Filed under: Consumer confidence, Inflation, Norhill Wealth Strategies Report, Safe Investments | Tags: Annualized Inflation, Dow Jones Industrial Average, Homebuying market, housing market, Inflation, Norhill Wealth Strategies, rebounding Stock market, Warren Elkin
ACTIONS in GREECE & ITALY CALM MARKETS
Global investors seemed reassured at the end of last week by developments in the European Union. By Friday, Greek prime minister George Papandreou had stepped down; Italian prime minister Silvio Berlusconi’s resignation was at hand. Greek prime minister designate Lucas Papademos and a new coalition government will now be charged with implementing austerity cuts as Greece accepts the EU’s latest €130 billion aid package. Italy’s senate passed new economic reforms at the end of the week aimed at reducing its sovereign debt. Italy’s treasury was also able to sell €5 billion of one-year notes , albeit at 6.09% interest.1,2
A BIG REBOUND IN CONSUMER CONFIDENCE
The preliminary November consumer sentiment index from the University of Michigan was a nice surprise. It came in at 64.2; far better than the final mark of 60.9 for October and the 61.3 consensus forecast of economists polled by Briefing.com. The reading hasn’t been this high since June. The future expectations sub-index improved to 56.2 from the previous 51.8.3
OIL PUSHES TOWARD $100 AGAIN
On Veterans Day, oil futures settled at $98.99 on the NYMEX after a +5.02% week that saw prices rise $3.25 across Thursday and Friday. Gold prices posted a weekly gain as well: the precious metal gained 1.83% on the COMEX for the week, and that brought its 3-week advance to 9.32%.4
STRONG FRIDAY PUTS DOW BACK IN THE BLACK
The DJIA climbed 260 points on Friday after rising 113 points on Thursday, almost offsetting Wednesday’s 389-point descent. That left it at +4.98% YTD. Last week’s performances: DJIA, +1.42% to 12,153.68; S&P 500, +0.85% to 1,263.85; NASDAQ, -0.28% to 2,678.75.5,6,7
THIS WEEK: Key economic releases will be complemented by earnings from the big boxes. Monday, Lowe’s, Urban Outfitters and JCPenney issue 3Q results. On Tuesday, Wal-Mart, Home Depot, Staples, Dell and Beazer Homes come out with earnings, and the October PPI arrives along with October’s retail sales report from the Census Bureau. Wednesday, the October CPI appears along with data on October industrial output; 3Q results roll in from Target and Abercrombie & Fitch. Thursday brings earnings from Ross Stores, Sears, Dollar Tree, GameStop and GAP, the latest initial claims figures and October’s housing starts report. Friday, Heinz announces 3Q results, EU finance ministers meet and the Conference Board offers its October leading indicator index.
| % CHANGE | Y-T-D | 1-YR CHG | 5-YR AVG | 10-YR AVG |
| DJIA | +4.98 | +7.72 | +0.00075 | +2.72 |
| NASDAQ | +0.98 | +4.82 | +2.42 | +4.56 |
| S&P 500 | +0.49 | +4.15 | -1.70 | +1.30 |
| REAL YIELD | 11/11 RATE | 1 YR AGO | 5 YRS AGO | 10 YRS AGO |
| 10 YR TIPS | -0.04% | 0.71% | 2.25% | 3.50% |
Sources: cnbc.com, bigcharts.com, treasury.gov, treasurydirect.gov – 11/11/117,8,9,10
Indices are unmanaged, do not incur fees or expenses, and cannot be invested into directly.
These returns do not include dividends.
Filed under: Consumer confidence, Economic Outlook, Inflation, Norhill Wealth Strategies Report, Secure Investments | Tags: Annualized Inflation, Dow Jones Industrial Average, Homebuying market, housing market, Inflation, Norhill Wealth Strategies, rebounding Stock market, Warren Elkin
JOBLESS RATE DECREASES TO 9.0%
Economists surveyed by Bloomberg News had expected unemployment to stay at 9.1% in October, so this was a nice development. Still, this latest jobs report had something in common with its predecessors: underwhelming job growth. Non-farm payrolls expanded by 80,000 positions last month, but that fell short of the 95,000 new jobs envisioned in the consensus Bloomberg forecast. On the bright side, the percentage of underemployed Americans fell from 16.5% to 16.2% and the long-term unemployed (those out of work for at least 27 weeks) shrank to 42.4% of the jobless population, the lowest percentage since November 2010.1
BOTH ISM INDICES MOVE LOWER
The Institute for Supply Management’s purchasing manager indexes were both above 50 in October, but not quite where they were at a month before. The ISM manufacturing index slipped from 51.6 to 50.8; its service sector index ticked down to 52.9 from the preceding 53.0. The service sector employment gauge improved by 4.6% and moved from 48.7 in September (contraction) to 53.3 (expansion).2
GOLD & OIL POST WEEKLY GAINS
Oil futures advanced 1.01% last week to settle at $94.26 per barrel on the NYMEX Friday. Prices have jumped 19.02% over the past five weeks of trading. Gold logged a 0.52% gain last week, closing at $1,755.30 an ounce on the COMEX Friday.3
GREEK THEATRE PREOCCUPIES WALL STREET
The whims of Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou affected stocks more than anything last week: first he announced a public vote on the latest austerity cuts for the nation, reconsidered it, and then prepared to step down Friday amid concerns that he might change his mind. As these weekly performance numbers show, bears were roaming last week: DJIA, -2.03% to 11,983.24; S&P 500, -2.48% to 1,253.23; NASDAQ, -1.86% to 2,686.15.4,5,6
THIS WEEK: No major economic releases are slated for Monday; we do have results from Priceline and SYSCO. Eurozone finance ministers conclude their meeting in Brussels on Tuesday, and Toyota presents earnings. Wednesday, Ben Bernanke speaks at a Federal Reserve conference on small business; earnings come in from GM, Anheuser Busch, HSBC, Cisco, Green Mountain, Ralph Lauren, Macy’s and Wendy’s. Thursday we have earnings from Viacom, Kohl’s, Disney and Nordstrom; Ben Bernanke speaks at an El Paso town hall. Friday is Veterans Day: banks are closed, markets are open, and the initial October University of Michigan consumer sentiment survey arrives plus earnings from D.R. Horton.
