November 2014 Monthly Recap
By jporterPosted on December 4th, 2014
Wishing you and your family well for the holiday season. Both the Fissel and Edgington households will be fun-filled with all the little ones enjoying Christmas. Trying to keep the parents sane will be the tricky part!
Best Wishes,
Mark Fissel
Market Recap
Equities generally continued to push upward in November. The small caps of the Russell 2000 were the exception; they ended the month flat and were up less than 1% for the year. However, the S&P 500 and the Dow industrials once again hit new record levels, while the Nasdaq increased its year-to-date lead. Meanwhile, the Global Dow had its best month since February…. (Read More)
Economic Perspective
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- GDP grew at 3.9% in the third quarter
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- Unemployment edged down to 5.8%
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- OPEC decided to maintain current levels of production; a decision that hurt oil prices.
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- Midterm elections gave Republicans control of both House and Senate.
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- The Eurozone continues to struggle economically with 0.2% growth in the 3rd quarter
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- Japan officially fell into a recession at a drop in GDP at 1.6% last quarter.
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- China’s Central Bank cut two key interest rates.
- CPI remains at 1.7 for the year; prompting the Fed to keep an eye on falling inflation. (Read More)
Top-10 Mistakes Auditors Catch
There are a number of emerging DOL issues that employers should be aware of in order to ensure their benefit plans are compliant and being properly administered. (Read More)
Mark Fissel solidifies focus on 401(k), Pension and Trust specialties.
Mark Fissel, a partner with Beacon Hill Investment Advisory, has been awarded the Accredited Investment Fiduciary® (AIF®) Designation from the Center for Fiduciary Studies™. The AIF Designation signifies specialized knowledge of fiduciary responsibility and the ability to implement policies and procedures that meet a defined standard of care. The Designation is the culmination of a rigorous training program, which includes a comprehensive, closed-book final examination under the supervision of a proctor, and agreement to abide by the Code of Ethics. On an ongoing basis, Designees are required to complete continuing education to maintain the AIF Designation. (Read More)