Monday, May 11, 2015
Vantage Point UPDATE: Intermediate-Term and Long-Term Trend Analysis
On Friday, May 8, the S&P 500 closed @ 2116, and that was...
+4.7% ABOVE its 12-Month moving average which stood @ 2021.
+3.9% ABOVE its 40-Week moving average which stood @ 2037.
+1.3% ABOVE its 10-Week moving average which stood @ 2089.
Therefore, the INTERMEDIATE-Term trend is NEUTRAL
and the LONG-Term trend is UP.
Friday, May 8, 2015
Wednesday, May 6, 2015
Seasonal Stock Market Rationale for "SELL in May and Go Away" (until November)...
The 6-month period from November-April has gained +548.3% for the S&P 500 since 1990, 8 ½ times the +65.1% return achieved during the 6 months from May-October.
Both numbers are aggregate total return performance results calculated for their respective 6-month periods beginning on 05/01/90 and continuing through 04/30/15.
Source: BTN Research
Monday, May 4, 2015
Vantage Point UPDATE: Intermediate-Term and Long-Term Trend Analysis
On Friday, May 1, the S&P 500 closed @ 2108, and that was...
+4.3% ABOVE its 12-Month moving average which stood @ 2021.
+3.6% ABOVE its 40-Week moving average which stood @ 2036.
+1.0% ABOVE its 10-Week moving average which stood @ 2088.
Therefore, the INTERMEDIATE-Term trend is NEUTRAL
and the LONG-Term trend is UP.
Friday, May 1, 2015
Wednesday, April 29, 2015
Estate Planning: The Pros & Cons of Transfer On Death (TOD) and Payable On Death (POD) Authorizations
Pitfall to Avoid: Transfer on Death or Payable on Death not Matching Wills
A simple and easy way to help avoid probate is to name someone as a transfer on death (TOD) beneficiary or a payable on death (POD) beneficiary.
The terms are essentially the same but apply to slightly different accounts. A TOD/POD beneficiary can be named on financial accounts, such as bank savings or checking accounts and investment accounts, vehicle titles, and––in some states––real property.
The terms are essentially the same but apply to slightly different accounts. A TOD/POD beneficiary can be named on financial accounts, such as bank savings or checking accounts and investment accounts, vehicle titles, and––in some states––real property.
Despite their simplicity, one major issue with TOD/POD-titled assets is a lack of awareness or poor coordination with people’s overall estate planning strategies.
If a number of accounts are titled as TOD, a will can be rendered largely ineffective, and assets may not be distributed as intended.
“You could have a complex will with all sorts of trusts created for your children,” says Pamela Pirone-Benson, a Fidelity estate planning specialist. “But if the assets don’t pass by the terms of the will, then the will becomes an expensive paperweight.”
Lubar describes transfer on death as a “placeholder,” rather than an estate plan. “It’s a temporary bandage until you put a larger, more effective, comprehensive plan in place.”
Consider Susan, a hypothetical client with a brokerage account worth $1 million.
She names her husband as a TOD beneficiary of the $1 million account. Five years later, she does some estate planning and states in her will that the account’s assets be split evenly between her two daughters from a different marriage.
Unfortunately, Susan doesn’t realize that her now ex-husband will receive the assets, because the TOD registration overrides the will.
Another problem with a TOD or POD could occur if parents name their children individually as TOD on each of two separate accounts. At the time the assets are titled, the value of the two accounts is equal. But no one tracks the value of the accounts over time.
Thirty years later, when the couple dies, one child could receive a much smaller sum than the other.
She names her husband as a TOD beneficiary of the $1 million account. Five years later, she does some estate planning and states in her will that the account’s assets be split evenly between her two daughters from a different marriage.
Unfortunately, Susan doesn’t realize that her now ex-husband will receive the assets, because the TOD registration overrides the will.
Another problem with a TOD or POD could occur if parents name their children individually as TOD on each of two separate accounts. At the time the assets are titled, the value of the two accounts is equal. But no one tracks the value of the accounts over time.
