The markets declined, however…

PEEK OF THE WEEK

December 18, 2018

Leif Hagen & Donna Roberts

The Markets

Ouch!

It never feels good when the stock market heads south, and that’s what happened last week. The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index (S&P 500), Dow Jones Industrial Average, and Nasdaq Composite all moved into correction territory, which means the indices have fallen 10 percent or more from their previous peaks.

If you look at corporate earnings, the decline in U.S. stock values may seem a bit of a head scratcher. During the third quarter of 2018, almost four-fifths (78 percent) of companies in the S&P 500 were more profitable than analysts expected, according to FactSet Insight. Earnings grew by 25.9 percent – the fastest growth rate since 2010.

When you remember the stock market is a leading indicator, the mystery is resolved. Share prices reflect what investors expect will happen in the future, and third quarter earnings are in the past.

So, what moved the market last week? Investors’ concerns included slowing global economic growth. Dave Shellock of Financial Times reported:

“World equities closed out the week on a soft note as disappointing economic reports out of China and the eurozone heightened concern over the outlook for global growth…the big focus was on China, where activity and spending data confirmed that the country’s economy had a dismal November.”

Monetary policy and geopolitical issues, including the possibility of a U.S. government shutdown and ongoing Brexit follies, contributed to investor pessimism. The American Association of Individual Investors Sentiment Survey showed a 17-point decline in bullish sentiment and an 18.4-point increase in bearish sentiment.

When stock markets leave you feeling like Santa dropped coal in your stocking, it may be helpful to remember the words of Warren Buffett, “Be fearful when others are greedy and greedy when others are fearful.”

Data as of 12/14/18	1-Week	Y-T-D	1-Year	3-Year	5-Year	10-Year
Standard & Poor's 500 (Domestic Stocks)	-1.3%	-2.8%	-2.0%	8.7%	7.8%	11.6%
Dow Jones Global ex-U.S.	-1.0	-15.1	-13.0	3.6	-0.3	4.7
10-year Treasury Note (Yield Only)	2.9	NA	2.4	2.2	2.9	2.5
Gold (per ounce)	-0.6	-4.7	-1.3	5.0	0.0	4.6
Bloomberg Commodity Index	-2.7	-7.8	-3.1	1.4	-8.5	-3.2
DJ Equity All REIT Total Return Index	-1.8	2.5	2.1	7.9	10.2	14.8

S&P 500, Dow Jones Global ex-US, Gold, Bloomberg Commodity Index returns exclude reinvested dividends (gold does not pay a dividend) and the three-, five-, and 10-year returns are annualized; the DJ Equity All REIT Total Return Index does include reinvested dividends and the three-, five-, and 10-year returns are annualized; and the 10-year Treasury Note is simply the yield at the close of the day on each of the historical time periods.

Sources: Yahoo! Finance, Barron’s, djindexes.com, London Bullion Market Association.

Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Indices are unmanaged and cannot be invested into directly. N/A means not applicable.

when the holidays are just too much. Around the holidays, it’s easy to become stressed and overwhelmed. Psychology Today offered some suggestions that may help you stay merry and bright, no matter what the season brings.

1.      Don’t lose sight of what makes you happy. It’s easy to become obsessed with everything being perfect. If you find yourself snapping because the shopper next to you got the last one, the holiday light display is sagging, or the table isn’t set just right, take a deep breath. True happiness often is found in everyday routines and healthy relationships.

2.      Give thanks for what you have. This seems like a natural corollary to point number one. Instead of focusing on what’s not quite right, redirect your thinking. Sure, your great aunt’s stories are inappropriate, and the mashed potato incident wasn’t great, but there are some good moments, too. If you can, find time to write down the things for which you are grateful to have in your life. Then, review it as needed.

3.      Do nice things for other people. Not everyone has a warm coat, much less a warm home and a patience-trying holiday meal. Giving to others can help give meaning to the season. You could donate to a favorite charity, help out at a food pantry or a shelter, or visit elderly neighbors. One of the very best aspects of giving is that it can make us happier.

4.      Embrace experiences. If you want to have a memorable holiday, don’t buy lots of gifts. Give experiences. Happiness research suggests, “…happiness is derived from experiences, not things…when they are shared, experiences allow us to get closer to others in a way impossible with inanimate objects that we can buy,” reported Paul Ratner on BigThink.com.