| % CHANGE | Y-T-D | 1-YR CHG | 5-YR AVG | 10-YR AVG |
| DJIA | +3.50 | +4.80 | -0.000047 | +2.69 |
| NASDAQ | +1.25 | +4.22 | +3.05 | +4.98 |
| S&P 500 | -0.35 | +2.63 | -1.63 | +1.36 |
| REAL YIELD | 11/4 RATE | 1 YR AGO | 5 YRS AGO | 10 YRS AGO |
| 10 YR TIPS | -0.08% | 0.44% | 2.40% | 3.50% |
Sources: cnbc.com, bigcharts.com, treasury.gov, treasurydirect.gov – 11/4/116,7,8,9
Indices are unmanaged, do not incur fees or expenses, and cannot be invested into directly.
These returns do not include dividends.
Filed under: Consumer confidence, Economic Outlook, Inflation, Norhill Wealth Strategies Report, Secure Investments | Tags: Annualized Inflation, Dow Jones Industrial Average, Homebuying market, housing market, Inflation, Norhill Wealth Strategies, rebounding Stock market, Warren Elkin
ANNUALIZED INFLATION HITS 3.9%
So noted the Bureau of Labor Statistics last week. The Consumer Price Index rose 0.3% during the month of September, with core CPI rising 0.1%, the smallest such increase in six months. (Annualized core consumer inflation was at 2.0%.) The Producer Price Index climbed 0.8% for September after a flat August.1
HOMEBUYING TAPERS OFF IN SEPTEMBER
Existing home sales decreased by 3.0% last month, according to the National Association of Realtors. At this rate, about 4.91 million previously occupied homes will be sold in 2011, matching the total for 2010. In a normal year, about 6 million residential resales occur in the real estate sector.2
HOUSING STARTS UP 15%
Here’s a good sign for residential real estate: a sign of demand. Most of the 15.0% monthly increase in September came from apartment construction; the Commerce Department reported a 53% monthly jump in that category. Single-family construction improved by 1.7%. Overall, there were 658,000 housing starts last month, the best number in any month since April 2010.3
DOW EXTENDS WINNING STREAK
Wall Street rallied Friday on the eve of the crucial summit meeting to address the Eurozone debt crisis, helped by news that a new aid package for Greece had been approved by EU finance ministers. The DJIA gained ground for the fourth week in a row; the S&P 500 also advanced. The weekly numbers: S&P 500, +1.12% to 1,238.25; DJIA, +1.41% to 11,808.79; NASDAQ, -1.14% to 2,637.46.4,5
THIS WEEK: Earnings season is in full swing. Monday, earnings reports from Netflix, Amgen, Caterpillar and Texas Instruments hit the Street. On Tuesday, BP, Deutsche Bank, Amazon.com, Broadcom, DuPont, UBS and 3M issue 3Q results … and the August Case/Shiller Home Price Index comes out along with the Conference Board’s October gauge of consumer confidence. On Wednesday, quarterly results arrive from Boeing, VISA, GlaxoSmithKline, Sprint, ConocoPhillips and Ford and we have data on September new home sales and durable goods orders. Thursday brings the initial estimate of 3Q GDP and the data on September pending home sales, plus earnings from ExxonMobil, Occidental Petroleum, Baidu, P&G, Aetna, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Time Warner Cable, Hershey and Motorola Solutions. Friday, earnings from Merck and Chevron come out along with the report on September consumer spending and October’s final University of Michigan consume r sentiment index.
Sources: cnbc.com, bigcharts.com, treasury.gov, treasurydirect.gov – 10/21/114,5,6,7,8
Indices are unmanaged, do not incur fees or expenses, and cannot be invested into directly.
These returns do not include dividends.
Economy: Amid the good news of a rebounding stock market and better job growth comes a warning: Inflation may flare up soon. If it does, don’t blame business.
Maybe you think it’s crazy to worry about inflation when the consumer price index is rising at a modest 1.5% year over year. That’s a valid point. It’s also true that many of the items that make up inflation in our daily lives are climbing fast.
Raw food commodity indexes, for example, have hit all-time highs. And the broader CRB Commodity Index, including food, energy and industrial commodities, has run up 32% the past 12 months.
As anyone who owns a car or truck knows, oil prices have jumped 29% in the past year to more than $108 a barrel. This has pushed gasoline prices over $3.60 a gallon nationally, twice what they were when President Obama entered office.
As for that weak CPI, there are good reasons to question the government’s benign official readings. Bill Simon is one of them. When the CEO of Wal-Mart’s U.S. arm talks, we listen. And last week he told consumers to get ready for a burst of “serious” inflation.
Toyota Motor Co. is another. Americans typically ignore the impact of a weaker dollar. But the biggest carmaker in the world has announced price hikes across the board for all of its vehicles, in large part due to the weaker U.S. currency.
Monetary officials, including the presidents of the Federal Reserve Banks of Richmond, Minneapolis and Dallas, have also weighed in. They too see inflation ahead and suggest the Fed may start raising rates soon.
John Williams, of the useful and iconoclastic Shadow Government Statistics website, measures prices the old-fashioned way. He employs the methodology used before 1992, when Labor Department changes started producing milder readings.
By his measure, inflation is close to 10%, tracking price increases for commodities, energy, food, precious metals and health care, among other items. Once this is recognized, expect business to get the blame and Congress to convene hearings on “price gouging,” as it’s done dozens of times (without finding any).
It’s really government that causes inflation with actions such as:
• The $2 trillion in money created by the Fed under “quantitative easing” since 2008, an unprecedented shot of liquidity pumped straight into the economy.
• The $5.5 trillion in new debt added by our government in just three years — nearly a 60% rise.
• The Environmental Protection Agency’s move to regulate all stationary producers of carbon dioxide, which has led businesses to put off large investments.
