader is advised to engage the services of a competent professional.

CITATIONS:

1 – fortune.com/2019/02/01/jobs-numbers-january/ [2/1/19]

2 – marketwatch.com/economy-politics/calendars/economic [2/1/19]

3 – washingtonpost.com/business/2019/01/30/federal-reserve-says-it-will-be-patient-rate-hikes-change-likely-please-trump/ [1/30/19]

4 – markets.wsj.com [2/1/19]

5 – us.spindices.com/indices/equity/sp-500 [1/31/19]

6 – treasury.gov/resource-center/data-chart-center/interest-rates/Pages/TextView.aspx?data=yield [2/1/19]

7 – treasury.gov/resource-center/data-chart-center/interest-rates/Pages/TextView.aspx?data=yieldAll [2/1/19]

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Weekly Economic Update for January 28, 2019

/in /by

In this week’s recap: home sales slip, the Fed may be discussing an end date for its balance sheet reduction, leading indicators flash weaker signals, and equities continue to climb.

Weekly Economic Update

 

Presented by JB Beckett, January 28, 2019

 

HOME SALES QUICKLY FALTER

Seldom do existing home sales fall 6.4% in a month, but that was what happened in December. National Association of Realtors economist Laurence Yun called the drop a reflection of “consumer search processes and contract signing activity in previous months when mortgage rates were higher than today,” and noted that the housing market could be poised for a spring rebound. Year-over-year, the NAR noted, resales were down 10.3%. The median existing home sale price was $253,600 last month, up 2.9% from December 2017.

1

      

IS A SUNSET COMING FOR THE FED’S BALANCE SHEET RUNOFF?

On Friday, the

Wall Street Journal

 stated that Federal Reserve policymakers are reportedly considering an end date for the unwinding of the central bank’s huge bond portfolio. Investors will, no doubt, scrutinize the Federal Open Market Committee’s January 30 monetary policy statement for any intimations about this. In gradually shrinking its balance sheet over the last 15 months, the Fed has affected the level of liquidity within the financial markets.

2

     

LEADING INDICATORS RETREAT

The Conference Board’s monthly index of leading indicators descended a tenth of a point in December. A month earlier, the gauge rose 0.2%. In a note accompanying the release of the data, the CB said this might be a hint that the economy may “decelerate towards 2% growth by the end of 2019.”

3

     

A SHORT AND POSITIVE WEEK ON WALL STREET

All three major U.S. equity benchmarks posted slight gains this past 4-day trading week, adding to the extended rally that began after Christmas. At Friday’s close, the S&P 500 was up 7.20% month-over-month, and the Dow Jones Industrial Average was on a 5-week winning streak. Friday’s sudden agreement between President Trump and Democratic congressional leaders to end the partial federal government shutdown was but one positive factor influencing stocks. Some key earnings announcements surprised to the upside: China’s government said that it would inject $37 billion worth of liquidity into its money markets, and investors heard that the Fed might be thinking of wrapping up the unwinding of its balance sheet sooner rather than later.

4,5

       

 

T I P   O F   T H E   W E E K

 

At most businesses, sales and revenue ebb and flow across the year. Some astute

short-term budgeting

may help your business better manage the lean times. Start with a list of your

essential, month-to-month costs

, and see if you can plan to reduce any extra costs during the slow months.

 

 

THIS WEEK

The Internal Revenue Service begins accepting 2018 individual tax returns on Monday; on Wall Street, investors respond to Q4 results from Caterpillar, Celanese, and Whirlpool. | Tuesday, the Conference Board releases its January consumer confidence index, and 3M, AMD, Allergan, Amgen, Apple, Biogen, Corning, eBay, Harley-Davidson, Lockheed Martin, Nucor, Pfizer, Pulte Group, Regis Corp., Rockwell Automation, Verizon, and Xerox announce earnings. | The Federal Reserve issues its latest policy statement on Wednesday, with a press conference afterward; ADP presents its January payrolls report, the NAR offers its latest pending home sales index, and the earnings roll call includes Alibaba, Ally Financial, Ameriprise Financial, Anthem, AT&T, Avery Dennison, Boeing, Facebook, General Dynamics, McDonalds, Microsoft, Mondelez International, PayPal, Qualcomm, Royal Caribbean, Siemens, Sirius XM, Tesla, U.S. Steel, and Visa. | On Thursday, December consumer spending numbers are out along with earnings from Aflac, Altria Group, Amazon, Celgene, Charter Communications, ConocoPhillips, DowDuPont, GE, Mastercard, Nokia, Northrop Grumman, Parker Hannifin, Raytheon, Royal Dutch Shell, Sherwin-Williams, Sprint, Symantec, UPS, and Valero Energy. | Friday, Wall Street interprets January jobs data, the final January University of Michigan consumer sentiment index, ISM’s newest manufacturing PMI, and earnings from Aon, Chevron, Cigna, ExxonMobil, Honda, Honeywell International, Merck, Sony, and Weyerhaeuser.

