According to finaid.org, the average college student’s debt is more than $18,000, but many carry loans well over $50,000. The biggest shame of it all is that in this economic environment, young adults are coming out of college and having to work the same sort of temporary or transitional jobs they’ve worked for years – food and beverage, retail, lifeguarding, valets, etc. They’re lucky if they can find an unpaid internship to gain “real world” work experience while paying the bills by bussing tables. Many have little opportunity to make a dent in student loan debt, and each year the competition for jobs grows denser.

[CLICK HERE to read the blog post, "College Loans: A Punitive System?" at Boston College, Center for Retirement Research, June 5, 2012.]

[CLICK HERE to read a report from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and the US Department of Education titled, "Private Student
Loans,"at ConsumerFinance.gov, July 20, 2012.

[CLICK HERE to read the article, "Private student loan debt reaches $150 billion," at Yahoo Finance, July 20, 2012.]

Subprime Student Loans

Much like the American dream of owning your own home, the student loan industry relaxed qualifying criteria and actively marketed and approved loans to people who did not have a credit history for paying back loans. Exploiting parental claims that you can’t get a good job without an education, lenders used Asset-Backed Securities (ABS) to finance student loans because they were more profitable, giving them incentive to increase loan volumes regardless of creditworthiness.

[CLICK HERE to read the article, "How the Student Private Loan Industry Resembles the Subprime Mortgage Market," at ThinkProgress.com, July 20, 2012.]

Government Intervention

Similar to the subprime crisis, where private lenders may have faltered, the federal government has taken measures to try to provide relief. In recent years, the government has launched the income-based repayment program to allow debt-laden graduates to repay federal student loans based on their level of income. After a certain time period, any remaining balance would be forgiven (note that forgiven balances may be considered income on which taxes are owed).

Furthermore, Congress recently extended the current 3.4% interest rate on federally subsidized student loans just prior to the July 1 expiration date, when the rate was scheduled to double. The extension is only for one year, however, so this issue is likely to rear its ugly head in the first two quarters of 2013. 

[CLICK HERE to read the article, "Uncle Sam's Income-Based Student Loan Repayment Plan," at Nightly Business Report, July 19, 2012.

[CLICK HERE to read the article, "Congress extends low student loan rates," at CNNMoney.com, June 29, 2012.

Not a Generational Issue

If you think student loan debt is a problem just for the young, think again. Nearly one-third of the total student loan debt is carried by people over age 40 - still paying down loans from their college years. On top of that statistic, loans to parents to fund their kids' education is among the fastest-growing of the government's education loan programs. Imagine - paying your child's college student loans while still paying down your own.

Many middle-aged adults went back to school after losing their jobs during the latest economic crisis in an effort to beef up their resumes in light of ageism and the other challenges that come with seeking a new job mid-career. Taking on more student loan debt while unemployed (or under-employed) and losing value in your home equity is equally daunting.

[CLICK HERE to read the article, "Student Debt Hits The Middle-Aged," at The Wall Street Journal, July 17, 2012.]

The best way to tackle student loan debt is to plan early and save/invest regularly. But even if you’ve waited late to start a plan for financial health, you may have assets that can be positioned to help pay for college. Don’t hesitate to call us to review your situation and discuss strategies.

If you are unable to access any of the news articles and sources through the links provided in this text please contact us to request a copy of the desired reference.

For Republicans, the option to reject federal aid offers a glimmer of hope that there’s still time to overturn the health care legislation, and many have reiterated this stance.

[CLICK HERE to read the full Supreme Court opinion, at SupremeCourt.gov, 2011/2012.]

[CLICK HERE to read a letter from Kathleen Sebelius, Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services, to state Governors at npr.org, July 10, 2012.]

In Texas, Governor Rick Perry has joined at least 14 other states in saying he will reject federal aid to extend Medicare to non-elderly recipients in his state. Like many other Republican-dominated states, he opposes what he views as the socialization movement of the health care reform law and argues that such reforms are too costly and will devastate the state’s budget.

[CLICK HERE to read the article, "Fifteen governors reject or leaning against expanded Medicaid program," at thehill.com, July 3, 2012.]

