Stay tuned. More on the way. Invest Smarter, Live Better. — Dak

Most recent articles below…

Fatten Your Retirement and Cut Your Taxes March 13, 2018

Once again, it’s that time of year. Uncle Sam is reaching into pockets across the country, but what most people forget is that it’s also a time where the rules let you both reduce your taxes and build your retirement.

Quick hint: At the end of this article I will briefly outline a massive tax saving strategy for managers or entrepreneurs in partnerships, LLCs or corporations, but first let’s deal with cutting taxes using contributions to retirement accounts.

Most important: Get your IRA contribution checks in NO LATER than April 16, 2018. Given that it usually takes brokers a couple days to process contributions, it would be smart to have the check at your custodian April 13, 2018 or before. As with many things…CLICK HERE to keep reading

Markets in Minutes: January 6, 2017

S&P 500    10 Year Treasury    Gold    World Ex-US    US Dollar    Commodities   US Economy   Stock Market Valuation

Markets in Minutes is intended to give our client partners and subscribers a quick and easy understanding of current market conditions. This update covers December 1 – December 30, 2017 CLICK HERE to keep reading…

Markets in Minutes: December 2, 2017

S&P 500    Tax Cuts     10 Year Treasury    Gold    World Ex-US    US Dollar    Commodities   US Economy   Stock Market Valuation

Markets in Minutes is intended to give our client partners and subscribers a quick and easy understanding of current market conditions. This update covers November 1 – November 30, 2017 CLICK HERE to keep reading…

Inflation Never Sleeps November 12, 2017

Many investors and savers aren’t completely clear on what inflation does to investments and savings accounts.

I was going to write out an article, but decided to share this short, simple (and important) video instead. CLICK HERE to watch short video…

Markets in Minutes: October 30, 2017

S&P 500     10 Year Treasury     Gold     World Ex-US     US Dollar     Commodities     US Economy     Stock Market Valuation

Markets in Minutes is intended to give our client partners and subscribers a quick and easy understanding of current market conditions. This update covers October 1 – October 30, 2017
CLICK HERE to keep reading…

ACI 2nd Half 2017 Market Outlook & 1st Half Results

It’s been an interesting and largely rewarding year in the markets so far as many ACI expectations have come to pass. While ACI is not in the forecasting game, it is nice when general expectations are mostly born out.

CLICK HERE to keep reading…

Market Valuation: The S&P 500 is Cheaper Than in 2015/2016 — July 9, 2017

Headlines and the financial media are again selling the risks posed by high valuations.

The simplest perspective on the expense of the market, and probably the broadest, is the price-to-earnings ratio. 

It’s important to note that high valuations do not imply or cause bear markets – rather they imply lower expected returns.  It’s like buying…CLICK HERE to keep reading…

The Mostly Exaggerated Death of Retail — July 9, 2017

The airwaves and internet are full of news hailing the death of retail at the hands of Amazon. 

Will retail look very different in 10 years?  Absolutely.  But that’s only part of the story. It’s not all about Amazon’s dominance.

A recent, widely publicized study found that 43% of every online dollar spent passes through Amazon, and this was considered suitable evidence that brick and mortar is on the way to extinction.

But this doesn’t account for the 86% of retail purchase activity that occurs in brick and mortar stores, nor does it account for the brands that are investing in technology to understand their customers better, streamlining operations, and widening their online opportunities. 
CLICK HERE to keep reading…

Laid Off By Microsoft–Choices for Your 401(k), Microsoft Stock & Non-Qualified Deferred Compensation

This article was written to help Microsoft employees gain a solid understanding of what to do with their 401(k)s, ESOP shares and non-qualified deferred compensation plans when they leave the company.

WARNING:  This is a long article and includes many specifics.  If you already understand everything you need to know about the Microsoft Corporation Savings Plus 401(k) plan, the ESOP and/or the non-qualified deferred compensation plan and the different choices you are now facing–keep it at Microsoft, roll it to another 401(k) or to an IRA, tax consequences, the investment choices outside the 401(k), which companies to avoid, how to choose where to move the account, etc.– this article probably isn’t for you.

