Message from Jon

Market Update:

We are seeing a renewed interest in the equity side of the investing world take shape. With the Phase 1 trade agreement looking good, PM Boris Johnson's party taking a decisive victory in the general elections and now focusing on BREXIT, and the FED standing put for now on the interest rate changes, we are seeing a solid footing in the markets.1,2,3,4

It would not come as a surprise, should we see normal market mechanics and a correction here soon, to let off some of the steam that has collected these past weeks of run up-but I would not think it anything more than normal at this point.

Office Schedule Update:

Our office will be closed the 24th-26th of December.
I will be out of the office from Dec. 30th - 2nd of Jan.
Normal Office hours will resume on the 2nd of Jan.

Till we speak again-have a Happy Holiday everyone!

Jon

Sources:

Phase-One Trade Deal Reached

WEEKLY UPDATE - DECEMBER 16, 2019

The Week on Wall Street
The U.S. and China announced a limited trade agreement last week. That news lifted U.S. and foreign stocks, leading to weekly gains.

Advancing 0.91% on the week, the Nasdaq Composite outperformed the S&P 500 (up 0.73%) and Dow Jones Industrial Average (up 0.43%). The MSCI EAFE index, measuring the performance of developed markets overseas, improved 0.42%.[1][2]

Phase-One Trade Deal Reached, December Tariffs Averted
Friday, White House and Chinese officials confirmed an agreement on what has been characterized as an initial step toward a larger trade pact. As a result of this phase-one deal, new U.S. tariffs (slated to go into effect on December 15) were canceled. The 15% tariffs (imposed on $110 billion of Chinese goods in September) now fall to 7.5%.

In return, China commits to buy greater quantities of American crops, factory goods, and energy products.[3]

Fed Holds Steady on Short-Term Interest Rates
The last Federal Reserve meeting of the year brought no adjustment for the federal funds rate. The vote to leave short-term rates unchanged was unanimous.

After the meeting, Fed chair Jerome Powell told the media, "as long as incoming information about the economy remains broadly consistent with [our] outlook, the current stance of monetary policy will likely remain appropriate."[4]

Retail Sales Disappoint
Economists, surveyed by Bloomberg, expected a retail sales gain of 0.5% for November, but according to the Department of Commerce, the advance was only 0.2%. In a bright spot for analysts who wanted to see a strong start to the holiday shopping season, sales at online retailers rose 0.8% last month.[5]

Note: There will be no Weekly Market Update next week, but we will be back on December 30 with a special "Year-in-Review" edition of the WMU. Have a happy holiday season!

THE WEEK AHEAD: KEY ECONOMIC DATA
Tuesday: The Census Bureau offers a snapshot of November residential construction activity.
Thursday: A look at November existing home sales from the National Association of Realtors.
Friday: November personal spending data and the third estimate of third-quarter economic expansion from the federal government, plus the year's final University of Michigan Consumer Sentiment Index (which measures consumer confidence levels).

Source: Econoday, December 13, 2019
The Econoday economic calendar lists upcoming U.S. economic data releases (including key economic indicators), Federal Reserve policy meetings, and speaking engagements of Federal Reserve officials. The content is developed from sources believed to be providing accurate information. The forecasts or forward-looking statements are based on assumptions and may not materialize. The forecasts also are subject to revision.

THE WEEK AHEAD: COMPANIES REPORTING EARNINGS
Tuesday: FedEx (FDX)
Wednesday: General Mills (GIS), Micron Technologies (MU), Paychex (PAYX)
Thursday: Accenture (ACN), Nike (NKE)
Friday: CarMax (KMX)

Source: Zacks, December 13, 2019
Companies mentioned are for informational purposes only. It should not be considered a solicitation for the purchase or sale of the securities. Any investment should be consistent with your objectives, time frame and risk tolerance. The return and principal value of investments will fluctuate as market conditions change. When sold, investments may be worth more or less than their original cost. Companies may reschedule when they report earnings without notice.

Fountain Pen

"If you think you're too small to make a difference, try sleeping with a mosquito."

-Dalai Lama

Fork and Knife

Bacon Egg Cups

These bacon egg cups are the perfect little goodies to wake up to. They're easy to make and will certainly prove that breakfast really is the most important meal of the day.
[6 servings]

Ingredients:

6 slices of bacon (you can also use turkey bacon if you want a healthier version)
6 eggs
¼ cup Cheddar cheese
Salt, pepper, and chives to taste
A muffin tin

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 400° F.
Wrap the slices of bacon around the muffin tins and bake for 10 minutes.
Remove the bacon and pour out any excess grease. Replace the bacon.
Crack an egg in the center of each of the bacon circles and sprinkle the top with cheese, salt, and pepper. Bake for another 10 minutes.
Carefully run a knife around the edges of the bacon cups to get them out of the pan. Garnish with chives.

Recipe adapted from Tasty[6]

Document

What's in a Password?

