Blattel & Associates will be closed on July 4 & July 5 in recognition of Independence Day.
Down Week Ends Strong Month
BI-WEEKLY UPDATE - JULY 3, 2019
In This Issue
The Week on Wall Street
A month of gains for stocks ended with a weekly retreat. Last month was the best June for the blue chips since 1938; the best month for the S&P, since 1955. The Dow gained 6.9% in June, the S&P 6.2%.[3]
Trade Talks Could Soon Restart
All week, investors had one eye on Saturday's Group of 20 summit in Japan, where President Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping were slated to meet. This weekend, President Trump announced that he and President Xi had agreed to a resumption of trade talks between the U.S. and China. As part of that agreement, the U.S. is holding off on placing tariffs on an additional $300 billion of Chinese goods. [4]  

While trade tensions certainly remain between both countries, the news that formal discussions could resume may renew investor optimism about progress toward a trade pact.

Powell Cautions Against Adjusting Rates Too Quickly
In the meantime, Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell attracted attention with new remarks on monetary policy. Powell stated last week that the Fed officials were "mindful that monetary policy should not overreact to any individual data point or short-term swing in sentiment." [5]   

While many traders think the central bank will lower the benchmark interest rate at its July meeting, Powell noted that there was not yet consensus for a cut among Fed policymakers. [6]

What's Ahead
This will be a holiday-shortened trading week. The New York Stock Exchange will close early Wednesday, and all U.S. financial markets will close Thursday for the July 4 holiday. Markets reopen on Friday.

THE WEEK AHEAD: KEY ECONOMIC DATA
Monday: The Institute for Supply Management's latest purchasing manager index for the factory sector, considered the main barometer of the state of U.S. manufacturing.
Wednesday: Payroll giant ADP's private-sector employment report for June.
Friday: The June jobs report from the Department of Labor.

Source: Econoday / MarketWatch Calendar, June 28, 2019
The Econoday and MarketWatch economic calendars list upcoming U.S. economic data releases (including key economic indicators), Federal Reserve policy meetings, and speaking engagements of Federal Reserve officials. The content is developed from sources believed to be providing accurate information. The forecasts or forward-looking statements are based on assumptions and may not materialize. The forecasts also are subject to revision.


Blattel News
Calendar

Ha p p y I n d e p e n d e n c e D a y !

July 4 & 5: Office Closed
Our office will be closed for Independence Day weekend. The stock market will close at noon on July 3, and be closed July 4.
 
New Date for Retirement Workshop!
July 17 (Wed) from 5-6 pm: Workshop
Join us for the Retire on Purpose workshop. Based on feedback, we shifted this workshop to Wednesday, July 17 You will receive actionable tips on what you can start doing today to enrich your life in retirement. A great experience for those about to retire or who have recently retired! For more information or to register today, click here:  Retirement on Purpose Workshop. We hope you join us!

 

September 2: Office Closed
Our office, and the stock market, will be closed on Labor Day.
 
October: Client Event
Our semi-annual client breakfast seminar is currently being planned. Look for more details later this summer!

 
The Great American Road Trip
By Kate Christopher
Rocky Mountains on the 1st Weekend of Summer

For the first time ever, my family rented a camper and headed out west for a 10-day road trip. We saw some amazing sights, experienced temperatures from 32 to 103 degrees, and made some wonderful memories. Our journey took us to the Rocky Mountains, Dinosaur National Monument, Seven Falls (Colorado Springs), and Pike's Peak.
 
We stayed at 3 different KOA camp sites in Kansas, Colorado, and Utah. I learned that many of the workers who helped make our experience comfortable are actually retirees. They told me about a program called the KOA Work Kamper Program that arranges for people to get seasonal jobs at campsites around the country in exchange for parking their camper or RV for free, along with modest pay. I have a feeling that a few of you would embrace that adventure.
 
I hope you are enjoying your summer. Please continue to share with us your travel experiences. We love to hear your stories.



"America was not built on fear. America was built on courage, on imagination, and an unbeatable determination to do the job at hand."

