- Created on 30 April 2013
Riding the Market Roller Coaster
The stock market's drop in April, after the Dow Jones Industrial Average closed in March at its first new high since the Great Panic of 2008, has prompted a lot of conflicting predictions from analysts.
Some say it marks the end of an impressive bull market, while others say it's just the beginning of a much larger rally. These predictions may or may not turn out to be correct -- and they leave the investor confused.
However, as with the downturn four years ago, there are smart financial moves everyone can make to potentially take advantage when and if the market rebounds.
Rebalance -- Rebalancing is the process of correcting an asset allocation that has become over-weighted or under-weighted due to a
market fluctuation. In layman's terms, it is the process of bringing all your investments back into a predefined mix of equities and fixed
income assets.
Donate Appreciated Securities – Anyone charitable minded may have a perfect opportunity to meet donation goals and double their tax savings using appreciated securities during a market high. Provided you have owned the security for at least a year, you can donate the asset and use the current market value as a deduction on your taxes.
Exercise Stock Options -- Stock compensation is an important tool of corporations today in attracting and retaining key employees. Many executives find a significant portion of their compensation being paid in the form of stock options. A market high may be an excellent time to exercise some of your vested stock options if your company stock participated in the market rally.
Net Unrealized Appreciation (NUA) strategy -- Withdraw company stock from your 401(k) and, instead of rolling it into an IRA, transfer it to a taxable brokerage account. There are strict rules to follow so consult a financial adviser who is experienced with this transaction before
proceeding.
Stop Timing the Market – The Great Panic in 2008 and 2009 scared many investors out of stocks entirely. The past four years may have been a missed opportunity as these investors waited on the sidelines for the right time to get back in. You will never know when the stock market is going to go down or when it will recover. The good news is you don't have to know.
Devise a solid financial plan using an asset-allocation strategy that divides your money between a diversified equity portfolio and fixed income.
Rebalance your portfolio periodically to take advantage of stock market volatility. The famous investor Peter Lynch said, "Far more money has been lost by investors preparing for corrections, or trying to anticipate corrections, than has been lost in corrections themselves."
- Created on 30 April 2013
Sun Life Financial to Award $110,000 to Non-Profits
The U.S. Business Group of Sun Life Financial Inc. has announced it is accepting Sun Life Rising Star Award grant applications from nonprofit organizations in the greater Atlanta area that advocate for youth from under-served communities. Applications are available at sunliferisingstar.com. The deadline for submissions is June 7. Sun Life will award two winning organizations with a $50,000 grant, who will each nominate an exemplary student to receive a $5,000 Sun Life Rising Star scholarship towards financing a college education.
To be considered for a Sun Life Rising Star Award grant, organizations must have 501(c) (3) tax-exempt status, promote skills that directly translate to educational success in high school to students under the age of 21 and be aligned with a secondary or post-secondary educational institution. In each city, a judging panel comprised of the foremost government officials, community, education and business leaders will evaluate the applications and student nominations.
Student nominees must be high school seniors actively involved in an organization that shares the Sun Life Rising Star Awards' mission; they must also plan to pursue post-secondary education, exhibit leadership qualities, and demonstrate a strong commitment to their communities.
- Created on 29 April 2013
Adrienne Lofton Shaw is Chief Marketing Officer for Dockers
The Dockers brand has announced that Adrienne Lofton Shaw has joined the company as vice president and chief marketing officer. In this role, she will be responsible for creating and leading the Dockers brand strategy and overseeing Dockers global marketing
efforts.
Lofton Shaw brings extensive global marketing experience across a variety of industries. Most recently, she was the senior marketing director at Under Armour Inc., responsible for the global brand strategy for men's, women's and youth products, as well as accessories. Lofton Shaw played an integral roll in successfully launching and developing a women's marketing strategy, brand positioning and voice.
Prior to working at Under Armour Inc., Lofton Shaw held marketing positions at Target Corporation, General Motors Planworks/Starcom MediaVest and Gap Inc.
- Created on 29 April 2013
Time Unveils List of 100 Most Influential People in the World
TIME magazine has unveiled the 10th annual TIME 100, which lists the 100 most influential people in the world. African-Americans who made the list this year include Beyoncé; California Attorney General Kamala Harris, LeBron James, Obama Senior Advisor Valerie Jarrett, musician Miguel, President Barack and Michelle Obama, singer Frank Ocean, writer/producer Shonda Rhimes and Jay Z.
For each of the 100 entries, TIME recruited a different celebrity writer. New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, wrote the one for Jay-Z, "The Great Gatsby" director Baz Luhrmann penned his love for Beyoncé (she contributed to the film's soundtrack), and John Legend did the one for Frank Ocean. Michele Obama was written by Maya Angelou and Shonda Rhimes was written by Oprah Winfrey.
Michelle Obama by Maya Angelou: "The philosophers tell us that power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely. Mrs. Obama is as if it doesn't touch her. She hasn't tried to become anybody else's idea of the First Lady.... That she would dare to wear clothes off the rack. Or go out and garden. Or have a grandmother in the White House. She knows how to be a public creature without being separate from her family."
Jay-Z by New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg: [Jay-Z's] an artist-entrepreneur who stands at the center of culture and commerce in 21st century America, and his influence stretches across races, religions and regions. He's never forgotten his roots — "Empire State of Mind" was a love song to our city — and as a co-owner of the NBA Nets, he helped bring a major league sports team back to Brooklyn, not far from his old neighborhood. In nearly everything he's tried, he's found success. (He even put a ring on Beyoncé.) And in doing so, he's proved that the American Dream is alive and well.
Miguel by critic Douglas Wolk: The survival of the Black pop tradition isn't just a matter of preserving its history — although Miguel does that too: the soul seducer's Grammy-winning hit single "Adorn" ingeniously evokes Marvin Gaye's "Sexual Healing" and "Let's Get It On." What has nourished that tradition over the past 70 years, though — what has kept it not just alive but thriving — is what makes Miguel's recent music so special: constant innovation, formal daring, unexpected sources of inspiration, and emotional directness.
Beyoncé by director Baz Luhrmann: She and Jay Z are the royal couple of culture, and she is the queen bee. She's gone beyond being a popular singer, even beyond being a pop-cultural icon. When Beyoncé does an album, when Beyoncé sings a song, when Beyoncé does anything, it's an event, and it's broadly influential. Right now, she is the heir-apparent diva of the USA — the reigning national voice.
For the first time, the issue features seven separate covers, each featuring a member of the TIME 100. Jennifer Lawrence, Elon Musk, Rand Paul, Malala Yousafzai and Jay Z each appear solo on the five domestic split covers.
- Created on 27 April 2013
Atlanta Chosen As New Location For Wells Fargo Expansion
Wells Fargo Insurance has announced the expansion of the company’s international specialty group and Atlanta has been chosen, among two other cities, to help serve the needs of U.S. multi-national firms.
The other cities are San Francisco and New York.
According to a report at ClaimsJournal.com, the International Specialty Group will lead the design, placement and implementation of compliant risk and benefit programs for businesses operating globally. In addition, the ISG will manage Wells Fargo Insurance’s existing global network of in-country brokers from more than 130 countries, including the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Asia Pacific.