 

 

Q U O T E  O F  T H E  W E E K

 

“

Success

is really about being ready for the good

opportunities

that come before you.”

Eric schmidt

 

MARKET INDEX

CLOSE

WEEK

Y-T-D

DJIA

24,737.20

+0.80

+6.04

NASDAQ

7,164.86

+0.81

+7.98

S&P 500

2,664.76

+0.58

+6.30

 

 

 

 

TREASURY

CLOSE

WEEK

Y-T-D

10 YEAR NOTE

2.76

-0.03

+0.07

 

Sources: wsj.com, investopedia.com, treasury.gov – 1/25/19

5,6,7,8

Indices are unmanaged, do not incur fees or expenses, and cannot be invested into directly. These returns do not include dividends. Weekly and year-to-date market index returns are expressed as percentages. 10-year Treasury note yield = projected return on investment, expressed as a percentage, on the U.S. government’s 10-year bond. Weekly and year-to-date 10-year Treasury note yield differences are expressed in basis points.

 

 

T H E   W E E K L Y   R I D D L E

 

All around you in the

day

, and you will notice it in the

dark

. You can

see

it, but you will never

hear

it. What is it?

 

LAST WEEK’S RIDDLE: Round like an orange, deep like a cup, set in the earth, and nothing can pull it up. What is it?

ANSWER: A well.

 

 

JB Beckett may be reached at (803) 939-4848 or jb@beckettfinancialgroup.com 

BeckettFinancialGroup.com

 

Know someone who could use information like this?

Please feel free to send us their contact information via phone or email. (Don’t worry – we’ll request their permission before adding them to our mailing list.)

 

This material was prepared by MarketingPro, Inc., and does not necessarily represent the views of the presenting party, nor their affiliates. The information herein has been derived from sources believed to be accurate. Please note – investing involves risk, and past performance is no guarantee of future results. Investments will fluctuate and when redeemed may be worth more or less than when originally invested. This information should not be construed as investment, tax or legal advice and may not be relied on for the purpose of avoiding any Federal tax penalty. This is neither a solicitation nor recommendation to purchase or sell any investment or insurance product or service, and should not be relied upon as such. All market indices discussed are unmanaged and are not illustrative of any particular investment. Indices do not incur management fees, costs, or expenses. Investors cannot invest directly in indices. All economic and performance data is historical and not indicative of future results. The Dow Jones Industrial Average is a price-weighted index of 30 actively traded blue-chip stocks. The NASDAQ Composite Index is a market-weighted index of all over-the-counter common stocks traded on the National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotation System. The Standard & Poor’s 500 (S&P 500) is a market-cap weighted index composed of the common stocks of 500 leading companies in leading industries of the U.S. economy. NYSE Group, Inc. (NYSE:NYX) operates two securities exchanges: the New York Stock Exchange (the “NYSE”) and NYSE Arca (formerly known as the Archipelago Exchange, or ArcaEx® , and the Pacific Exchange). NYSE Group is a leading provider of securities listing, trading and market data products and services. The New York Mercantile Exchange, Inc. (NYMEX) is the world’s largest physical commodity futures exchange and the preeminent trading forum for energy and precious metals, with trading conducted through two divisions – the NYMEX Division, home to the energy, platinum, and palladium markets, and the COMEX Division, on which all other metals trade. Additional risks are associated with international investing, such as currency fluctuations, political and economic instability and differences in accounting standards. This material represents an assessment of the market environment at a specific point in time and is not intended to be a forecast of future events, or a guarantee of future results. MarketingPro, Inc. is not affiliated with any person or firm that may be providing this information to you. The publisher is not engaged in rendering legal, accounting or other professional services. If assistance is needed, the reader is advised to engage the services of a competent professional.