• The surge in regulation at all levels of government, which has added to small-business uncertainty and reduced hiring.
• The record 29% jump in federal spending in President Obama’s first three years, which has crowded out private spending and business investment.
• Spending on TARP and “stimulus,” which could total nearly $2 trillion when all is said and done.
The list goes on. The point is, don’t blame companies like Wal-Mart, a proven price cutter, when inflation hits home.
Blame the federal government, which seems dead set on repeating the same errors it made in the stagflationary 1970s.
Filed under: Wealth Strategies Report | Tags: 401k Rollover, Annuities, Elkin Financial Report, Norhill Financial, Norhill Financial Report, Norhill Financial Strategies, Norhill Wealth Management, Norhill Wealth Strategies, retirement planning, Retirement Plans, Retirement Wealth Strategies, Safe Investments, Senior Investing, Senior Investments, Warren Elkin
By Warren Elkin, Norhill Wealth Strategies
October 17, 2011
RETAIL SALES JUMP MOST IN 7 MONTHS
On Friday, the Commerce Department said overall U.S. retail spending improved 1.1% in September, with auto sales rising 3.6% for the month and department store sales up 1.1%. August retail sales – previously recorded as flat – were revised north to a 0.3% gain.1
UMICH SENTIMENT SURVEY SHOWS A DECLINE
The University of Michigan’s initial October consumer sentiment poll came in 57.5, under the final September reading of 59.4. As the Wall Street Journal noted, consensus forecasts expected a reading of around 60.2
GOLD & OIL REBOUND IMPRESSIVELY
NYMEX crude futures rose 4.60% last week, settling at $86.80 a barrel on Friday and putting oil up 9.60% so far for October. Gold futures settled at $1,681.80 on the COMEX Friday, capping the best week for the metal since the start of September – a 2.89% five-day advance.3
DOW, NASDAQ GET BACK IN THE BLACK FOR 2011
As the European Union seemingly progressed toward a solution to its debt crisis, clouds parted on Wall Street. It was a great week for U.S. equities, as these numbers show: S&P 500, +5.98% to 1,224.58; DJIA, +4.88% to 11,644.49; NASDAQ, +7.60% to 2,667.85. Friday, the CBOE VIX closed below 29 and all three of the major indices closed at 10-week highs.4,5
THIS WEEK: Wall Street teems with earnings reports. Monday, we have 3Q results from IBM, Wells Fargo, Hasbro, Charles Schwab, Gannett, Halliburton, Stanley Black & Decker and Citigroup, plus a report on September industrial output. Tuesday, we also have earnings from Coca-Cola, Johnson & Johnson, Apple, Intel, Goldman Sachs, Bank of America, Yahoo! and CSX, and the PPI for September comes out; additionally, Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke speaks at the Boston Fed and Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner testifies before the Senate. Wednesday offers earnings from Morgan Stanley, Western Digital, Travelers, BNY Mellon, E*TRADE, AmEx and eBay; a new Fed Beige Book comes out, the September CPI is released and we also have data on September housing starts. Thursday, 3Q results roll in from Microsoft, AT&T, Chipotle, SanDisk, Nokia, AutoNation, Eli Lilly, McGraw-Hill and Capital One, along with September’s existing home sales numbers, new initial claims figures and the Conference Board’s latest LEI. Friday, earnings reports arrive from McDonald’s, GE, Honeywell and Verizon.
| % CHANGE | Y-T-D | 1-YR CHG | 5-YR AVG | 10-YR AVG |
| DJIA | +0.58 | +4.96 | -0.53 | +2.46 |
| NASDAQ | +0.56 | +9.55 | +2.63 | +5.73 |
| S&P 500 | -2.63 | +4.33 | -2.07 | +1.23 |
| REAL YIELD | 10/14 RATE | 1 YR AGO | 5 YRS AGO | 10 YRS AGO |
| 10 YR TIPS | 0.28% | 0.41% | 2.47% | 3.50% |
Sources: cnbc.com, bigcharts.com, treasury.gov, treasurydirect.gov – 10/14/114,5,6,7,8
Indices are unmanaged, do not incur fees or expenses, and cannot be invested into directly.
These returns do not include dividends.
When you invest your time with Warren Elkin and attend one of his lectures, workshops or seminars, you are getting the most accurate, up to date and safest investment options available today. His experience, skill and knowledge combined with his solid proven successful track record gives attendees the comfort and security they desire when making these difficult decisions about their retirement and how to secure the best and safest possible return on their investments. When considering your retirement, you need to know how much you will need, how you will finance your retirement and what low or no risks investments are available to you from someone you trust.
With three decades of satisfied clients under his belt, isn’t time you contact Warren Elkin to see what he can do for you to secure a solid future for you and your family? For a complimentary consultation with Warren Elkin, or to find out about his next engagement, please call toll free directly at 1-877-476-5051 or email him at warren@warrenelkin.com.
Filed under: Uncategorized
by Warren Elkin
Combining medical technology and the human touch, the healthcare industry diagnoses, treats and administers care around the clock, responding to the needs of the million of people- from newborns to the terminally ill.
Industry organization. About 595,800 establishments make up the healthcare industry; they vary greatly in terms of size, staffing patterns, and organizational structures. About 76 percent of healthcare establishments are offices of physicians. Although hospitals constitute only 1 percent of all healthcare establishments, they employ 35 percent of all workers (table 1).
