Sustainable Investments and Your Portfolio

Contributed by: Laurie Renchik, CFP®, MBA

Planning for a sustainable retirement is one that will financially support you for a lifetime. The financial planning process is dynamic as life unfolds and is subject to new information and changing circumstances along the way. 

One of the changes I see happening today is that a growing number of retirement savers are thinking more seriously about how a sustainable investment strategy fits into their overall investment plan. 

In tandem, the sustainable investment landscape is also evolving and growing.  Once a niche market, sustainable investing is becoming mainstream moving from a limited universe of investments focused on screening objectionable exposures to a range of solutions to achieve sustainable outcomes.  In fact, US investments focused on sustainable objectives grew 135% in the four year period from 2012 through 2016.**  With this volume of growth comes opportunity.  Demographic shifts, government policies and corporate views on environmental and social risk are the primary forces driving growth and change today.

For example, sustainable investing today includes Exclusionary Screens, ESG factors and Impact Targets.  Exclusionary screens avoid exposure to companies who operate in controversial sectors such as fossil fuels, tobacco or weapons.  ESG Factors invest in companies whose practices rank highly by Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) performance standards.  Impact Targets invest in companies whose products and solutions target measurable social or environmental impact.

If your goal is to create a sustainable retirement and in tandem allocate a portion of your investments to supporting a sustainable global future we can help. 

Our top priority is to create the best plan coupled with the best investment portfolio for you.  If that means taking sustainable investment preferences into consideration we have the resources and solutions available to build on traditional portfolio analytics to understand your current exposures and relevant sustainability factors.  We can set targets to improve the sustainability of your portfolio based on your personal objectives and measure performance data over time.

Contact us today to learn more!  Sustainable investing can drive positive social or environmental impact alongside financial results, allowing investors to accomplish more with their money.  Opportunity awaits.

Laurie Renchik, CFP®, MBA is a Partner and Senior Financial Planner at Center for Financial Planning, Inc.® In addition to working with women who are in the midst of a transition (career change, receiving an inheritance, losing a life partner, divorce or remarriage), Laurie works with clients who are planning for retirement. Laurie is a member of the Leadership Oakland Alumni Association and is a frequent contributor to Money Centered.

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**Year over year growth in sustainable assets in the U.S. 2012 to 2016. Source: Global Sustainable Investment Alliance. Views expressed are not necessarily those of Raymond James Financial Services and are subject to change without notice. Information contained herein was received from sources believed to be reliable, but accuracy is not guaranteed. Information provided is general in nature, and is not a complete statement of all information necessary for making an investment decision. Past performance is not indicative of future results. There is no assurance these trends will continue or that forecasts mentioned will occur.  Investing always involves risk and you may incur a profit or loss. No investment strategy can guarantee success.

2018 2nd Quarter Investment Commentary

Contributed by: Angela Palacios, CFP®, AIF®

Helping our clients achieve their goals is truly a team effort here at The Center.  You may not have met or spoken to the investment team here at The Center, but we are an important resource leveraged to help you achieve your goals.  Watch the video below to learn more about the investment team and how we help you reach your financial planning destination!   We are always here to help so please don’t hesitate to reach out to us! 

Rebalancing

The investment team monitors and rebalances your portfolio, in addition to portfolio construction.  It is equally important to continue to monitor portfolios and their compliance with your investing preferences and objectives as it is to determine what the proper investments are.  Rebalancing is a key part of this process.  See our recent blog post on how to rebalance a portfolio to understand the reasons and mechanics behind the process.  The most important way to be successful is to get invested and stay invested.  Rebalancing your portfolio on occasion will help you stay the course for the long-term.

Market Update

The story has stayed much the same over the past quarter with trade tensions remaining center stage.  Volatility remains, while trade war talks have spilled over into action and interest rates continue to rise.  Synchronized global growth is slowing but is not yet slow; so, do not expect growth to immediately fall off the cliff from a peak to a trough. 

U.S. markets remain in consolidation mode after a strong 2017 as investors waffle between getting comfortable with the lower rate of growth while having a strong economic and earnings outlook.  The U.S. market ended the quarter on a higher note up 3.43% for the S&P 500 despite the ups and downs throughout the quarter with China and U.S. relations.  Despite being up as much as 6.6% and down as much as 4.4% throughout the year so far we are up 2.65% through the end of the second quarter for the S&P 500. 

Bond markets have continued to struggle with bonds giving back what they are earning via interest payments, and then some, as the Bloomberg Barclays US Aggregate bond index is down 1.6% year to date.  Interest rates continue to increase at a well-telegraphed pace by the Federal Reserve with two more increases expected this year. 

In contrast to the U.S. market, international markets are struggling for the year with the MSCI EAFE posting a -2.75% so far.  In stark contrast, domestic small company stocks are enjoying a nice tailwind from the corporate tax reform so far this year.  The Russell 2000 is posting a startling 7.6% return year-to-date, all of which occurred in the second quarter.

Inflation continues its slow creep back into our economy with wages slowly starting to increase.  Just as slowing growth in the economy is not yet slow, rising inflation is not high inflation.  We are still at very low levels of inflation when you look at the history of our domestic economy.  Our investment committee has decided to add an allocation to an inflation-focused real asset strategy.  We want to add exposure within the portfolios to a strategy that would have the potential to respond more favorably than the broad equity markets to rising inflation. 

