Weekly Market Commentary – April 25, 2011

Weekly Market Update
Week of April 25, 2011

THE MARKETS:

Do you want to pay higher taxes? I know I don’t! But if you happen to be among the fortunate few that earn more than $250,000 a year, new polls suggest your neighbors want you to pay up.

According to the latest New York Times/CBS News poll, 72% of adults approve of increasing federal taxes on households making more than $250,000 starting in 2013.[i] At the same time, a separate poll from ABC News and the Washington Post showed that 72% of respondents want to raise taxes on the rich to help reduce the federal deficit.[ii]  The desire to see America’s wealthiest citizens paying higher taxes even spans political boundaries, with 55% of Republicans, 74% of independents and 83% of Democrats all calling for an increase.[iii]

So will increasing taxes on the rich fix the budget? This is not a question we will even try to answer in this brief commentary. It is worth noting however, that less than 3% of all American households earn more than $250,000 per year,[iv] and as it stands today, the U.S. tax system is already highly disproportionate. The top 1% of income earners pay 40% of all federal income taxes, the bottom 50% pay only 3%, and more than one-third of U.S. earners pay no federal income tax at all.[v]

As new data from the Congressional Budget Office shows, raising all six income tax rates by 1 percentage point would yield an additional $480 billion over 10 years, while raising the top two rates by 1 percentage point would yield only $115 billion.[vi] So what is better: Increasing taxes a little bit for everyone or a lot for just a few? Perhaps another question to ask is whether America has a spending problem or a revenue problem? Again, these are not questions we can answer in this forum.

The point of sharing this information with you is not to fuel a political debate. The nation is already sharply divided on this issue. The reason we draw your attention to this matter is because directly or indirectly, it affects every American. And, at the rate things are going, there is a good chance we will see higher taxes in the future. Taking into consideration how taxes can affect your investments, both now and in the future, is an important element to preparing sound financial strategies. As always, we will monitor how the landscape changes and do our best to help you adapt to changing conditions.

ECONOMIC CALENDAR:                                                                                                                      Tuesday – S&P Case-Shiller Home Price Index, Consumer Confidence
Wednesday – Durable Goods Orders, FOMC Meeting Announcement
Thursday – GDC, Jobless Claims, Pending Home Sales Index                                                                          Friday – Personal Income and Outlays, Chicago PMI, Consumer Sentiment, Ben Bernanke Speaks       

Data as of 04/21/2011	1-Week	YTD	1-Year	5-Year	10-Year
Standard & Poor’s 500	1.74	6.34	10.9	0.40	0.76
Dow	1.80	8.02	12.4	2.04	1.82
NASDAQ	2.17	6.31	12.6	4.07	3.04
MSCI EAFE	1.69	6.61	10.8	0.30	2.62
10-year Treasury Note (Yield Only)	3.48	N/A	3.74	5.01	5.26

Notes: All index returns exclude reinvested dividends, and the 5-year and 10-year returns are annualized.
Sources: Yahoo! Finance, MSCI Barra. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.
Indices are unmanaged and cannot be invested into directly. NA means not available.

HEADLINES:

U.S. stocks advanced for a third straight session Thursday, with the Dow closing at almost a 3-year high following a slew of strong earnings.[vii]

Sales of existing homes increased in March. Home sales rose at an annual rate of 5.1 million in March, up 3.7% from February, the National Association of Realtors said Wednesday. However, sales were 6.3% lower than in March 2010.[viii]

With a 4% gain so far this month, following March’s 10% rise, benchmark oil futures are keeping up with a long-running trend – advancing in March, April and May before taking a breather in June.[ix]

Toyota Motor Corp.’s global car production, disrupted by parts shortages from Japan’s earthquake and tsunami, won’t return to normal until November or December, imperiling its spot as the world’s top-selling automaker.[x]

QUOTE OF THE WEEK:

“Don’t judge each day by the harvest you reap but by the seeds that you plant.” – Robert Louis Stevenson
RECIPE OF THE WEEK:

Orange Snowdrops

From: Better Homes and Gardens

Frozen orange juice concentrate imparts sunshine-fresh flavor to these cookies. For thorough orange flavor, use the juice concentrate in the dough as well as the frosting.

