Fee-only Financial Planning and Investment Management

Market Commentary: May 2012

admin — Wed, 02 May 2012 23:26:43 +0000

Despite a strong last week to the month, April marked the first loss for the S&P 500 since last November. The S&P 500 lost 0.75%, though it was down as much as 4% earlier in the month. Recent economic data suggests that the U.S. economy may be slowing, and Spain has officially entered a recession as the troubles in Europe continue. Defensive sectors were the top performers in April. The utilities sector (XLU) rose more than 2 percent for the month, while the financials sector (XLF) was the worst-performing for the month falling almost 2 percent.

Many investors appear

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Last Chance to Receive $100

admin — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 00:53:23 +0000

Don’t miss your last chance! Rollover your IRA (or an old 401k/403b/457) to Scottrade by April 16th and receive $100.1 In addition, Scottrade will reimburse you for any transfer fees up to $100 that your current custodian charges you for transferring your account.2 Below are additional details to see if you qualify for this bonus.

1 – Cash bonus applies only to IRA rollovers of $15,000 or more with accounts opened prior to April 16, 2012. Minimum funding requirement must be met within 30 days of rollover and must remain in account for no less than nine months, or

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Argument for Precious Metals

admin — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 00:51:03 +0000

Below is a point and figure chart. Point and figure charts were how stock market analysts looked at securities in the late 1800s through the 1940s versus the typical charts that we are used to seeing today. Today’s charts are time and value-based, where point and figures are looking at the direction. To get a sense of time, you can refer to the bottom of the chart and see the two digit year. Months are referred to by numbers in the charts. So, the number one is January in a given year, and October through December is the letters

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Market Commentary: Week Ending 03-30-12

admin — Mon, 02 Apr 2012 19:42:01 +0000

This will be CWM’s last weekly market commentary as we are changing our communication strategy. Going forward, we will be sending a monthly market commentary, as well as a quarterly financial planning newsletter. For all of our clients that have questions or concerns about the markets, feel free to give us a call or send an email; you don’t need to wait for the monthly market commentary to have your questions answered or to know how we perceive the current investing environment. Should the market experience an extreme event, I will be sure to send you my thoughts and