Preview of exciting changes

The investment team has been working on some exciting developments for your experience.  We will soon have a “Center for Financial Planning, Inc®” app for your smartphone where you can view returns, asset allocation and even your probability of success for your financial plan.  This new portal will be available to all who are interested.  More information and training on how to set up and view information will be coming later this year so watch your inboxes!  As always, please feel free to reach out if you ever have any questions.

On behalf of everyone here at The Center,
Angela Palacios, CFP®, AIF®
Director of Investments
Financial Advisor 

Angela Palacios, CFP®, AIF® is the Director of Investments at Center for Financial Planning, Inc.® Angela specializes in Investment and Macro economic research. She is a frequent contributor The Center blog.

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The information contained in this report does not purport to be a complete description of the securities, markets, or developments referred to in this material. The information has been obtained from sources considered to be reliable, but we do not guarantee that the foregoing material is accurate or complete. Any opinions are those of Angela Palacios and not necessarily those of Raymond James. Expressions of opinion are as of this date and are subject to change without notice. There is no guarantee that these statements, opinions or forecasts provided herein will prove to be correct. Investing involves risk and no strategy can ensure success. The process of rebalancing may carry tax consequences. Raymond James and its advisors do not offer tax or legal advice. You should discuss any tax or legal matters with the appropriate professional. Diversification and strategic asset allocation do not ensure a profit or protect against a loss. The S&P 500 is an unmanaged index of 500 widely held stocks. The Bloomberg Barclays US Aggregate Bond Index is a market capitalization-weighted index, meaning the securities in the index are weighted according to the market size of each bond type. Most U.S. traded investment grade bonds are represented. Municipal bonds, and Treasury Inflation-Protected Securities are excluded, due to tax treatment issues. The index includes Treasury securities, Government agency bonds, Mortgage-backed bonds, Corporate bonds, and a small amount of foreign bonds traded in U.S. The MSCI EAFE (Europe, Australia, Far East) index is an unmanaged index that is generally considered representative of the international stock market. These international securities involve additional risks such as currency fluctuations, differing financial accounting standards, and possible political and economic instability. The Russell 2000 index is an unmanaged index of small cap securities which generally involve greater risks. Inclusion of these indexes is for illustrative purposes only. Keep in mind that individuals cannot invest directly in any index, and index performance does not include transaction costs or other fees, which will affect actual investment performance. Individual investor's results will vary. Past performance does not guarantee future results. Bond prices and yields are subject to change based upon market conditions and availability. If bonds are sold prior to maturity, you may receive more or less than your initial investment. Holding bonds to term allows redemption at par value. There is an inverse relationship between interest rate movements and bond prices. Generally, when interest rates rise, bond prices fall and when interest rates fall, bond prices generally rise.

Under the Hood: Investment Allocation for 529 Savings Plans

Contributed by: Matthew E. Chope, CFP®

As many parents and grandparents know, 529 plans can be a wonderful strategy for families to help build college tuition savings for their children.  Not only do the plans benefit students, but they also carry advantages for the account creators or donors. The student can potentially enjoy tax-deferred growth with federally tax-free distributions if used for qualified educational expenses. Advantages to the donor include complete control of the account, high contribution limits, and no age restrictions or income limitations to inhibit investing.  It’s no surprise that 529 savings plans have become popular savings vehicles.

Have you ever wondered how 529 college savings plans are invested to meet time-sensitive tuition expenses? 

Age-based investment funds make this challenge easily manageable.  The graph below shows the glide path of equity allocations for 529 savings plans at various ages of the beneficiary from 2010 to 2013.

• Generally, 80% of the portfolio is invested in equities at age 0 and reduces to 10% by the time the beneficiary is enrolled in college.

• Since 2010, plan investment managers have become more conservative in the beginning (age 0) and end (age 19) stages of plans.

• Investment managers have become 6-7% more equity aggressive during ages 5-15 to meet tuition goals.

To meet tuition needs within 18 years, the graph reveals that investment managers are becoming more aggressive during the middle of a student’s investment time horizon, but they are also growing more cautious about preserving money closer to the end of the student’s investment time frame.  Interestingly, the graph also reveals that investment managers still rely on bonds as one of the safest places to preserve money (90% of the portfolio by age 19), despite the negative reputation bonds have received in our current rising rate environment. 

The glide path is designed to allow for an outcome with minimal surprises to all investors, no matter the economic environment when it’s time for college.  Some cycles will end on a poor note with markets crashing, while in other times markets will be soaring as students begin to tap the funds.  Ultimately, the guide path is designed to gradually reduce investors’ risk and exposure to market disruptions in the final years of saving, when investors are closest to needing the money they’ve worked so hard to save.  

Investors should carefully consider the investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses associated with 529 plans before investing. This and other information about 529 plans is available in the issuer's official statement and should be read carefully before investing. Investors should consult a tax advisor about any state tax consequences of an investment in a 529 plan.

As with other investments, there are generally fees and expenses associated with participation in a 529 plan. There is also a risk that these plans may lose money or not perform well enough to cover college costs as anticipated. Most states offer their own 529 programs, which may provide advantages and benefits exclusively for their residents. The tax implications can vary significantly from state to state.

Matthew E. Chope, CFP ® is a Partner and Financial Planner at Center for Financial Planning, Inc.® Matt has been quoted in various investment professional newspapers and magazines. He is active in the community and his profession and helps local corporations and nonprofits in the areas of strategic planning and money and business management decisions.

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The foregoing information has been obtained from sources considered to be reliable, but we do not guarantee that it is accurate or complete, it is not a statement of all available data necessary for making an investment decision, and it does not constitute a recommendation. Any opinions are those of the author and are not necessarily those of Raymond James.