[CLICK HERE to read the article, "Gov. Perry tells feds Texas won't expand Medicaid," at The Houston Chronicle, July 10, 2012.]

[CLICK HERE to read "Medicaid expansion is a bad deal for Georgians," at The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, July 12, 2012.]

On the other side of the coin, supporters like Patricia Young Brown, president and CEO of Central Health of the Travis County hospital district in Texas, say expanding Medicaid and implementing other reforms mandated by the new legislation will help save the state money in the long run. “You can pay a dollar now to keep someone as healthy as possible … or you’re going to pay for it later when they’re sick,” observes Brown.

[CLICK HERE to read the article, "Not joining Medicaid expansion will hurt hospitals, clinics and taxpayers, officials say," at statesman.com, July 10, 2012.]

[CLICK HERE to read the article, "How the Medicaid expansion could actually save states money," at WashingtonPost.com, July 5, 2012.]

Whether Medicaid is extended in your state or not, the ruling to uphold the individual insurance mandate (subject to a penalty “tax” for non-compliance) means that the Patient Protection and Affordability Care Act will achieve at least part of its funding objectives and will likely move forward. While there’s still the possibility that it could be overturned by Congress should Republicans take over the presidential administration, many health care industry experts observe that the sands of change are already in motion and reforms underway within the industry itself are not likely to reverse.

Regardless of where you stand on the political forum, it’s never a good idea to depend solely on government programs to provide for your wellbeing in the future – particularly with something as important as your personal health care. Please contact us to discuss strategies for positioning your assets for flexible options that can include a plan for your health care needs in retirement.

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If you are unable to access any of the news articles and sources through the links provided in this text, please contact us to request a copy of the desired reference.

Corporate America

In 2008, Paul Bulcke took over the job of CEO global food giant Nestle. At that time, despite the fact that 80% of the company’s consumers were women, only 3% of managers in the company’s leadership pipeline were women. One of Bulcke’s top priorities when he took over was to put the issue of women and gender at the top of his Executive Committee’s agenda. In his own personal view, Bulcke felt that it was important for “women stay women” instead of the usual practice that for women to succeed in business they had to become tougher than men. During his tenure, the percentage of women on management teams increased from 15 to 21%, including women heading two of Nestlé’s five global Strategic Business Units and a female CFO at the corporate level.

Why would a CEO make such strides to increase women’s roles in management? In the case of Nestle, it was less about politically correct mandates and more about good business for a company that markets primarily to women. In addition to their intimate understanding of the products and target market, women tend to have inherent traits that make them valuable in the corporate environment: they aren’t afraid to ask for help, they tend to be great at building relationships, and they are skilled multi-taskers.

[CLICK HERE to read the article, "Gender in the Multi-Cultural Corporation," at Harvard Business Review, June 22, 2012.]

Entrepreneurs

Women have been starting businesses at a higher rate than men for the last 20 years and these days more and more are quitting their jobs to become entrepreneurs – which may not be reflected in recent unemployment numbers. While women-owned businesses created only 16% of total U.S. jobs that existed in 2010, it is projected that they will create over half of the 9.72 million new small-business jobs expected to be created by 2018.¹ Some of the reasons women are leaving the security of a job in today’s uncertain employment market have to do with job dissatisfaction, a poor value structure, and lack of work/life balance. The Guardian Life Index cites “office politics” as a driving factor for women leaving Corporate America to start their own businesses.¹

¹ [CLICK HERE to read the article, "Entrepreneurship is the New Women's Movement," at Forbes, June 8, 2012.]

[CLICK HERE to read the article, "Why Women Still Can't Have It All," at The Atlantic, July/August 2012.]

Politics

Meanwhile, women continue to wield influence in politics whether running for office, positioning for running mates or being wooed for their vote in this year’s upcoming presidential election. In fact, more women have been running for positions in the Senate this year than ever before.

[CLICK HERE to read the article, "Romney, Obama: When Wooing Female Voters, Check Marital Status First," at NPR, June 13, 2012.]