Weekly Focus – Think About It

“…in Racine, Wisconsin: The Santa at [the mall] knows sign language. He signs with kids who are hearing impaired, so that he can ask them – and they can tell him – what they want for Christmas. Because the warm fuzzy feelings of the holidays don’t just come from getting the right present – they come from feeling like part of a loving, inclusive community.”

--MentalFloss.com 

Best Regards,

 

Leif  M. Hagen

Leif  M. Hagen, CLU, ChFC                                                                        

LP Financial Advisor

Securities offered through LPL Financial Inc., Member FINRA/SIPC.

www.FINRA.com

www.SIPC.com

P.S.  Please feel free to forward this commentary to family, friends, or colleagues.

P.S.S. Also, please remind your friends and family members becoming Medicare eligible that we offer Medicare insurance and Part D options with NO COST to work with Leif as their agent

For more information and resources visit our website at www.HagenFN.com

For Medicare supplement and part D information and resources, please visit MEDICAREforSENIORS.info

https://www.bluecrossmn.com/distribution/shopping/anonymous.html?producerToken=-z67o5fzk3mu4nb2solwzb34c0i15u6shro4wuum8cpns3rj50cqjqj8pznw2g&profile=ifp#welcome

Please FOLLOW and “LIKE US” on FACEBOOK.com/HagenFN

Please Read our Blog @ http://HagenFinancialNetwork.blogspot.com

Please Follow our Tweets on Twitter.com/SafeLeif

Check out this: http://www.MedicareForSeniors.info

                                                                                               

* This newsletter was prepared by Peak Advisor Alliance. Peak Advisor Alliance is not affiliated with the named broker/dealer.

* The Standard & Poor's 500 (S&P 500) is an unmanaged group of securities considered to be

representative of the stock market in general. You cannot invest directly in this index.

* The Standard & Poor’s 500 (S&P 500) is an unmanaged index. Unmanaged index returns do not reflect fees,

expenses, or sales charges. Index performance is not indicative of the performance of any investment.

* The 10-year Treasury Note represents debt owed by the United States Treasury to the public. Since the U.S.

Government is seen as a risk-free borrower, investors use the 10-year Treasury Note as a benchmark for the long-term bond market.

* Gold represents the afternoon gold price as reported by the London Bullion Market Association.

The gold price is set twice daily by the London Gold Fixing Company at 10:30 and 15:00 and is expressed in U.S. dollars per fine troy ounce.

* The Bloomberg Commodity Index is designed to be a highly liquid and diversified benchmark for the commodity futures market. The Index is composed of futures contracts on 19 physical commodities and was launched on July 14, 1998.

* The DJ Equity All REIT Total Return Index measures the total return performance of the equity subcategory of the Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT) industry as calculated by Dow Jones.

* Yahoo! Finance is the source for any reference to the performance of an index between two specific periods.

* Opinions expressed are subject to change without notice and are not intended as investment advice or to predict future performance.

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

* Past performance does not guarantee future results. Investing involves risk, including loss of principal.

* You cannot invest directly in an index.

* Consult your financial professional before making any investment decision.

* Stock investing involves risk including loss of principal.

* To unsubscribe from the “Peek of the Week”, please reply to this email with “Unsubscribe” in the subject line, or write us at: Hagen Financial Network, Inc. 4640 Nicols Road, Suite 203; Eagan, MN 55122.

Sources:

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/u-stock-market-officially-correction-001801781.html

https://www.investopedia.com/terms/c/correction.asp

https://insight.factset.com/earnings-insight-q318-by-the-numbers-infographic

https://www.investopedia.com/articles/economics/08/leading-economic-indicators.asp

https://www.ft.com/content/cb5ddff4-ff45-11e8-ac00-57a2a826423e (or go to https://s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/peakcontent/+Peak+Commentary/12-17-18_FinancialTimes-Stocks_Sink_as_Global_Growth_Worries_Intensify-Footnote_5.pdf)

https://www.ft.com/content/1d218d08-ffb5-11e8-aebf-99e208d3e521 (or go to https://s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/peakcontent/+Peak+Commentary/12-17-18_FinancialTimes-Week_Ahead-Fed_BoE_US_Government_Shutdown-Footnote_6.pdf)

https://www.aaii.com/sentimentsurvey

https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/29255-be-fearful-when-others-are-greedy-and-greedy-when-others

https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-mindful-self-express/201412/how-find-peace-and-happiness-holiday-season

https://bigthink.com/paul-ratner/want-happiness-buy-experiences-not-more-stuff

http://mentalfloss.com/article/90086/20-heartwarming-stories-will-brighten-your-holiday-season

Another Rollercoaster…

PEEK OF THE WEEK

December 11, 2018

Leif Hagen & Donna Roberts

The Markets

We’re off to a slow start.