Servings: 36 cookies

Ingredients:

½ cup butter (no substitutes)

½ cup shortening

1 cup sifted powdered sugar

½ teaspoon baking soda

1 egg

½ of a 6-ounce can (1/3 cup) frozen orange juice concentrate, thawed

1 teaspoon vanilla

2 cups all-purpose flour

1 recipe orange frosting

Finely shredded orange peel (optional)

Directions:

1. In a large mixing bowl beat butter and shortening with an electric mixer on medium to high speed for 30 seconds. Add powdered sugar and baking soda; beat until combined, scraping sides of bowl occasionally. Beat in egg, orange juice concentrate, and vanilla until combined. Beat in as much of the flour as you can with the mixer. Using a wooden spoon, stir in any remaining flour.

2. Drop dough by rounded teaspoons 2 inches apart onto an ungreased cookie sheet.

3. Bake in a 375 degree F oven about 8 minutes or until edges are lightly browned. Cool on cookie sheet for 1 minute. Transfer to wire racks: cool completely. Spread cookies with Orange Frosting. If desired, sprinkle with finely shredded orange peel. Makes about 36 cookies.

Orange Frosting
Stir together 1/2 of a 6-ounce can (1/3 cup) frozen orange juice concentrate, thawed; 1/2 teaspoon finely shredded orange peel; and 3 cups sifted powdered sugar till smooth.

GOLF TIP OF THE WEEK:

Play by Intelligence, Not Ego

Ego involvement affects many golfing situations. We may elect to shoot over a dog-leg instead of around it. We may use a high-compression ball because hard hitters do, although we could get more distance with less compression. We may shoot for the pin when our general accuracy can only justify shooting at the green.

One of the secrets to better play is not allowing your ego to affect your choices on the course. If your opponent uses a six iron, don’t hesitate to use a four wood if “your game” calls for it. In other words, play your game and not your ego.

There are some ego involvements which can be beneficial, such as pride in improvement. In general though, ego involvements prevent us from doing what a given situation calls for, and this is unfortunate. Nothing can be solved if pride produces wishful thinking or otherwise prevents us from seeing the problem as it is. Let intelligence and not ego drive your golf game and your scores will improve.

 

 

Share the Wealth of Knowledge!
Please share this market update with family, friends, or colleagues.  If you would like us to add them to our list, simply click on the “Forward email” link below. We love being introduced!

Insert your broker/dealer disclosures here. i.e. Securities offered through “Your B/D Name Here,” Member FINRA/SIPC.

Investing involves risk including the potential loss of principal. No investment strategy can guarantee a profit or protect against loss in periods of declining values.

The Standard & Poor’s 500 (S&P 500) is an unmanaged group of securities considered to be representative of the stock market in general.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average is a price-weighted average of 30 significant stocks traded on the New York Stock Exchange and the Nasdaq. The DJIA was invented by Charles Dow back in 1896.

The MSCI EAFE Index was created by Morgan Stanley Capital International (MSCI) that serves as a benchmark of the performance in major international equity markets as represented by 21 major MSCI indexes from Europe, Australia and Southeast Asia.

The 10-year Treasury Note represents debt owed by the United States Treasury to the public. Since the U.S. Government is seen as a risk-free borrower, investors use the 10-year Treasury Note as a benchmark for the long-term bond market.

Google Finance is the source for any reference to the performance of an index between two specific periods.

Opinions expressed are subject to change without notice and are not intended as investment advice or to predict future performance.

Past performance does not guarantee future results.

You cannot invest directly in an index.

Consult your financial professional before making any investment decision.

Fixed income investments are subject to various risks including changes in interest rates, credit quality, inflation risk, market valuations, prepayments, corporate events, tax ramifications and other factors.

These are the views of Platinum Advisor Marketing Strategies, LLC, and not necessarily those of the named representative or named Broker dealer, and should not be construed as investment advice. Neither the named representative nor the named Broker dealer gives tax or legal advice. All information is believed to be from reliable sources; however, we make no representation as to its completeness or accuracy. Please consult your financial advisor for further information.

By clicking on these links, you will leave our server as they are located on another server. We have not independently verified the information available through this link. The link is provided to you as a matter of interest. Please click on the links below to leave and proceed to the selected site.

