Trusted Financial Advisors’ Latest Commentary

Two of the best proven investment managers of the past 70 years appear to agree with my view that there are few apparent red flags to concern investors today. While client portfolios are always diversified and always weighted a bit cautious, I believe we are living through an epic era for liquid investments like stocks, bonds, REIT’s and Maser Limited Partnerships. THIS is a good time to build wealth for the future. Here’s what two giants have to say: READ MORE

The IRS has released the annual inflation-adjusted contribution, deductible, and out-of-pocket expense limits for 2019 for health savings accounts (HSAs). Eligible individuals may, subject to statutory limits, make deductible contributions to an HSA. Employers, as well as other persons (e.g., family members), also may contribute on behalf of an eligible individual. A person is an “eligible individual” if he is covered under a high deductible health plan (HDHP) and is not covered under any other health plan that is not a HDHP, unless the other coverage is permitted insurance (e.g., for worker’s compensation, a specified disease or illness, or providing a fixed payment for hospitalization). For calendar year 2019, the limitation on deductions for an individual with self-only coverage under an HDHP is $3,500 (up from $3,450 for 2018). For calendar year 2019, the limitation on deductions for an individual with family coverage under an HDHP is $7,000 (up from $6,900 for 2018). For calendar year 2019, an HDHP is defined as a health plan with an annual deductible that is not less than $1,350 (same as for 2018) for self-only coverage or $2,700 (same as for 2018) for family coverage, and with respect to which the annual out-of-pocket expenses (deductibles, co-payments, and other amounts, but not premiums) do not exceed $6,750 (up from $6,650 for 2018) for self-only coverage or $13,500 (up from $13,300 for 2018) for family coverage.

Year to Date Statistics (through June 30, 2018)

Morningstar U.S. Equity index + 3.08%

MSCI International Index -2.75%

Long term bonds -4.25% Intermediate Term bonds -1.19%

Preferred Stock index down -1.19%

The Virtue of Worry

Worry is suffering felt for an injury that has not yet and may not happened, but we worry anyway. In finance, worry is a useful tool. A worry wart is well suited for the financial world-he/she is unlikely to plunge or become over confident. Financial Planning and investment positioning involves worrying about what could go wrong. In this report, we will examine some factors supporting this bull market and others that are threatening to the current forward momentum. Many factors can cripple the forward march of an army: dwindling supplies of fuel, inability to find food, second rate technology in weaponry. During World War II, Patton’s lightening progress through Europe and toward a reeling German military late in World War II was halted largely due to supply shortages. On August 28, 1944 Patton summed it up this way: “At the present time our chief difficulty is not the Germans, but gasoline. If they would give me enough gas, I could go all the way to Berlin!”. At the same time, the Germans themselves were suffering from a lack of fuel. In a similar vein, financial expansion draws its fuel from multiple sources. Right now, the economic expansion is being propelled by a surplus of available investment cash, corporate buybacks, and consumer optimism fueled largely by the highest employment rate since the year 2000[…]