2018 1st Quarter Investment Commentary

Contributed by: Angela Palacios, CFP®, AIF®

Trade wars and tariffs have dominated the headlines over the past quarter. Volatility has increased for equity markets around the world because there are fears stemming from the possibility of a trade war.  To learn more about tariffs and what we think about how this could impact the markets click here.

The Federal Reserve (FED) raised rates as anticipated in March.  This is the first rate hike of the year.  There are two more rate hikes widely expected to come this year.  Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth has been slightly ahead of what has been expected; so, this could hint at a faster rate hike path than anticipated.  Economists were expecting growth to come in at 2.7% for the 4th quarter and it came in at a revised 2.9%.  Good news for the economy as we are growing faster and seem to be on solid footing.  However, if the market thinks that the FED will start to raise rates faster in response to increased growth, this could negatively impact bond prices as their yields increase.  Both consumer spending and business investment have been strong.  Payroll taxes went down in February with the new tax reform which means we may have more money in our pockets, meaning we have the capacity, now, to spend even more.

The story is even better overseas as GDP growth has gone from mixed throughout the world (disappointing in most countries outside of the U.S. up until recently) to synchronized expansion.

Breaking a streak

The Dow Jones Industrials Average and the S&P 500 snapped an impressive nine-quarter streak of gains.  This has been the longest stretch of quarterly gains for the Dow for over two decades.  Prior long streaks were broken in 1997 (an 11 quarter rally for the Dow).  The S&P had a more recent impressive streak that also lasted nine quarters and was broken the first quarter of 2015.  Other markets including bonds and international were also down this quarter.  See the chart below for more details

The cash quandary

Have you noticed your money market or bank deposits rates spiking along with all of these rate hikes from the Federal Reserve?  If not, you aren’t alone.  Rates have continued to remain frustratingly low on our most liquid savings accounts.  While the FED has raised rates by .25% on six separate occasions since 2015, deposit rates have not moved much.  There are two likely reasons for this:

1. While the FED has raised short-term rates, long-term rates have not reacted as much. Since banks make money on the difference between the interest they charge on loans (which tend to be longer, think mortgages) and what they pay out in interest to their depositors, rates have stayed low for depositors. Banks have been unable to increase the rates they charge to loan individuals money and, therefore, they cannot raise the rates they pay on savings accounts.

2. Deposits at banks in small savings accounts are at an all-time high. This money tends to be steady even if the interest rate paid at the bank down the street is higher. So banks don’t have to raise the rates they pay to keep the assets. It is too much of a bother to close your account, withdraw the money, open a new account and deposit the money for a .1% boost in the interest rate.

Technology volatility

Technology stocks are catching headlines recently as Facebook had a breach of privacy and Apple and Alphabet suffer from fears of tightening regulation.  The recent darlings of the stock market suffer because investors are calling in to question all of these technology companies that gather our personal data to enhance our user experience.

Midterm Elections

While it is still early in the year, midterm elections are starting to heat up.  Democrats are out of power, and the midterm elections tend to favor the party that is out of power.  Currently, we have a strong economy, and that is a factor that can influence whether voters go out to the polls and for whom they vote. A stable economy tends to encourage the status quo vote. The increased stock market volatility could favor the party that is out of power, though.  While I’m not here to debate who will and won’t win, I am interested in how(or if) that could affect your portfolios.  Generally, it isn’t a good idea to make changes within a portfolio based on politics.  Politics are emotional, and it is rarely a good idea to mix these sensitive emotions with our investment dollars.  We generally recommend not to make any major changes to a portfolio driven solely by an upcoming election. 

In times of market distress including the areas outlined above that cause temporary volatility in markets, investors need to focus on the basics:

• sticking to a diversified portfolio

• maintaining appropriate cash reserves

• rebalancing

If you ever have any questions on these or other topics don’t hesitate to reach out to us!

On behalf of everyone here at The Center,

Angela Palacios, CFP®, AIF®
Director of Investments
Financial Advisor

Angela Palacios, CFP®, AIF® is the Director of Investments at Center for Financial Planning, Inc.® Angela specializes in Investment and Macro economic research. She is a frequent contributor The Center blog.

