Ford plans to save $25 billion by cutting all models except
these two.
|
 -
|
Beware of these
10 tricks that retailers use to get you to spend more money.
|
|
|
Smartphones have become an essential part of our personal and business lives, but we can't take them for granted. Our feature article from Commonwealth Financial Network this month warns about special precautions such as password protection, logging in to unsecured Wi-Fi networks, apps that store your financial information, and more.
One of our most loyal employees, Jan Holliday, is retiring after 18 years of service. Please read about her in the article below.
Don't miss the article on how married couples can bolster their Social Security income in our What's Happening Now column to the left. You might profit from its suggestions.
May can be a glorious month. We hope that you enjoy it.
Please feel free to contact us by phone at 614-888-2121, toll-free 877-389-2121 or e-mail chornyak@chornyak.com with any questions or comments.
Joe
|
 |
|
After 18 years of excellent client service with Chornyak & Associates, Jan Holliday is retiring from the firm on May 15th to spend more time enjoying grandchildren, volunteering, reading, biking, and general "me time."
Jan grew up in Port Washington, Wisconsin, graduated from the University of Wisconsin - Whitewater's College of Business and Economics, and then married her husband Mike 45 years ago. They have three sons, and two grandchildren.
Having worked as a staff accountant for Brach Candy and Robert Bosch in Chicago, Jan then had the privilege of spending 12 fulfilling years raising her boys before moving to Central Ohio. Jan and her husband have a strong philosophy of working hard, saving, and living within their means, all of which they've instilled in their sons.
Prior to joining Chornyak & Associates in an administrative position at the front desk on Valentine's Day, 2000, Jan worked for two property management companies. Her accounting and management background proved valuable in assisting the Chornyak clients with detailed registration and filing requirements for many diversified investment portfolios. Throughout her 18 years with the firm, Jan has grown professionally, adding compliance reviews and new associate training to her various responsibilities and she is known by many of the firm's 1,000 clients.
"Jan has been my right arm for many years and an integral part of our firm," according to Managing Partner, Joe Chornyak, Sr. "She has provided our clients with service beyond compare and I wish her many years of enjoyment in retirement."
Jan will miss the caring family aspect shown by Chornyak & Associates and the many clients who have grown to know Jan as a trusted friend.
|
|
|
Are you making these security mistakes with your smartphone?
|
|
It's tough to remember how we managed our daily lives without smartphones. How did we get around town without quick access to Google Maps? Pay our bills on time before we had credit card and banking apps? Or let someone know we were running late without text messaging?
Because completing tasks on smartphones is so easy, we tend to overlook the sensitivity of the data we store on them. And that could be a recipe for disaster. To help you safeguard your confidential data, we're sharing five mistakes that most of us make when using our smartphones, along with some simple fixes that you can put in place today.
1) Not auto-locking our phones or using passwords
Most smartphone users don't password-protect their devices, making information vulnerable if phones are lost or stolen.
What can you do?
- Change your settings to require your phone to lock after a certain period of inactivity. This way, you'll have to enter a password to get back in.
- Set a strong PIN or password. Although having a password is the most basic form of security, it will serve as a first line of defense, giving you the opportunity to remotely wipe or track your phone if it is lost or stolen.
2) Connecting to public or unsecure Wi-Fi networks
Public Wi-Fi networks pose a major security risk. Cyber criminals connected to the same network can view your activity and any information you send over the network, including usernames, passwords, account information, credit card information, and e-mail messages.
What can you do? Turn off auto-discovery if your phone has that function! If you need to go online, just use cellular data instead of connecting to an unsecure network.
3) Using out-of-date apps and software
Outdated apps and mobile operating system software leave your phone open to security vulnerabilities.
What can you do?
- Keep apps up to date. This mitigates risks by patching up holes that hackers could exploit to access your data. Most smartphones have an automatic update option for apps; use it!
- Update your mobile OS software as soon as you are notified that an update is available.
4) Staying logged in to apps that store your financial information
Although certainly more convenient than entering your credentials every time you need access, staying logged in to Amazon, Capital One, or some other shopping or banking service provider could leave you vulnerable to some serious financial risk. If your phone is lost or stolen, you're basically handing a criminal your wallet.
What can you do? Don't stay logged into apps, and clear your device's browser history regularly.
5) Clicking on links sent through unsolicited texts or e-mails
Cyber criminals have crossed over from the desktop to the mobile world. They now deploy their phishing attempts through text messages or e-mails, hoping that you'll click on their bogus links and provide them with your credentials or financial information.
What can you do?
