The S&P 500 Extends Its -10% Correction Streak...

As of today, the S&P 500 has gone 1,192 calendar days (i.e., from 10/03/11 through and including 01/07/15) without a -10% or greater drop in the index, the 4th longest stretch without a double-digit pullback in the last 50 years.

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

On Friday, January 2, the S&P 500 closed @ 2058, and that was...
  
   +5.0% ABOVE its 12-Month moving average which stood @ 1961.
   +4.7% ABOVE its 40-Week moving average which stood @ 1966.
   +0.3% ABOVE its 10-Week moving average which stood @ 2052.


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

GDP Jumps and Personal Incomes Surge...

GDP Growth In Q3 Surges to a Revised +5%, Best Rate Since 2003

Read More At Investor's Business Daily:

GDP Growth In Q3 Surges to a Revised +5%, Best Rate Since 2003

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

On Friday, December 26, the S&P 500 closed @ 2089, and that was...
  
   +7.2% ABOVE its 12-Month moving average which stood @ 1948.
   +6.5% ABOVE its 40-Week moving average which stood @ 1961.
   +2.3% ABOVE its 10-Week moving average which stood @ 2042.


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

"And on Earth, Peace, Good Will Toward Men..."

The Financial Stress Index Indicates That Another Stock Market Bubble May Be Brewing...

An indicator called the Financial Stress Index shows that investors are becoming downright euphoric and complacent just like they did during last decade’s bubble.

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

On Friday, December 19, the S&P 500 closed @ 2071, and that was...
  
   +6.5% ABOVE its 12-Month moving average which stood @ 1945.
   +5.6% ABOVE its 40-Week moving average which stood @ 1960.
   +1.5% ABOVE its 10-Week moving average which stood @ 2040.


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

10 Social Security Claiming Strategies: #9 of 10

#9. 66 Is The Magic Age!

If you WAIT until 66 to claim benefits, you can:

— Collect your FULL Retirement Benefit.

— Exercise some Creative Claiming Strategies.

— And, AVOID losing benefits to Earnings Cap 
Restrictions.

Winners & Losers from ObamaCare...

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

On Friday, December 5, the S&P 500 closed @ 2002, and that was...
  
   +3.5% ABOVE its 12-Month moving average which stood @ 1935.
   +2.7% ABOVE its 40-Week moving average which stood @ 1949.
   -0.2% BELOW its 10-Week moving average which stood @ 2006.


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

10 Social Security Claiming Strategies: #10 of 10

#10. The Basics

• You can collect retirement benefits as early as 62, but they will be reduced by -25% or more for the rest of your life.

• If you wait until your Normal (aka Full) Retirement Age, currently 66, you can collect your full retirement benefit, even if you continue to work.


• Or, if you delay collecting benefits beyond your normal retirement age, you can increase the amount by +8.0% per year up to age 70.

Uh-Oh: As Group, Economists Never Get It Right...

Read more here...

Uh-Oh: The Economists Are Wrong. Now What? | Financial Planning

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

On Friday, December 5, the S&P 500 closed @ 2075, and that was...
  
   +6.6% ABOVE its 12-Month moving average which stood @ 1946.
   +6.6% ABOVE its 40-Week moving average which stood @ 1946.
   +3.7% ABOVE its 10-Week moving average which stood @ 2002.


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

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.