December is usually the best month of the year for the stock market. It has been since 1950, according to Randall Forsyth of Barron’s, but not so far this year.

Two issues made investors particularly uncomfortable last week which helped trigger a sell-off that pushed major U.S. stock indices lower.

1.      Fading optimism about an easing of trade tensions with China. It looked like the relationship between the United States and China might thaw, and Americans were feeling pretty optimistic about a trade truce. In fact, markets moved higher Monday in anticipation.

Unfortunately, on the same day that Presidents Trump and Xi Jinping shared a cordial dinner, the chief financial officer of a major Chinese telecommunications firm was arrested at the request of the United States. The Economist reported, “[The company] is a pillar of the Chinese economy – and Ms. Meng is the founder’s daughter. The fate of the trade talks could hinge on her encounter with the law.”

2.      A section of the yield curve inverted. Normally, Treasury yields are higher for longer maturities of bonds than for shorter maturities of bonds. Last week, yields on three-year and five-year bonds inverted, meaning yields for three-year bonds were higher than those for five-year bonds. Ben Levisohn of Barron’s explained:

“Usually when people talk about an inversion, they’re talking about the difference between two-year and 10-year Treasuries, or three-month and 10-year Treasuries, which have been useful, though not perfect, predictors of recessions and bear markets. Last week, though, everyone was talking about the three-year and the five-year Treasury inverting – something that usually doesn’t get much notice…And for good reason.”

Historically, these maturities have inverted seven times. In one instance, the country was already in recession. On the other six occasions, recession didn’t occur for more than two years. Barron’s reported the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index gained an average of 20 percent over the 24-month periods following these inversions.

Investors’ negative response to last week’s news may have been overdone. Financial Times reported European and Asian markets firmed up a bit Friday “…as buyers stepped back in after some savage falls on Thursday.”

Data as of 12/7/18	1-Week	Y-T-D	1-Year	3-Year	5-Year	10-Year
Standard & Poor's 500 (Domestic Stocks)	-4.6%	-1.5%	-0.2%	8.2%	7.8%	11.2%
Dow Jones Global ex-U.S.	-2.2	-14.2	-11.3	2.6	-0.4	5.2
10-year Treasury Note (Yield Only)	2.9	NA	2.4	2.2	2.9	2.7
Gold (per ounce)	2.1	-4.1	-0.9	4.9	0.1	5.0
Bloomberg Commodity Index	1.1	-5.3	-0.4	1.6	-7.9	-2.7
DJ Equity All REIT Total Return Index	0.3	4.4	5.1	8.0	10.1	13.7

S&P 500, Dow Jones Global ex-US, Gold, Bloomberg Commodity Index returns exclude reinvested dividends (gold does not pay a dividend) and the three-, five-, and 10-year returns are annualized; the DJ Equity All REIT Total Return Index does include reinvested dividends and the three-, five-, and 10-year returns are annualized; and the 10-year Treasury Note is simply the yield at the close of the day on each of the historical time periods.

Sources: Yahoo! Finance, Barron’s, djindexes.com, London Bullion Market Association.

Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Indices are unmanaged and cannot be invested into directly. N/A means not applicable.

about time and money. Elizabeth Dunn, associate psychology professor at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, Canada, and Michael Norton, associate marketing professor at Harvard Business School, have been studying whether people should spend money differently. Their goal is to figure out how to get the most happiness for the dollars spent. In Happy Money: The Science of Happier Spending, they explained their experiments:

“…We started doling out money to strangers. But there was a catch: rather than letting them spend it however they wanted, we made them spend it how we wanted…changing the way people spent their money altered their happiness over the course of the day. And we saw this effect even when people spent as little as $5…Shifting from buying stuff to buying experiences, and from spending on yourself to spending on others, can have a dramatic impact on happiness.”

In addition, buying time can improve happiness. How do you buy time? By paying someone else to do tasks you don’t like to do – cleaning, grocery shopping, home maintenance, and other tasks. This can relieve time pressure and free up time to do what you really want to do – and that can make you happier.