Just as with your desktop or laptop, be wary of clicking links and downloading attachments on your smartphone-don't do it. Viruses can infect smartphones, too.
What the future holds
As more of us use mobile devices to communicate and transact business, more of our information will be out there tempting hackers to steal it. Don't let your smartphone lull you into a false sense of security. Follow the simple advice shared here to help ensure the security of your personal data.
© 2018 Commonwealth Financial Network
|
|
|
Seven money-saving tips that actually don't pay
|
|
Getting suckered into buy-one-get-one (BOGO) deals
BOGO, when it's genuine, is hard to resist. but even then, whether it's BOGO free or BOGO half price, you have to stop and ask yourself, Would I really have bought this much of this item at this price anyway? If you're shopping for jam and see BOGO free on jam, that's probably a great time to stock up. But if you're looking for a new pair of sneakers and see BOGO half off, stop and think. You went out looking to spend $60 on sneakers. Now you're spending about $100 after taxes. Did you even want two pairs? Will you wear them both? Do you even like the second pair? Put down the pricy shoes and try these
creative ways to save money you never thought of.
Building an emergency fund but not contributing to a retirement plan
It's essential these days to have an emergency fund. Financial experts say you need six months' to one year's worth of expenses. But experts also agree that you need to look after your financial future. If you're squirreling money away into an emergency fund or savings account but not putting money into a 401(k), IRA or other long-term plan, you're not preparing for something you know is coming: old age. And with compound interest being what it is, every day you put it off is dollars wasted. If your employer has a 401(k) match, that's additional money you are throwing away. When it comes to saving, the simpler, the better. And what could be simpler than "The $5 Savings Plan," i.e. stashing every $5 bill that comes your way? It's a surprisingly effective way to put some money aside. A
Boston Globe writer who stuck with the plan saved $12,000 in three years. That's a lot of Lincolns. Avoid these other
12 mistakes people make early in retirement. (
Source: lifehacker.com, mommysavers.com)
Always choosing the cheapest price tag
I've said it before, I'll say it again-buy cheap, buy twice. If you buy a screwdriver set for $1 at a dollar store, or get your shoes for a few bucks at a flea market stall, chances are you'll be buying them again real soon. Cheaply made, poor-quality items may save you a few bucks in the short term, but you'll only have to pay more later to replace them. And if you replace them with more cheap junk, you'll be repeating the cycle. The only time this is not true is when you're buying generic brands in the grocery store-you're often getting the same product that's in the brand-name packaging. Try these
11 easy ways to save money without feeling the pinch
Taking store credit card offers for discounts but paying the minimum.
That 30 percent off is a good deal, if you actually pay off the balance in full right away. Sadly, many people find it way too easy to pay the much smaller minimum payment. Before long, you're paying the minimum every month and adding more to the store card, and you're suddenly a credit card revolver who is paying hefty interest charges. Here are more
times you should never pay with a credit card
.
Continue reading here.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Market Update
|
|
With economic growth sound, one of major risks to the financial markets is the recent uptick in inflation, which is driven by that growth. Both producer and consumer inflation came in above 2 percent on an annualized basis in March. Producer inflation was especially notable, as core producer prices grew at their fastest pace in seven years.
Markets start to spring back
Markets rebounded in April after two turbulent months, and all three major U.S. indices began the second quarter in the black. The S&P 500 Index gained 0.38 percent, the Dow Jones Industrial Average was up 0.34 percent, and the Nasdaq Composite rounded out the pack with a 0.08-percent return.
The rebound was supported by strong fundamentals. According to FactSet, as of the end of April, the first-quarter earnings growth rate for the S&P 500 was estimated to be 23.2 percent. If companies do as well as expected, this would be the highest earnings growth rate since the third quarter of 2010 and more than twice the consensus forecast of 11.4 percent as of December 31, 2017. Clearly, businesses are benefiting from the lower corporate tax rates introduced by the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act.
Though fundamentals remained strong, technical factors were more mixed during the month. The Dow and Nasdaq stayed comfortably above their 200-day moving averages, but the S&P 500 closed below this threshold on April 2-the first time since 2016. Although the index quickly moved back above this important risk indicator, further tests of the trend line will be worth watching.
While U.S. markets crept forward, international markets were mixed. Developed markets were strong in April, with the MSCI EAFE Index up by 2.46 percent. Much of this improvement was due to decreased political risks in Europe and continued stimulus from the European Central Bank. Technical factors also remained supportive for the index during the month.
