Northern Star Newsletter 9/12/2016

Message from Jon

Dead Cat Bounce…What?

Last week we began to see the ball roll, ever so slightly, downhill starting with Wednesday and ending with Friday and the proverbial edge of the cliff, or so it would seem. However, if you take a step back and put this into perspective against a wider background, you might see a less than impressive drop.

-2.85% over the past 7 years worth of data would come nowhere near the 10% correction marker NOR the -20% bear market benchmark. Monday, the market recovered a small portion of the loss by way of a dead cat bounce as it is sometimes referred to as, (if you throw a dead cat off a building of some height, even a dead cat can bounce when it hits the pavement, it doesn’t mean its alive).

Normal market movement would suggest a correction of 5-7% or slightly more downward over the next couple of weeks or months. This would come as no surprise to us given the overall health and strength of the market and what our indicators are suggesting at this time. Should we try to avoid this…nope. Why not if we are expecting a correction to unfold? The goal in investing is to stay in for the long-term and not try to avoid every instance where a correction could or could not unfold. It is not the thunderstorms we are trying to avoid…it’s the hurricanes and tsunamis! Thunderstorms are healthy for the environment. Hurricanes and tsunamis take years and decades to rebuild from and are often fatal for many who experience them.

We are seeing the market setting lower highs and lower lows since Wednesday of last week, followed by a one day recovery and today, following the trend again downward. This behavior is a part of a bear market condition and is expected to continue if not worsen. IF and when it does, our approach is sound, and we are ready.

A short commentary with great pictures and graphs that are easy to read can be found here thanks to Mr. Doug Short.

Till we speak again, enjoy this transition to fall and welcome back football season!

Jon

Stocks Drop on Interest Rate Worries

WEEKLY UPDATE - September 12, 2016

After trading flat for most of the week, stocks broadly sank Friday on fears of a future rate hike. For the week, the S&P 500 lost 2.39%, the Dow fell 2.20%, the NASDAQ dropped 2.36%, and the MSCI EAFE lost 0.16%.[1]

Monetary policy was at the forefront of investors' minds last week as they continue to calculate the odds of an interest rate increase ahead of the September Federal Reserve's Open Market Committee (FOMC) meeting.

The European Central Bank (ECB) declined to increase its stimulus program, voting to stand pat on interest rates and current bond-buying activity. The decision wasn't a total surprise as the Eurozone economy has proved resilient after Britain voted to exit the EU. However, the ECB did confirm that it will consider further quantitative easing in 2017 if conditions worsen.[2] No exit date for Britain has been announced, though the new prime minister has indicated it will not begin before next year.[3]

On our side of the Atlantic, surprise comments by a voting member of the Fed increased speculation that a rate hike may come this month.[4] When markets are quiet, even rumors can be enough to spark a selloff. In previous weeks, Fed officials have ramped up hawkish rhetoric, suggesting sentiment that the Fed is moving toward a rate hike. Even reliably dovish officials, who have historically maintained a cautious stance, are showing interest in raising rates again.[5]

We have now entered the quiet period before the FOMC meets September 20th, meaning we won't get more statements from Fed officials before they vote on monetary policy. The information blackout will give investors plenty of spare time to digest previous statements and come to grips with the idea that the Fed is serious about raising rates this year.[6]

All the speculation around the Fed's increasing assertiveness about rates had a palpable effect on markets, which may be what the Fed wants to achieve. The chart below shows Wall Street trading probabilities of higher interest rates in coming months.

On Thursday, traders put the odds of a September hike at just 18.0%. By the close of trading on Friday, the odds had surged to 24.0%. The odds of a December hike had been about even; now, traders seem to believe the Fed will raise rates again this year.

Is last week's pullback a minor blip? We can't know for certain, but investors should prepare for a bumpy ride this fall.

The week ahead is packed with economic data, including critical reports on business inventories. Positive data could contrarily cause further selling if investors believe it could spur the Fed to act. Negative data might likewise be greeted with cheers. As we move to a Fed vote and uncertainty around the November election peaks, markets are likely to remain volatile and perhaps even move into a more prolonged sell-off. It's too soon to know. As always, we'll keep you informed.

