A nice reference guide that covers 2010 contribution limits for 401(k)s, 529 college savings plans and other qualified plans, required minimum distribution information and retirement plan rollover rules.
Source: iShares
New Client Articles Available
We have added five new Client Articles here.
- Stretching and IRA
- Roth IRA vs. Defined Contribution Plans
- IRA Dos and Don’ts
- Find the Right IRA in Three Easy Steps
- The Best Investments for Your IRA
Email info@kaizenwm.com or contact us for a PDF version of any of the above articles.
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Foreign Intrigue
U.S. Stocks with Heavy Foreign Exposure: Company Listed followed by its % of Sales Outside North America
- Colgate-Palmolive 81
- Avon Products 77
- Coca-Cola 74
- Autodesk 72
- Aflac 72
- Merck & Co. 70
- Waters 70
- Caterpillar 66
- Nike 66
- 3M 64
- Pfizer 58
- Proctor & Gamble 57
You may be surprised by how big your foreign exposure is, or how small your domestic exposure is, when looking at your portfolio of individual securities, or what securities your mutual funds may hold.
Ibbotson Quarterly Market and Investment Strategy Commentary
Ibbotson’s Quarterly Market and Investment Strategy Commentary is now available for our clients. For a PDF of this report, please email us at info@kaizenwm.com.
2009 Net Fund Flows
Despite and impressive run in equities, $375 billion moved into bond funds, and $9 billion exited equity funds. Our concern is that investor behavior is once again the culprit and this inflow/outflow occurred after the equity pullback early in 2009 – causing this.
Chart: J.P.Morgan Asset Management
Market Commentary Q409
Despite the wild ride, investors should toast the markets in 2009
Investors received welcome relief from the markets rally. Many areas of the market that fared poorly in 2008 bounced back in 2009. U.S. equities turned in two of their biggest quarterly returns in over a decade, while corporate bonds had one of their best years ever. As investors moved up the risk curve, Treasuries suffered one of their worst years in the past two decades. Also, sovereign creditworthiness remains in the spotlight, as Dubai struggles and Greece received a credit downgrade. Commodity markets rebounded as well, as investors bet on an economic recovery.
email us at info@kaizenwm.com for a complete PDF copy.
Global Consumption Share – % of global consumer spending
The last few weeks of less than flattering economic data are a reminder that the economy has a long way to go in this recovery.
A great deal of focus has been placed on the U.S. consumer, which amounts to roughly 70% of GDP over the last 50 years, and approximately 48% of the first year past recoveries. But now more than ever, the U.S. consumer is shouldering less of a burden.
Emerging markets share of global consumption has eclipsed that of the U.S. consumer.
Source: J.P.Morgan Asset Management