Table 1. Percent distribution of employment and establishments in health services by detailed industry sector.
| Industry segment | Employment | Establishments |
| Total | 100 | 100 |
| Ambulatory healthcare services | 42.6 | 87.3 |
| Office of physicians | 17 | 36 |
| Home healthcare services | 7.2 | 3.7 |
| Offices of dentists | 6.2 | 20.4 |
| Offices of other health practitioners | 4.7 | 19.6 |
| Outpatient care centers | 4 | 3.6 |
| Other ambulatory healthcare services | 1.8 | 1.4 |
| Medical and diagnostic services | 1.6 | 2.4 |
| Hospitals | 34.6 | 1.3 |
| General medical and surgical hospitals | 32.5 | 1 |
| Other specialty hospitals | 1.4 | 0.2 |
| Psychiatric and substance abuse hospitals | 0.7 | 0.1 |
| Nursing and residential care facilities | 22.8 | 11.4 |
| Nursing care facilities | 12.2 | 2.8 |
| Community care facilities for the elderly | 5.2 | 3.5 |
| Residential mental health facilities | 4.1 | 4 |
| Other residential care facilities | 1.3 | 1.1 |
| Source: BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages | ||
The healthcare industry includes establishments ranging form small-town private practices of physicians who employ only one medical assistant to busy inner-city hospitals that provide thousands of diverse jobs. In 2008, around 48 percent of non hospital healthcare establishments employed fewer than five workers. In contract, 72 percent of hospital employees were in establishment with more that 1,000 workers.
The healthcare industry consists of the following segments:
Hospitals
Hospitals provide complete medical care, ranging from diagnostic services, to surgery, to continuous nursing care. Some hospitals specialize in treatment of mentally ill, cancer patients, or children. Hospital-based care may be on an inpatient (overnight) or outpatient basis. The mix of workers needed varies, depending on the size, geographic location, goals, pilosophy, funding, organization, and management style of the institution. As hospitals work to improve efficiency, care continues to shift from an inpatient to outpatient basis whenever possible.
Nursing and Residential care facilities
Nursing care facilities provide inpatient nursing, rehabilitation, and health-related personal care to those who need continuous nursing care, but do not require hospital services. Nursing aides provide the vast majority of care. Other facilities, such as convalescent homes, help patients who need less assistance. Residential care facilities provide around-the-clock social and personal care to children, the elderly, and other who have limited ability to care for themselves. Workers care for residents of assisted-living facilities, alcohol and drug rehabilitation centers, group homes, and halfway houses. Nursing and medical care, however, are not the main functions of establishments providing residential care, as they are in nursing care facilities.
Offices of Physicians
bout 36 percent of all healthcare establishment fall into this industry segment. Physicians and surgeons practice privately or in groups of practitioners who have the same or different specialties. Many physicians and surgeons prefer to join group practices because they afford backup coverage, reduce overhead expenses, and facilitate consultation with peers Physicians and surgeons are increasingly working as salaried employees of group medical practices, clinic, or integrated health systems.
Offices of Dentists
About 20 percent of healthcare establishments are dentist’s offices. Most employ only a few workers, who provide preventative, cosmetic, or emergency care. Some offices specialize in a single field of dentistry, such as orthodontics or periodontics.
Home healthcare services
Skilled nursing or medical care is sometimes provided in the home, under a physician’s supervision. Home healthcare services are provided mainly to the elderly. The development of in-home medical technologies, substantial cost savings, and patient’s preference for care in the home have helped change this once-small segment of the industry into one of the fastest growing healthcare services.
Offices of other health practitioners
This segment of the industry includes the offices of the chiropractor, optometrist, podiatrist, occupational and physical therapists, psychologists, audiologists, speech-language pathologists, dietitians, and other health practitioners. Demand for the services of this segment is related to the ability of patients to pay, either directly or through health insurance. Hospital and nursing facilities may contract out these services. This segment also includes the offices of practitioners of the alternative medicine, such as acupuncturists, homeopaths, hypnotherapists, and naturopaths.
Ambulatory healthcare services
This segment includes outpatient care center and medical and diagnostic laboratories. These establishments are diverse including kidney dialysis centers, outpatient mental health and substance abuse centers, blood and organ banks, and medical labs that analyze blood, do diagnostic imaging, and perform other clinical tests.
Recent Developments
In the rapidly changing healthcare industry, technological advances have made many new procedures and methods of diagnosis and treatment possible. Clinical developments, such as infection control, less invasive surgical techniques, advances in reproductive technology, and gene therapy for cancer treatment, continue to increase the longevity and improve the quality of life of many Americans. Advances in medical technology also have improved the survival rates of trauma victims and the severely ill, who need extensive care from therapists and social workers as well as other support personnel.
In addition, advances in information technology have a perceived improvement on patient care and worker efficiency. Devices such as hand-held computers are used to record a patient’s medical history. Information on vital signs and orders are transferred electronically to a main database; this process eliminates the need for paper and reduces record keeping errors. Adoption of electronic health records is, however, relatively low presently.
Cost containment also is shaping the healthcare industry, as shown by the growing emphasis on providing outpatient, ambulatory basis; limiting unnecessary or low-priority services; and stressing preventative care, which reduces the potential cost undiagnosed, untreated medical conditions. Enrollment in managed care programs- predominantly preferred provider organizations, health maintenance organizations, and hybrid plans such as point-of-service programs- continues to grow. These prepaid plans provide comprehensive coverage to members and control health insurance costs by emphasizing preventative care. Cost effectiveness also improved with the increased use of integrated delivery systems, which combine two or more segments of the industry to increase efficiency to reshape not only the nature of the healthcare workforce, but also the manner in which healthcare is provided. Various healthcare reforms are presently under consideration. These reforms may affect the number of people covered by some form of health insurance, the number of people being treated by healthcare providers, and the number and type of the healthcare procedures that will be performed.
Warren Elkin serves the entire United States. The Safe Money Strategies he employs are not too good to be true, but often they are too good to last so to find out more about Warren Elkin visit his website at www.warrenelkin.com, email him at warren@warrenelkin.com or call him directly at 1-877-476-5051.