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[i] http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2011/04/22/us/politics/20110422-poll-republicans-economy.html?ref=us

[ii] http://www.langerresearch.com/uploads/1122a2%20Debt%20Debate.pdf

[iii] http://www.langerresearch.com/uploads/1122a2%20Debt%20Debate.pdf

[iv] http://www.census.gov/hhes/www/income/income.html

[v] http://www.heritage.org/budgetchartbook/top10-percent-income-earners

[vi] http://money.cnn.com/2011/04/12/news/economy/national_debt_taxes_obama/index.htm?iid=EL

[vii] http://money.cnn.com/2011/04/21/markets/markets_newyork/index.htm

[viii] http://money.cnn.com/2011/04/20/news/economy/existing_home_sales/index.htm

[ix] http://www.marketwatch.com/story/oil-prices-likely-to-keep-rising-until-june-2011-04-20

[x] http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-toyota-20110422,0,3070748.story?track=rss

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Weekly Market Commentary – March 7, 2011

Weekly Market Update
Week of March 07, 2011

THE MARKETS:

As of late, the big question on everyone’s mind has been: Will the recovery stick? And while the talking heads have been debating their positions on the issue, the chief talking head himself – Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke – appeared before the House Financial Services Committee and a Senate panel last week to offer his semiannual report on the state of the economy.   What was the word?  Bernanke said the economy is gaining traction and stressed that the Fed is prepared to act if higher commodity prices start to have a negative effect on U.S. growth.[i]  His comments also offered a brighter outlook on the status of rising energy costs, inflation risk, and job creation. Good news indeed!

While acknowledging that a prolonged rise in oil prices could pose a danger to the economic recovery, the Fed chief countered that other risks to the economy, including rising commodity prices, were more likely to affect consumer spending.  At the same time, Bernanke reiterated his commitment to keeping inflation low, and added: “I recognize that the increases in gas prices are very troubling… but they are not inflation per se. Inflation is an increase in the overall price level, which is very low. The inflation rate right now is 1.2% for all goods and services”.[ii]

As for jobs, Bernanke expressed confidence that growth would increase this year.[iii]  Supporting his view, the Labor Department announced on Friday that the nation’s unemployment rate fell to 8.9% in February, the lowest level in two years.  The report suggests that companies are gaining confidence in the economy and their own financial prospects.  It also strengthens hopes that businesses will shift into a more aggressive hiring mode to heighten momentum for the ongoing recovery.[iv]

Against the backdrop of geopolitical turmoil that has packed the headlines in recent weeks, the Fed chairman’s testimony offered a positive perspective on the improving state of the American recovery.

ECONOMIC CALENDAR:
Monday – Consumer Credit                                                                                 Tuesday – ICSC-Goldman Store Sales, Redbook                                                  Wednesday – EIA Petroleum Status Report  
Thursday – BOE Announcement, International Trade, Jobless Claims, Treasury Budget           Friday – Retail Sales, Consumer Sentiment, Business Inventories

Data as of 03/04/2011	1-Week	YTD	1-Year	5-Year	10-Year
Standard & Poor’s 500	0.10	5.05	17.6	0.53	0.70
Dow	0.33	5.12	16.5	2.08	1.63
NASDAQ	0.13	4.97	21.5	4.19	3.15
MSCI EAFE	0.38	5.27	14.3	-0.26	2.46
10-year Treasury Note (Yield Only)	3.42	3.31	3.61	4.68	4.94

Notes: All index returns exclude reinvested dividends, and the 5-year and 10-year returns are annualized.
Sources: Yahoo! Finance, MSCI Barra. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.
Indices are unmanaged and cannot be invested into directly. NA means not available.
HEADLINES:

On Tuesday, Apple Chief Steve Jobs introduced the world to the iPad2, a sleeker, faster follow-up to the original. The market sent shares of Research in Motion down 0.3%, and Motorola was down by over 4%.  The new iPad2 sports front and back facing cameras, more memory, and a faster processor, but despite the upgrades, the iPad2 starts at $499, while Xoom tablets will run between $599 and $799.[v]

President Barack Obama said Saturday that he is willing to offer deeper spending cuts if it means Republicans and Democrats can work out their differences and reach an agreement on the federal budget.  The standoff over government spending intensified this past week as Republicans ripped the White House’s offer to make $6.5 billion in budget cuts this fiscal year, and the threat of a government shutdown lay over the horizon.  Government operations are now running on a stopgap funding measure that expires on March 19.[vi]

U.S. manufacturers expanded at the fastest pace in nearly seven years last month, but a sudden rise in the price of raw materials could threaten their profits.  The Institute for Supply Management said its index of manufacturing activity rose to 61.4 in February, the highest reading since May 2004.  But prices paid for steel, plastics, rubber and other raw materials rose for a third straight month, a sign that increasing production costs could spark higher inflation.[vii]