One of the best ways to keep your data safe online is to have a strong password. The IRS shares some tips on how to create and protect your passwords:

Your password should be a minimum of eight characters. The longer, the better.
Your password should include a combination of letters, numbers, symbols, and special characters.
Don't include personal information, including names of family members or pets, identifying information about where you live, or other personal details.
Don't use the same password for everything.
Substitute special characters and numbers for common letters to make your password more difficult to guess (ex: @ for a, ! for i, 8 for B, etc.).
Be aware of scams asking for your password and never tell people your passwords.

If you find yourself forgetting your passwords, a tool like LastPass can help. This tool encrypts your passwords, so they stay safe and can be downloaded on your computer. It will remember your passwords, so you don't have to.

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

Tip adapted from IRS.gov[7]

Golfer

Tips for Golfing in the Winter: Part Two

We're back with more winter golfing tips. Enjoy your favorite game all year round with these handy tips:

Keep your hands warms by placing hand warmers in your pockets or your golf gloves.
Make sure to stay hydrated, even in colder weather. It might be tempting to reach for a nice warm mug of hot chocolate, but water will help your health and your game.
Use brightly colored balls to keep track of your shot. It will be much easier to see a bright yellow, orange, or pink ball in frost or leaves. Some of the leading ball makers make them, and they are leagues better than a cheap driving range ball of the same color.
When tracking your ball in the winter months, remember that the sun will often be lower. So, instead of following its entire flight path, track it with your eyes until it gets lost in the sun, and then look towards the ground where you think it will land. This will save your eyes and make it harder to lose your ball.

Tip adapted from Leading Courses[8]

Medical Cross

Practice Mindfulness Everywhere You Go

We know how important it is to take care of our bodies, but it's equally (if not more) important to take care of our minds. During this holiday season, it can feel impossible to take some time to meditate, but practicing mindfulness doesn't have to be a huge, involved process and a time-consuming task. With the rise of mindfulness apps, you can take as little as 5 minutes and enjoy the benefits of taking care of your brain. Some top mindfulness apps include:

There are countless other apps available, or you can search for quick mindfulness exercises on YouTube. All you need to create some space in your head is a quiet spot and a smartphone. Take some time away from the hustle and bustle of the holiday season and practice mindfulness with these easy apps.

Tip adapted from Developing Good Habits[9]

Leaf

Energy-Saving Tips When Cooking for the Holidays

If you're preparing a big meal for the holidays, consider your kitchen habits to save energy and money! Here are a few energy-saving tips to use when cooking:

Switch on the oven light to check on your baked goods instead of opening the oven door. When you open the door, you let out a lot of heat, forcing the oven to use more energy by having to heat back up to the set temperature.
Speaking of ovens, cook your food on the top rack of the oven, when possible. When the food is closer to the heating element, it can cook 20% faster.
If you need to thaw frozen items, throw them in the fridge. The cool air coming off the frozen food will help the fridge cool down, hence using less energy.

Tip adapted from Money Crashers[10]

Share the Wealth of Knowledge!

Please share this market update with family, friends, or colleagues. If you would like us to add them to our list, simply click on the "Forward email" link below. We love being introduced!

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 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 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 the links 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] www.wsj.com/market-data
[2] quotes.wsj.com/index/XX/MSCI%20GLOBAL/990300/historical-prices

[3] www.marketwatch.com/story/trump-announces-phase-one-china-trade-deal-and-scraps-dec-15-tariffs-2019-12-13

[4] www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-12-11/fed-leaves-rates-unchanged-and-forecasts-show-no-change-in-2020

[5] www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-12-13/u-s-retail-sales-miss-forecasts-for-pickup-as-restaurants-drop

[6] tasty.co/recipe/bacon-egg-cups

[7] www.irs.gov/newsroom/strong-passwords-help-keep-tax-data-safe

[8] www.leadingcourses.com/blog/winter-golf-10-simple-tips/

[9] www.developgoodhabits.com/best-mindfulness-apps/

[10] www.moneycrashers.com/electronic-e-waste-recycling-disposal-facts/

Summit Financial Group
Summit Financial Group of Indiana
4050 Britt Farm Dr
Suite C
Lafayette, IN 47905
866-582-5721
jon@summit-fp.com
http://www.summitfinancialgroupofindiana.com

Securities offered through Regulus Advisors, LLC. Member FINRA/SIPC. Investment advisory services offered through Regal Investment Advisors, LLC, an SEC Registered Investment Advisor. Registration with the SEC does not imply any level of skill or training. Regulus Advisors and Regal Investment Advisors are affiliated entities. Summit Retirement Advisors, LLC and Summit Financial Group of Indiana are affiliated entities. Summit Retirement Advisors, LLC and Summit Financial Group of Indiana are independent of Regulus Advisors and Regal Investment Advisors.

Message from Jon

Phase-One Trade Deal Reached

WEEKLY UPDATE - DECEMBER 16, 2019

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