Filed under: Wealth Strategies Report | Tags: 401k Rollover, Annuities, Elkin Financial Report, Norhill Financial, Norhill Financial Report, Norhill Financial Strategies, Norhill Wealth Management, Norhill Wealth Strategies, retirement planning, Retirement Plans, Retirement Wealth Strategies, Safe Investments, Senior Investing, Senior Investments, Warren Elkin
By Warren Elkin, Norhill Wealth Strategies
October 10, 2011
HIRING IMPROVES…WITH A FOOTNOTE
Economists polled by MarketWatch had expected non-farm payrolls to increase by 59,000 for September. In a nice surprise, the economy added 103,000 jobs. However, 45,000 of those “hires” were actually striking Verizon employees returning to work. The unemployment rate remained at 9.1% for the third straight month. The Department of Labor revised the July and August jobs reports to include a cumulative 99,000 new hires.1
ONE ISM INDEx rises, another RETREATS
The start of the month brings fresh PMIs from the Institute for Supply Management. ISM’s service sector index lost 0.3 points between August and September, but the reading for last month came in at a decent 53.0. Its manufacturing index rose a full percentage point in September to 51.6.2
AUTO Sales PICK UP
September’s Commerce Department report showed big demand for domestic car brands: Ford sales rose 9%, GM sales 20% and Chrysler sales 27%. Overall U.S. auto sales were 9.9% improved from September 2010.3
RATES ON 30-YEAR FRMs DIP BELOW 4%
Those who can qualify for a refi or want to chance buying will find the lowest home loan rates on record right now. Freddie Mac’s October 6 Primary Mortgage Market Survey reported an average interest rate of 3.94% for conventional 30-year home loans and 3.26% for 15-year fixed-rate mortgages.4
OVERSEAS DECISIONS HELP STOCKS REBOUND
Last week, the European Central Bank announced it would address the EU debt crisis with year-long loans and covered bond purchases. That news and some mildly positive stateside indicators sent stocks higher. Last week’s performances: S&P 500, +2.1% to 1,155.46; DJIA, +1.7% to 11,103.12; NASDAQ, +2.7% to 2,479.35.5,6
THIS WEEK: Earnings season officially begins. Monday is Columbus Day; banks are closed, markets are open. Tuesday, Alcoa kicks things off; we also have interim earnings from Chevron and the latest FOMC minutes. Wednesday brings 3Q results from PepsiCo. Thursday, we get earnings from Google, JPMorgan Chase and Safeway and new initial claims figures. On Friday, the G20 finance ministers meet in Paris and the initial October University of Michigan consumer sentiment survey comes out, along with Commerce Department reports on business inventories and retail sales; Mattel releases earnings, and the new iPhone is for sale.
| % CHANGE | Y-T-D | 1-YR CHG | 5-YR AVG | 10-YR AVG |
| DJIA | -4.10 | +1.41 | -1.26 | +2.24 |
| NASDAQ | -6.54 | +4.01 | +1.56 | +5.44 |
| S&P 500 | -8.12 | -0.22 | -2.88 | +0.88 |
| REAL YIELD | 10/7 RATE | 1 YR AGO | 5 YRS AGO | 10 YRS AGO |
| 10 YR TIPS | 0.16% | 0.48% | 2.37% | 3.50% |
Sources: usatoday.com, online.wsj.com, bigcharts.com, treasury.gov, treasurydirect.gov – 10/7/115,6,7,8
Indices are unmanaged, do not incur fees or expenses, and cannot be invested into directly.
These returns do not include dividends.
When you invest your time with Warren Elkin and attend one of his lectures, workshops or seminars, you are getting the most accurate, up to date and safest investment options available today. His experience, skill and knowledge combined with his solid proven successful track record gives attendees the comfort and security they desire when making these difficult decisions about their retirement and how to secure the best and safest possible return on their investments. When considering your retirement, you need to know how much you will need, how you will finance your retirement and what low or no risks investments are available to you from someone you trust.
With three decades of satisfied clients under his belt, isn’t time you contact Warren Elkin to see what he can do for you to secure a solid future for you and your family? For a complimentary consultation with Warren Elkin, or to find out about his next engagement, please call toll free directly at 1-877-476-5051 or email him at warren@warrenelkin.com.
Filed under: Wealth Strategies Report | Tags: 401k Rollover, Annuities, Elkin Financial Report, Norhill Financial, Norhill Financial Report, Norhill Financial Strategies, Norhill Wealth Management, Norhill Wealth Strategies, retirement planning, Retirement Plans, Retirement Wealth Strategies, Safe Investments, Senior Investing, Senior Investments, Warren Elkin
October 3, 2011
By Warren Elkin, Norhill Wealth Strategies
AMERICANS SPEND A BIT MORE, EARN A BIT LESS
In August, personal spending improved by 0.2% while personal incomes retreated by 0.1%. This was the first monthly decline in household incomes since October 2009; July’s household earnings gain was revised down to 0.1%.1
An IMPROVEMENT IN CONSUMER SENTIMENT
September’s final University of Michigan consumer sentiment survey came in at 59.4, much better than the final August mark of 55.7 and topping the consensus forecast of 57.8 from economists surveyed by Bloomberg News. The Conference Board’s consumer confidence index ticked up 0.2% to 45.4 this month.1
DURABLE GOODS DEMAND HOLDS UP IN AUGUST
The Commerce Department said overall hard goods orders declined 0.1% in August, but a closer look revealed some positives. Core capital goods orders (excluding the aircraft and transportation sectors) improved by 1.1% and core capital goods shipments were up by 2.8%.2
SURVEYING THE REAL ESTATE SECTOR
New home sales slipped 2.3% in August but showed a 6.1% annual gain, according to the Census Bureau. The same trend held true for pending home sales: the National Association of Realtors said they were down 1.2% for August but up 7.7% from a year before. The Standard & Poor’s/Case-Shiller home price index rose 0.9% in July with prices 4.1% underneath July 2010 levels.3,4,5
MIXED WEEK CLOSES OUT TOUGH MONTH
September saw major losses for the Dow (-6.03%), NASDAQ (-6.36%) and S&P 500 (-7.18%). Last week’s numbers showed the blue chips rising: DJIA, +1.32% for the week to settle Friday at 10,913.38; NASDAQ, -2.73% last week to 2,415.40; S&P 500, -0.44% last week to 1,131.42.6
THIS WEEK: Monday, ISM comes out with its September manufacturing index and we learn about September auto sales. Tuesday, Fed chairman Ben Bernanke speaks to Congress, the latest Apple iPhone is unveiled and Yum Brands announces 3Q earnings. Wednesday offers ISM’s September service sector index plus earnings from Costco, Marriott and Monsanto. On Thursday, the European Central Bank and Bank of England make monetary policy announcements, Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner testifies in Congress, and new initial claims figures also arrive. Friday, the Labor Department releases the September unemployment report.