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https://finance.yahoo.com/news/dow-streak-quarterly-gains-risk-184351660.html https://am.jpmorgan.com/us/en/asset-management/gim/protected/adv/insights/should-i-hold-cash The information contained in this commentary does not purport to be a complete description of the securities, markets, or developments referred to in this material. The information has been obtained from sources considered to be reliable, but we do not guarantee that the foregoing material is accurate or complete. Any opinions are those of the professionals at The Center and not necessarily those of Raymond James. Expressions of opinion are as of this date and are subject to change without notice. There is no guarantee that these statements, opinions or forecasts provided herein will prove to be correct. This material is being provided for information purposes only. Any information is not a complete summary or statement of all available data necessary for making an investment decision and does not constitute a recommendation. Please note, changes in tax laws may occur at any time and could have a substantial impact upon each person's situation. While we are familiar with the tax provisions of the issues presented herein, as Financial Advisors of RJFS, we are not qualified to render advice on tax or legal matters. You should discuss tax or legal matters with the appropriate professional. Investments mentioned may not be suitable for all investors. Future investment performance cannot be guaranteed, investment yields will fluctuate with market conditions. Investing involves risk and you may incur a profit or loss regardless of strategy selected. The S&P 500 is an unmanaged index of 500 widely held stocks that is generally considered representative of the U.S. stock market. Keep in mind that individuals cannot invest directly in any index, and index performance does not include transaction costs or other fees, which will affect actual investment performance. Individual investor's results will vary. Past performance does not guarantee future results. Prior to making an investment decision, please consult with your financial advisor about your individual situation. The companies engaged in the communications and technology industries are subject to fierce competition and their products and services may be subject to rapid obsolescence. The MSCI EAFE (Europe, Australasia, and Far East) is a free float-adjusted market capitalization index that is designed to measure developed market equity performance, excluding the United States & Canada. The EAFE consists of the country indices of 22 developed nations. The Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA), commonly known as “The Dow” is an index representing 30 stock of companies maintained and reviewed by the editors of the Wall Street Journal. The Russell 2000 Index measures the performance of the 2,000 smallest companies in the Russell 3000 Index, which represent approximately 8% of the total market capitalization of the Russell 3000 Index. The Barclays US Aggregate Bond Index is a broad-based flagship benchmark that measures the investment grade, US dollar-denominated, fixed-rate taxable bond market. The Bloomberg Barclays U.S. Corporate High Yield Bond Index is composed of fixed-rate, publicly issued, non-investment grade debt, is unmanaged, with dividends reinvested, and is not available for purchase. The index includes both corporate and non-corporate sectors. The corporate sectors are Industrial, Utility and Finance, which include both U.S. and non-U.S. corporations. The IA SBBI US IT Government Bond Index is an index created by Ibbotson Associates designed to track the total return of intermediate maturity US Treasury debt securities. Links are being provided for information purposes only. Raymond James is not affiliated with and does not endorse, authorize or sponsor any of the listed websites or their respective sponsors. Raymond James is not responsible for the content of any website or the collection or use of information regarding any website's users and/or members.

 

4th Quarter Investment Commentary

Contributed by: Angela Palacios, CFP®, AIF®

If you're interested in attending our Annual Client Investment Review Event at the Great Lakes Culinary Center on February 20th at 11:30am, please register here. If you can't attend, consider our Investment Review Webinar on Tuesday, February 20th at 1PM, please register here.

2017 in Review and Outlook for 2018

Fidget spinners, bitcoins, and Trump.  If you have young children, you could not miss the fidget spinner craze that hit in April of this year.  This simple toy rotates on a ball bearing.  By the time I got around to getting my 10-year-old child one in mid-May for her birthday, they were SO yesterday.  My major parenting fail of 2017!  In the financial world, another mania took over.  Bitcoin, while not brand new, certainly gained a ton of traction this year as an alternative cryptocurrency.  The price of Bitcoin surged from below $1,000 per bitcoin to more than $19,000!  This paved the way for many other cryptocurrencies (Bitcoin competitors) making their way to center stage with astonishing returns also.  If you want more information, check out this blog Talking Bitcoin, written by Nick Boguth earlier this year. 

The news cycle has also revolved around President Trump this year.  While failing to overhaul Obamacare or U.S. trade policy, he was successful in getting some long-anticipated tax reform through to round out his first full year as our President.

The past year turned out to be far more bullish than many expected.  International and emerging markets outpaced U.S. markets.  Growth investing beat value investing, while Bonds returned little more than their yield.  2018 has a tough act to follow!

Tax Reform and its Impact on the Economy

Although the tax cut seems to favor corporations, much of the net tax cuts are going to the individual.  The tax act should increase after-tax income for most American households both directly, through lower personal taxes, and indirectly, through the impact of higher dividends and stock prices resulting from the cut in corporate taxation.  As people spend more, GDP should increase and unemployment should continue to decrease possibly causing the wage inflation we have been waiting for.  This chart shows the level of unemployment (gray line) and the level of wage inflation the (blue line). The dotted lines for each color are average levels.  You can see that both are below their average levels.  Usually when unemployment is below average the wage growth line rises back to its long-term average level, but this has not happened yet.  Retiring higher-paid baby boomers are being replaced with lower-paid millennials entering the workforce and this has had a significant downward pressure on wages keeping it well below its long-term average growth rate. 

If wages finally start to increase, this could cause inflation to pick up somewhat. This would be a positive influence on the stock market in the short run.

Tax Reform and its Impact on Equities

Looking at the influence tax reform will have on corporations, smaller companies will likely see a more impactful tax benefit with the corporate tax rate cut to 21% (which consequently is just below the average of the countries in the OECD or the organization for economic co-operation and development).  Currently, small cap companies pay the highest tax rates.

After a strong year for equities, the impact of tax reform could be more muted than you might think as the markets already anticipated some corporate tax reform passing. Quite often, equity prices factor these events in long before the pen hits the paper.

Tax Reform and its Impact on Fixed Income

Bond markets will have mixed implications from tax reform.  Companies that over-levered and don’t have strong positive cash flow will be penalized.  This new law places limits on the interest that corporations can deduct.  This will likely affect companies who are issuers of high yield debt negatively.  While companies investing for growth by making capital expenditures will be rewarded as, they are now allowed to expense a larger amount of these capital expenditures.

Municipal bonds should fare well next year with limits being placed on state tax and property tax deductions, especially in states with higher tax rates.  Other opposing forces could affect supply within the municipal bond market in the coming year from tax reform.  The law eliminates the issuance of advance refunding bonds that are used to retire old debt.  These bonds help boost supply by 10-20% each year in the municipal bond market.  On the flip side, corporations will be less incentivized to hold onto municipal debt as their tax rates have been slashed. If they sell these bonds into the market place that could increase supply, which could lower bond prices.  However, these two forces may cancel each other out.  It looks like the elimination of advance refunding bonds will likely offset any boost in supply from corporations selling.