Emerging markets pulled back, though. The MSCI Emerging Markets Index declined 0.29 percent in April, due largely to the strengthening dollar, which hurt markets' competitiveness. Technical weakness also showed up, as the index closed below its 200-day moving average on April 25. The index finished above the trend line for the month, however.
Fixed income also had a turbulent month. Notably, the 10-year U.S. Treasury yield cracked 3 percent for the first time since 2014. It ended the month just under this threshold at 2.95 percent. As bond prices drop when rates rise, the Bloomberg Barclays U.S. Aggregate Bond Index suffered a loss of 0.74 percent for April. High-yield, which is typically less affected by interest rate volatility, fared better. The Bloomberg Barclays U.S. Corporate High Yield Index gained 0.65 percent for the month.
Economic data shows signs of blooming
April's economic news was largely better than expected, easing fears of an economic slowdown. Although consumption growth slowed in the first quarter, consumer confidence remained high and wages continued to grow-a sign that consumers should be able to spend more going forward. Retail sales grew by 0.6 percent in March, even better than already high expectations of 0.4 percent. It appears that the dual tailwinds of tax reform and a healthy labor market are now working, and it would not be surprising to see consumer spending growth pick up steam as the year progresses.
Business investment also improved. Durable goods orders, which are often used as a proxy for business confidence, grew by 2.6 percent in March, against expectations for more modest growth of 1.6 percent. Industrial production also exceeded expectations, growing 0.5 percent on a monthly basis, against an expected 0.3 percent. This result was driven by increasing exports and strong business investment and suggests that the first-quarter weakness may be passing.
We also received the first estimate of economic growth for the first quarter of 2018. It came in at 2.3 percent, above estimates for 2-percent growth. Although this is a pullback from the previous quarter, it is a reasonably healthy growth rate. Further, on a year-on-year basis (which is a better indicator), growth remains at a multiyear high. Combined with the rebound in April's data, this suggests that economic growth may increase moving forward.
Housing erases slow start to year
Housing was another sign of strength, particularly after its slow start. The National Association of Home Builders survey showed that home builders are still very confident, although that confidence may be moderating. The April housing starts figure bore out this confidence with 1.32 million starts-well above expectations of 1.27 million. This is a healthy development, as supply remains constrained while demand is strong and picking up as we enter spring.
This high demand for homes was demonstrated by the stronger-than-expected results for existing and new home sales. Both came in well above expectations, despite bad weather, suggesting that rising mortgage rates have not yet hurt housing demand. As illustrated in Figure 1, the rebound in new home sales was especially pronounced and helps to calm fears from earlier in the year about a potential slowdown.
From a policy perspective, this is concerning. In fact, for the first time in years, the Federal Reserve's (Fed's) preferred measure of inflation-the core personal consumption expenditures price index-grew by 2 percent on an annual basis in March. This puts inflation at the Fed's inflation target and, along with the upward trend, suggests that the Fed is likely to keep raising rates this year.
The market currently expects two to three more rate hikes in 2018. If inflation continues to rise, however, these expectations could increase to include more rate hikes. This will be important to watch, as higher rates have rattled markets already this year.
Political risks fade, for now
Political risks-in particular, from the Trump administration's proposed tariffs and international trade-led to increased market volatility earlier this year. These perceived risks receded in April, however. Although the tariffs remain a concern, there has been little follow-through since they were announced. In addition, exemptions for many close trade partners have alleviated the immediate concerns of a global trade war.
Tensions with North Korea, another point of concern, appear to have calmed. The meeting between North and South Korean leaders was seen as a step toward further diplomatic efforts. Meanwhile, the potential for a direct meeting between North Korea and the U.S. could help soothe tensions even further. That said, North Korean leaders have made promises to curb their nuclear ambitions in the past, to no avail, so risks certainly still remain.
A good start to second quarter
Overall, April was a good month for the markets and the economy, as both ticked back up after a weak stretch. Looking forward, business and consumer confidence levels remain high, and the major concerns from March-namely, a slowdown in housing and increasing political tension-appear to have diminished. Fundamentals are strong, and the economy appears to be growing at a sustainable pace.
While rising inflation and additional rate hikes may slow growth, and tariffs remain an active concern, continued strong fundamentals should help insulate the markets from external pressures. As we have seen in the past couple of months, though, this month's recovery, while promising, does not guarantee smooth sailing in the future. So, we must continue to watch the risks. A well-diversified portfolio designed to meet long-term goals remains the best way to approach markets going forward.
Co-authored by Brad McMillan, managing principal, chief investment officer, and Sam Millette, fixed income analyst, at Commonwealth Financial Network®.
All information according to Bloomberg, unless stated otherwise.
|
|
|
|