| % CHANGE | Y-T-D | 1-YR CHG | 5-YR AVG | 10-YR AVG |
| DJIA | -5.74 | +1.16 | -1.31 | +2.35 |
| NASDAQ | -8.95 | +1.97 | +1.39 | +6.32 |
| S&P 500 | -10.04 | -0.86 | -3.06 | +0.89 |
| REAL YIELD | 9/30 RATE | 1 YR AGO | 5 YRS AGO | 10 YRS AGO |
| 10 YR TIPS | 0.17% | 0.75% | 2.27% | 3.50% |
Sources: cnbc.com, bigcharts.com, treasury.gov, treasurydirect.gov – 9/30/116,7,8,9
Indices are unmanaged, do not incur fees or expenses, and cannot be invested into directly.
These returns do not include dividends.
When you invest your time with Warren Elkin and attend one of his lectures, workshops or seminars, you are getting the most accurate, up to date and safest investment options available today. His experience, skill and knowledge combined with his solid proven successful track record gives attendees the comfort and security they desire when making these difficult decisions about their retirement and how to secure the best and safest possible return on their investments. When considering your retirement, you need to know how much you will need, how you will finance your retirement and what low or no risks investments are available to you from someone you trust.
With three decades of satisfied clients under his belt, isn’t time you contact Warren Elkin to see what he can do for you to secure a solid future for you and your family? For a complimentary consultation with Warren Elkin, or to find out about his next engagement, please call toll free directly at 1-877-476-5051 or email him at warren@warrenelkin.com.
Filed under: Wealth Strategies Report | Tags: 401k Rollover, Annuities, Elkin Financial Report, Norhill Financial, Norhill Financial Report, Norhill Financial Strategies, Norhill Wealth Management, Norhill Wealth Strategies, retirement planning, Retirement Plans, Retirement Wealth Strategies, Safe Investments, Senior Investing, Senior Investments, Warren Elkin
October 3, 2011
By Warren Elkin, Norhill Wealth Strategies
AMERICANS SPEND A BIT MORE, EARN A BIT LESS
In August, personal spending improved by 0.2% while personal incomes retreated by 0.1%. This was the first monthly decline in household incomes since October 2009; July’s household earnings gain was revised down to 0.1%.1
An IMPROVEMENT IN CONSUMER SENTIMENT
September’s final University of Michigan consumer sentiment survey came in at 59.4, much better than the final August mark of 55.7 and topping the consensus forecast of 57.8 from economists surveyed by Bloomberg News. The Conference Board’s consumer confidence index ticked up 0.2% to 45.4 this month.1
DURABLE GOODS DEMAND HOLDS UP IN AUGUST
The Commerce Department said overall hard goods orders declined 0.1% in August, but a closer look revealed some positives. Core capital goods orders (excluding the aircraft and transportation sectors) improved by 1.1% and core capital goods shipments were up by 2.8%.2
SURVEYING THE REAL ESTATE SECTOR
New home sales slipped 2.3% in August but showed a 6.1% annual gain, according to the Census Bureau. The same trend held true for pending home sales: the National Association of Realtors said they were down 1.2% for August but up 7.7% from a year before. The Standard & Poor’s/Case-Shiller home price index rose 0.9% in July with prices 4.1% underneath July 2010 levels.3,4,5
MIXED WEEK CLOSES OUT TOUGH MONTH
September saw major losses for the Dow (-6.03%), NASDAQ (-6.36%) and S&P 500 (-7.18%). Last week’s numbers showed the blue chips rising: DJIA, +1.32% for the week to settle Friday at 10,913.38; NASDAQ, -2.73% last week to 2,415.40; S&P 500, -0.44% last week to 1,131.42.6
THIS WEEK: Monday, ISM comes out with its September manufacturing index and we learn about September auto sales. Tuesday, Fed chairman Ben Bernanke speaks to Congress, the latest Apple iPhone is unveiled and Yum Brands announces 3Q earnings. Wednesday offers ISM’s September service sector index plus earnings from Costco, Marriott and Monsanto. On Thursday, the European Central Bank and Bank of England make monetary policy announcements, Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner testifies in Congress, and new initial claims figures also arrive. Friday, the Labor Department releases the September unemployment report.
| % CHANGE | Y-T-D | 1-YR CHG | 5-YR AVG | 10-YR AVG |
| DJIA | -5.74 | +1.16 | -1.31 | +2.35 |
| NASDAQ | -8.95 | +1.97 | +1.39 | +6.32 |
| S&P 500 | -10.04 | -0.86 | -3.06 | +0.89 |
| REAL YIELD | 9/30 RATE | 1 YR AGO | 5 YRS AGO | 10 YRS AGO |
| 10 YR TIPS | 0.17% | 0.75% | 2.27% | 3.50% |
Sources: cnbc.com, bigcharts.com, treasury.gov, treasurydirect.gov – 9/30/116,7,8,9
Indices are unmanaged, do not incur fees or expenses, and cannot be invested into directly.
These returns do not include dividends.
When you invest your time with Warren Elkin and attend one of his lectures, workshops or seminars, you are getting the most accurate, up to date and safest investment options available today. His experience, skill and knowledge combined with his solid proven successful track record gives attendees the comfort and security they desire when making these difficult decisions about their retirement and how to secure the best and safest possible return on their investments. When considering your retirement, you need to know how much you will need, how you will finance your retirement and what low or no risks investments are available to you from someone you trust.
With three decades of satisfied clients under his belt, isn’t time you contact Warren Elkin to see what he can do for you to secure a solid future for you and your family? For a complimentary consultation with Warren Elkin, or to find out about his next engagement, please call toll free directly at 1-877-476-5051 or email him at warren@warrenelkin.com.