Interest rates on the rise

The Fed raised short-term interest rates again in December, which was highly anticipated.  They are planning to continue with three more rate hikes in 2018. The bond market already anticipates these rate hikes, which means they should be priced in.  Jerome Powell is set to take over for Janet Yellen in February as the new Federal Reserve Chairperson.  It is unlikely he will change the trajectory of increases expected in 2018. 

The rate hikes have resulted in a flattening of the yield curve this year.  The charts show side-by-side where the yield curve started 2017 and where it is finishing 2017.  If you recall, an inversion of the yield curve, downward instead of upward sloping from left to right, or short-term rates higher than long-term rates, usually signals an oncoming recession.  While we aren’t there yet, this can happen quickly, so it is something we are keeping a close eye on.

Source: http://stockcharts.com/freecharts/yieldcurve.php

Low volatility

The exciting part of 2017 was the lack of excitement.  2017 saw incredibly low average daily moves in the S&P500.  You can see from the below chart that standard deviation, or the variation of price movement by percent, for the S&P 500 is well below the typical range.  It is currently below 6%, which has only occurred five times since 1940.  Typically, it is between 10% and 18% each year.

Source: https://www.mutualfundobserver.com/2017/09/historically-low-volatility/

During times like this, it is easy to get lulled into a false sense of security causing you to potentially reach for a little more risk to spice up your returns.  But, it is important to remember that your risk tolerance isn’t nearly as stable as you think it is.  Outside of our natural behavioral tendencies to want to chase great returns or hide from stocks after a sharp drawdown, our natural progression through life’s milestones can influence our tolerance for risk.  Milestones like a house sale, job change, or death of a loved one can influence our desire to take on risk just like the market performance and volatility.  This makes it hard to compare yourself and your portfolio’s returns to a static benchmark over the years.  Before making any drastic changes to your investment strategy, it is important to discuss with your financial planner the importance of a diversified portfolio that fits with your unique long-term goals and tolerance for risk. 

As we welcome the New Year, we don’t want to miss the opportunity to express our gratitude of the trust you place in us each and every day.  Thank you!

On behalf of everyone here at The Center,

Angela Palacios, CFP®, AIF®
Director of Investments
Financial Advisor

Angela Palacios, CFP®, AIF® is the Director of Investments at Center for Financial Planning, Inc.® Angela specializes in Investment and Macro economic research. She is a frequent contributor The Center blog.

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Check out our other Tax Reform articles:

Changes to Federal Income Tax Brackets

Changes to Standard Deduction, Personal Exemption, Misc. Deductions, and the Child Credit

Changes to State and Local Tax Deduction

Changes to Mortgage Interest Deduction (including Home Equity Loans and LOC Implications)

Changes to Estate Tax Planning in 2018 and Beyond

Changes to Charitable Giving and Deductions

Changes to Medical Deductions

Changes to Business & Corporate Tax, and Pass-Through Entities

The information contained in this commentary does not purport to be a complete description of the securities, markets, or developments referred to in this material. The information has been obtained from sources considered to be reliable, but we do not guarantee that the foregoing material is accurate or complete. Any opinions are those of the professionals at The Center and not necessarily those of Raymond James. Expressions of opinion are as of this date and are subject to change without notice. There is no guarantee that these statements, opinions or forecasts provided herein will prove to be correct. This material is being provided for information purposes only. Any information is not a complete summary or statement of all available data necessary for making an investment decision and does not constitute a recommendation. Please note, changes in tax laws may occur at any time and could have a substantial impact upon each person's situation. While we are familiar with the tax provisions of the issues presented herein, as Financial Advisors of RJFS, we are not qualified to render advice on tax or legal matters. You should discuss tax or legal matters with the appropriate professional. Investments mentioned may not be suitable for all investors. Future investment performance cannot be guaranteed, investment yields will fluctuate with market conditions. Investing involves risk and you may incur a profit or loss regardless of strategy selected. The S&P 500 is an unmanaged index of 500 widely held stocks that is generally considered representative of the U.S. stock market. Keep in mind that individuals cannot invest directly in any index, and index performance does not include transaction costs or other fees, which will affect actual investment performance. Individual investor's results will vary. Past performance does not guarantee future results. Prior to making an investment decision, please consult with your financial advisor about your individual situation. The prominent underlying risk of using bitcoin as a medium of exchange is that it is not authorized or regulated by any central bank. Bitcoin issuers are not registered with the SEC, and the bitcoin marketplace is currently unregulated. Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies are a very speculative investment and involves a high degree of risk. Investors must have the financial ability, sophistication/experience and willingness to bear the risks of an investment, and a potential total loss of their investment. Securities that have been classified as Bitcoin-related cannot be purchased or deposited in Raymond James client accounts.

 

Investment Commentary: 3Q 2017

Contributed by: Angela Palacios, CFP®, AIF®

This summer came and went with no shortage of topics for investors to worry about.  Low inflation, natural disasters, and geopolitical tension kept the headlines busy.  Despite all of this, the quarter ended on a positive note.  The uptick in markets was spurred on by a wide-spread pick up in global growth.  Recession risks continue to remain muted as dovish global central banks continue to inject liquidity in the system, or only very slowly begin to pull back on the injections.  In general, economic data remains strong.   We remain watchful for a slowing, particularly in manufacturing, business and consumer confidence, as these are early indicators of the tide of the economy turning. However, they are still positive.