It’s geared for the people that need and want answers to clearly understand their choices and are willing to invest some time to make the best possible decisions for themselves and their financial prosperity.  CLICK HERE to keep reading… 

Markets in Minutes June 30, 2017

S&P 500   10 Year Treasury   Gold   World Ex-US   US Dollar   Commodities

Markets in Minutes is intended to give our client partners and subscribers a quick and easy understanding of current market conditions. This update covers April 15 – June 30, 2017.
CLICK HERE to keep reading…

Valuations, Stock Returns & Interest Rates June 10, 2017

“Let’s start by defining ‘investing.’ The definition is simple but often forgotten: Investing is laying out money now to get more money back in the future – more money in real terms after taking inflation into account.
CLICK HERE to keep reading…

How to Get More Income (and More Safety) from the Markets. May 14, 2017

Investors take advantage of 3 major ways to generate income from the market; dividends from bonds or stocks, pure stock dividend strategies, or preferred stock plays where the yield is higher than a normal stock dividend strategy but maintains the possibility of capital growth.
CLICK HERE to keep reading…

Markets in Minutes April 30, 2017

Markets in Minutes is intended to give our client partners and subscribers a quick and easy understanding of current market conditions. This update covers April 17 – April 28, 2017.
CLICK HERE to keep reading…

2 Things To Do Today To Retire Rich (Or At Least Worry Free) April 23, 2017

Every success in life begins with understanding what it takes to realize that success and then working towards that goal over time. Retirement is no different. The younger you are when you develop this understanding, the more likely retirement will meet your hopes.
CLICK HERE to keep reading…

Markets in Minutes April 15, 2017

S&P 500   10 Year Treasury   Gold   World Ex-US   US Dollar   Commodities

Markets in Minutes is intended to give our client partners and subscribers a quick and easy understanding of current market conditions. This update covers March 20 – April 14, 2017. CLICK HERE to keep reading…

Here’s How to Get Better Investment Returns April 02, 2017

“Greedy, short-term orientated investors may lose sight of a sound mathematical reason for avoiding loss; the effects of compounding on even moderate returns over years are compelling, if not downright mind boggling.”
CLICK HERE to keep reading…

Markets in Minutes March 20, 2017

Markets in Minutes is intended to give our client partners and subscribers a quick and easy understanding of current market conditions. This update covers March 1 – 17, 2017.
CLICK HERE to keep reading…

Cut Your Taxes & Fatten Your Retirements March 12, 2017

One of the simplest ways is to contribute money to your retirement. If you are self-employed, you may be able to deduct up to $53, 000 from your 2016 Earned Income and then use that money to fund your retirement.
CLICK HERE to keep reading…

Markets in Minutes February 28, 2017

Markets in Minutes is intended to give our client partners and friends a quick and easy understanding of current market conditions.
CLICK HERE to keep reading…

Markets in Minutes February 5, 2017

Markets in Minutes are short video updates that survey the 6 major asset classes US investors typically invest in. Each update features 3 asset classes to help investors understand what is happening in each market.
CLICK HERE to watch short video…

Become a Stock Market Landlord January 29, 2017

Stocks are for buying, not renting.Or are they?The fact is that stocks can be used for consistent income while reducing the volatility (or risk) of holding stocks.
CLICK HERE to keep reading…estimated reading time is 4 minutes.