Filed under: Wealth Strategies Report | Tags: 401k Rollover, Annuities, Elkin Financial Report, Norhill Financial, Norhill Financial Report, Norhill Financial Strategies, Norhill Wealth Management, Norhill Wealth Strategies, retirement planning, Retirement Plans, Retirement Wealth Strategies, Safe Investments, Senior Investing, Senior Investments, Warren Elkin
By Warren Elkin, Norhill Wealth Strategies
September 19, 2011
CPI, PPI TELL DIFFERENT STORIES
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the Consumer Price Index rose 0.4% in August – and annualized inflation came in at 3.8%, the highest rate in nearly three years. Annualized core inflation was +2.0% given a 0.2% rise in core CPI last month. On the other hand, producer prices showed the smallest annual gain since March: in August, they were up 6.5% year-over-year, compared to a 7.3% differential in May. The overall Producer Price Index was flat last month; core PPI went +0.1%.1,2
RETAIL SALES UNCHANGED FOR AUGUST
U.S. retail sales were flat last month, and that news from the Commerce Department wasn’t surprising in light of the recent pressures on household spending. This comes after (revised) gains of 0.2% in June and 0.3% in July.3
CONSUMERS FEEL A BIT MORE OPTIMISTIC
The University of Michigan’s initial September consumer sentiment survey showed some improvement: it came in at 57.8, up from the troublingly low 55.7 final August reading. Economists polled by Dow Jones Newswires had expected a rise to 57.0.4
gold DROPS, oil ADVANCES
Gold futures went -2.39% last week, part of a 3.29% two-week decline. The precious metal settled at $1,812.1o an ounce on the COMEX Friday. NYMEX crude closed at $87.96 a barrel Friday, going +0.83% last week and +6.93% in the last four weeks.5
CENTRAL BANK PLEDGE GIVES STOCKS A LIFT
Thursday, the Federal Reserve and four other central banks stated they would offer 3-month dollar loans to European commercial lenders to help them address any 4Q dollar liquidity problems. This aided a rally: U.S. stocks rose each day last week. The S&P 500 had its best week since late June (+5.35%), settling at 1,216.01 Friday. The NASDAQ (+6.25% to 2,622.31) and the Dow (+4.70% to 11,509.09) also climbed.6,7
THIS WEEK: Monday, markets will be poised to respond to the weekend efforts of Eurozone finance ministers (and Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner) to craft possible solutions to the EU’s sovereign debt problems; also, Lennar issues earnings. Tuesday, we get data on August housing starts and results from Adobe, ConAgra and Oracle. Wednesday, the Fed’s September policy meeting wraps up, and August existing home sales figures and earnings from General Mills arrive. On Thursday, Nike, FedEx, Discover, Cintas and CarMax issue results; new initial claims figures come in along with September’s Conference Board LEI index. KB Home announces earnings on Friday.
| % CHANGE | Y-T-D | 1-YR CHG | 5-YR AVG | 10-YR AVG |
| DJIA | -0.59 | +8.63 | -0.09 | +2.91 |
| NASDAQ | -1.15 | +13.85 | +3.46 | +6.60 |
| S&P 500 | -3.31 | +8.12 | -1.57 | +1.71 |
| REAL YIELD | 9/16 RATE | 1 YR AGO | 5 YRS AGO | 10 YRS AGO |
| 10 YR TIPS | 0.13% | 1.00% | 2.38% | 3.50% |
Sources: online.wsj.com, usatoday.com, bigcharts.com, treasury.gov, treasurydirect.gov – 9/16/118,9,10,11
Indices are unmanaged, do not incur fees or expenses, and cannot be invested into directly.
These returns do not include dividends.
When you invest your time with Warren Elkin and attend one of his lectures, workshops or seminars, you are getting the most accurate, up to date and safest investment options available today. His experience, skill and knowledge combined with his solid proven successful track record gives attendees the comfort and security they desire when making these difficult decisions about their retirement and how to secure the best and safest possible return on their investments. When considering your retirement, you need to know how much you will need, how you will finance your retirement and what low or no risks investments are available to you from someone you trust.
With three decades of satisfied clients under his belt, isn’t time you contact Warren Elkin to see what he can do for you to secure a solid future for you and your family? For a complimentary consultation with Warren Elkin, or to find out about his next engagement, please call toll free directly at 1-877-476-5051 or email him at warren@warrenelkin.com.
Filed under: Uncategorized
by Warren Elkin
Medicare is health insurance offered by the federal government to people who are 665 or older and meet the eligibility requirements. Some younger people who have disabilities, permanent kidney failure or Lou Gehrig’s disease can also qualify. Medicare help pay for healthcare, but does not cover all medical expenses. The United States Medicare system is managed by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Read these articles to determine your eligibility
Medicare has four parts:
- Medicare Part A is the original Medicare insurance coverage and helps pay for hospital bills.
- Medicare Part B is a supplemental insurance option for people who qualify for Medicare. It pays for physician services and supplies outside of the hospital.
- Medicare Part C or, Medicare Advantage Plans (like HMOs and PPOs) are private health plans that are Medicare approved.
- Medicare Part D is the newest addition to Medicare. It is prescription drug coverage. You must be enrolled in Medicare before you can apply for Par D coverage.
Quick Guide To Part A
Medicare is health insurance offered by the federal government to most people who are 65 and older and to some younger people who have disabilities. Part A is the original Medicare insurance coverage and it helps pay for hospital bills. When you sign up for Medicare, you automatically get Part A. Most people will not have to pay a monthly cost (premium) for Part A, because they or their spouse paid Medicare taxes while they were working. IF you have not paid Medicare taxes through your employment you will have to pay a Medicare Part A premium.
- The Premium amounts are as follows:
- You paid Medicare taxes for more than 7.5 years but less then 10 years (30 to 39 quarters, then our premium will be $254.00 per month.
- You paid Medicare taxes for less than 7.5 (les than 30 quarters) then your premium will be $461.00 per month.