[CLICK HERE to read the article, "Mitt Romney's wife, Ann: Woman being eyed for ticket," at Newsday, July 5, 2012.]

The influence of women – whether in major corporations, small businesses, government agencies or in the home – offers inarguably a different approach to solving problems and may well be one that can have a positive impact on this country’s recovery going forward. That’s just one reason why it’s important for women to be involved in professional consultations regarding finances – whether single or married. Please contact us to schedule a time to review your personal situation.

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If you are unable to access any of the news articles and sources through the links provided in this text, please contact us to request a copy of the desired reference.

The ruling was so long in coming that nearly every pundit out there has already offered its “what if” scenario depending on which way the upper court ruled. However, post-ruling, there are a few insights worth noting from journalists, experts, and health industry players.

[CLICK HERE to read the article, "Supreme Court Upholds Health Care Law, 5-4, in Victory for Obama" at The New York Times, June 28, 2012.]

[CLICK HERE to read the full document of the Supreme Court's opinion at its website, June 28, 2012.]

What Now?

The Kaiser Family Foundation offers a good overview of the nuts and bolts of what will happen now that a decision has been rendered and the dust has settled. For example, if a person chooses not to buy health insurance, what is the fine he must pay? According to Kaiser, starting in 2014 the penalty would start at $95 a year, or up to 1% of income, whichever is greater, and rise to $695, or 2.5% of income, by 2016.

[CLICK HERE to read, "After the Ruling: A Consumer's Guide," at KaiserHealthNews.org, June 28, 2012.]

Medicaid Provision

One caveat the Court did not rule in favor on is that the federal government may not withdraw existing federal Medicaid funds to states that refuse to expand their Medicaid programs pursuant to the health reform act. However, at the American Hospital Association’s blog, litigator Dominic Perella notes that the Court did not address the fact that the federal government can still punish states by withholding other PPACA-based funds if they decline to participate. Those funds, after all, are not “existing” funds.

[CLICK HERE to read the article, "The Health Care Ruling - Big Takeaways and New Questions," at the American Hospital Association Health Care Reform Law blog, June 28, 2012.]

Investors Mixed

The New York Times summarized the impact of the ruling as it may influence investors, observing that, “Hospitals will gain millions of paying customers. Insurers, by contrast, could face crimped profits from restrictive rules. Medical device and pharmaceutical companies will bear new taxes and other higher payouts, but they were already expecting such costs.”

Consequently – at least on the day the ruling came down – the price of shares of hospital stocks raced up, that of health insurers dropped, and some medical device and pharmaceutical stocks experienced slight declines.

Looking forward, the ruling is generally considered a plus for health insurance companies. If the individual mandate had been over-ruled, they would have been expected to uphold the law’s provision that they must insure people with pre-existing conditions, but would not have the expected revenues from new participants (resulting from the mandate) to help defray those costs. The law basically implies growth for health insurers. And when you consider that many people who do not currently choose to purchase health insurance do so because they are basically healthy (such as young adults), the mandate adds assets to the insurance pool with low risk liability of paying claims by new entrants.

[CLICK HERE to read the article, "In Health Care Ruling, Investors See Mixed Blessing" at The New York Times, June 28, 2012.]

For many, the Supreme Court ruling is good news, but for others it signifies further federal government intervention and spending. Whichever side of the fencepost you stand on, it’s a good idea to prepare for your own financial independence – including a long-term plan to pay for health care expenses – as well as possible. We have ideas and options to help you do this.

If you are unable to access any of the news articles and sources through the links provided in this text, please contact us to request a copy of the desired reference.

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The latest quarterly earnings reports reveal that corporate profits rose for the 10th consecutive quarter.¹  But as a recent article at Harvard Business Review points out, a lot of the net profit in recent years has come from reduced operating costs. According to the article, “CEOs can’t rely on cost-cutting to keep their profit momentum going – it’s gone about as far as it can at most companies.”

The author proposes ways companies can jumpstart real organic growth – as opposed to acquisition growth – into their balance sheets. One recommendation is to pursue a targeted strategy instead of throwing money at every new initiative. The result should not just be a greater ROI (return on investment) but ROE – a greater return on effort.