Markets in Minutes January 22, 2017

This week I take a look at the current set up in gold, world stocks ex-US, and the US Dollar. You may use the player controls to fast forward, stop, or review whichever sections of the update are most relevant to you. The numbers below reflect the point in the video where each market update begins.
CLICK HERE to watch short video…

Process Portfolios 2016 Performance Summary January 15, 2017

It was a pretty good year for ACI portfolios with Market Income and Durable Opportunities providing particularly strong risk adjusted returns. The video is front loaded with the key information first and then a brief discussion of how each portfolio did over the year. CLICK HERE to watch short video…

Markets in Minutes January 8, 2017

Markets in Minutes are short video updates that survey the 6 major asset classes US investors typically invest in. Each update features 3 asset classes to help investors understand current conditions in each market. In this update: the S&P 500, 10 Year Bond, Commodities. CLICK HERE to watch short video…

Markets in Minutes December 2016
This short video offers a quick survey of the major markets that normally attract US investors and their current condition including the S&P 500, 10 Year US Treasury, gold, world stocks ex-US, and the US Dollar. CLICK HERE to keep reading or watch the short video…

This Simple Trick Can Make You Wealthy December 18, 2016
Americans come in 4 groups. Do you know which group you are in?

Are you in the group that follows a simple strategy to either become wealthy or increase their wealth if they are already there?

CLICK HERE to keep reading, 450 words, estimated reading time is 3 minutes…

Trump and Your Taxes – Changes are Coming December 4, 2016

First off, it’s important to understand that it’s unlikely all of Trump’s tax proposals will come to pass.  Regardless, there are a couple big takeways to consider given the potential scale of impending changes and the high probability tax rates will be lower soon. 

1.  Discuss deferring whatever income you can into the…CLICK HERE to keep reading, 366 words, estimated reading time is 2 minutes…

Trump Wins – What’s Next for the Market? From the 11/13/2016 Client Letter
Wow. What an interesting week for the markets.

A quick recap, and then a brief summary of how I see events impacting markets over the next quarters:

Early Wednesday morning, market futures began selling off as a Trump victory began to look possible. As those odds increased, the futures markets began to sell off in earnest…CLICK HERE to keep reading, estimated reading time is 4 minutes.

Pre-Election Market Update November 6, 2016
First, here is a resource that may useful – www.vote411.org. This site will allow you to learn more about the issues and candidates not only on the national level but in your own community. I hope it helps everyone make a more informed vote on Tuesday.

Given the uncertainty heading into this years election, I thought a look at the Recession Probability Indicator (“RPI”) might be appropriate given that a Trump win, while a long shot according to pollsters, seems likely to stir up some short term market volatility.

A reminder – the RPI does not forecast recession – it is designed to indicate when we are already in it. CLICK HERE to keep reading, 514 words, estimated reading time is 3 minutes…

What the Best Investors Do Differently to Manage, Invest, & Protect Their Money. October 22, 2016

A couple times a year I sponsor an educational seminar for investors. This morning I realized that everyone that reads these updates would benefit from the same information, so here is a recap of some of the core points I usually make when educating investors. CLICK HERE to keep reading, 460 words, estimated reading time 3 minutes…

What’s the key difference between a broker, a financial advisor, and a Registered Investment Advisor? October 22, 2016

You need to understand who is on your side and who isn’t. And like most things in life, the easiest way to answer that question is to follow the money. CLICK HERE to keep reading, 940 words, estimated reading time is 4 minutes…

Q3 Performance Update including Year-to-Date Results and 4th Quarter Outlook.

Out of respect for everyone’s time and interest, I’ve included a quick “executive” summary below and also front loaded the video with the key numbers. Those wanting a little more detail can…CLICK HERE to keep reading, 193 words, estimated reading time is 2 minutes…

Is the Market Over-Inflated? October 2, 2016
Recently the financial media has focused on a number of pundits that claim the market is grossly overvalued, and that the Fed’s low rate policy has forced stocks into a bubble.

But are they?

An important part of wealth management is to understand the fundamental drivers of the stock market, and how they can impact market prices. This update briefly discusses these issues, and what they may mean for the market.

This update is broken into 2 parts to better serve clients and subscribers;
1) A bullet point executive summary for those only interested in my bottom line perspective.
2) A short video discussion that surveys key factors in today’s market valuation and what they may imply about the next few quarters.

