Northern Star Newsletter 05/08/2017

Message from Jon

Market Update:

During these past couple weeks, the markets have seen an interesting shift unfold. We are seeing investment migrate from domestic to foreign after a 5-7 year downturn abroad. In part – a large part – due to the overwhelming consensus from money managers and analysts that are pointing to an overbought S&P 500 and a fairly to undervalued foreign market.

It's been difficult for some time to put money to work domestically, but we just have not seen the right opportunity yet for foreign investments as a whole...until now. On Monday, Bloomberg indicated on their T.V. channel that the inflows for foreign funds have just begun to manifest giving their chart the beginning stages of a bull rally. Time will tell how early the migration & rally actually is.

Till we speak again, enjoy this warm weather!

Jon

Strong Markets and Slow GDP

WEEKLY UPDATE - MAY 8, 2017

Last week, stocks rose but floated within a narrow trading range. By Friday, however, both the S&P 500 and the NASDAQ reached record highs.[1] For the week, the S&P 500 gained 0.63%, the Dow finished up 0.32%, and the NASDAQ rose 0.88%.[2] The MSCI EAFE added 1.7%.[3]

Overall, we experienced another week of generally positive, but somewhat mixed, economic signals. Soft auto sales and tumbling oil prices offset increased job creation and the lowest unemployment recorded in a decade.[4]

POSITIVE MARKET NEWS

Increased Job Creation and Low Unemployment

In April, U.S. payrolls added 211,000 jobs, exceeding the 190,000 predicted and showing a significant bounce back from March's 79,000 increase. The jobless rate also dropped to 4.4% - the lowest it has been since May 2007.[5] The economy added jobs in several industries:[6]

Leisure and hospitality: +55,000 jobs
Health care: +20,000 jobs
Mining: +9,000 jobs
Professional and business services: +39,000 jobs
Government: +17,000 jobs

Strong Corporate Earnings

First quarter earnings season continued last week, and U.S. companies once again reported strong results. So far, companies with majority overseas profits are reporting an average revenue growth of 19.9%, outperforming S&P 500 companies with domestic earnings only. This difference helps explain how corporations are reporting strong Q1 earnings despite sluggish economic growth in the U.S. during the same period.[7]

Decent Manufacturing and Service Reports

The ISM Manufacturing Index fell in April to 54.8 but remains in positive territory. The report is above 2016's 51.5 average and suggests continued manufacturing growth. Meanwhile, the PMI Manufacturing Index reported a 0.5 loss in April at 52.8.[8] However, the PMI Services Index rose from 52.8 in March to 53.1 in April.[9] While the month-over-month declines may show a pause in manufacturing, numbers above 50 indicate growth.[10]

MIXED SIGNALS

Auto Sales Below Expectations

U.S. motor vehicle sales bounced up to an annualized rate of 16.9 million. Though April's report falls below the predicted 17.2 million, it improves on March's 16.6 million annualized rate.[11]

Oil Prices Tumble

Oil prices tumbled last week. Both June West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude and July Brent crude finished the week down. WTI closed at $46.22 a barrel, falling approximately 6.3% below last week's close. Brent crude fell by about 5.6% for the week to $49.10 a barrel.[12]

LOOKING AHEAD

On Wednesday, May 3, the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) announced it would keep the federal funds target range at 0.75% to 1.00%. Nonetheless, the Fed remains encouraged that the second-quarter GDP will rebound, because they believe consumer fundamentals remain solid.[13] This sentiment may indicate the FOMC will raise rates in their June meeting.[14]

On Sunday, Emmanuel Macron won the French presidential election, as expected. Macron's win should ease European Market concerns, as he is a centrist who supports global trade, the euro, and France's continuing membership in the EU.[15]

As we look ahead to this week, our analysis will include a variety of international and domestic focuses. In particular, consumer prices, retail sales, and business inventories will highlight economic reports for the week while oil prices also should remain in focus for investors.