¹[CLICK HERE to read the article, "Getting Back to Growth" at Harvard Business Review, June 22, 2012.]

Hiring

Peter Cappelli, a professor at Wharton, recently published a book on hiring issues titled, Why Good People Can’t Get Jobs: The Skills Gap and What Companies Can Do About It. Cappelli addresses the claims that companies have jobs available but that there’s a severe lack of talent available and America’s universities are rolling out a new generation of unqualified candidates.

Do you remember your first job? Was there much you learned in college that honestly prepared you or contributed to your ongoing success? I remember grads who didn’t know how to work a copy machine (although fixing them seems to be the real skill).

Cappelli slaps down these claims with some aggressive observations. For example, to the claim that companies want experience but say they can’t find qualified people who will accept the salaries offered he responds, “Don’t call it a skills gap – you’re just being cheap.” This explains why older workers can’t get jobs (at their previous salaries) and younger workers (with no experience) can’t get in the door.

He also criticizes the “gutting” of HR departments and lack of human judgment in finding candidates. Due to the ramp-up in resumes received, automation is necessary. However, some savvy applicants have learned to “game” the automation system, getting their resumes pushed up the pike while other, less-savvy but more qualified applicants are weeded out. Cappelli observes, “Is that really who you want to be hiring? People who can game the system? I suppose it tells you something about people, but it doesn’t tell you much about who has the requisite skills.”

He’s got an interesting take on why unemployment numbers aren’t improving, with suggestions to bridge the hiring gap. Cappelli says the first thing companies should do is determine the cost of keeping a job vacancy open while searching for the perfect candidate.

[CLICK HERE to read the article, "Why Good People Can't Get Jobs" at Knowledge@Wharton, June 22, 2012.]

Marketing

In addition to job growth, there are multiple forward-thinking issues America’s companies must face to drive organic growth. In a recent article he penned for the BBC, the CEO of Coca-Cola put forth five “mega trends” that will influence market demand in the future. The list is below; note that most of these trends are already highly prevalent – it’s just that they will become massively prevalent in a few short years.

      1.      Mass urbanization – requiring the modernization of infrastructure and supply delivery logistics

2.      The aging demographic – baby boomers drive mass demand (as usual)

3.      The global middle class – largely comprised of emerging market countries

4.      Consumer domination – social media gives consumers a voice in how we conduct business

5.      Green issues – sustainability will no longer be a nice-to-have, it will be expected/assumed

[CLICK HERE to read the article, "The five consumer mega trends shaping tomorrow's customers," at the BBC, June 21, 2012.]

As we all know from Darwin’s theory of evolution, the strongest will survive. It’s up to our corporations to figure out the best way to meet the demands of consumers and grow organically – while at the same time benefiting our country with domestic jobs and innovation. It’s up to the rest of us to figure out which companies are poised to do that best. Please contact us if you’d like some help with that.

The information and opinions contained herein are provided by third parties and have been obtained from sources believed to be reliable, but accuracy and completeness cannot be guaranteed by our firm. Content is provided for informational purposes only and is not a solicitation to buy or sell the products mentioned. The information is not intended to be used as the sole basis for financial decisions, nor should it be construed as advice designed to meet the particular needs of an individual’s situation.

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They say what goes up must come down, but surely the opposite is true – what goes down eventually goes back up. We were all caught off guard by the severity of our latest economic downturn. Perhaps it would be prudent not to be so caught off guard when the financial world rights itself back up. Perhaps we should plan for this eventuality.

As is often the case, opportunities exist even in troubled areas. For example, the eurozone continues to dominate negative financial headlines these days. However, Europe is a very important market for U.S. multinational corporations – not to mention the rest of the world. This is something we should remember as we plan for a post-apocalypse portfolio.

According to a report published by the Center for Transatlantic Relations, over the last 10 years at least half of U.S. global foreign direct investment has gone to Europe. Even now, the region is still the most profitable in the world for U.S. companies. In 2011, U.S. affiliate income reached $213 billion – twice the earnings in Asia and South America combined.