The authors suggest individuals ask a simple question before making any purchase: How will this purchase change the way I use my time? Make sure the answer aligns with the goal of having an abundance of time.

Weekly Focus – Think About It

“Happiness is when what you think, what you say, and what you do are in harmony.”

--Mahatma Gandhi, Leader of Indian independence movement 

Best Regards,

Leif  M. Hagen

Leif  M. Hagen, CLU, ChFC                                                                        

LP Financial Advisor

Securities offered through LPL Financial Inc., Member FINRA/SIPC.

www.FINRA.com

www.SIPC.com

P.S.  Please feel free to forward this commentary to family, friends, or colleagues.

P.S.S. Also, please remind your friends and family members becoming Medicare eligible that we offer Medicare insurance and Part D options with NO COST to work with Leif as their agent

For more information and resources visit our website at www.HagenFN.com

For Medicare supplement and part D information and resources, please visit MEDICAREforSENIORS.info

https://www.bluecrossmn.com/distribution/shopping/anonymous.html?producerToken=-z67o5fzk3mu4nb2solwzb34c0i15u6shro4wuum8cpns3rj50cqjqj8pznw2g&profile=ifp#welcome

Please FOLLOW and “LIKE US” on FACEBOOK.com/HagenFN

Please Read our Blog @ http://HagenFinancialNetwork.blogspot.com

Please Follow our Tweets on Twitter.com/SafeLeif

Check out this: http://www.MedicareForSeniors.info

                                                                                               

* This newsletter was prepared by Peak Advisor Alliance. Peak Advisor Alliance is not affiliated with the named broker/dealer.

* The Standard & Poor's 500 (S&P 500) is an unmanaged group of securities considered to be

representative of the stock market in general. You cannot invest directly in this index.

* The Standard & Poor’s 500 (S&P 500) is an unmanaged index. Unmanaged index returns do not reflect fees,

expenses, or sales charges. Index performance is not indicative of the performance of any investment.

* The 10-year Treasury Note represents debt owed by the United States Treasury to the public. Since the U.S.

Government is seen as a risk-free borrower, investors use the 10-year Treasury Note as a benchmark for the long-term bond market.

* Gold represents the afternoon gold price as reported by the London Bullion Market Association.

The gold price is set twice daily by the London Gold Fixing Company at 10:30 and 15:00 and is expressed in U.S. dollars per fine troy ounce.

* The Bloomberg Commodity Index is designed to be a highly liquid and diversified benchmark for the commodity futures market. The Index is composed of futures contracts on 19 physical commodities and was launched on July 14, 1998.

* The DJ Equity All REIT Total Return Index measures the total return performance of the equity subcategory of the Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT) industry as calculated by Dow Jones.

* Yahoo! Finance is the source for any reference to the performance of an index between two specific periods.

* Opinions expressed are subject to change without notice and are not intended as investment advice or to predict future performance.

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

* Past performance does not guarantee future results. Investing involves risk, including loss of principal.

* You cannot invest directly in an index.

* Consult your financial professional before making any investment decision.

* Stock investing involves risk including loss of principal.

* To unsubscribe from the “Peek of the Week”, please reply to this email with “Unsubscribe” in the subject line, or write us at: Hagen Financial Network, Inc. 4640 Nicols Road, Suite 203; Eagan, MN 55122.

Sources:

https://www.barrons.com/articles/the-latest-jobs-report-will-tie-the-feds-hands-next-year-1544208693?mod=hp_DAY_1 (or go to https://s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/peakcontent/+Peak+Commentary/12-10-18_Barrons-Its_the_Stock_Market_Stupid-Footnote_1.pdf)

https://www.economist.com/finance-and-economics/2018/12/08/a-trade-truce-between-america-and-china-is-over-as-soon-as-it-began (or go to https://s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/peakcontent/+Peak+Commentary/12-10-18_TheEconomist-A_Trade_Truce_Between_America_and_China_is_Over_as_Soon_as_it_Began-Footnote_2.pdf)

https://www.barrons.com/articles/dow-drops-4-5-but-the-market-is-probably-overreacting-1544234320?mod=hp_DAY_6 (or go to https://s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/peakcontent/+Peak+Commentary/12-10-18_Barrons-Dow_Drops_4.5_Percent_as_the_Market_Panics_Over_Everything-Footnote_3.pdf)