Thirty years later, when the couple dies, one child could receive a much smaller sum than the other.
And estate taxes may be due on TOD assets and payable by the recipient, depending on, among other things, how the will is drafted.
“This can create an administrative nightmare for the executor of the will, who then needs to go and collect taxes from the recipients after they receive the assets,” says Pirone-Benson.
“This can create an administrative nightmare for the executor of the will, who then needs to go and collect taxes from the recipients after they receive the assets,” says Pirone-Benson.
Monday, April 27, 2015
Vantage Point UPDATE: Intermediate-Term and Long-Term Trend Analysis
On Friday, April 24, the S&P 500 closed @ 2119, and that was...
+5.5% ABOVE its 12-Month moving average which stood @ 2009.
+4.4% ABOVE its 40-Week moving average which stood @ 2029.
+1.5% ABOVE its 10-Week moving average which stood @ 2088.
Therefore, the INTERMEDIATE-Term trend is NEUTRAL
and the LONG-Term trend is UP.
Friday, April 24, 2015
Obama Corporate Tax Reform Would Cut 35% Rate To Only 34%
The statutory U.S. tax rate is the highest in the world.
The federal rate of 35% plus state taxes put the U.S. rate at 39.1% vs. a 25.1% average for other OECD countries, the Congressional Research Service says.
Unfortunately, that puts U.S. companies at a competitive disadvantage in the global market place.
Wednesday, April 22, 2015
Monday, April 20, 2015
Vantage Point UPDATE: Intermediate-Term and Long-Term Trend Analysis
On Friday, April 17, the S&P 500 closed @ 2081, and that was...
+3.9% ABOVE its 12-Month moving average which stood @ 2003.
+2.8% ABOVE its 40-Week moving average which stood @ 2025.
-0.2% BELOW its 10-Week moving average which stood @ 2086.
Therefore, the INTERMEDIATE-Term trend is NEUTRAL
and the LONG-Term trend is UP.
Friday, April 17, 2015
The Rationale Behind "Sell in May and Go Away"
The seasonal 6-month period from November-April has gained +520.9% for the S&P 500 since 1990, 8 times the +65.1% return achieved during the 6 months from May-October.
Both numbers are aggregate total return performance results calculated for their respective 6-month periods beginning on 5/01/90 and continuing through 10/31/14.
source: BTN Research
Wednesday, April 15, 2015
Bull Market Reaches Its 74th Month...
The S&P 500 bull market that began on 03/09/09 is now in its 74th month.
The average bull market for the stock index since 1950 (including the current bull) has lasted 59 months.
source: BTN Research
Monday, April 13, 2015
Vantage Point UPDATE: Intermediate-Term and Long-Term Trend Analysis
On Friday, April 10, the S&P 500 closed @ 2102, and that was...
+4.8% ABOVE its 12-Month moving average which stood @ 2006.
+3.9% ABOVE its 40-Week moving average which stood @ 2022.
+0.9% ABOVE its 10-Week moving average which stood @ 2083.
Therefore, the INTERMEDIATE-Term trend is NEUTRAL
and the LONG-Term trend is UP.
Friday, April 10, 2015
Since 1950, April has Been the Best Month for Stocks!
Today's chart presents the Dow's average performance for each calendar month since 1950 (blue columns). As today's chart illustrates, it is not unusual for the stock market to perform well during the early part of the year.
Looking forward, the averages favor a continued stock market rally as the calendar month of April has been the best month for stocks since 1950, averaging nearly +2.0 percent.
After that, however, things tend to get a little dicier.
Of the five calendar months that follow the strongest month of April, four rank as the weakest average calendar month performers since 1950.
Read more here...
http://www.chartoftheday.com/20150401.htm?H
Wednesday, April 8, 2015
ADP's March Private Payroll Job Report Weaker Than Expected...
Private employers added 189,000 jobs in March, processor ADP said, the smallest gain since January 2014.