[CLICK HERE to read the report, "The Case for Investing in Europe" at the Center for Transatlantic Relations, 2012.]

Bear in mind, too, that the performance of many large European companies is more tied to global growth than to EU economies. As is noted in an upcoming article in Kiplinger’s Personal Finance magazine, where a company is based isn’t necessarily the same as where it sells or produces its products.

[CLICK HERE to read the article, "The Case for Investing in Europe" at Kiplinger's Personal Finance magazine, August 2012.]

In this year’s World Economic Forum report, European-based companies represented 25% of global Research & Development spending – more than China (13%) and Japan (11%) combined. Even now, seven of the top 10 most competitive countries in the world are located in Europe and, as a beacon for the future, Europe has the most science and engineering college graduates.

[CLICK HERE to read "The Global Competitiveness Report, 2011-2012" from the World Economic Forum, 2011.]

So sure, Europe may be down but it is by no means out. As for the U.S., there are plenty of signs that indicate we’re in the last innings of this downtrodden game. But just as America’s favorite pastime (baseball) returns season after season, we’ll be back. Europe will be back. And it’s time to think about the future.

What would (or should I say “will”) you do when prosperity returns? Take a long-awaited, long-planned expensive vacation? Buy a second home? Invest more aggressively? Stay within your current budget and stash away all extra money for retirement? Convert a portion of your portfolio to an annuity contract that says it will guarantee* your income in the future?

Give us a call. We can help you make a plan that best suits your goals – both short and long term.

*Life insurance and annuity product guarantees rely on the financial strength and claims-paying ability of the issuing insurer.

If you are unable to access any of the news articles and sources through the links provided in this text, please contact us to request a copy of the desired reference.

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It used to be (just a few years ago) that if you worked for a company that offered a pension, you were one of the lucky ones. That retirement income was reasonably secure compared to workers contributing to a 401(k) or other defined contribution (DC) plan.

Not so much anymore though. First of all, government and corporate assets managed for pension payouts have underperformed in recent years due to rising costs, increased beneficiaries and economic instability, putting these plans at risk. In May, the funded status of the typical U.S. corporate pension plan fell by 6.5 to 69.8 percent, the lowest level since 2007.¹

For state government pension plans, shortfalls mean that other funded services such as education will be shortchanged to shore up pension fund deficits and costs moving forward. Both corporate and government plan sponsors are looking at changing retirement plan structure for new hires in the future, including eligibility requirements and/or transitioning to a defined contribution plan.

¹ [CLICK HERE to read the article, "Funded Status of U.S. Pensions Declines to Lowest Recorded Level, According to BNY Mellon," at Bizjournals.com, June 7 2012.]

So on one hand, pension assets at their scheduled level of payouts are at risk. On the other, pension sponsors are changing the structure of plans to offset these risks. For example, some plans are offering new retirees the choice between annuity benefits paid out every month for life or a lump sum of the projected value of the lifetime pension payouts. A lump sum means you’ll need to manage your own income for the rest of your life, and there are tax issues to consider. You could come out ahead if you select financial vehicles wisely and interest rates/market performance goes your way. Or, you could run short of money before you run out of retirement.

[CLICK HERE to read the article, "Deciding Between a Lump Sum and an Annuity," at The Pension Rights Center, June 5 2012.]

If you choose a one-time payout, you should get up to speed on fixed index annuity (sometimes called “hybrid” contracts that combine regular payouts with the guarantee of lifetime retirement income, called guaranteed* lifetime withdrawal benefits (GLWB).

[CLICK HERE to read the article, "Retirement income review: GLWB / GMWB," at cbsnews.com, May 24, 2012.]

There is increasing recognition and concern that DC plans will not be able to provide the same level of benefits as a defined benefit (DB) plan. Therefore many of today’s employers are beefing up their DC plan options to help their employees better secure retirement income. According to a recent survey of more than 500 large employers, 16 percent now offer a retirement income tool such as a GLWB within their 401(k) plan, with another 22 percent likely to adopt one in 2012.

[CLICK HERE to read the article, "401(k) Income Options Coming Your Way," at cbsnews.com, May 15, 2012.]