https://www.ft.com/content/2cda1c8a-f9be-11e8-8b7c-6fa24bd5409c (or go to https://s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/peakcontent/+Peak+Commentary/12-10-18_FinancialTimes-Trade_War_Concerns_Keep_US_Stocks_Under_Pressure-Footnote_4.pdf)

https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Happy-Money/Elizabeth-Dunn/9781451665079 (Click on About the Author)

https://s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/peakcontent/+Peak+Commentary/12-10-18_Book_Excerpt-Happy_Money-The_Science_of_Happier_Spending-Footnote_6.pdf

https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/mahatma_gandhi_105593

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

Thanksgiving – A True American Holiday

Thanksgiving is a true American holiday. It celebrates generosity and gratitude, and it recognizes the relationships that helped colonists who arrived on the Mayflower in 1620 survive beyond their first winter. History.com explained:¹

“Only half of the Mayflower’s original passengers and crew lived to see their first New England spring. In March, the remaining settlers moved ashore, where they received an astonishing visit from an Abenaki Indian who greeted them in English. Several days later, he returned with another Native American, Squanto, a member of the Pawtuxet tribe who had been kidnapped by an English sea captain and sold into slavery before escaping to London and returning to his homeland on an exploratory expedition. Squanto taught the Pilgrims, weakened by malnutrition and illness, how to cultivate corn, extract sap from maple trees, catch fish in the rivers, and avoid poisonous plants. He also helped the settlers forge an alliance with the Wampanoag, a local tribe, which would endure for more than 50 years…”

We’re honored and grateful you’ve chosen us to help you pursue your financial goals and hope our relationship will also endure for decades

Happy Thanksgiving!

Hagen Financial Network, Inc

Source:

¹ https://www.history.com/topics/thanksgiving/history-of-thanksgiving

It’s a small world after all…

PEEK OF THE WEEK

October 23, 2018

Leif Hagen & Donna Roberts

The Markets

The world remains full of opportunities and challenges.

Although we’ve seen global markets moving in tandem in recent years, Sara Potter of FactSet pointed out, “…we’re starting to see the end of the synchronized global growth that has prevailed over the last two years. While the U.S. economy remains strong, growth in Europe and Japan is moderating, and emerging markets are under increasing economic and financial market pressure.”

Strong economic growth and robust earnings helped U.S. stocks significantly outperform other regions of the world during the third quarter of 2018. In addition, the resolution of some trade tensions, namely the signing of a United States-Korea trade deal and the renegotiation of NAFTA (North American Free Trade Agreement), helped soothe investor concerns, reported Jeffrey Kleintop of Schwab.

The trade relationship between the United States and China, however, remains an itchy rash marring the outlook for economic growth in both countries. The Economist Intelligence Unit reported:

“Since the start of 2018 trade policy has become the biggest risk to The Economist Intelligence Unit's central forecast for global economic growth. We now expect this risk to materialize in the form of a bilateral trade war between the United States and China, with negative consequences for global growth…The trade war comes at a challenging time for the Chinese economy…The trade war will also affect the U.S. economy…the escalating trade dispute with China will start to weigh on growth later in 2018 and into 2019 – we now expect growth to slow in 2019 to 2.2 percent (2.5 percent previously). The U.S. manufacturing and agricultural sectors, in particular, will be hit by the trade dispute, and rising interest rates will cause private consumption to slow.”

China’s economic growth slowed during the third quarter. The nation experienced its slowest growth since 2009, reported Reuters.

Chinese stock markets generally lost value. However, some Chinese indices performed better than others, depending on the type of stocks included in the index. For example, the MSCI China Index, which measures large- and mid-cap stocks of various share types that trade on the mainland and in Hong Kong, was down 8.45 percent during the quarter.

In contrast, the MSCI Red Chip Index, which is comprised of stocks that are incorporated outside of China, trade on the Hong Kong exchange, and are usually controlled by the state or a province or municipality, was up 3.25 percent for the quarter and flat year-to-date.

Emerging markets were weak performers overall during the third quarter, but there were bright spots. Schroders explained, “Turkey was the weakest index market amid a sharp sell-off in the lira…By contrast, Thailand recorded a strong gain and was the best performing index, with energy stocks among the strongest names. Mexico outperformed as the market rallied following general elections and an agreement with the United States on NAFTA renegotiation. Taiwan, where semiconductor stocks supported performance, also outperformed. Despite ongoing risk of new U.S. sanctions, Russian equities also finished ahead of the benchmark, benefiting from crude oil price strength.”