ECONOMIC CALENDAR:

Tuesday:Treasury Budget
Wednesday:Import and Export Prices, EIA Petroleum Status Report
Thursday:Jobless Claims, PPI-FD, Retail Sales, Philadelphia Fed Business Outlook Survey, Empire State Manufacturing Survey, Industrial Production, Business Inventories
Friday:Consumer Price Index, Consumer Sentiment, Treasury International Capital

HEADLINES:

Fed Beige Book shows wage gains restricted to skilled workers. A key report released by the Federal Reserve showed that the economy grew modestly in July and August. However, data shows that most wage gains occurred only in skilled jobs where employers are struggling to find qualified workers.[7]

Weekly jobless claims drop. The number of Americans filing new claims for unemployment benefits fell unexpectedly last week, marking the 79th straight week that claims remained below the key 300,000 level associated with a healthy labor market.[8]

Monthly job openings increased in July. The number of available jobs, a data point closely watched by Federal Reserve economists, increased by 3.9% In addition, the hiring rate rose by 3.6%, pointing to a strong labor market.[9]

Gas prices slide after summer. The summer driving season is over and falling gas prices might slip further this winter. Americans enjoyed the cheapest summer gas since 2004, and economists hope the "gas dividend" will boost spending this quarter.[10]

Do You Know About the Taxpayer Advocate Service?

The Taxpayer Advocate Service (TAS) is an independent office within the IRS that acts as an ombudsman for taxpayer issues at the IRS. The TAS can help taxpayers whose problems are causing financial difficulty and who have tried to resolve issues through the normal channels. The TAS is open to all taxpayers, including businesses and foreign residents of the U.S., and services are always free. The IRS has adopted a list of fundamental rights that all taxpayers should know:

Taxpayer Bill of Rights

The Right to Be Informed.
The Right to Quality Service.
The Right to Pay No More than the Correct Amount of Tax.
The Right to Challenge the IRS's Position and Be Heard.
The Right to Appeal an IRS Decision in an Independent Forum.
The Right to Finality.
The Right to Privacy.
The Right to Confidentiality.
The Right to Retain Representation.
The Right to a Fair and Just Tax System.

The TAS has a Taxpayer Toolkit available at TaxpayerAdvocate.irs.gov that can help you understand how these rights may apply in specific situations. To contact the IRS Taxpayer Advocate Service, visit the office in your state or call toll-free at 1-877-777-4778.

Tip courtesy of IRS.gov[12]

Introducing a New Golfer to the Sport

If you're a passionate golfer, it's natural to want to bring new people to the golf course. However, it's important to start slowly and respect a new player's interest and ability. Here are some tips for playing with someone new:

Help them choose rental clubs that are the right size (and hopefully, not too beat up).
Start simply by explaining the rules - leave the details and advanced strategies for future days on the course.
Teach golf etiquette and help new players clean up after themselves on each hole.
Make sure new golfers understand the course's dress code.
Don't lean over new players as they get into their stance. Save helpful tips for after the shot.
If your group is moving slowly, be polite and let other golfers play through.

A Cardiologist's Tips for a Healthy Life

Noted cardiologist Dr. Dean Ornish has the following lifestyle tips for seniors aiming to improve overall health:

Stop thinking of foods as good or bad and emphasize moderation. However, a low-fat, plant-based diet that is low in sugar has been shown to improve health.
Add exercise to your day in small increments. Walk briskly for 30 minutes and take the stairs when you can.
Make overall lifestyle changes. It's ok to take days off or to fall off the lifestyle wagon. What's important is that you make overall changes to your life.
Use meditation to reduce stress and pursue inner peace.
Cherish your family and friends and work on your relationships.

Tip courtesy of AARP[13]

Save Energy, Save Your Clothes

Washing your clothes in cold water not only will save you energy and lower your monthly bill, but it will also preserve fabric color and reduce wear, helping your clothes last longer. Here are some other laundry tips:

Do full loads of laundry to reduce the amount of water used in each wash.
Choose the right laundry cycle for each load. Delicate or lightly used clothing doesn't need as long a cycle as heavy or soiled items.
Separate heavy and light items when drying. Lightweight items will dry more quickly, reducing energy usage.

Tip courtesy of The Alliance to Save Energy[14]

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.

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 indexes from Europe, Australia and Southeast Asia.

The S&P U.S. Investment Grade Corporate Bond Index contains U.S.- and foreign-issued investment-grade corporate bonds denominated in U.S. dollars.

The SPUSCIG launched on April 09, 2013. All information for an index prior to its Launch Date is back-tested, based on the methodology that was in effect on the Launch Date. Back-tested performance, which is hypothetical and not actual performance, is subject to inherent limitations because it reflects application of an Index methodology and selection of index constituents in hindsight. No theoretical approach can take into account all of the factors in the markets in general and the impact of decisions that might have been made during the actual operation of an index. Actual returns may differ from, and be lower than, back-tested returns.

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.

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Dead Cat Bounce…What?

Stocks Drop on Interest Rate Worries

HEADLINES:

Do You Know About the Taxpayer Advocate Service?

Introducing a New Golfer to the Sport

A Cardiologist's Tips for a Healthy Life

Save Energy, Save Your Clothes

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