Don’s Title Designation Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

DATE: 12/5/2013
CONTACT: Katie Dalton 
(406) 756-3787

 Kalispell - The College for Financial Planning®, is pleased to announce that Don Rich, of Kalispell, Montana, has successfully completed the Master Planner Advanced StudiesSM professional designation program. The MPASSM is the most advanced professional designation available from the College for Financial Planning.

The MPASSM curriculum, provided through the College for Financial Planning, Inc., attracts professionals who want to challenge themselves and achieve advanced skills that go above and beyond traditional financial credentials. The MPASSM is available exclusively to graduates of the College’s Master of Science Degree Programs in Personal Financial Planning and Financial Analysis. The coursework needed to become an MPASSM designee includes advanced research and study in the areas of financial planning, investment planning, portfolio management, quantitative analysis, income-tax planning, retirement planning, and estate planning.

When choosing an advisor, look to professionals who have earned the most advanced credential in the financial services industry, the MPASSM designation.

 

Securities offered through LPL Financial
Member FINRA/SIPC
© 2013, College for Financial Planning, all rights reserved. 9000 E. Nichols Ave Suite 200, Centennial, CO 80112

The Investor’s Almanac – Portfolios Over Policy

A farming almanac is an annual publication containing a guide for the coming year and a forecast of the times and statistics of events and phenomena important to growing. Farmers' almanacs have been a source of wisdom, rooted in the core values of independence and simple living, for American growers for over 200 years. To help you plan for what lies ahead, we are pleased to bring you our Outlook 2014: The Investor’s Almanac. We hope our almanac will prove to be a trusted guide to the coming year filled with a wealth of wisdom for investors.

In the coming year, there are many reasons investors can return to the basics of growing and preserving their portfolios and spend less time gauging the actions of policymakers, including:

• After two “clean” lifts to the debt ceiling since 2011, which ensured any risk of default on Treasury obligations was avoided, we are unlikely to see concessions in exchange for a third increase in 2014—making a high stakes fiscal battle unlikely.
• The Fed is likely to begin to taper its bond-purchase program, known as quantitative easing (QE), early in 2014, signaling a commitment to reducing its presence in the markets and transitioning to a post-QE environment.
•  Europe is emerging from recession, which means less need for direct life support from the European Central Bank or painfully austere fiscal policy as deficit targets are eased.

The economy and markets becoming more independent of policymakers while growth accelerates is likely to bolster investor confidence in the reliability and sustainability of the investing environment.

Key components of LPL Financial Research’s 2014 outlook are:

• Stronger U.S. economic growth may accelerate to about 3% in 2014 after three years of steady, but sluggish, 2% growth. Our above-consensus annual forecast is based upon many of the drags of 2013 fading, including U.S. tax increases and spending cuts and the European recession, and growth accelerating from additional hiring and capital spending by businesses.

• Stock market total returns could likely be in the low double digits (10-15%). This gain is derived from earnings per share for S&P 500 companies growing 5-10% and a rise in the price-to-earnings ratio (PE) of about half a point from 16 to 16.5. The PE gain is due to increased confidence in improved growth allowing the ratio to slowly move toward the higher levels that marked the end of every bull market since WWII.
• Bond market total returns could likely be flat as yields rise with the 10-year Treasury yield ending the year at 3.25-3.75%. Our view for yields to rise beyond what the futures market has priced in warns of the risk in longer maturity bonds and our preference for shorter-term and credit-oriented sectors of the bond market. Our expectation for a 1% acceleration in U.S. GDP over the pace of 2013 suggests a similar move for the bond market.

In 2014, there may be more all-time highs seen in the stock market and higher yields in the bond market than we have seen in years as economic growth accelerates. The primary risk to our outlook is that better growth in the economy and profits does not develop.  That risk is likely to be much more significant than the distractions posed by Fed tapering and mid-term elections. In our almanac, we forecast a healthy investment environment in which to cultivate a growing portfolio in 2014.

View the complete Outlook 2014: The Investor’s Almanac in the Feature Tool & Tip section of our website at www.cornerstone-wealth.com.

This was prepared by LPL Financial.

Economic forecasts set forth may not develop as predicted and there can be no guarantee that strategies promoted will be successful.

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Tara Receives Degree!



Tara Gregoire Receives Degree

From the AdminU Program at LPL Financial

 

 

Cornerstone Wealth Management Partners, PC in Kalispell, Montana would like to announce that Tara Gregoire, Associate Business Development Specialist, has received the Bachelor’s degree from AdminU. Curriculum for this intensive continuing education program emphasizes client service, office efficiency and the use of advanced technology, all of which will enhance the value of Tara Gregoire to the Cornerstone Wealth Management Partners team and the clients we serve.