National Football League owners and players agreed Friday to a seven-day extension to contract talks in an effort to resolve the league’s labor dispute.  The agreement means the CBA will remain in force until the night of March 11 and averts the threat of a lockout by the owners or a lawsuit by the players for at least a week.   The owners were due to earn about $4 billion in TV money this coming season, even in the event of a lockout.[viii]

QUOTE OF THE WEEK:

“I know of no more encouraging fact than the unquestioned ability of a man to elevate his life by conscious endeavor.”  – Henry David Thoreau
RECIPE OF THE WEEK:

Baked Brie

From: Better Homes and Gardens

The topping of tomato preserves or mango chutney over a round of baked Brie keeps this buffet table favorite lightweight and fresh flavored.

Servings: Makes 8 servings.

Prep: 25 mins

Total: 35 mins

Ingredients:

1 small onion, cut into thin wedges

2 teaspoons butter or margarine

1/3 cup tomato preserves or mango chutney

1/2 teaspoon snipped fresh rosemary or 1/4 teaspoon dried rosemary, crushed

1/8 teaspoon crushed red pepper

1 8-ounce round Brie cheese (about 4 inches in diameter)

Breadsticks, assorted crackers, or French bread slices

Directions:

1. For caramelized onions, cook onion in hot butter or margarine in a small saucepan, covered, over low heat about 15 minutes or until tender and golden, stirring occasionally. Meanwhile, stir together tomato preserves or mango chutney (cut up any large pieces of chutney), rosemary, and crushed red pepper in a small bowl.

2. Cut off a thin slice from the top of the Brie to remove the rind; discard. Place the Brie in an ungreased 9-inch pie plate. Top with tomato or chutney mixture, then with caramelized onions.

3. Bake, uncovered, in a 325 degree F oven about 10 to 12 minutes or until Brie is softened and warmed but not runny. Serve with breadsticks, crackers, or bread slices. Makes 8 servings.

GOLF TIP OF THE WEEK:

Logo Lineup

One of the most common errors in putting is poor alignment.  Specific sources of trouble can be posture, head position, or ball position.  Many golfers have not trained their eyes to see the line correctly and are aiming their putter to the right or left of the hole without being aware of it.

The next time you head out to play or practice, try experimenting with lining up the logo or marked line.  Start by practicing 2 or 3 footers to ensure that your aim is true. If you have aligned properly, you will see the logo turning straight over the top of the ball as it falls into the hole. Once you are comfortable with these short putts, begin to practice from longer distances.

Share the Wealth of Knowledge!
Please share this market update with family, friends, or colleagues.  If you would like us to add them to our list, simply click on the “Forward email” link below. We love being introduced!
Insert your broker/dealer disclosures here. i.e. Securities offered through “Your B/D Name Here,” Member FINRA/SIPC.

Investing involves risk including the potential loss of principal. No investment strategy can guarantee a profit or protect against loss in periods of declining values.

The Standard & Poor’s 500 (S&P 500) is an unmanaged group of securities considered to be representative of the stock market in general.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average is a price-weighted average of 30 significant stocks traded on the New York Stock Exchange and the Nasdaq. The DJIA was invented by Charles Dow back in 1896.

The MSCI EAFE Index was created by Morgan Stanley Capital International (MSCI) that serves as a benchmark of the performance in major international equity markets as represented by 21 major MSCI indexes from Europe, Australia and Southeast Asia.

The 10-year Treasury Note represents debt owed by the United States Treasury to the public. Since the U.S. Government is seen as a risk-free borrower, investors use the 10-year Treasury Note as a benchmark for the long-term bond market.

Google Finance is the source for any reference to the performance of an index between two specific periods.

Opinions expressed are subject to change without notice and are not intended as investment advice or to predict future performance.

Past performance does not guarantee future results.

You cannot invest directly in an index.

Consult your financial professional before making any investment decision.

Fixed income investments are subject to various risks including changes in interest rates, credit quality, inflation risk, market valuations, prepayments, corporate events, tax ramifications and other factors.

These are the views of Platinum Advisor Marketing Strategies, LLC, and not necessarily those of the named representative or named Broker dealer, and should not be construed as investment advice. Neither the named representative nor the named Broker dealer gives tax or legal advice. All information is believed to be from reliable sources; however, we make no representation as to its completeness or accuracy. Please consult your financial advisor for further information.