CLICK HERE to keep reading or to watch the video, 290 words, estimated reading time is 3 minutes…

Recession Odds Dip – Consumer Spending Still Rising 9/7/2016

Before we get going, I was recently asked what the point is of understanding whether or not we are entering a recession. This person had been told by their broker that to “ride the rallies you have to ride out the valleys.” Catchy, right?

The reason to understand when the economy is falling into recession is because around 80% of the time the stock market sells off hard when it does. The market usually takes a few months after the recession actually starts to figure it out, but once it starts selling most of the time it keeps going far longer than…CLICK HERE to keep reading, 570 words, estimated reading time is 3 minutes…

Correction Around the Corner? 9/1/2016

Markets have witnessed two corrections so far this year and fears seem to be mounting that another is right around the corner. The first correction took hold following the Fed rate raise last December with the S&P 500 falling approximately -14% before markets began…

CLICK HERE to keep reading, 487 words, estimated reading time is 3 minutes...

How to Avoid Taxes on 80% of Your Investment Income. Hard to believe, right? But thanks to the way the US government supports US oil and gas companies, you may only pay taxes on around 20% of your income from energy related Master Limited Partnerships (“MLPs”). As an investor, this can be a pretty good deal.

Master Limited Partnerships are required to pay out 90% of their profits to shareholders much like Real Estate Investment Trusts. Unlike REITS, the payments an MLP makes to a shareholder are considered to a “return of capital” until the full principal is paid off at which point it converts to a taxable distribution, but with potentially huge offsets to those taxes as a result of being a partnership. Energy MLP’s pay anywhere from a 4% to an 8% distribution, sometimes more.

Here’s how it works…CLICK HERE to keep reading, 1180 words, estimated reading time is 5 minutes…

ACI Process Portfolios: 1st Half 2016 Performance & 2nd Half Outlook

The video below has the most important information in the first minutes including performance details. The video player has controls to allow you to fast forward, pause or repeat whatever section of the video is most relevant to you.

Executive Summary

• • 3/6 portfolios beat their benchmarks
  • 2 portfolios beating the market
  • Strong performance in Market Income and Full Cycle Portfolios

CLICK HERE to keep reading or watch video, 138 words, estimated reading time 1 minute, plus video…

Will Brexit Take the Market Down? Only in the Short Term.

Executive Summary:
1) Odds are UK stays. If it stays markets should stay stable or move up incrementally.
2) If UK exits, equity markets could sell down 5%-20% peak to trough.
3) The real economic impact to the US is likely very small, bordering on irrelevant.
4) My current view is that markets should recover very quickly, 60 days or less as long as the US isn’t driven into recession by non-Brexit factors.
5) If Brexit does occur, at this point it should be viewed as a buying opportunity particularly in certain US sectors and high quality stocks.

Discussion:
For those that don’t know what the Brexit is, the United Kingdom is holding a referendum CLICK HERE to keep reading, 670 words, estimated reading time is 4.5 minutes…

Will a Fed Rate Raise Put the U.S. In Recession? Once again, media pundits are all atwitter about the idea the Fed will raise rates either this month or in July, pushing the US into Recession.

As before, this is less about the actual impact to the economy and more about attracting eyeballs to either sell advertising or convince investors they have to do something and do it NOW, which generally rewards Wall Street.

While the risks have risen…CLICK HERE to keep reading, 567 words.  Estimated reading time is 4 minutes…

Q1 2016 Year-to-Date Results and Market Outlook Update

The included video reviews performance for all 6 Process Portfolios results year-to-date through April 15, 2016 and also features an updated Market Outlook.

We began 2016 with the worst January in at least a generation and a return to higher levels of volatility thanks to central bank statements and decisions that seem to be increasingly opaque to some market watchers. I’ve been fortunate in that the Fed hasn’t done anything far distant from my expectations, at least so far.