Political strife continued to hamper the European Union and the United Kingdom during the third quarter. Overall company profits weren’t particularly impressive in the region and neither was economic growth, reported BlackRock.

As the third quarter came to a close, Barron’s conducted its Fall Big Money Poll. Vito Racanelli reported almost two-thirds of professional money managers from across the country said the U.S. stock market was fairly valued – and that was before the market slid lower early in the fourth quarter. While the money managers’ assessment doesn’t mean all U.S. stocks are fairly valued, there may be opportunities to invest in sound companies at attractive prices.

Trade tensions, inflation trends, and central bank monetary policy are likely to affect the performance of markets during the remainder of 2018 and into next year.

Data as of 10/19/18	1-Week	Y-T-D	1-Year	3-Year	5-Year	10-Year
Standard & Poor's 500 (Domestic Stocks)	0.0%	3.5%	8.0%	10.8%	9.7%	10.9%
Dow Jones Global ex-U.S.	-0.3	-11.4	-8.7	2.8	-0.1	4.3
10-year Treasury Note (Yield Only)	3.2	NA	2.3	2.0	2.6	3.9
Gold (per ounce)	0.7	-5.3	-4.6	1.5	-1.4	4.4
Bloomberg Commodity Index	-0.3	-2.5	0.7	-1.0	-7.7	-4.7
DJ Equity All REIT Total Return Index	3.1	-0.9	0.1	5.6	8.0	11.3

S&P 500, Dow Jones Global ex-US, Gold, Bloomberg Commodity Index returns exclude reinvested dividends (gold does not pay a dividend) and the three-, five-, and 10-year returns are annualized; the DJ Equity All REIT Total Return Index does include reinvested dividends and the three-, five-, and 10-year returns are annualized; and the 10-year Treasury Note is simply the yield at the close of the day on each of the historical time periods.

Sources: Yahoo! Finance, Barron’s, djindexes.com, London Bullion Market Association.

Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Indices are unmanaged and cannot be invested into directly. N/A means not applicable.

New Trend: Pets and financial planning. Animals have played important roles in human lives for centuries. They provide companionship, comic relief, work assistance, transportation, reassurance, protection, and food.

Today, emotional-support and service animals may be found in workplaces, beauty salons, cafes, theatres, airplanes, and many other places where our parents or grandparents would have been surprised to find them. Landlords charge pet rent, and some service animals qualify as a medical expense under Internal Revenue Service rules.

It is also becoming more and more common for pet owners to include pets in their financial planning goals. While you cannot leave your pet property, you can make arrangements to have your pet cared for after you are gone.

Last week, The Economist reported, “Two-thirds of all horse owners in America have made some provision in their wills for their pets, according to a survey by the American Pet Products Association. Over a third of American pet owners say they would pay for animal-related expenses by putting less into their retirement accounts. And, three-quarters of those buying a home said they would turn down an otherwise ideal property if it did not meet their animal’s needs.” In addition, pets can become beneficiaries of trusts.

Whether you think the idea of providing financial support for pets is silly or you wholeheartedly embrace it, the role of animals in the lives of many Americans is changing.

Weekly Focus – Think About It

“Animals are such agreeable friends - they ask no questions; they pass no criticisms.”

--George Eliot (a.k.a. Mary Anne Evans), English Novelist

Best Regards,

Leif  M. Hagen

Leif  M. Hagen, CLU, ChFC                                                                       

LP Financial Advisor

Securities offered through LPL Financial Inc., Member FINRA/SIPC.

www.FINRA.com

www.SIPC.com

P.S.  Please feel free to forward this commentary to family, friends, or colleagues.