By clicking on these links, you will leave our server as they are located on another server. We have not independently verified the information available through this link. The link is provided to you as a matter of interest. Please click on the links below to leave and proceed to the selected site

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[i] http://online.wsj.com/article/BT-CO-20110302-709100.html

[ii] http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/03/02/us-usa-fed-bernanke-highlights-idUSTRE7214KG20110302?pageNumber=1

[iii] http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/41845694/ns/business-stocks_and_economy/

[iv] http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/41903404/ns/business-stocks_and_economy/

[v] http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/119238/20110306/apple-ipad-2-ipad2-motorola-xoom-rim-playbook-touchpad.htm

[vi] http://www.marketwatch.com/story/us-budget-showdown-intensifies-2011-03-05

[vii] http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/41848045/ns/business-stocks_and_economy/

[viii] http://www.marketwatch.com/story/nfl-labor-talks-reach-critical-stage-2011-03-04

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Atlanta Financial Advisor

WiserAdvisor Press Release

 

02/17/2011

WiserAdvisor announces that Phil Calandra RFC® of Calandra Financial Group, LLC has been awarded admittance as a member of its directory of financial advisors.

Financial advisors are granted admission into WiserAdvisor (www.wiseradvisor.com) based on their credentials and qualifications. All members offer their services to investors with a fee rather than solely with commissions, allowing them to assist investors with a variety of different investment options. All members are also properly registered with the SEC, FINRA or other regulatory organizations.

Since 2003, WiserAdvisor has focused on taking much of the guesswork out of finding a qualified financial advisor or financial planner. This is done both through the stringent admittance guidelines, as well as through the information provided to investors about each member advisor. All members must complete an extensive profile outlining their services, qualifications and credentials, including their education background.

Because of the strict standards that a financial professional must meet in order to become a member, WiserAdvisor only admits a select few high-quality financial advisors and financial planners. More than 600,000 professionals can provide insurance and financial advice. Less than 1% have been granted membership into WiserAdvisor.

Thousands of investors use WiserAdvisor each year to find local financial advisors and planners, and trust that WiserAdvisor will help them find the right professionals to meet their unique needs.

About WiserAdvisor.com

WiserAdvisor is an online service that connects investors to local financial advisors and financial planners. It is an independent and free service provided to investors, allowing them to find local professionals who can help them build their portfolios, plan for retirement, manage their estates, or to help them with other investment issues. More information about WiserAdvisor and its services can be found atwww.wiseradvisor.com

About Calandra Financial Group, LLC

Phil Calandra RFC® is a financial advisor located in Atlanta, GA. Phil has over 15 years experience working with local businesses and investors.
More information about Phil can be found at http://www.wiseradvisor.com/advisor_profile_state~id~1857213.asp and at http://www.calandrafinancialgroup.com

 

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Weekly Market Commentary – 12/13/2010

THE MARKETS:

Many economic indicators have shown gradual improvement in recent months, and this seems to be reflected by a growing sense of optimism on Wall Street.

Despite an unusually flat stretch for the markets, stocks gained on Friday and the S&P 500 closed at its highest level since September 2008.[1] Gains came after newly released government data showed a narrowing U.S. trade deficit, thus boosting hopefulness about further economic growth early in 2011. A separate report on consumer sentiment also came in better than expected, helping the Dow lock in a gain of 0.4%, the S&P 500 add 1.3%, and the Nasdaq rise 1.5% for the week.[2]

If things continue as they are, the Dow and S&P 500 are on track to finish 2010 with 10% gains each, while the Nasdaq is up 16% year to date. Alec Young, equity strategist at Standard & Poor’s, was quoted by CNN Money on Sunday and said, “The market has been doing pretty well. The recovery continues nice and steady in the U.S. and the market looks like it could go higher if that stays intact.”[3] And regarding the economy, John Canally, chief economist at LPL Financial was quoted by MarketWatch as saying, “Long term, the economy has turned the corner.”[4] Hopefully these gentlemen are right, but of course, this paragraph did start with the word “if”. And when it comes to the stock market, few things are certain.

With the holiday shopping season well under way, much attention will be focused on retail sales figures due this Tuesday. Many analysts predict they will confirm a strong start to the post-Thanksgiving shopping season, and since consumer spending represents the single biggest component of U.S. economic growth, positive sales figures bode well for the overall health of the economy.

Also this week, eyes will be turned to Washington for signs a compromise has been reached regarding extending Bush-era tax cuts. The final outcome of the tax debate has been a major source of uncertainty for the markets, and putting the issue to bed is likely to have a stabilizing effect.