It was well below expectations of a 230,000 read and suggests some downside risk for the Labor Department's March figures, which are expected to show 247,000 jobs added in March.
Monday, April 6, 2015
Vantage Point UPDATE: Intermediate-Term and Long-Term Trend Analysis
On Friday, April 3, the S&P 500 closed @ 2067, and that was...
+3.3% ABOVE its 12-Month moving average which stood @ 2001.
+2.3% ABOVE its 40-Week moving average which stood @ 2020.
-0.2% BELOW its 10-Week moving average which stood @ 2072.
Therefore, the INTERMEDIATE-Term trend is NEUTRAL
and the LONG-Term trend is UP.
Wednesday, April 1, 2015
Monday, March 30, 2015
Vantage Point UPDATE: Intermediate-Term and Long-Term Trend Analysis
On Friday, March 27, the S&P 500 closed @ 2061, and that was...
+3.7% ABOVE its 12-Month moving average which stood @ 1988.
+2.2% ABOVE its 40-Week moving average which stood @ 2017.
-0.5% BELOW its 10-Week moving average which stood @ 2071.
Therefore, the INTERMEDIATE-Term trend is NEUTRAL
and the LONG-Term trend is UP.
Friday, March 27, 2015
Wednesday, March 25, 2015
Monday, March 23, 2015
Vantage Point UPDATE: Intermediate-Term and Long-Term Trend Analysis
On Friday, March 20, the S&P 500 closed @ 2108, and that was...
+5.7% ABOVE its 12-Month moving average which stood @ 1995.
+4.7% ABOVE its 40-Week moving average which stood @ 2014.
+2.0% ABOVE its 10-Week moving average which stood @ 2067.
Therefore, the INTERMEDIATE-Term trend is NEUTRAL
and the LONG-Term trend is UP.
Friday, March 20, 2015
Wednesday, March 18, 2015
Monday, March 16, 2015
Vantage Point UPDATE: Intermediate-Term and Long-Term Trend Analysis
On Friday, March 13, the S&P 500 closed @ 2053, and that was...
+3.3% ABOVE its 12-Month moving average which stood @ 1987.
+3.2% ABOVE its 40-Week moving average which stood @ 2010.
-0.3% BELOW its 10-Week moving average which stood @ 2060.
Therefore, the INTERMEDIATE-Term trend is NEUTRAL
and the LONG-Term trend is UP.
Wednesday, March 11, 2015
Monday, March 9, 2015
Vantage Point UPDATE: Intermediate-Term and Long-Term Trend Analysis
On Friday, March 6, the S&P 500 closed @ 2071, and that was...
+4.1% ABOVE its 12-Month moving average which stood @ 1990.
+3.2% ABOVE its 40-Week moving average which stood @ 2008.
+0.5% ABOVE its 10-Week moving average which stood @ 2061.
Therefore, the INTERMEDIATE-Term trend is NEUTRAL
and the LONG-Term trend is UP.
Friday, March 6, 2015
U.S. Consumers Spending More at Restaurants and Bars
Wednesday, March 4, 2015
Average Life Expectancies Continue Climbing
An average 65-year old male has a life expectancy of 21.6 years (to age 86.6 ), an increase in life expectancy of +24 months in the last 15 years.
An average 65-year old female has a life expectancy of 23.8 years (to age 88.8), an increase in life expectancy of +29 months in the last 15 years.
Source: Society of Actuaries
Monday, March 2, 2015
Vantage Point UPDATE: Intermediate-Term and Long-Term Trend Analysis
On Friday, February 27, the S&P 500 closed @ 2105, and that was...
+5.4% ABOVE its 12-Month moving average which stood @ 1997.
+4.8% ABOVE its 40-Week moving average which stood @ 2009.
+1.9% ABOVE its 10-Week moving average which stood @ 2065.
Therefore, the INTERMEDIATE-Term trend is NEUTRAL
and the LONG-Term trend is UP.
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