Despite media perceptions, careful students of the markets have seen a fair number of signs that suggest we may see smoother waters later in the year, as long as the economy does not move onto a recessionary footing. CLICK HERE to keep reading, 385 words + a video. Estimated reading time 3 minutes…

There has been a lot of economic doom and gloom talk over the last couple months, with media “expert” after media “expert” saying the US economy is about to fall into a recession. It comes with the predictable warnings about a bad bear market. The vast majority of these talking heads are just voicing opinions based on their own views and often get emotional when voicing their perspective. The problem with these “experts” is there very little in the way of factual economic data to support any of their positions. CLICK HERE to keep reading 685 words; estimated reading time is 3 minutes…

Drop Your Tax Bill: Put Money In Your Retirement Accounts
It’s that time again – Uncle Sam wants his money and smart investors are looking for ways to reduce their tax burden.

One of the simplest ways is to contribute money to your retirement. If you are self-employed, you may be able to deduct up to $53, 000 from your 2015 Earned Income and then use that money to fund your retirement. The best part? In most cases, you can take that contribution straight off your taxable income – it might even drop you a tax bracket. CLICK HERE to keep reading 516 words; estimated reading time is 4 minutes…

Stock Market Outlook Q1 2016: Impending Bear Market Or Just A Correction?
I’ve front loaded this video with most of my observations in the first 4 minutes for busy subscribers/clients, but for those interested in more than a summary opinion I’ve included a deep dive into what I’m seeing in the market that drives my current view

CLICK HERE to watch video…

4 Things You Need to Know About Investing in 2016

We’ve seen a lot of headlines recently, most of them pretty alarming to the average person. Hand in hand with those headlines we’ve seen markets make some of the most substantial short term moves in recent history. In the first 5 market days of 2016 the S&P 500 dropped nearly 6%, the biggest 1 week drop we’ve seen since August 2011 (when the S&P dropped about 11% in 5 days).

The deluge of negative news stories and depressing angles on the global economy and the stock market can be overwhelming and really create the idea that some kind of action has to be taken or something terrible will happen. CLICK HERE to Keep Reading 751 words; estimated reading time is 3 minutes…

Is 2016 the Year of Recession?

This question seems to be on everyone’s minds and even talking heads in the media have decided it’s an effective topic to capture readers & viewers. CLICK HERE to Keep Reading 490 words; estimated reading time is 2.5 minutes…

Is Your 401k Stealing From You?

One of the most widely used investment accounts is the 401k retirement savings plan. Investors from CEO’s to grocery clerks pay into these accounts as a central part of their retirement strategy. A solid 401k account can be the difference between a satisfying retirement and one filled with financial struggle.

But there are widespread problems in 401k plans, so much so that even the White House is pushing against the hidden fees that are buried in the vast majority of plans.
So, what are these fees and how much damage can they actually do to your account? CLICK HERE to Keep Reading 1024 words; estimated reading time is 4 minutes…;

So, We May Have a Bump Coming in the Market

For those that don’t know, the vast majority of analysts and institutional investment managers believe that the Federal Reserve will raise rates for the first time since the Great Recession December 16th. They also see this as an overall positive for the markets. But the December 3 reaction to the European’s Central Bank statement suggests that might not actually be the case…CLICK HERE to Keep Reading 625 words; estimated reading time is 3 minutes…

Why Recessions Kill Investment Portfolios (and Poorly Protected Retirements)

We’ve all heard “You’ve got to be in it for the long term,” or “You can’t catch the rallies unless you are in the market” from brokers or financial salespeople (they prefer “financial advisor”) and as a result more than one investor has had night sweats or an obsessive compulsion to check portfolio balances several times a day when the market starts selling off hard.

But that thinking is incredibly costly:

As you can see from this 25 year market study from…CLICK HERE to keep reading; 870 words, estimated reading time is 3 minutes…

Market Beating Portfolios – Performance Update November 2015

Process Portfolios live portfolios and designed models have managed to achieve reasonable performance for less risk than owning an index fund, and in some cases have also provided considerably better results…CLICK HERE to Keep Reading 132 words + short video; estimated time for summary is 4 minutes…

Broke at 80. What You Don’t Know About Long Term Care Can Hurt You, and Probably Will.

