THE GARTENHAUS REPORT, Volume 1005

WHEN TRAGEDY STRIKES

We are all susceptible to unforeseen events, but perhaps the most difficult of all is the loss of a spouse or significant other. In my experience as a financial advisor, I have observed that there is typically one person in every relationship who is more actively engaged in the financial management and decision making process than the other. Sometimes the less involved person has little or no grasp of the household’s financial position. So what happens if the more involved person passes away and leaves the financial responsibilities to someone who has little or no experience? Stress, mistakes and confusion reign.

Now we can help address this problem for our clients. As you may know, we have established a personal website for every client of our practice. One feature of your site is called the vault. The vault is a great way to save vital information and documents in one location where the spouse or beneficiary left with the task of winding up an estate and moving forward with life can easily access this information. You can put passwords, wills, trust documents, deeds, birth certificates, tax returns, financial accounts, the names and phone numbers for other advisors like your CPA and estate attorney and the list goes on and on.

Your personal website has been provided to you as part of our service free of charge. The system employs the most advanced security features and protocols to keep your data safe, private and secure: comprehensive security protection, secure socket layer encryption, firewall, intrusion protection, audits, inspections and more. You can be confident that your important information is safe and secure.

Please allow us to help you and your family. It is entirely up to you whether to share this information with us, or not. Nonetheless, we would be happy to assist you in compiling your vital information and placing it in the vault for future access. Just let us know!

5 BUCKET LIST VACATIONSMADE MORE AFFORDABLE!

Bucket list vacations are once-in-a-lifetime experiences, but they can also cost buckets of money. Here are 5 fabulous trips that won’t break the bank.


The Pyramids: No, I’m not talking about pyramids of the Egyptian kind, but those found on the Yucatan peninsula in Mexico which are equally inspiring pyramids from the mysterious Mayan civilization.  Rent a bungalow on the beaches of Tulum and tour the ruins. Then venture west to the famed El Castillo of Chichén Itzá or south to lesser-known Cobá, which is hidden within a seemingly impenetrable jungle. It feels like discovering something no one has seen.

Paris: With the Euro having lost about 1/3 of its value, a trip to Paris and all it offers is even more compelling today. But the little-known secret about this world capital is that there are plenty of affordable, lovely accommodation options. Skip a night at the famed George V and go for a smaller, family-run hotel de charme. If you're aching for some palatial digs, spend the last three or four days in the Loire Valley (a 35-minute trip by high-speed TGV train to Tours), where you can pass the night in an honest-to-God castle for $150 or even less if you choose one officially deemed a "guesthouse" instead of a "hotel."

Alaska: Most of us long for a cruise up the Inside Passage complete with massive glaciers, bald eagles, wild bears and whales. To do it affordably, avoid the most expensive time of year, from the beginning of June through the middle of August. Though colder, April, May, late August and early September offer the best deals. Also, be sure to pay attention to your departure point: Boarding in a larger port like Seattle is typically cheaper than smaller, less-frequented ports. Another option for the frugal-minded: a trip on a ferry instead of a cruise ship.

The Grand Canyon: A river rafting trip through the gorges of the Colorado River is one of those quintessential American dreams, and it can be within your budget if you shorten the length of your trip. The deluxe trips are usually eight to 11 days. Shortening that to three slashes the price. One way to do this is to join a trip that's already in progress at various mid-route locations, called "take-outs" and "put-ins", where operators who have extra room in their rafts may allow you to hop on board. Another option is to consider going on one of the larger motorboats. Theses boats, which are 30-foot rafts and motor-powered, make for a quicker trip but more affordable.

Africa: Choose your location wisely, and just about anybody can afford the awe-inspiring landscape and wildlife of Africa. Consider visiting South Africa because Cape Town, as the largest commercial city in Africa, often has the lowest fares. Not to mention that Kruger National Park has entry fees for less than $15 as well as camping and tour options for every budget. If you have an adventurous spirit, you can even rent a four-wheel-drive vehicle and drive yourself.

I hope at least one of the above trips tickle your fancy. The only requirement is that if you go, we want to see pictures! Bon Voyage!    
Source: thehuffingtonpost.com

WILL IT, OR WON’T IT?

It’s been a frustrating year thus far for stock market investors. The S&P 500 index* has been vacillating back and forth between neutral and as you can see in the chart below, it has been stuck in a narrow trading range since the beginning of the year.

Investors are waiting impatiently for a resolution of this trading pattern. Will it decisively break out and up making new highs as we embark on the second half of the year? Or will it break downward, signaling trouble ahead? Either way, we know that the future direction of the stock market will ultimately be revealed.

Stocks had an excuse to break down given the throes of the Greek debt crisis, an imminent rate rise by the Fed, or the Chinese stock market mini crash. But it didn’t.

Cheap energy, decent corporate earnings, a low unemployment rate and historically low interest rates all hold the potential to move the needle upward. But they haven’t.

So we wait for a catalyst to move the market. Now if I only could get that crystal ball working……

*The S&P 500 Index focuses on the large-cap sector of the market; however, since it includes a significant portion of the total value of the market, it also represents the market. Companies in the S&P 500 are considered leading companies in leading industries. You cannot directly invest in the index.

A NEW SERVICE FOR YOUR 401(K)

Gartenhaus Financial is proud to offer a new service: active monitoring and consultation for your 401(k)/TSP accounts.  Historically, technology has prevented us from monitoring those accounts on a daily basis. However, using your Personal Website, we can now review those accounts in real time for a quarter point (.25%) per quarter or less.*    

Always considering your own individual ability to tolerate risk, we can help navigate the smooth and choppy waters of the market after a six year run-up in stocks. Second, we want your 401k to participate in the market in a manner consistent with your risk tolerance. Third, we will provide re-balance recommendations for your accounts quarterly. Re-balancing is the process of bringing recommended allocations back in line with your original percentages. So this will reduce the allocation to the stronger performers and add more money to some of the under-performing investments.

In the past, we tried to manually oversee this activity; however, we act in a fiduciary capacity when we provide consulting services and believe the best way to be a fiduciary is to actively monitor and review your accounts on an ongoing basis. Thus, we will no longer be able to provide complimentary retirement plan account reviews or one time recommendations for new plans.

We will be in touch on how Team Gartenhaus can help manage your 401(k)/TSP account.  Please feel free to contact Howard or HP with ANY questions.

* Management fees are based upon our current fee schedule breakpoint tiers. Dollars managed in 401k accounts will be aggregated with your other accounts and this may result in your achieving a breakpoint and paying a lower fee percentage overall.  

The opinions and forecasts expressed in this commentary are those of the author and may not necessarily reflect those held by NFP Advisor Services, LLC. The material is for informational purposes only. It represents an assessment of the market environment at a specific point in time and is not intended to be a guarantee of future results. It is not guaranteed by NFP Advisor Services, LLC for accuracy does not purport to be complete and is not intended to be used as a primary basis for investment decisions. It should also not be construed as advice meeting the particular investment needs of any investor. Neither the information presented nor any opinion expressed constitutes a solicitation for the purchase or sale of any security. The indices mentioned are unmanaged and cannot be directly invested into. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. NFP Advisor Services, LLC does not offer tax or legal advice. Securities and Investment Advisory Services offered through NFP Advisor Services, LLC, member FINRA/SIPC.  NFP Advisor Services, LLC is not affiliated with Gartenhaus Financial.