ECONOMIC CALENDAR:

Tuesday: JOLTS (tracks monthly changes in job openings)
Thursday: Jobless Report, Producer Price Index
Friday: Consumer Price Index, Retail Sales, Business Inventories, Consumer Sentiment

Notes: All index returns (except S&P 500) exclude reinvested dividends, and the 5- year and 10-year returns are annualized. The total returns for the S&P 500 assume reinvestment of dividends on the last day of the month. This may account for differences between the index returns published on Morningstar.com and the index returns published elsewhere. International performance is represented by the MSCI EAFE Index. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Indices are unmanaged and cannot be invested into directly.

Report Income Earned from a Hobby*

Across the country, millions of people have passions they pursue on the side, earning money from their hobbies and interests. Even if you haven't officially formed your hobby as a business, you still must claim the income you make through these efforts. Here are some tips to help you report your income.

1. Identify whether you have a hobby or a business

No. You must file an amended return by mailing the IRS a paper copy of form 1040X.

What changes does the IRS allow you to make?

Hobby: You earn income but do not do so to make a profit, rather for your pastime recreation
Business: You purposefully work to make a profit

You can explore the 9 factors the IRS lists to help clarify if you have a hobby or business.

2. Manage your hobby's allowable expense deductions

When claiming hobby-earned income, you can typically deduct your expenses, but only if they are ordinary and necessary.

Ordinary expense: Considered common and acceptable for the hobby you engage in
Necessary expense: Considered appropriate for participating in your hobby

3. Report expenses up to the allowable limit

You can report hobby expenses, but the limit is the amount of income you make from it. If your expenses exceed your income, then you have a loss. However, the IRS doesn't allow you to deduct hobby-income losses.

Other details may apply, and you can find more information on the IRS website.

* This information is not intended to be a substitute for specific individualized tax advice. We suggest you discuss your specific tax issues with a qualified tax advisor.

Tip courtesy of IRS.gov[17]

New to Golf? Beginner Tips for Selecting the Right Clubs

Golf is a sport you can enjoy no matter what age you begin playing. For those who are new to the game, one of the first steps is choosing the right clubs. Since golf clubs can be expensive - and the right or wrong clubs can greatly affect how you play. Here are some tips to help you get started.

Test a friend's golf clubs first

Before you invest in any clubs for yourself, testing a friend's can help you familiarize yourself with how they feel. Join one of your friends at the driving range and practice swinging with their clubs. While at the range, you also should talk to a professional who can answer any additional questions you have about the clubs.

Buy a half set of clubs made for beginners

The typical beginner half sets include 5 irons (a 4, 6, 8, pitching wedge, and sand). They also have a 3- and 5-wood and a putter. The sets leave out the driver and 2, 3, and 4 irons, which typically are more difficult for beginners to master. You can use the half set to focus on improving your swing before switching to a complete club set.

Use clubs with perimeter-weighted heads

These clubs have an expanded "sweet spot," making them more forgiving. The lighter-weight graphite shafts (instead of steel shafts) allow you to swing the club faster and more quickly get the hang of the game.

Tip courtesy of Golfweek[18]

Reduce Salt Intake by Avoiding These Foods

Sodium is a natural element we need from our food to maintain healthy body functions, such as transmitting nerve impulses and contracting and relaxing muscles. However, many people consume more salt than the recommended intake of 2,300 mg a day. Here are some tips for reducing sodium intake through how you eat.

Reduce processed foods:

Most American diets include high levels of sodium from processed foods. This comes from both the levels of salt added to the food, as well as the additives - which also contain sodium. You can manage your salt intake by limiting how often and how much you eat items such as pizza, cold cuts, and fast food.

Swap salt for herbs and spices:

Salt can help add flavor to meals. However, you can swap out salt for fresh herbs, dried spices, and citrus zest, all of which will liven up your dish without adding unnecessary sodium.

Keep an eye on your per meal intake:

Sodium can exist in the foods you eat even without you realizing it. Ingredients such as monosodium glutamate (MSG) and baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) also will add sodium to a dish. Be sure to read ingredients thoroughly and aim to avoid foods that have more than 200 mg per serving.

