What kind of performance should investors expect in the second half of 2014? The Leading Economic Indicator has just been released, along with a new forecast. Advisor Perspectives charts the trends. U.S. consumer confidence has jumped to its highest level in 6 1/2 years. Lucia Mutikani covers the new numbers for Reuters and looks into the market developments behind them. If a brokerage firm offers you $600 to roll over your 401K into an IRA, make sure you do some research first. John Hechinger cautions investors on this marketing ploy.
Conference Board Leading Economic Index (LEI) Increased Again In May– “May’s increase in the LEI, the fourth consecutive one, was broad based,” said Ataman Ozyildirim, Economist at The Conference Board. “Housing permits held the index back slightly but the LEI still points to an expanding economy and its pace may even pick up in the second half of the year.”
http://www.advisorperspectives.com/dshort/updates/Conference-Board-Leading-Economic-Index.php
Consumer Confidence, Housing Data Bolster U.S. Growth Outlook– U.S. consumer confidence jumped to its highest level in nearly 6-1/2 years in June and sales of new homes surged in May, the latest signs that the economy has regained momentum. http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/06/24/us-usa-economy-idUSKBN0EZ1KX20140624
Brokers Take Rollovers For A Ride– Several large brokerage firms offer as much as $600 to anyone who rolls over a 401(k) into an IRA. “If someone offers you $600,” says Mercer Bullard, a professor at the University of Mississippi School of Law who heads Fund Democracy, an advocacy group, “you can be sure you are going to be paying a lot more additional expenses later.” http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2014-06-19/brokers-401-k-rollover-pitches-can-be-dodgy
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John R. Day, Bill Ennis, Stephanie Davidson and Matt Heller