- Harry S. Truman
American Flag Cheesecake

[12 Servings]

Ingredients:

For the crust:
  • 1½ cups graham cracker crumbs
  • ¼ cup sugar
  • 5 Tbsp. butter
  • ⅛ tsp. salt
For the filling:
  • 2 cups cream cheese, softened
  • 2 eggs
  • ⅔ cup sugar
  • 1 tsp. vanilla extract
For the topping:
  • Whipped cream
  • Strawberries
  • Blueberries
Directions:
  1. Select your rectangular pie pan. Our favorite is a 9" x 11" baking dish.
     
  2. Preheat the oven to 350° F.
     
  3. Stir all the crust ingredients together until combined.
     
  4. Press them into the bottom and sides of the pie pan. Make a thicker layer on the bottom than on the sides.
     
  5. Mix all the filling ingredients together, starting with the cream cheese and sugar, then adding in the eggs and vanilla when the former is smooth. If you're mixing by hand, make sure you don't over mix. If you're using an automatic mixer, set it at a low or medium-low speed.
     
  6. Pour the filling into the crust.
     
  7. Bake for 20 minutes, then check it. If the crust isn't done, add another 10 minutes. Be careful not to scorch your crust!
     
  8. Let the cheesecake cool.
     
  9. Once chilled, spread the whipped cream across the top and decorate the top of the cheesecake like an American flag! Halve the strawberries and lay them out like the stripes, then put the blueberries in a square in the top left as the stars. The white whipped cream underneath will make it red, white, and blue!

Recipe adapted from allrecipes [7] 


Host a Plastic-Free, 4th-of-July Party

Hosting a 4th-of-July party this year? Cheers! Time to pull out the beverages, red-white- and-blue snacks, and sparklers. But there's one thing on your party-planning checklist you should consider leaving out - plastic!

Plastic waste is becoming a huge environmental issue, and events, like 4th-of-July parties, contribute to this growing problem. Between the plastic cups, utensils, serving dishes, and napkins, it's no wonder why there's so much plastic in our landfills and oceans.

This year, try hosting a zero-waste party by renting cutlery, plates, cloth napkins, and glasses from your local party rental company instead of using disposable plastic options. Alternately, if you want the convenience of disposable plastic items, use compostable materials or "plastics" made from sustainable materials, like corn. These bioplastics don't produce a net increase in carbon dioxide gas when they break down, and they break down much faster than traditional plastic. Be nice to the environment this 4th of July!


Tip adapted from Friends of the Earth[11] 
Share the Wealth of Knowledge!
 
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Investing involves risk including the potential loss of principal. No investment strategy can guarantee a profit or protect against loss in periods of declining values.
 
Diversification does not guarantee profit nor is it guaranteed to protect assets.
 
International investing involves special risks such as currency fluctuation and political instability and may not be suitable for all investors.

The Standard & Poor's 500 (S&P 500) is an unmanaged group of securities considered to be representative of the stock market in general.
 
The Dow Jones Industrial Average is a price-weighted average of 30 significant stocks traded on the New York Stock Exchange and the NASDAQ. The DJIA was invented by Charles Dow back in 1896.
 
The Nasdaq Composite is an index of the common stocks and similar securities listed on the NASDAQ stock market and is considered a broad indicator of the performance of stocks of technology companies and growth companies.
 
The MSCI EAFE Index was created by Morgan Stanley Capital International (MSCI) that serves as a benchmark of the performance in major international equity markets as represented by 21 major MSCI indices from Europe, Australia, and Southeast Asia.

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.
 
Opinions expressed are subject to change without notice and are not intended as investment advice or to predict future performance.
 
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
 
You cannot invest directly in an index.
 
Consult your financial professional before making any investment decision.
 
Fixed income investments are subject to various risks including changes in interest rates, credit quality, inflation risk, market valuations, prepayments, corporate events, tax ramifications and other factors.
 
These are the views of Platinum Advisor Strategies, LLC, and not necessarily those of the named representative,
Broker dealer or Investment Advisor and should not be construed as investment advice. Neither the named representative nor the named Broker dealer or Investment Advisor gives tax or legal advice. All information is believed to be from reliable sources; however, we make no representation as to its completeness or accuracy. Please consult your financial advisor for further information.
 
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[11] friendsoftheearth.uk/plastics/eco-parties-plastic-free-ideas

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