“We congratulate Tara Gregoire for achieving this recognition and for her dedication to continuing education,” said Derek Bruton, Managing Director and National Sales Manager for LPL Financial, the nation’s largest independent broker/dealer* and the business that developed and administers the AdminU program. “AdminU helps firms like Cornerstone Wealth Management Partners, PC elevate its operational efficiency and enhance its client service by providing team members with in-depth education and training to advance their professional knowledge and skills.”

Don Rich, the advisor of Cornerstone Wealth Management Partners, PC is affiliated with LPL Financial and provides access to independent financial planning services, investment advice and asset management services to clients across the country.

 About LPL Financial

LPL Financial, a wholly owned subsidiary of LPL Investment Holdings Inc., is an independent broker-dealer. LPL Financial and its affiliates offer proprietary technology, comprehensive clearing and compliance services, practice management programs and training, and independent research to more than 13,000 financial advisors and approximately 685 financial institutions. Additionally, LPL Financial supports more than 4,000 financial advisors who are affiliated and licensed with insurance companies with customized clearing, advisory platforms and technology solutions. LPL Financial and its affiliates have approximately 2,900 employees with employees and offices in Boston, Charlotte and San Diego. For more information, please visit www.lpl.com.

 

Securities and Advisory services offered through LPL Financial. A registered investment advisor. Member FINRA/SIPC.

Investment products and services available only to residents of: AK, AZ, CA, CO, ID, MT, NJ, NM, OK, OR, SC, TX, UT, WA.
Fee-based investment advisory services available only to residents of: AK, AZ, CA, CO, ID, MT, NJ, NM, OK, OR, SC, TX, UT, WA.
We are licensed to sell insurance products in the following states of: AK, AZ, CA, CO, ID, MT, NJ, NM, OK, OR, SC, TX, UT, WA.

 *As reported by Financial Planning magazine, June 1996–2012, based on total revenue.

* Tracking #1-024474

Start Your New Year with a Financial Review!

As you plan for the year ahead, is an investment checkup leading your list of resolutions?

Taking time for a detailed financial review -- including retirement planning, college savings, and your tax situation -- may help you progress toward your long-term goals. Consider the following items as part of your checkup:

Capitalize on tax reductions. If you plan to adjust your investment allocations, make sure you understand the tax consequences of your actions. Taxes on both long-term capital gains -- profits earned on investments held for more than one year -- and equity dividends are generally lower than rates on ordinary income (15% for many taxpayers, 20% for those in the highest tax bracket). Because of these tax reductions, you may now have greater incentive to hold your mutual funds for the long term and include equity funds that pay dividends within your portfolio.

School yourself in education incentives. Consider opening a 529 college savings plan account if education is part of your family's future. Contributions to a 529 plan compound tax-deferred, and withdrawals are tax free¹ when the money is used for qualified higher-education expenses.

Remember three important letters -- IRA. You can boost your retirement planning efforts by making the maximum annual contribution of up to $5,500 to either a traditional or Roth IRA. Investors aged 50 and older get an added bonus: A $1,000 "catch up" contribution that can be made in addition to the annual maximum for a total investment of $6,500. Your money compounds tax-deferred until you begin withdrawals.

At that point, earnings withdrawn from a traditional IRA may be taxable, while those withdrawn from a Roth IRA may be tax free, subject to certain restrictions.²

There are other factors to consider -- such as your investment mix -- as you evaluate your progress toward your long-term goals. But this list can help you get started as you chart your financial course for the year ahead.


¹Withdrawals used for expenses other than qualified education expenses may be subject to a 10% additional tax on earnings, as well as federal and state income taxes. Prior to investing in a 529 plan investors should consider whether the investor's or designated beneficiary's home state offers any state tax or other benefits that are only available for investments in such state's qualified tuition program. Tax treatment at the state level may vary. Please consult with your tax advisor before investing.

²Withdrawals before age 59½ may be subject to ordinary income taxes and 10% additional tax.

Because of the possibility of human or mechanical error by S&P Capital IQ Financial Communications or its sources, neither S&P Capital IQ Financial Communications nor its sources guarantees the accuracy, adequacy, completeness or availability of any information and is not responsible for any errors or omissions or for the results obtained from the use of such information. In no event shall S&P Capital IQ Financial Communications be liable for any indirect, special or consequential damages in connection with subscriber's or others' use of the content.

The opinions voiced in this material are for general information only and are not intended to provide specific advice or recommendations for any individual. To determine which investment(s) may be appropriate for you, consult your financial advisor prior to investing.

© 2013 S&P Capital IQ Financial Communications. All rights reserved.

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