Welcome to the New Year of 2011 and a new decade (depending on how you choose to measure it).  I certainly hope this new decade will prove to be far friendlier; at least as far as the investment markets are concerned.  However, this hasn’t been the case with the weather lately.  Even though many of us have been complaining about it in recent weeks, those of us who reside in Florida are definitely more comfortable than many other areas of the country and we should probably be thankful.

As we all know, there are still many problems in our economy as well as most of the rest of the countries around the world.  The economic data has been improving for the past few months and, generally, the majority of advisors anticipate the stock and bond markets of all the major countries will continue on an uptrend for the next few months.  A number of the technical research firms we work with have estimated our stock market will continue on a strong growth path through the end of summer and then the next “Bear Market” may begin.  That’s a scary thought after all we have been through over the past ten years!  Will that actually happen?  No one actually knows.  What we do know, for sure, is that it will happen sometime in the near future.

Historically, according to “Ned Davis Research” (NDR), bull markets only last an average of 2 to 3 years and by mid-summer, we will be well into the third year of this current one.  NDR data says there is only about a 6% probability that it will last beyond mid-summer.  The good news about all of this is that our “Active Allocation Management” provides the capability for adjusting the assets in your portfolio to reduce the downside risk and increase the potential for profits, even during a period of market decline.  Our track record demonstrates the greatly improved results available through these methods.  Of course, past performance is no guarantee of future results.

On a different note, I wanted to give you an update on some of the other services we provide in addition to investment management.  During recent discussions with a number of our clients, it has become apparent that, in general, people have become more concerned with their ability to maintain a comfortable retirement and are apprehensive about the possible impact of a long-term care situation on their resources.  Over the past few months, I have invested considerable effort in improving our ability to assist you evaluating and finding appropriate solutions for these challenges.  If you, too, share these concerns or would like to talk with me about anything, please don’t hesitate to pick up the phone and give me a call.  I am also happy to talk with your friends and family about any financial issues with which they may be struggling.  Tell them to give me a call or let me know and I will contact them.

I would like to, again, Thank You for your trust in us.  As I have told you before, it gives me great pleasure to know we are helping you have a better life experience from the services we provide to you.