CITATIONS:

1 – bankingjournal.aba.com/2019/01/existing-home-sales-dipped-6-4-percent-in-december/ [1/22/19]

2 – cnbc.com/2019/01/25/fed-reportedly-moving-closer-to-ending-balance-sheet-reduction.html [1/25/19]

 

3 – reuters.com/article/us-usa-economy-unemployment/us-weekly-jobless-claims-lowest-since-1969-idUSKCN1PI1SM [1/24/19]

4 – marketwatch.com/story/us-stock-futures-point-to-another-upbeat-day-for-wall-street-led-by-techs-2019-01-25 [1/25/19]

5 – markets.wsj.com [1/25/19]

6 – investopedia.com/markets [1/25/19]

7 – treasury.gov/resource-center/data-chart-center/interest-rates/Pages/TextView.aspx?data=yield [1/25/19]

 

8 – treasury.gov/resource-center/data-chart-center/interest-rates/Pages/TextView.aspx?data=yieldAll [1/25/19]

 

   

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Perspectives Monthly Lifestyle eNewsletter for February, 2019

/in /by

Beckett Financial Group      825 Meeting Street, West Columbia, SC 29169      BeckettFinancialGroup.com

(803) 939-4848

JB Beckett

JB@BeckettFinancialGroup.com

JB Beckett presents:

 

SMART TIP:

Want to improve the flavor of your food in a heart-healthy way? Add more herbs and spices. Cumin, ginger, cayenne, and countless others are loaded with antioxidants and other phytonutrients. So, sprinkle on a little (or a lot), and enjoy!

 

WHO SAID IT?

“Be always at war with your vices, at peace with your neighbors, and let each new year find you a better man.

 

[GET THE ANSWER]

 

TEST YOUR

KNOWLEDGE:

Q:

What is the standard monthly Medicare Part B premium for 2019?

 

A)

$120.00

B)

$135.50

C)

$138.00

D)

$155.50

 

[GET THE ANSWER]

 

 

February, 2019

Think: Now, Then, and Ten

Tough decision? Try the 10/10/10 Rule.

[CLICK TO READ]

 

 

Save, in Case Your Second Act Starts Early

You might retire sooner than you think.

[CLICK TO READ]

 

 

Tell the Internet You Need “Me Time”

Keep digital distractions from consuming too much of your attention.

[CLICK TO READ]

 

 

Recipe of the Month

Out-of-This-World Granola Bars

[CLICK TO READ]

 

Think: Now, Then, and Ten

Tough decision? Try the 10/10/10 Rule.

 

When you must choose between options that seem equally desirable or promising, you might want to look at the decision through the lens of the 10/10/10 Rule. This rule, attributed to former

Harvard Business Review

editor Suzy Welch, asks you to weigh a decision from three perspectives, using three questions.

 

The first question:

How will I feel about this choice 10 minutes from now?

The second:

How will I feel about this choice 10 months from now

? And, lastly: 

How will I feel about this choice 10 years from now?

The core of the 10/10/10 Rule is that your decision should ultimately reflect your strongest responses to these questions. For example, if you are thinking about buying a personal watercraft, but doubt strongly that you will head out on a lake with it more than two or three times a year, you may feel great shortly after you buy it, but really regret the purchase ten years on. If you are considering starting a workout regimen, you may feel lousy ten minutes in – but your mind will also let you know that if you keep working out for ten months or ten years, you may look and feel better. Even making minor decisions using the 10/10/10 Rule may let you see these decisions in a new context.

1

 

Save, in Case Your Second Act Starts Early

You might retire sooner than you think.

 

Do you see yourself working full time well into your sixties, either by choice or necessity? If that is a goal, you should also note the statistics on when and why many Americans retire.  