Each week, it may seem this commentary introduces new factors that affect the stock market, the economy, and our perception of how well things are going in the world. But regardless of what we report to you, rest assured that our goal is always the same – to educate you and to remain ever alert to the various challenges and opportunities that exist in the framework of working toward your goals. We hope you have a great week!

ECONOMIC CALENDAR:[5]
Tuesday – Producer Price Index, Retail Sales, Business Inventories, FOMC Meeting Announcement
Wednesday – Consumer Price Index, Empire State Manufacturing Survey, Industrial Production
Thursday – Housing Starts, Jobless Claims, Philadelphia Fed Survey
Friday – Leading Indicators

Data as of 12/10/2010	1-Week	Y-T-D	1-Year	5-Year	10-Year
Standard & Poor’s 500	1.28	11.2	12.5	-0.30	-0.95
Dow	0.25	9.42	9.65	1.17	0.65
NASDAQ	1.78	16.2	20.4	3.37	-0.96
MSCI EAFE	0.38	2.68	3.81	-0.31	0.92
10-year Treasury Note (Yield Only)	3.02	N/A	3.48	4.54	5.34

Notes: All index returns exclude reinvested dividends, and the 5-year and 10-year returns are annualized.
Sources: Yahoo! Finance, MSCI Barra. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.
Indices are unmanaged and cannot be invested into directly. NA means not available.

HEADLINES:

Higher food prices continue to be the main driver of inflation in China, raising the likelihood of an imminent interest rate hike as the country tries to reel in its red-hot economy.[6]

American homes are expected to be worth $1.7 trillion less in 2010 than they were worth last year, according to a report released Thursday by real estate website Zillow. This year’s drop in home values is 63% bigger than the $1 trillion dip in 2009, and brings the total value lost since the housing market’s peak in 2006 to a whopping $9 trillion.[7]

Sadly, Mark Madoff, the oldest son of convicted swindler Bernard Madoff, committed suicide on Saturday, two years to the day after his father’s arrest.[8]

A powerful, gusty storm dumped mounds of snow across the upper Midwest on Sunday, closing major highways in several states, canceling more than 1,600 flights in Chicago and collapsing the roof of the Minnesota Vikings’ stadium.[9]

Credit card offers are surging again after a three-year slowdown, as banks seek to revive a business that brought them huge profits before the financial crisis wrecked the credit scores of so many Americans. HSBC mailed more than 16 million card offers to this group in the third quarter of this year, Citigroup 14 million and Discover 10 million, all roughly tenfold increases over the same period last year, according to Synovate Mail Monitor, a market research firm. Capital One’s rate rose fiftyfold, to 22 million.[10]
QUOTE OF THE WEEK:

“The best use of life is to spend it for something that outlasts life.” – William James

RECIPE OF THE WEEK:

Perfect Cranberry Spread

Prep time for this delicious recipe is only 10 minutes.

Ingredients:
1 package (8 oz.) cream cheese, softened*
2 tablespoons frozen orange juice concentrate, thawed
1 tablespoon sugar
2 teaspoons grated orange peel
1/8 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 cup finely chopped dried cranberries
1/4 cup finely chopped pecans
Keebler® Town House® Original Crackers

Directions:
1. In a small mixing bowl, beat cream cheese, orange juice concentrate, sugar, orange peel and cinnamon on medium speed of electric mixer until fluffy.

2. Stir in cranberries and pecans. Refrigerate at least 1 hour. Garnish as desired. Serve with crackers.

*Soften cream cheese in microwave at high for 15 to 20 seconds.

GOLF TIP OF THE WEEK:

Golf Ball Temperature Can Affect Your Shots

In order to get maximum distance from a golf ball, you must compress it fully. It is generally accepted that a fully compressed golf ball is one that is half flattened at impact. To get full distance with any golf ball, the golfer must supply enough force to half flatten the ball they are using.

In the cold, golf balls don’t compress as easily, and thus won’t travel as far as they would in warmer weather. An easy way to avoid losing distance is to keep a ball in your pocket and alternate playing holes with that one and another ball in play. This way, your ball stays warm until it’s time to hit it on the next hole, enabling you to get more distance. This is especially important when the temperature drops below 50 degrees.

Share the Wealth of Knowledge!
Please share this market update with family, friends, or colleagues.  If you would like us to add them to our list, simply click on the “Forward email” link below. We love being introduced!.
Insert your broker/dealer disclosures here. i.e. Securities offered through “Your B/D Name Here,” Member FINRA/SIPC.