Diversification is coming back into style as international and emerging markets continue to perform stronger than their domestic counterparts this year.  The S&P 500 Index ended the quarter returning 14.24% through the 30th of September.  International markets are truly the bright spot with the MSCI EAFE returning 19.96% and the MSCI EM Index returning 27.78%.  Bonds ended the third quarter with a respectful 3.14% return coming from the Barclays US Aggregate Bond Index.

Rates remain unchanged

In September, the Federal Reserve (Fed) kept rates unchanged, but also announced additional information on how it will begin to unwind the $4.5 trillion balance sheet in October. 

The Committee intends to gradually reduce the Federal Reserve's holdings of treasury securities and agency securities--agency debt and agency mortgage-backed securities (MBS)--by decreasing the reinvestment of the principal payments it receives from securities holdings. Each month, such payments will be reinvested only to the extent that they exceed a pre-specified cap. The caps will rise gradually at three-month intervals over a 12-month period and the maximum value of the caps at the end of the 12-month period will be maintained until the size of the balance sheet is normalized. (https://www.federalreserve.gov/monetarypolicy/policy-normalization-qa.htm)

This plan to shrink the balance sheet seems to reflect the Fed’s positive view of the U.S. economy.

Proposed tax changes being debated

Political stakes are high for President Trump to score a legislative win on what remains of his campaign promises.  In late September, he unveiled a proposal to slash taxes for individuals and businesses.  To simplify the tax code, Republicans have proposed condensing from seven tax brackets down to three (12%, 25% and 35%), doubling the standard deduction to help tax payers eliminate the need to itemize, and “significantly increasing” the child tax credit while also adding a new tax credit for the care of non-child dependents (elder-care situations).

Currently, many taxpayers use itemized deductions, claiming write-offs for things like charitable contributions, interest paid on a mortgage, state and local taxes. If the standard deduction becomes larger, fewer taxpayers will need to itemize, reducing the incentive to hold a mortgage or contribute to charity.

President Trump is also proposing to cut the corporate tax rate from 35% down to 20%.  A new tax rate would be established for pass-through entities which represent about 95% of businesses in the United States.  Generally when corporate tax rates are cut, markets perform very well in the year following the tax cut. The chart below demonstrates that after the rate cut for corporate taxes (Orange area below the line), the following 1 year returns on the S&P500 are quite positive (blue bar above the line).

Michigan 529 plan changes

In September, the Michigan 529 Advisor Plan, transitioned its program from Allianz Global Investors to Nuveen Securities, LLC.  Account numbers stayed the same and investments mapped over to similar strategies; if you had one of these accounts, the transition was seamless.  Some of the benefits of the change include an expanded investment line-up, more leading edge investment managers and lower fees.  If you have any questions don’t hesitate to reach out!

After several years of equity volatility near historic lows, this quarter we again experienced the speed and scale at which geopolitics can possibly move markets. We remain committed to the view that managing volatility is at the heart of proper portfolio design.  It is a responsibility we take very seriously and we thank you for the continued trust you place in us to help you with these decisions!

On behalf of everyone here at The Center,

Angela Palacios, CFP®, AIF®
Director of Investments
Financial Advisor

Investment Pulse: Check out Investment Pulse, by Nick Boguth, a summary of investment-focused meetings for the quarter.

Investor Ph.D Series: How Currency Movement Effect International Investments

Investor Basics Series: Nick Boguth, Investment Research Associate, talks about exchange rates.

Of Financial Note:  Jaclyn Jackson, Portfolio Coordinator, shares a look at the asset flow for 3rd quarter.

Angela Palacios, CFP®, AIF® is the Director of Investments at Center for Financial Planning, Inc.® Angela specializes in Investment and Macro economic research. She is a frequent contributor The Center blog.

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This information does not purport to be a complete description of the securities, markets, or developments referred to in this material; it has been obtained from sources considered to be reliable, but we do not guarantee that it is accurate or complete. Any opinions are those of Angela Palacios and are not necessarily those of Raymond James. This information is not a complete summary or statement of all available data necessary for making and investment decision and does not constitute a recommendation. Investing involves risk; investors may incur a profit or loss regardless of the strategy or strategies employed. International investing involves special risks, including currency fluctuations, differing financial accounting standards, and possible political and economic volatility. Investing in emerging markets can be riskier than investing in well-established foreign markets. Asset allocation and diversification do not ensure a profit or guarantee against loss. Past performance is not a guarantee of future results. The MSCI EAFE (Europe, Australasia, and Far East) is a free float-adjusted market capitalization index that is designed to measure developed market equity performance, excluding the United States & Canada. The EAFE consists of the country indices of 21 developed nations. The MSCI Emerging Markets is designed to measure equity market performance in 25 emerging market indices. The index's three largest industries are materials, energy, and banks. The S&P 500 is an unmanaged index of 500 widely held stocks that is generally considered representative of the U.S. stock market. The Barclays Capital US Aggregate Index is an unmanaged market value weighted performance benchmark for investment-grade fixed rate debt issues, including government, corporate, asset backed, mortgage backed securities with a maturity of at least 1 year. Please note direct investment in any index is not possible. Index performance does not include transaction costs or other fees, which will affect actual investment performance. Individual investor's results will vary.