 

Yes, some baby boomers and Gen Xers will be healthy enough to keep working into the years that they may begin claiming Social Security; in fact, you may become one of them. The question is whether your job or career will last long enough to meet those expectations. According to recent Transamerica research, 56% of current U.S. retirees ended their careers sooner than they anticipated – and in 54% of those occasions, it was because of a job-linked development. Digging a bit deeper, 24% indicated they left because they were let go; another 22% mentioned a change of control or a similar organizational evolution that left them unemployed. In some physically demanding careers, health issues lead some workers to retire in or before their early sixties. Can you imagine having to retire prior to age 62, the earliest time at which you can file for Social Security? Medicare eligibility begins at age 65. The caution here is that you could have fewer years to build retirement savings than you think – so, the earlier you start and the more you save before your mid-fifties, the more prepared you may be for a sudden layoff and retirement.

2

 

Tell the Internet You Need “Me Time”

Keep digital distractions from consuming too much of your attention.

 

Our smartphones, computers, and favorite apps demand our attention every day – perhaps too much of it. The risk is that we may end up paying more notice to our digital personas, debates, and conversations than to our real lives and relationships. You could argue that some of the most popular online communities, through their notifications, have created habit loops to draw in users throughout the day (and take them away from their priorities). 

Routine detachment may help to reduce that risk. Schedule a 24-hour or 48-hour break not just from your go-to apps, but from your devices: your computer, your tablet, your smartphone. Even a 12-hour break could allow you to focus your attention more productively at work or more usefully at home. Checking (or responding to) your email once a day, makes you feel less burdened and less distracted by sudden, and perhaps inessential, requests. Think of how often ten minutes spent responding to one email can turn into an hour or how five minutes spent looking at a social media account can become a half hour. Those minutes may be better spent in an “analog” way.

3

 

 

 

 

Recipe of the Month

Out-of-This-World Granola Bars

12 Servings

 

Ingredients:

3 cups organic, old-fashioned oats

2 Tbsp. oil (try avocado oil or melted coconut oil 

–

either packs a punch!)

1 – 2 Tbsp. brown sugar (to taste)

1 – 2 Tbsp. maple syrup

¼ cup honey

1 tsp. vanilla

1 tsp. cinnamon

¼ – ½ tsp. nutmeg

1 – 1½ cups “extras” (dried fruit, walnuts, pecans, sunflower seeds, chocolate chips)

5 oz. Belgian dark chocolate 

 

Directions:

 

While the oven is preheating to 350°F, spread the oats evenly in a 9” x 13” pan. Put them in the oven and toast for about 15 minutes, stirring once or twice. Meanwhile, line a 9” x 9” pan with parchment paper or foil, leaving a few extra inches on each side, so you can tent the bars after the granola mixture is transferred to the pan.

 

Heat the oil in a small saucepan and add the brown sugar, maple syrup, honey, vanilla, cinnamon, and nutmeg; bring it to a simmer over medium-high heat. Stir until the brown sugar dissolves, then turn off the burner.

 

Add the oats in a large bowl, pour the hot liquid over the oats, and stir to coat evenly. Stir in all your “extras,” then add the mixture into the prepared pan.

 

Fold the extra parchment or foil over the top of the mixture and press to flatten the granola, evenly filling the pan. Cool the bars for about an hour or put them in the freezer to cool more quickly.

 

Invert the pan to transfer cooled bars onto a cutting board and set aside the parchment or foil. Slice the bars to the desired size and arrange them in a single layer onto the foil or parchment. Melt the chocolate in a small saucepan over low heat. Drizzle the chocolate over the bars with a spoon, then enjoy!

 

Recipe adapted from Sugar Dish Me 

(www.sugardishme.com/best-dang-granola-bars-ever-ever)

 

 

 

JB Beckett may be reached at

(803) 939-4848 or jb@beckettfinancialgroup.com

BeckettFinancialGroup.com

 

WHO SAID IT?

 

Benjamin Franklin

 

TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE ANSWER:

A:

B, $135.50.

4

 

This material was prepared by MarketingPro, Inc., and does not necessarily represent the views of the presenting party, nor their affiliates. This information has been derived from sources believed to be accurate. The publisher is not engaged in rendering legal, accounting or other professional services. If assistance is needed, the reader is advised to engage the services of a competent professional. This information should not be construed as investment, tax or legal advice and may not be relied on for the purpose of avoiding any Federal tax penalty.