Investing involves risk including the potential loss of principal. No investment strategy can guarantee a profit or protect against loss in periods of declining values.

The Standard & Poor’s 500 (S&P 500) is an unmanaged group of securities considered to be representative of the stock market in general.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average is a price-weighted average of 30 significant stocks traded on the New York Stock Exchange and the Nasdaq. The DJIA was invented by Charles Dow back in 1896.

The MSCI EAFE Index was created by Morgan Stanley Capital International (MSCI) that serves as a benchmark of the performance in major international equity markets as represented by 21 major MSCI indexes from Europe, Australia and Southeast Asia.

The 10-year Treasury Note represents debt owed by the United States Treasury to the public. Since the U.S. Government is seen as a risk-free borrower, investors use the 10-year Treasury Note as a benchmark for the long-term bond market.

Google Finance is the source for any reference to the performance of an index between two specific periods.

Opinions expressed are subject to change without notice and are not intended as investment advice or to predict future performance.

Past performance does not guarantee future results.

You cannot invest directly in an index.

Consult your financial professional before making any investment decision.

These are the views of Platinum Advisor Marketing Strategies, LLC, and not necessarily those of the named representative or named Broker dealer, and should not be construed as investment advice. Neither the named representative nor the named Broker dealer gives tax or legal advice. All information is believed to be from reliable sources; however, we make no representation as to its completeness or accuracy. Please consult your financial advisor for further information.

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[1] http://www.marketwatch.com/story/us-stocks-rise-as-trade-deficit-narrows-2010-12-10

[2] http://money.cnn.com/2010/12/10/markets/markets_newyork/index.htm?iid=EL

[3] http://money.cnn.com/2010/12/12/markets/lookahead_sunday/index.htm

[4] http://www.marketwatch.com/story/us-economy-still-in-slow-but-steady-mode-2010-12-12

[5] http://www.econoday.com/ 

[6] http://money.cnn.com/2010/12/10/news/international/china_cpi_inflation/index.htm

[7] http://money.cnn.com/2010/12/09/real_estate/home_value/index.htm

[8] http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2010-12-11/bernard-madoff-s-son-takes-own-life-on-anniversary-of-his-father-s-arrest.html

[9] http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5j_WKeazwUZOymPd2wc56eUrFIAlg?docId=eb3eaf367e3547f49b7ff59f8889c4cc

[10] http://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/13/business/13credit.html?src=busln

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Atlanta, GA Financial Planning – Phil Calandra

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Top Financial Planner, Atlanta GA – Phil Calandra

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Kennesaw Financial Planner Helps Locals Have A Prosperous Future

Most of us have seen our parents work hard to give us the best life. Moreover, to get a secured future and retirement plan, our parents spend their entire life working hard, but some unpredictable family issues or needs can change the entire financial planning. Thus, it leads to a completely unorganized and messed up situation where our present as well as our future planning gets hampered. Previously, there were no proper solutions for these kinds of problems, so our parents had to plan their financial aspect again from the initial stage. This was not only time consuming but at the same wasted a lot of money too. But, now we don’t have to waste our time and money as a financial planner can do the job for us with better results. If you are a resident of Kennesaw then you might want to take the help of a Kennesaw financial planner to solve your financial problems.

Financial planners are well trained in this field. They look after your entire money management and its saving and investment procedure.

Moreover, all your money income and outflow will be completely handled by your planner. If there are any changes that you need to make with your money management then these financial planners will help and guide you to make such changes.

The Kennesaw financial planner will look after your bank details and tax returns and after a review will guide you on how to grow your money. The financial planners will tell you where to invest your money and which is the best investment policy for you.

Moreover, they will advice you regarding the type of savings account that you should opt for and will also let you know the ways through which you can lower your interest rates if there are any debts in the market.

Both, individuals as well as big corporations and business houses should enlist the services of financial planners. They will give the right advice about where a person can invest their money for maximum profits.

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Estate and trust planning, as well as retirement planning are the specialties of a Kennesaw financial planner. Additional information and resources can be found at http://www.thecalandragroup.com .

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How Your Kennesaw Financial Advisor Provides Financial Tips For Retirement

When you’re looking for a financial advisor, you are looking for someone with a high degree of knowledge about financial markets to help you plan your family’s future financial affairs. You are also looking for someone who has very high ethical standards. Below are a couple of questions you should ask a Kennesaw Financial Planner to ensure he is the right person for the job.