Remember the movie Saturday Night Live? There is a moment where the main character Tony, played by John Travolta, is being told by his boss he needs to think about the future. Tony immediately tells him “Screw the future.” The store owner, who has some understanding of life, replies “No Tony, you can’t screw the future, the future screws you.”

When it comes to dealing with long term health expenses, it would be hard to find a more accurate statement. CLICK HERE to Keep Reading 1604 words, estimated reading time is 10 minutes…

Is the S&P 500 Over Valued? Yes. What Should You Do?
Market Valuation Update November 2015

I’ve broken this update into 2 parts. The first will just give the big picture summary for my executive type clients & subscribers and the second, below the illustrations, is a discussion of the factors involved for those interested. CLICK HERE to Keep Reading 328 words; estimated reading time is 4 minutes…

Jobs Up, Spending Solid. Will December Bring Santa or the Grinch?
Recession Probability & Business Conditions Update
November 2015

I’ve posted the latest update on the RPI (Recession Probability Indicator) which rates the investment environment as stable/favorable or unfavorable/reduce investment.

Also included is my summary opinion of current conditions, what the Fed is likely to do next, and how that may impact the Market.

CLICK HERE to Keep Reading 206 words; estimated reading time is 2 minutes…

Will the Economy Sink or Lift the Stock Market? RPI & Business Conditions Update

There has been great concern recently among talking heads whether or not the Fed will raise rates and what the impact on the economy will be if they do. The fact is the US economy is trudging along and is likely to continue to do so whether or not the Fed raises rates incrementally over the next few quarters. The market’s concern, misplaced in my opinion, is that once the Fed starts hiking it won’t stop until rates are normalized. That isn’t going to happen. Any hikes will be small, and the path to…
CLICK HERE to keep reading, 321 words, estimated reading time is 3 minutes…

Stock Market Plunge Got You Worried? Stock Market Outlook September 24, 2015 We’ve seen a lot of volatility (up and down, mostly down) in the market recently and headlines have some investors worried. Are there good reasons to be concerned? Maybe, but what’s really happening under the stock market’s hood? CLICK HERE for short video summary…

Is the Fed in Danger of Starting an Accidental Recession? RPI & Business Conditions Update Some recent headlines are talking about an accidental recession. Can a premature rate raise spark a recession? CLICK HERE to keep reading, 380 words, estimated reading time is 4 minutes…

ACI Selected For 2015 Wealth & Money Management Awards! My investment firm has been selected in two categories…CLICK HERE to keep reading, 300 words, estimated reading time is 3 minutes…

Is the Market Crashing? Stock Market Outlook August 23, 2015

Click below to see the short video of my current market outlook. I thought I’d release this a couple days early given the big selloff we saw in the market last week.

Summary: Good news–No evidence of…CLICK HERE to keep reading. 49 words, estimated reading is less than 1 minute, video is 7 minutes.

August 2015 Recession Probability & Business Conditions Update — Is Investing Still a Good Idea? A quick update on what the Recession Probability Indicator is telling us moving into the Fall.

The most recent reading (for May 2015) is…CLICK HERE to keep reading. 159 words, estimated reading time 2 minutes…

Buffett Buying Out ACI’s Largest Holding!
Precision Castparts announced this morning that it has agreed to be acquired by Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway for $235 a share, subject to shareholder approval. ACI views this as a validation of the research process for ACI’s Durable Opportunities Portfolio. CLICK HERE to keep reading. 169 words, estimated reading time is 2 minutes…

Ouch! Stock Market Earnings Just Fell 15%!! Should You Sell? Market Valuation Update: June 2015
The stock market is driven by valuation, and valuation is driven by earnings. This is how the wealthiest investors think, and they use that thinking to help them manage their investment risk. The term is “margin of safety” and it’s an important concept. Successful investors are searching for that margin of safety, whether they are small investors with a million or two, or a vast mutual fund with hundreds of billions under management. Big or small, investment success demands the same discipline.