It certainly feels like the economy and the burgeoning senior population has taken a toll on nearly every component of retirement that, in the past, was rendered strong and dependable. Things like pensions, Social Security benefits and home equity. Now everything is on shaky ground and it’s like trying to tiptoe by an erupting volcano to get to the other side – retirement “paradise.”

If you’re tired of wondering if the government and/or your employer are going to be able to hold up their end of the bargain and would like to secure some retirement income funds of your very own, please give us a call. We can help you with that.

*Insurance and annuity product guarantees rely on the financial strength and claims-paying ability of the issuing insurer.

If you are unable to access any of the news articles and sources through the links provided in this text, please contact us to request a copy of the desired reference.[RC1] 

The information and opinions contained herein are provided by third parties and have been obtained from sources believed to be reliable, but accuracy and completeness cannot be guaranteed by our firm. Content is provided for informational purposes only and is not a solicitation to buy or sell the products mentioned. The information is not intended to be used as the sole basis for financial decisions, nor should it be construed as advice designed to meet the particular needs of an individual’s situation.

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This line was recently floated across social media sites: “Greece is collapsing, Iran is getting more aggressive, and Rome is in disarray. Welcome to 450BC!”

Indeed, the similarities are interesting to note. And with the 2012 Olympic Games in London on deck alongside news of Greek austerity rebellion, it’s easy to recall the days of toga robes and laurel leaf crowns, speeches and betrayals.

The Greek government is expected to run out of cash next month if it doesn’t receive more bailout funds. However, the country is revolting over requisite austerity measures in return for the money, so now the biggest question is whether Greece will exit the Euro. But that’s not the worst of it. In addition to the threat of economic collapse and ongoing political instability, there is a break down in infrastructure that may fail to meet basic human needs—such as providing electricity and preventing the spread of infectious diseases. These conditions are bound to continue if not worsen civil unrest within the country.

[CLICK HERE to read the article, “Greece’s debt woes mutate into energy crisis” at Reuters, June 1, 2012.]

[CLICK HERE to read the article, “Greece on the breadline: HIV and malaria make a comeback,” at The Guardian, March 15 2012.]

Europe on the Brink

Unfortunately, Greece is just part of the problem. Other European countries such as Italy and Spain are not far behind. The number of Spanish companies filing for bankruptcy climbed by 21.5 percent in the first quarter. In Barcelona, the government failed to sell 26 buildings because a bidder wanted a clause that required rents to be paid in dollars should the euro break-up.¹

In its twice-yearly global economic outlook, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) recently cautioned that the 17-country Eurozone risked falling into a severe recession. The organization—which monitors economic trends for the world’s most developed economies—warned that the Eurozone economy could shrink anywhere from 0.1 to 2 percent this year and predicts a mere 0.9 percent growth rate in 2013.

[CLICK HERE to read the article, “The pain in Spain that threatens the Eurozone” at cnn.com, May 31, 2012.]

¹ [CLICK HERE to read the article, “Europe in limbo: Home and dry” at Economist.com, May 26, 2012.]

² [CLICK HERE to read the article, “Eurozone warned ‘severe recession’ looming,” from Associated Press, May 22, 2012.]

In contrast to the Euro blues, the OECD projects the United States to grow 2.4 percent this year and 2.6 percent in 2013. Japan is projected to grow 2 percent in 2012 but just 1.5 percent next year. China is expected to jump from 8.2 percent in 2012 to 9.3 percent in 2013.²

It just goes to show you that there is still credibility in global diversification: Where one area of the world falters, others are on the rise. If you’d like assistance to help you evaluate your financial situation  for areas of relative strength, please contact us for a mid-year analysis.

If you are unable to access any of the news articles and sources through the links provided in this text, please contact us to request a copy of the desired reference.

The information and opinions contained herein are provided by third parties and have been obtained from sources believed to be reliable, but accuracy and completeness cannot be guaranteed by our firm. Content is provided for informational purposes only and is not a solicitation to buy or sell the products mentioned. The information is not intended to be used as the sole basis for financial decisions, nor should it be construed as advice designed to meet the particular needs of an individual’s situation.

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