Ask him to tell you more about what he sees as the perfect client. His answer will give you a clear indication of his level of expertise with your particular age/financial group. If you are for example within ten years of retirement and he tells you that his main field of experience is working with young families, he might not be the right person for you. You want someone that is fully aware of the needs of someone in your age group and with your financial situation.

Ask how long he has been working as a financial planner. It’s not advisable to entrust your life’s savings into the hands of someone with only a year or two’s experience. Even if he has years of experience in the accounting industry, for example, that does not mean he is necessarily an able financial planner.

Enquire about his particular fields of expertise. Someone that is very enthusiastic about day trading might not necessarily be knowledgeable about retirement planning. Once again you should choose someone whose expertise matches your own needs at this particular stage of your life.

You should also ask him to explain in detail to you what assumptions he uses when making projections for your retirement. All financial planners make certain assumptions about what the return on your money will be on a yearly basis, what the rate of inflation is going to be and about how your spending patterns are going to change over time. You need to ensure that these are realistic.

Finally ask your Kennesaw Financial Planner how his fees will be paid. If his fees will be paid directly by you, he is more likely to give you sound advice than if he works on a commission only basis. In the latter case it’s more likely that he will tend to push products on which he gets the most commission.

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Sometimes planning for retirement is just a matter of setting goals with the help of your Kennesaw financial planner. For tips on how to have a healthy financial future, visit the website at http://www.thecalandragroup.com .

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Kennesaw Financial Planner, Phil Calandra, Recognized For Helping Clients During Tough Times

PRESS RELEASE: Kennesaw, GA 5-July-2010 — The Calandra Group is pleased to announce that Kennesaw Financial Planner, Phil Calandra, has received recognition for helping clients through these tough economic times. Times like these make it more important than ever before to manage wealth wisely. Calandra helps clients make educated decisions about investments and money management decisions.

The Calandra Group is an integrated wealth management service that is redefining the standards for customer service. They integrate all financial segments into the information presented to clients for them to make decisions on. Their stated goals are to work extremely hard to understand clients’ motivations and financial situations, Empower clients with financial control and understanding to make educated decisions, and to create lifelong clients by making customer service and relationships their priority, rather than an afterthought.

These missions are handled by the collective work of Calandra Tax Solutions, The American Gold Group, and Calandra Wealth Management. Phil Calandra works with customers to manage their long term financial planning needs so that they are able to achieve their goals, whether it be retirement income, the purchase of a new home, or any other financial decision.

Residents of the Kennesaw area may obtain more information about the Calandra Group and how Phil Calandra can help steer them through these tough economic times by visiting http://www.thecalandragroup.com/. Members of the press and/or other interested parties may also obtain more information by contacting the following:

The Calandra Group

Phil Calandra, Kennesaw Financial Planner

1301 Shiloh Road

Suite 1240

Kennesaw, GA 30144

Phone: 678-302-6621

Toll Free: 877-529-6501

Email: info@thecalandragroup.com

Kennesaw Financial Planner, Phil Calandra, has received recognition for the way he helps clients steer a steady financial course during these tough economic times.

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Income Planning

Do you need money from your assets during retirement to maintain your current lifestyle?  If you answered yes, then income planning is something you must begin today.  The following example illustrates the importance of creating a solid income plan for retirement.

Imagine a scenario where two brothers, three years apart in age, both retire when they are 62 years old.  At their respective retirement, both brothers had exactly $1 million in assets and had the exact same investments.  They withdrew the exact same amount each year of 5% or $50,000, adjusted for cost of living each year, and lived 30 years in retirement before passing away.  This story ends happily for the older brother who retired in 1962 and died 30 years later with a large estate, but unfortunately it does not end as well for the younger brother who retired in 1965 and ran completely out of money 22 years later at age 84.

How can this have happened?  Everything was identical other than the year of retirement.  In this case, that made all the difference since the older brother experienced positive returns the first couple of years in retirement while the younger brother had losses in his portfolio.  It could just as easily been the other way around because both brothers left their retirement in the hands of the stock market’s whims.

When discussing income planning, the main focus needs to be on yourself and ensuring that you will get the income you need until you pass away.  Ideally, you would protect the assets that will provide income and grow what is left in case you live past your life expectancy.

Calandra Wealth Management can show you how to protect your principal from losses while guaranteeing income that you cannot outlive.  Call the office at (678)302-6621 to develop an income plan that will put you in control.

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