So what return might you get if you buy the S&P 500 or Energy Sector right now?  Click HERE to Keep Reading 1005 words; estimated reading time is 5 minutes…

Recession Probability Indicator Update: May 2015.

As you may recall from last month’s reading, one of the key components of the RPI recorded a 3rd negative month in a row, an event that has only occurred three times in the last 15 years and two of those occurrences preceded recessionary bear markets.

Click Here to Keep Reading 118 words; estimated reading time is 2 minutes…

Stock Market Outlook: May 2015 — Where Does the Market Go from Here?
The introduction is a bit over a minute long and then I’ll walk you through some key aspects of the S&P 500 both in charts and from a fundamental standpoint to help build your understanding of where the market may be heading.

Click to Watch Video

Is the Market Too Hot, Too Cold, or Just Right? Market Valuation Update: April 2015

Do these headlines look familiar?

Is the Stock Market Rocket Out of Fuel?
Buy Stocks, More Room to Run.
Market Way Overvalued.
8-9 Years Left in Bull Market.
You are probably getting tired of seeing articles like these. I know I am. These are headlines I took from various financial media sites over the last 120 days. Makes zero sense, right? It seems like when the market is selling off the media wants opinions about how the market is under-valued. When it’s heading up, they want to hear that it’s over-valued. This sells ads and drives investor activity, which is good for the financial media and for Wall Street.

Not usually so good for the individual investor.

This update is about getting away from opinions and evaluating the market’s condition based on current and historical facts. Click Here to Keep Reading 947 words; estimated reading time is 10 minutes…

Economy Showing Signs of Wear? — Recession Probability Indicator Update April 2015

One of the major components of the RPI has recorded it’s 3rd negative month in a row. This has occurred three times previously in the last 15 years. Two of those occasions marked the beginning of market declines that ultimately became crashes. Click Here to Keep Reading 241 words; estimated reading time is 2 minutes…

2014 IRA Contribution Basic Guidelines

Just a quick update as tax season is on us and in some situations contributing to your IRA may lower your tax bill. If you are self-employed, you may be able to deduct up to $52,000 from your 2014 Earned Income, and then use that money for your retirement investments. Read on.

2014 IRA contributions need to be made no later than April 15, 2015. The earlier you get it in the better – mistakes happen, and the IRS doesn’t care. Give yourself some time for the unexpected. Click Here to Keep Reading 410 words; estimated reading time is 5 minutes…

US Economy Plugging Along – Recession Probability Indicator Update March 2015…

The Recession Probability Indicator (“RPI”) is a tool I developed for measuring the strength of the American economy. When the RPI signals increasing odds of recession, the investment environment for stocks usually becomes unfavorable, which basically means stocks go down more than up during such periods. Click Here to Keep Reading  174 words; estimated reading time is 2 minutes…

The Fed Quietly Keeps QE Going

Just like the balance sheet of any company, the balance sheet of Federal Reserve includes a large number of distinct assets and liabilities. The FED has been engaging in quantitative easing policies (called QE policies) to stimulate an economy that has continued to recover well below potential.

Since the Fed embarked on the first QE program about 5 years ago, the balance sheet of Federal Reserve has ballooned to over $4 trillion dollars. This expansion has been an item of broad concern. Perhaps as a result of such concerns, the Federal Reserve “officially” ended QE in October 2014. Click here to Keep Reading 364 words; estimated reading time is 4 minutes…

Alternative Ways to Manage Health Care Expense using Inexpensive Term Insurance

It’s widely known that one of the largest costs for Americans is health care. In retirement, many Americans make the often incorrect assumption that Medicare or Medicare supplemental insurance will handle the bulk of their medical expenses. Even those that think more realistically about their long term health expenses are taken aback by the expense of long term health care policies and their limitations.

Is there another way? Click Here to Keep Reading 619 words; estimated reading time is 6 minutes…

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Warm Regards,

Dak Hartsock
Chief Investment Officer
ACI Wealth Advisors
Process Portfolios