 

 

Citations

.

1 – thesimpledollar.com/putting-the-10-10-10-rule-to-work-in-your-life/ [2/12/18]

2 – fool.com/retirement/2019/01/06/will-your-job-drive-you-into-early-retirement.aspx [1/6/19]

3 – qz.com/1091883/technology-is-destroying-the-most-important-asset-in-your-life/ [10/2/17]

4 – pbs.org/newshour/economy/what-does-2019-bring-for-medicare-and-social-security [1/2/19]

 

 

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Weekly Economic Update for January 7, 2019

/in /by

In this week’s recap: an impressive jobs report, a disappointing factory activity index, a slight recovery for oil, and some tailwinds on Wall Street.

Weekly Economic Update

 

Presented by JB Beckett, January 7, 2019

 

2018 Ended with a hiring surge

The latest Department of Labor jobs report suggests an economy with plenty of forward momentum. Employers added 312,000 net new jobs in December, the most in ten months. The main jobless rate rose 0.2% to 3.9% as more Americans entered the labor force; the U-6 rate, measuring underemployment, held at 7.6%. Last month, wages were improving at a rate of 3.2% per year, an increase of 0.1% from the prior report. November’s job gain was revised up to 176,000 from the previously reported 155,000.

1

     

KEY MANUFACTURING INDEX DECLINES

In December, the Institute for Supply Management’s purchasing manager index, tracking business activity among the nation’s factories, dipped to 54.1. This reading indicates healthy expansion for the sector; on the other hand, this was the index’s lowest level in 25 months. It was at 59.3 in November.

2

    

OIL HAD A WINNING WEEK

WTI crude just snapped a 3-week losing streak. Futures settled at $47.96 per barrel on the NYMEX, rising 5.8% in four trading days. Some analysts credited the advance to reduced worries about a recession, citing the excellent December hiring numbers and the renewed U.S.-China trade negotiations.

3

    

STOCKS START 2019 IN THE GREEN

Three encouraging developments brought out the bulls at the end of the week. The federal government’s December employment report was one pleasant surprise. Another came when Federal Reserve chair Jerome Powell said that the central bank was amenable to adjusting monetary policy and would be patient about raising rates this year. Lastly, China announced plans to cut taxes and inject money into its banking system, and additionally, discussions on trade issues with the U.S. would resume this week. Friday, the S&P 500 climbed 3.43% to advance 1.00% on the new year to 2,531.94. The Nasdaq added 1.56% for the week to reach 6,738.86 at Friday’s close; the Dow Industrials, 0.45%, to settle at 23,433.16.

4,5

     

 

T I P   O F   T H E   W E E K

 

Some

business owners

put off buying insurance because they believe the coverage will be too costly. Having

some insurance is better than none

. A small business can insure itself with coverage at relatively low limits to start, and then, increase them as time passes.

 

 

THIS WEEK

U.S. and Chinese diplomats sit down for further trade discussions in Beijing on Monday; stateside, ISM releases its December non-manufacturing PMI. | On Tuesday, U.S.-China trade meetings conclude, with Wall Street hoping for progress. | The Federal Reserve presents the minutes from its December policy meeting Wednesday; in addition, Bed Bath & Beyond, Constellation Brands, KB Home, and Lennar host earnings calls. | Fed chair Jerome Powell reflects on the economy and monetary policy at the Economic Club of Washington, D.C., on Thursday afternoon, and Fed vice chair Richard Clarida delivers a speech on the same topics in New York City Thursday night. | Friday brings December inflation data from the federal government and quarterly results from Infosys.

 

 

Q U O T E  O F  T H E  W E E K

 

“

Defer not

till tomorrow to be

wise

, tomorrow’s sun to thee may never rise.”

william congreve

 

MARKET INDEX

Y-T-D CHG

1-MO CHG

1-YR CHG

DJIA

0.45

-3.92

-6.55

NASDAQ

1.56

-3.31

-4.79

S&P 500

1.00

-3.84

-7.05

 

 

 

 

YIELD

1/4 RATE

1 MO AGO

1 YR AGO

10 YR TIPS

2.67

2.91

2.46

 

Sources: wsj.com, bigcharts.com, treasury.gov – 1/4/19

5,6,7,8

Indices are unmanaged, do not incur fees or expenses, and cannot be invested into directly. These returns do not include dividends. 10-year TIPS yield = projected return on investment, expressed as a percentage, on the U.S. government’s 10-year bond.