Investor Ph.D: How Currency Movement Effect International Investments

Contributed by: Angela Palacios, CFP®, AIF®

Investors with the patience to hold on to their diversified portfolio that maintains a component of international have likely been rewarded this year.  Before this year, investors challenged the advice of diversifying their portfolio away from the U.S. as international investments, represented by the MSCI EAFE, noticeably lagged U.S. returns in recent years.  The chart below shows how the MSCI EAFE has performed vs. the S&P 500.  When the gray shaded area is above 0, this represents a time when the prior three years of returns have been dominated by the MSCI EAFE outperforming the S&P 500.  When you drill down into specific extended time periods when this happens, you can see that much of the returns come from the impact of the currency return (the lighter green portion of the return).  You see in recent years the S&P 500 has significantly outperformed international investments. 

A weakness in the U.S. dollar has contributed to the outperformance year-to-date by the MSCI EAFE (as of 9/30/2017 the MSCI EAFE was up XX% vs. the S&P 500 was up XX%).  When the dollar is in a cycle of weakening against foreign currencies, there is a natural tailwind helping performance.  Coupled with the global economy strengthening and political risks receding due to a failed populist movement in Europe, this could be a continuing recipe for international investing tailwinds.

Take a look at the impact on stock markets around the globe during these periods of different U.S. dollar trends:

Source: http://awealthofcommonsense.com/2017/04/how-the-dollar-affects-the-stock-market/

When the U.S. dollar index is retreating, Foreign and Emerging markets have outperformed and vice versa.  If the U.S. dollar continues its current trend of weakening or even levels out, we could continue to see the performance story dominated by foreign investments.

Angela Palacios, CFP®, AIF® is the Director of Investments at Center for Financial Planning, Inc.® Angela specializes in Investment and Macro economic research. She is a frequent contributor The Center blog.

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This information has been obtained from sources deemed to be reliable but its accuracy and completeness cannot be guaranteed. This information is not a complete summary or statement of all available data necessary for making an investment decision and does not constitute a recommendation. Opinions expressed are those of Angela Palacios and are not necessarily those of Raymond James. There is no assurance the trends mentioned will continue or the forecasts provided will prove to be correct. Investing involves risk, investors may incur a profit or loss regardless of the strategy or strategies employed. International investing involves special risks, including currency fluctuations, differing financial accounting standards, and possible political and economic volatility. Investing in emerging markets can be riskier than investing in well-established foreign markets. The S&P 500 is an unmanaged index of 500 widely held stocks that is generally considered representative of the U.S. stock market. The MSCI EAFE (Europe, Australasia, and Far East) is a free float-adjusted market capitalization index that is designed to measure developed market equity performance, excluding the United States & Canada. The EAFE consists of the country indices of 21 developed nations. The MSCI Emerging Markets is designed to measure equity market performance in 25 emerging market indices. The index's three largest industries are materials, energy, and banks. Please note direct investment in an index is not possible. Index performance does not include transaction costs or other fees, which will affect actual investment performance. Individual investor's results will vary. Past performance does not guarantee future results.

Investor Basics: Exchange Rates

Contributed by: Nicholas Boguth

An exchange rate is just the price of one currency in terms of a different currency. For example, as I wrote this blog on 9/29/17, the USD/EUR exchange rate was .85. This means that 1 US Dollar would buy 0.85 Euro.

Exchange rates fluctuate though, and this is where things get complicated for investors. Inflation, interest rates, asset flows, trade, and economic stability are all factors that move exchange rates. Below is a chart showing just how much the exchange rate between the US Dollar and the Euro has fluctuated in the past 10 years.

Now these exchange rates may not directly affect you in your day to day purchases, but if you are invested internationally, exchange rates affect your portfolio. Head on over to our Director of Investments Angela Palacios’s blog (coming on Thursday!) to read about exactly how exchange rates have affected returns recently.

Nicholas Boguth is an Investment Research Associate at Center for Financial Planning, Inc.® and an Investment Representative with Raymond James Financial Services.

Financial Note: Asset Flow Watch 2017 3Q

Contributed by: Jaclyn Jackson

One of the most common ways to monitor consumer confidence and investor sentiment is to watch fund inflows and outflows.  Market analysts use fund flows to measure sentiment within asset classes, sectors, or markets. This information (combined with other economic indicators) help identify trends and determine investment opportunities.

July trends picked up where June left off, as international equities and taxable bonds continued to receive inflows. 

Most of these flows came through passive funds, but active flows were still positive.  Conversely, US equities saw outflows as valuations appear to be fair or high (depending on whom you ask) and administration confidence declines.  Accordingly, The International Monetary Fund decreased their US GDP growth forecast from 2.3% to 2.1%.  In terms of internationals, investors are opting for developed markets through foreign large blend funds.  Ultimately, this is a play for Europe.  The International Monetary Fund increased its expected growth rate from 1.7% to 1.9% in Europe.   Investors also sought out emerging market funds as the MSCI Emerging Markets index has double-digit returns year to date (28.3% returns YTD at the end of August).

In August, international equity inflows were positive but less positive than in July. 

The slowdown reflects lackluster corporate earnings internationally and uncertainty about North Korea.  Nonetheless, internationals remain compelling to investors with rebounds from Japan and Europe progressing.  MSCI EAFE returns have remained ahead of the S&P 500 in 2017.  Taxable bonds, specifically intermediate-term bond funds, remained the leading category group for inflows. Intermediate bond funds hit the “sweet spot” for many investors because they are usually not as severely impacted by rising rates as long term bonds and typically generate more return than short term bonds.  From January 1st through August 15th, intermediate bonds gained 3.2% beating both the Bloomberg Barclays US Bond Index and 2016 returns.  Differing from June and July, investors are trending back towards active management for their bond funds.