Part A covers hospital cost, such as:
- Hospital rooms
- Meals
- Nursing Services
- Hospice care and home health care
Part A is one of four types of insurance coverage offered by the federal government for people who Part A is one of four types of insurance coverage offered by the federal government for people who qualify. It is the only part that is automatically covered, and for most people has no monthly cost.
Quick Guide To Part B
Medicare Part B is a supplemental insurance option for people who qualify for Medicare. Its purpose is to provide coverage or health care not covered under Part A. Part B provides for doctors services outside the hospital setting and other medical services that Part A doesn’t cover. Additional services covered include:
- Doctor visits—whether received as an impatient at the hospital or at a doctor’s office, or as an outpatient at a hospital or other health care facility
- Laboratory tests and X-rays
- Physical therapy or rehabilitation services
- Ambulance service.
- Some home health care
- Various medical equipment and supplies when they are medically necessary
You must sign up for Medicare Part B and pay a monthly premium, and yearly deductible. The cost for the premium is deducted from your Social Security check. For approved services and supplies, you are responsible for 20 percent co-pay. The premium cost increases each January. If you do not sign up for Medicare Part B when you are first eligible, you may have to permanently pay a higher monthly premium.
Quick Guide To Part C
Advantage Plans (like HMOs and PPOs) are sometimes referred to as Medicare Part C. They are private Medicare approved health plans for eligible people. When you join a Medicare Advantage Plan, you are still in Medicare.
Medicare Advantage Plans provide all of your Part A (hospital and Part B (medical) coverage and must cover medically-necessary services. They generally offer extra benefits, and many include Part D drug coverage These plans often have networks, which mean you may have to see the plan’s doctors and go to certain hospitals to get care. Medicare Advantage Plans can save you money, since out-of-pocket costs in these plans are generally lower than with Medicare alone. However, your cost will vary by the services you use and the type of policy you purchase.
Quick Guide To Part D
Part D is the newest addition to Medicare. Part D is prescription coverage. You must be enrolled in Medicare before you can apply for Part D coverage. Most people will pay a monthly premium for this coverage. Everyone with Medicare can get this coverage. It may help you to lower prescription costs and help protect against higher cost in the future. Private companies provide coverage. You choose the drug plan (there are many from which to choose) and pay a monthly premium. If you decide not to enroll in a drug plan when first eligible, you may have to pay a penalty if you join later. The annual enrollment period or Part D is from November 15 to December 31. During that time period anyone with Medicare can enroll in a plan or change from on plan to another. There are some important things to keep in mind when it comes to prescription drug coverage:
- It is very complex, can be confusing and is changing on a regular basis. You will have to make decisions to get the plan that is right for you and covers the drugs you need.
- You can get help making decisions through local recourses and/or your Medicare Advantage Plan (HMO, PPO)
- You do not have to take Part D coverage. That decision will not affect the other coverage you have. A good thing to remember is you will have a higher premium if you choose to enroll later, unless you can show Medicare you had drug coverage at least as good as theirs during the time you were not enrolled in Part D. This is known as creditable coverage.
- When choosing a Medicare Part D plan, ask good questions and do your homework.
Medicare Supplemental Insurance (Medigap)
What is a Medigap Policy? Medigap Policies are sold by private insurance companies, but are not like Medicare Advantage Plans (HMOs, PPOs). It is sometimes called “Medicare Supplemental Insurance.” A basic Medigap policy works with the original Medicare coverage to help pay some of your out-or-pocket cost like co-payments, coinsurance, and the yearly Medicare deductible.
There are many Medigap supplemental health insurance plans from which to pick. There can be big differences in the charges of various plans for the same basic benefits. Medigap policies must the Federal and State laws that are designed to protect you. Insurance companies must clearly identify their policies as ‘Medicare Supplemental Insurance’ on the front of the policy, A Medigap policy can only cover one person. If you are married both you and your spouse must buy separate policies.
Buying a Medigap (also called “Medical Supplement Insurance”) policy is an important decision. You will first need to decide if a Medigap policy is the best way for you t supplement Original Medicare coverage. Then you will need to decide which Medigap policy to buy.
How Do Insurance Companies Set Prices for Medigap Policies?
Medigap supplemental insurance companies set their own monthly premiums. How they choose to set their prices can have an effect on how much you will pay now in the future. You should consider all these factors, before you buy the policy. There are 3 ways that a company can choose to base their charges on:
- Community-rated; No matter how old you are, the policy costs the same. Premium may go up due t inflation or other factors, but not due to age.
- Issue-age-rated: The charges are related to your age at the time of purchase-which means when you buy your policy, you will be charged the same amount as others in your community who are the same age.
- Attained-age rated: The charges automatically go up in price as you age.
You can most likely count on the cost of your Medigap insurance going up each year after you buy it, because of inflation and rising heath care costs. Some companies increase their rates faster than others. Keep in mind that companies do not have to sell you a Medigap policy except during open enrollment or when you can show continued coverage.
How Do I Choose A Plan?
Before you buy a policy, take your time to compare your options and premiums. Insurance companies may not offer all of the Medigap policies. The following is a list of the questions you should answer before you buy your plan: Decide which benefits you want to buy, and then deicide which of the Medigap plans meet your needs. You should think about your current and future health care needs, because you might not be able to switch Medigap policies later.
- How much can you afford to spend on monthly premiums for Medigap?
- How does the plan’s premium compare to other plans for the same benefits/
- What benefits do you really need? Don’t buy more benefits than you need, you can save money if you don’t buy coverage for benefits that you do not have trouble covering.
- How hard is it to file claims? Can the doctor file for you?
- Is there a waiting period to cover pre-existing conditions? If so, how long is it? And do you have any previous coverage that applies toward reducing the waiting period?
Warren Elkin serves the entire United States. The Safe Money Strategies he employs are not too good to be true, but often they are too good to last so to find out more about Warren Elkin visit his website at www.warrenelkin.com, email him at warren@warrenelkin.com or call him directly at 1-877-476-5051.
