Consumer Inflation - Official vs ShadowStats.com

Medicare Celebrates 50th Year: A Timeline of the History of Medicare...

Vantage Point UPDATE: Intermediate-Term and Long-Term Trend Analysis

On Friday, November 28, the S&P 500 closed @ 2068, and that was...
  
   +7.6% ABOVE its 12-Month moving average which stood @ 1922.
   +6.5% ABOVE its 40-Week moving average which stood @ 1941.
   +3.7% ABOVE its 10-Week moving average which stood @ 1993.


Therefore, the INTERMEDIATE-Term trend is BULLISH
and the LONG-Term trend is UP.

ObamaCare: The Promise & The Reality of Family Health Care Spending

Social Security Trust Fund to Go Bust in the Year 2033, Not 2041...

Social Security trustees announced in 2014 that the trust fund backing the payment of Social Security benefits would be ZERO in 2033. 

A zero trust fund does not mean the payment of Social Security benefits would also go to zero, but rather would drop to 77% of their originally promised levels through the year 2088. 

When the trustees released their report in 2007 (7 years ago), the Social Security Trust Fund was projected to be depleted in 2041.


Source: Social Security Trustees 

Vantage Point UPDATE: Intermediate-Term and Long-Term Trend Analysis

On Friday, November 21, the S&P 500 closed @ 2064, and that was...
  
   +7.4% ABOVE its 12-Month moving average which stood @ 1922.
   +6.6% ABOVE its 40-Week moving average which stood @ 1935.
   +3.9% ABOVE its 10-Week moving average which stood @ 1987.


Therefore, the INTERMEDIATE-Term trend is BULLISH
and the LONG-Term trend is UP.

Medicare: 7 Things You Don't Know - #1. Not Everything Is Covered

Couples retiring at age 65 this year are expected to incur $220,000 in out-of-pocket health care costs on average during their retirement years, INCLUDING deductibles, co-payments and services NOT covered by Medicare such as dental, vision and podiatry expenses. 

The estimate DOES NOT include Long-Term Care (LTC) costs.

Source: Fidelity Investments’ 2014 Retirement Health Care Cost Estimate.

Price of Crude Oil is Dropping Because U.S. Crude Oil Production is Soaring!

U.S. Makes Up Just 4% of The World's Population

The combined population of China and India (2.67 trillion) makes up 37% of the world’s population (7.26 trillion).

The USA’s population (323 million) makes up just 4% of the world’s population.

Vantage Point UPDATE: Intermediate-Term and Long-Term Trend Analysis

On Friday, November 14, the S&P 500 closed @ 2040, and that was...
  
   +6.4% ABOVE its 12-Month moving average which stood @ 1918.
   +5.5% ABOVE its 40-Week moving average which stood @ 1934.
   +2.8% ABOVE its 10-Week moving average which stood @ 1985.


Therefore, the INTERMEDIATE-Term trend is NEUTRAL
and the LONG-Term trend is UP.

Medicare: 7 Things You Don't Know - #2. Wealthy Pay More For Coverage

Health care costs could be even higher for wealthier retirees.

Medicare premiums are subject to a monthly surcharge when Modified Adjusted Gross Income — INCLUDING Tax-Free Municipal Bond Interest — exceeds $85,000 for individuals or $170,000 for married couples.

4th Quarter Seasonal Strength Is Persistent...

Over the last 25 years (i.e., 1989-2013), the S&P 500 has gained an average of +5.1% in the final 3 months of the year, i.e., October-November-December.

Nearly 50% of the S&P 500’s total return achieved over the last 25 years (i.e., 1989-2013) has been produced in the final 3 months of the year.


Source: BTN Research

Vantage Point UPDATE: Intermediate-Term and Long-Term Trend Analysis

On Friday, November 7, the S&P 500 closed @ 2032, and that was...
  
   +6.0% ABOVE its 12-Month moving average which stood @ 1917.
   +5.7% ABOVE its 40-Week moving average which stood @ 1923.
   +2.8% ABOVE its 10-Week moving average which stood @ 1976.


Therefore, the INTERMEDIATE-Term trend is NEUTRAL
and the LONG-Term trend is UP.

Medicare: 7 Things You Don't Know - #3. Health Savings Accounts No Longer Apply

Consumers can enroll in Medicare Part A, which covers hospitalization and is FREE, when they turn 65.

But once they enroll, they will NO longer be able to contribute to a Health Savings Account (HSA).

S&P 500 Earnings Growth is Picking Up Steam...

Vantage Point UPDATE: Intermediate-Term and Long-Term Trend Analysis

On Friday, October 31, the S&P 500 closed @ 2018, and that was...
  
   +6.4% ABOVE its 12-Month moving average which stood @ 1896.
   +5.3% ABOVE its 40-Week moving average which stood @ 1917.
   +2.3% ABOVE its 10-Week moving average which stood @ 1973.


Therefore, the INTERMEDIATE-Term trend is NEUTRAL
and the LONG-Term trend is UP.

Medicare: 7 Things You Don't Know - #4. Part B Coverage Can Be Postponed

Consumers can postpone signing up for Medicare Part B, which covers doctors’ visits and outpatient services, if they have group health insurance from their current employer or their spouse’s current employer.

Medicare Part B costs most beneficiaries $104.90 per month in 2014.

How Student Loan Debt Burden Is Crippling Retirement Planning...