As of writing this, October 4th, 2017, September flows mimic July and August with outflows from US equities and continued inflows to international equities and taxable bonds. 

There are also positive inflows for municipal bonds and alternatives.  Outflows from the US are mostly from growth (especially large growth) and US large blend funds.  International equities experienced outflows last week, but are net positive for the month.  Bond inflows are steady with investors largely continuing to invest in intermediate term bond funds as wells as modestly investing in high yield municipals funds and national intermediate municipal bonds.

Bonds Lead the Pack

Even as rates rise, investors continue to pour assets into bond funds. Why is that the case? Income and diversification seem to motivate the trend.  Even if interest rates rise and bond prices go down, investors still want the guaranteed income stream bonds provide.  Some may also feel they can pick up higher payouts from new bond issues as interest rates increase.  In terms of diversifications, investors have seen gains from their US equities and feel like it is time to rebalance into a true stock diversifier; bonds.

Jaclyn Jackson is a Portfolio Administrator and Financial Associate at Center for Financial Planning, Inc.®

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This information does not purport to be a complete description of the securities, markets, or developments referred to in this material; it has been obtained from sources considered to be reliable, but we do not guarantee that it is accurate or complete. Any opinions are those of Jaclyn Jackson and are not necessarily those of Raymond James. This information is not a complete summary or statement of all available data necessary for making and investment decision and does not constitute a recommendation. Investing involves risk, investors may incur a profit or loss regardless of the strategy or strategies employed. International investing involves special risks, including currency fluctuations, differing financial accounting standards, and possible political and economic volatility. Investing in emerging markets can be riskier than investing in well-established foreign markets. Asset allocation and diversification do not ensure a profit or guarantee against loss. Past performance is not a guarantee of future results. The MSCI EAFE (Europe, Australasia, and Far East) is a free float-adjusted market capitalization index that is designed to measure developed market equity performance, excluding the United States & Canada. The EAFE consists of the country indices of 21 developed nations. The MSCI Emerging Markets is designed to measure equity market performance in 25 emerging market indices. The index's three largest industries are materials, energy, and banks. The S&P 500 is an unmanaged index of 500 widely held stocks that is generally considered representative of the U.S. stock market. The Barclays Capital US Aggregate Index is an unmanaged market value weighted performance benchmark for investment-grade fixed rate debt issues, including government, corporate, asset backed, mortgage backed securities with a maturity of at least 1 year. Please note direct investment in any index is not possible.

Investment Pulse: 3Q 2017

Contributed by: Nicholas Boguth

We’ve been busy here in the Investment Department! Check out some of our research highlights from the third quarter.

Angela Palacios, Director of Investments at The Center, attends Capital Group Advisor Forum

Angela traveled to Capital Group’s headquarters in California, to look under the hood at their investment strategies focusing on their process, people and investment outlooks.  You may know the strategies as the American Funds family. The discussion spanned from macro-economics to fixed income and equity discussions. On the macroeconomic front they discussed their recession outlook. Anne Vandenabeele, Economist, stated that expansions don’t die of old age, they die because imbalances build up in the economy or the Federal Reserve raises rates too quickly. They don’t see either of these scenarios right now. Most severe bear markets are when you have a bear market combined with a recession. While there may be a bear market in the next several years they don’t see a recession occurring at the same time. 

Clayton Shiver, Portfolio Manager at Stadion Money Management

Part of our investment process is to stay on top of investment products being offered in the marketplace. Nick Boguth met with Clayton Shiver to discuss Stadion’s alternative product platform and understand the team’s investment process. Clayton discussed their three sleeve alternative approach that included an equity, income, and trend sleeve implemented with the buying and selling of stocks and options in order to generate very different potential returns from the S&P 500 or Barclays US Aggregate Bond Index.

Matt Lamphier, Portfolio Manager at First Eagle

Matt Lamphier, director of research for the Global Value team at First Eagle Investment Management, joined us at our office for a jam-packed hour of investment updates. We discussed First Eagle’s investment process, outlook, and rationale behind their investments. Matt stressed the importance of being a value investor, and choosing companies that will outperform over the long term. One surprising statistic that Matt shared was that the average timespan of a stock in their portfolio is over 10 years!

What to expect next time…

We have a busy schedule next quarter and are looking forward to sharing highlights from our upcoming conferences including: Thornburg Investment Management, First Eagle, and Investment News.

Nicholas Boguth is an Investment Research Associate at Center for Financial Planning, Inc.® and an Investment Representative with Raymond James Financial Services.

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The information has been obtained from sources considered to be reliable, but we do not guarantee that the foregoing material is accurate or complete. Any opinions are those of Nick Boguth and not necessarily those of Raymond James. Investing involves risk and you may incur a profit or loss regardless of strategy selected. The S&P 500 is an unmanaged index of 500 widely held stocks that is generally considered representative of the U.S. stock market. The Barclays US Aggregate Bond Index is a broad-based flagship benchmark that measures the investment grade, US dollar-denominated, fixed-rate taxable bond market. Keep in mind that individuals cannot invest directly in any index, and index performance does not include transaction costs or other fees, which will affect actual investment performance. Individual investor's results will vary. Past performance does not guarantee future results. Raymond James is not affiliated with Anne Vandenabeele, Clayton Shiver, Stadion Money Management, Matt Lampier and/or First Eagle Investment Management.