P.S.S. Also, please remind your friends and family members becoming Medicare eligible that we offer Medicare insurance and Part D options with NO COST to work with Leif as their agent

For more information and resources visit our website at www.HagenFN.com

For Medicare supplement and part D information and resources, please visit MEDICAREforSENIORS.info

https://www.bluecrossmn.com/distribution/shopping/anonymous.html?producerToken=-z67o5fzk3mu4nb2solwzb34c0i15u6shro4wuum8cpns3rj50cqjqj8pznw2g&profile=ifp#welcome

Please FOLLOW and “LIKE US” on FACEBOOK.com/HagenFN

Please Read our Blog @ http://HagenFinancialNetwork.blogspot.com

Please Follow our Tweets on Twitter.com/SafeLeif

Check out this: http://www.MedicareForSeniors.info

                                                                                               

* This newsletter was prepared by Peak Advisor Alliance. Peak Advisor Alliance is not affiliated with the named broker/dealer.

* The Standard & Poor's 500 (S&P 500) is an unmanaged group of securities considered to be

representative of the stock market in general. You cannot invest directly in this index.

* The Standard & Poor’s 500 (S&P 500) is an unmanaged index. Unmanaged index returns do not reflect fees,

expenses, or sales charges. Index performance is not indicative of the performance of any investment.

* The 10-year Treasury Note represents debt owed by the United States Treasury to the public. Since the U.S.

Government is seen as a risk-free borrower, investors use the 10-year Treasury Note as a benchmark for the long-term bond market.

* Gold represents the afternoon gold price as reported by the London Bullion Market Association.

The gold price is set twice daily by the London Gold Fixing Company at 10:30 and 15:00 and is expressed in U.S. dollars per fine troy ounce.

* The Bloomberg Commodity Index is designed to be a highly liquid and diversified benchmark for the commodity futures market. The Index is composed of futures contracts on 19 physical commodities and was launched on July 14, 1998.

* The DJ Equity All REIT Total Return Index measures the total return performance of the equity subcategory of the Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT) industry as calculated by Dow Jones.

* Yahoo! Finance is the source for any reference to the performance of an index between two specific periods.

* Opinions expressed are subject to change without notice and are not intended as investment advice or to predict future performance.

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

* Past performance does not guarantee future results. Investing involves risk, including loss of principal.

* You cannot invest directly in an index.

* Consult your financial professional before making any investment decision.

* Stock investing involves risk including loss of principal.

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Sources:

https://insight.factset.com/global-growth-will-remain-strong-in-2018-but-risks-are-looming

https://www.schwab.com/resource-center/insights/content/whats-store-global-stocks-q4

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/apos-expect-next-trump-apos-174706046.html

http://country.eiu.com/article.aspx?articleid=987167082&Country=Nigeria&topic=Economy&subtopic=Current+policy&oid=247162408&flid=1907256774 (or go to https://s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/peakcontent/+Peak+Commentary/10-22-18_TheEconomist-EIU_Global_Forecast-US-China_Trade_Ware_will_Damage_Growth-Footnote_4.pdf)

https://www.reuters.com/article/china-economy-gdp/china-q3-gdp-growth-slows-to-65-pct-y-y-missing-fcast-idUSB9N1WQ013

https://www.msci.com/end-of-day-data-search (Click on Country tab; select China Markets; As of September 28, 2018) (or go to https://s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/peakcontent/+Peak+Commentary/10-22-18_MSCI-China_Markets_Index_as_of_09-28-18-Footnote_6.pdf)

https://www.msci.com/documents/10199/aa99c3a4-d48b-44ac-8caa-49522caa9021 (Page 1)

https://www.msci.com/documents/10199/47be4803-fcea-4f25-bda4-93adac816847 (Page 1)

https://www.schroders.com/en/insights/economics/quarterly-markets-review---q3-2018/

https://www.blackrock.com/investing/insights/blackrock-investment-institute/outlook

https://www.barrons.com/articles/stocks-will-rally-more-than-10-in-2019-barrons-big-money-poll-finds-1539979367?mod=hp_LEAD_3 (or go to https://s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/peakcontent/+Peak+Commentary/10-22-18_Barrons-Stocks_will_Rally_More_than_10%25_in_2019-Big_Money_Poll_Predicts-Footnote_11.pdf)

https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2014/10/20/pets-allowed

https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/personalfinance/2014/10/25/pet-rent-apartments/17793493/

https://www.nolo.com/legal-encyclopedia/estate-planning-pets.html

https://www.economist.com/finance-and-economics/2018/10/13/people-are-including-pets-in-their-financial-plans (or go to https://s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/peakcontent/+Peak+Commentary/10-22-18_TheEconomist-People_are_Including_Pets_in_their_Financial_Plans-Footnote_15.pdf)

https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/george_eliot_104038