Tip courtesy of Mayo Clinic[19]

Reduce Food Waste by Keeping Vegetables Fresher for Longer

As a natural food product, fresh vegetables are affected by how long you store them. Eventually, those carrots and zucchinis will start shriveling or rotting, making the trash can their next best option. You can keep your vegetables fresher for longer by following these tips for specific foods.

Carrots:

Cut off their tops and then refrigerate them in a closed container that allows for plenty of moisture.

Celery:

Fill a shallow cup or bowl with water. Place the celery stalks into the container, and store on a counter or in the refrigerator.

Eggplant:

Store these fruit at room temperature on your counter instead of in the refrigerator. Only wash the eggplants right before you cook with them.

Beets:

Cut the tops off each beet, and place them in a container without a lid. Dampen a cloth and lay on top of the container.

Tip courtesy of Care2.com[20]

Investing involves risk including the potential loss of principal. No investment strategy can guarantee a profit or protect against loss in periods of declining values.

Diversification does not guarantee profit nor is it guaranteed to protect assets.

International investing involves special risks such as currency fluctuation and political instability and may not be suitable for all investors.

The Standard & Poor's 500 (S&P 500) is an unmanaged group of securities considered to be representative of the stock market in general.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average is a price-weighted average of 30 significant stocks traded on the New York Stock Exchange and the NASDAQ. The DJIA was invented by Charles Dow back in 1896.

The Nasdaq Composite is an index of the common stocks and similar securities listed on the NASDAQ stock market and is considered a broad indicator of the performance of stocks of technology companies and growth companies.

The MSCI EAFE Index was created by Morgan Stanley Capital International (MSCI) that serves as a benchmark of the performance in major international equity markets as represented by 21 major MSCI indices from Europe, Australia and Southeast Asia.

The S&P/Case-Shiller Home Price Indices are the leading measures of U.S. residential real estate prices, tracking changes in the value of residential real estate. The index is made up of measures of real estate prices in 20 cities and weighted to produce the index.

The 10-year Treasury Note represents debt owed by the United States Treasury to the public. Since the U.S. Government is seen as a risk-free borrower, investors use the 10-year Treasury Note as a benchmark for the long-term bond market.

Opinions expressed are subject to change without notice and are not intended as investment advice or to predict future performance.

Past performance does not guarantee future results.

You cannot invest directly in an index.

Consult your financial professional before making any investment decision.

Fixed income investments are subject to various risks including changes in interest rates, credit quality, inflation risk, market valuations, prepayments, corporate events, tax ramifications and other factors.

These are the views of Platinum Advisor Marketing Strategies, LLC, and not necessarily those of the named representative, Broker dealer or Investment Advisor, and should not be construed as investment advice. Neither the named representative nor the named Broker dealer or Investment Advisor gives tax or legal advice. All information is believed to be from reliable sources; however, we make no representation as to its completeness or accuracy. Please consult your financial advisor for further information.

By clicking on these links, you will leave our server, as they are located on another server. We have not independently verified the information available through this link. The link is provided to you as a matter of interest. Please click on the links below to leave and proceed to the selected site.

1. http://www.cnbc.com/2017/05/05/us-markets.html
2. http://performance.morningstar.com/Performance/index-c/performance-return.action?t=SPX®ion=usa&culture=en-US

http://performance.morningstar.com/Performance/index-c/performance-return.action?t=%21DJI®ion=usa&culture=en-US
http://performance.morningstar.com/Performance/index-c/performance-return.action?t=@CCO"

http://wsj-us.econoday.com/byshoweventfull.asp?fid=477419&cust=wsj-us&year=2017&lid=0&prev=/byweek.asp#top

Strong Markets and Slow GDP

Report Income Earned from a Hobby*

New to Golf? Beginner Tips for Selecting the Right Clubs

Reduce Salt Intake by Avoiding These Foods

Reduce Food Waste by Keeping Vegetables Fresher for Longer

Phase 1 – Where You Are

Phase 2 – Your Retirement Planning Needs

Phase 3 – Finalizing Goals and Details

Phase 4 – Putting Your Retirement Investments into Action

Phase 5 – Keeping Your Plan Effective into the Future