 

 

T H E   W E E K L Y   R I D D L E

 

Bryn’s mother and father have three kids. One is Kenzie; the second one is Carrie. Who is the third?

 

 

JB Beckett may be reached at (803) 939-4848 or jb@beckettfinancialgroup.com 

BeckettFinancialGroup.com

 

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Please feel free to send us their contact information via phone or email. (Don’t worry – we’ll request their permission before adding them to our mailing list.)

 

This material was prepared by MarketingPro, Inc., and does not necessarily represent the views of the presenting party, nor their affiliates. The information herein has been derived from sources believed to be accurate. Please note – investing involves risk, and past performance is no guarantee of future results. Investments will fluctuate and when redeemed may be worth more or less than when originally invested. This information should not be construed as investment, tax or legal advice and may not be relied on for the purpose of avoiding any Federal tax penalty. This is neither a solicitation nor recommendation to purchase or sell any investment or insurance product or service, and should not be relied upon as such. All market indices discussed are unmanaged and are not illustrative of any particular investment. Indices do not incur management fees, costs, or expenses. Investors cannot invest directly in indices. All economic and performance data is historical and not indicative of future results. The Dow Jones Industrial Average is a price-weighted index of 30 actively traded blue-chip stocks. The NASDAQ Composite Index is a market-weighted index of all over-the-counter common stocks traded on the National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotation System. The Standard & Poor’s 500 (S&P 500) is a market-cap weighted index composed of the common stocks of 500 leading companies in leading industries of the U.S. economy. NYSE Group, Inc. (NYSE:NYX) operates two securities exchanges: the New York Stock Exchange (the “NYSE”) and NYSE Arca (formerly known as the Archipelago Exchange, or ArcaEx® , and the Pacific Exchange). NYSE Group is a leading provider of securities listing, trading and market data products and services. The New York Mercantile Exchange, Inc. (NYMEX) is the world’s largest physical commodity futures exchange and the preeminent trading forum for energy and precious metals, with trading conducted through two divisions – the NYMEX Division, home to the energy, platinum, and palladium markets, and the COMEX Division, on which all other metals trade. Additional risks are associated with international investing, such as currency fluctuations, political and economic instability and differences in accounting standards. This material represents an assessment of the market environment at a specific point in time and is not intended to be a forecast of future events, or a guarantee of future results. MarketingPro, Inc. is not affiliated with any person or firm that may be providing this information to you. The publisher is not engaged in rendering legal, accounting or other professional services. If assistance is needed, the reader is advised to engage the services of a competent professional.

CITATIONS:

1 – reuters.com/article/us-usa-economy-instant-view/instant-view-us-december-payrolls-surprise-big-to-the-upside-idUSKCN1OY18F [1/4/19]

2 – instituteforsupplymanagement.org/ismreport/mfgrob.cfm?SSO=1 [1/3/19]

3 – marketwatch.com/story/oil-prices-headed-for-5th-straight-advance-2019-01-04 [1/4/19]

4 – foxbusiness.com/markets/stocks-climb-on-big-jobs-report-beat-positive-news-on-chinas-economy [1/4/19]

5 – markets.wsj.com/ [1/4/19]

6 – bigcharts.marketwatch.com/historical/default.asp?symb=DJIA&closeDate=1%2F4%2F18&x=0&y=0 [1/4/19]

6 – bigcharts.marketwatch.com/historical/default.asp?symb=COMP&closeDate=1%2F4%2F18&x=0&y=0 [1/4/19]

6 – bigcharts.marketwatch.com/historical/default.asp?symb=SPX&closeDate=1%2F4%2F18&x=0&y=0 [1/4/19]

7 – treasury.gov/resource-center/data-chart-center/interest-rates/Pages/TextView.aspx?data=yield [1/4/19]

8 – treasury.gov/resource-center/data-chart-center/interest-rates/Pages/TextView.aspx?data=yieldAll [1/4/19]

 

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