Vantage Point UPDATE: Intermediate-Term and Long-Term Trend Analysis

On Friday, October 24, the S&P 500 closed @ 1965, and that was...
  
   +4.1% ABOVE its 12-Month moving average which stood @ 1888.
   +2.8% ABOVE its 40-Week moving average which stood @ 1911.
   -0.3% BELOW  its 10-Week moving average which stood @ 1970.


Therefore, the INTERMEDIATE-Term trend is NEUTRAL
and the LONG-Term trend is UP.

Medicare: 7 Things You Don't Know - #5. URGENT! The Self-Employed Must Sign Up During the Initial Enrollment Period!

Those who are Self-Employed OR who work for small firms with 19 or fewer employees MUST sign up for Medicare Part B during the INITIAL 7-month enrollment period based on the date of their 65th birthday.


If they miss the deadline, they could be on the hook for 80% of their medical costs until Medicare coverage begins and face PERMANENTLY increased premiums.

Labor Force Participation Falls To Its Lowest Rate Since 1978...

Vantage Point UPDATE: Intermediate-Term and Long-Term Trend Analysis

On Friday, October 17, the S&P 500 closed @ 1987, and that was...
  
   +0.6% ABOVE its 12-Month moving average which stood @ 1876.
   -1.1% BELOW its 40-Week moving average which stood @ 1908.
   -4.2% BELOW its 10-Week moving average which stood @ 1969.


Therefore, the INTERMEDIATE-Term trend is Moderately BEARISH
and the LONG-Term trend is NEUTRAL.

Medicare: 7 Things You Don't Know - #6. Latest Tax Returns Determine Premium Surcharges

Monthly premium surcharges for Medicare Part B and Part D prescription drug plans are based on the latest tax return.

So your 2012 Tax Return filed in 2013 is the basis for the Medicare premiums you pay in 2014.

   These brackets are NOT adjusted for inflation, meaning more retirees could drift into the higher premium brackets each year.

Small-Cap Stocks Are In a Full Blown Correction of Greater Than -10%...

Vantage Point UPDATE: Intermediate-Term and Long-Term Trend Analysis

On Friday, October 10, the S&P 500 closed @ 1906, and that was...
  
   +1.4% ABOVE its 12-Month moving average which stood @ 1879.
   +0.1% ABOVE its 40-Week moving average which stood @ 1907.
   -3.4% BELOW its 10-Week moving average which stood @ 1974.


Therefore, the INTERMEDIATE-Term trend is NEUTRAL
and the LONG-Term trend is UP.

Medicare: 7 Things You Don't Know - #7. Not All Investments Count As Income

A handful of investment products are NOT counted as INCOME by Medicare. 

They include distributions from health savings accounts and Roth IRAs and Roth 401(k) plans; proceeds from a reverse mortgage; income and loans from cash-value life insurance; and certain distributions from annuities in non-qualified accounts.

Performance of 12 Individual Asset Classes Over The Last 15-Years

Vantage Point UPDATE: Intermediate-Term and Long-Term Trend Analysis

On Friday, October 3, the S&P 500 closed @ 1968, and that was...
  
   +4.2% ABOVE its 12-Month moving average which stood @ 1888.
   +3.3% ABOVE its 40-Week moving average which stood @ 1905.
   -0.9% BELOW its 10-Week moving average which stood @ 1976.


Therefore, the INTERMEDIATE-Term trend is NEUTRAL
and the LONG-Term trend is UP.

The Top 10 Retirement Challenges: #1. Rising Health Care Costs...

An estimated 10,000 baby boomers turn 65 every day. 

Higher-income individuals are often in better health at retirement and will face higher lifetime health costs as they live longer.

Planning for these higher costs will be challenging, but very important.

Historically, What Do Stocks Do Before And After The Fed Starts Hiking Rates?...

Sooner or later, the Federal Reserve will begin normalizing monetary policy, which means higher interest rates are coming.

This has investors rightfully worried because higher rates mean higher interest costs, which should be bad for profits and ultimately stocks.

Deutsche Bank Chief US Equity Strategist David Bianco examined the history of Fed rate hikes and their impacts on stocks.

"Stocks typically sell-off on the first of a series of rate hikes, but the magnitude and duration of the sell-off depend on conditions," Bianco writes. "During early cycle hikes the initial sell-off was generally small, quickly recovered and further S&P gains came in next three months and longer (like 2004, 1983, 1972). But many sell- offs on late cycle hikes became corrections or even bear markets."

Unfortunately, it's only in hindsight do we know where we are in the cycle.

"Determining whether it’s early or late in the cycle is subjective, but the shape of the curve, inflation measures, years since the last recession can help," Bianco said. "Next year is likely another mid-cycle year and we don’t expect a severe S&P reaction to hikes, but the risk is the Fed hikes too late or too little and inflation accelerates requiring the Fed to hike to levels higher than expected."

Bianco's 27-page research note is riddled with exhibits. But we thought this one was pretty elegant.

It's the average price move of the S&P 500 during the 4 months before and the 6 months after the 1st rate hike. It's the average of the last 7 hikes.

It's not the most helpful chart for people who enjoy obsessing over the details. It does, however, show that the general direction of the stock market tends to be up.


Read more: http://www.businessinsider.com/how-stocks-move-around-first-fed-rate-hikes-2014-9#ixzz3EMoczX9P