Why the future is so bright (READ THIS)…. Your Weekly Update

No fooling. If you read only one Update this year, read this one.

Why?

For good reason. This week’s Update focuses on the precise reason we are so optimistic about the future. It’s the same reason that has created ever expanding possibilities, generation after generation, for nearly 250 years in the United States.

Let us know what YOU think about the reason… and the future.

All the best,
Lee

PS—Yes, you’ll read about the recent stock market records too… enjoy!


This Week’s Quote:

“Never let the future disturb you. You will meet it, if you have to, with the same weapons of reason which today arm you against the present.”
― Marcus Aurelius


JL Davis Thoughts This Week:

Why is the future so incredibly bright? Here’s why.

A young father works two jobs with his teacher bride and a little baby to pay off student loan debt and make a future. Anything can work, if you do.

A brilliant young mother closing two real estate deals with her brand new child fast asleep in his baby carrier. Baby’s with Mom. No problem.

The husband and wife who left the comfort of steady jobs and jumped headlong into uncertainty, founding their own company – a company that will see strong seven figure profits in just their second year.

The soon to be university professor with the wisdom to save a six figure investment account on his meager earnings…already. One dollar at a time.

The young single mom still in her 20’s, whose sweet baby girl is her everything. She works 50-60 hours a week, then goes home to do the rest. With a smile.

The highly successful 30 something asked by a major financial institution to let a film crew follow him around for a day. They’ll show the resulting video to thousands at this year’s conference. Then put it on the web so who knows how many can follow his example.

Two brilliant young men who hold their heads high and work right through the pain after their father passed away tragically. Brighter days are ahead, fellas. Promise.

A young doctor and his accomplished wife, passing like ships in the night, making sure the kids are cared for and loved while they both help others selflessly during the day. Or the two newlyweds who traveled to the poorest part of the globe to minister to those who have absolutely nothing. For almost nothing.

The young attorney in London and his physician brother in the States, blowing the doors off their respective professions, raised by a wonderful Mom and Dad who taught them to believe in themselves. And who still inspire them today.

Some of those who read this missive might just recognize themselves. If you do, as the Aussie’s say, “Good On Ya”. We’re watching and we take notice.

You see, we could write dozens of vignettes like the ones above. They’re not fiction; just a few of the many examples we’ve experienced in 2014 in our daily travels among clients and friends. We are humbled and we are honored.

Thank you, all of you who are early in your lives and careers, for the inspiration you give us. You are why the future is brighter than ever.**

Keep it up!
Lee and Jeremy


Market Week: November 17, 2014

The Markets

Though trading remained within a relatively narrow range, especially compared with recent weeks, the S&P 500 nevertheless managed to hit a new record high, while the Nasdaq's weekly gain kept it in the lead year-to-date. A fresh drop in oil prices brought the price of West Texas Intermediate crude to roughly $75 a barrel.


Last Week's Headlines

• The United States and China agreed to take steps to combat climate change. For the first time, China agreed to cap its output of greenhouse gases no later than 2030 and increase its reliance on zero-emission energy sources to 20% by the same deadline. The United States will cut emissions by 17% by 2020 and by 28% by 2025, which would double the current pace at which it is reducing carbon emissions.
• Despite growth in some of the eurozone's weakest members, the region as a whole was hampered by sluggishness in the larger economies. The eurozone as a whole grew 0.2% during the third quarter, according to the European Union's statistical agency. Germany expanded just 0.1%, while Italy's economy contracted for the 11th time in the last 13 quarters. However, Spain's GDP was up 0.5% and Greece's increased by 0.7%--the eurozone's highest Q3 growth rate.
• President Obama urged the Federal Communications Commission to regulate the Internet as a public utility and adopt rules supporting so-called "net neutrality," which would prevent broadband companies from manipulating transmission speeds or offering a so-called "fast lane" for customers willing to pay more.
• A dispute in the publishing world between Amazon and publisher Hachette ended a months-long dispute over who would set prices for books sold through Amazon. The agreement reportedly would allow Hachette to control the price of its books but give the publisher an incentive to keep prices low.
• Lower gas prices may have helped U.S. retail sales rise 0.3% in September. According to the Commerce Department, sales were up 4.1% from a year ago.
• The Bureau of Labor Statistics' Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey showed that the number of both new hires and people quitting their jobs increased in September. The number of new hires hit its highest level since December 2007 and the quits rate--seen as an indicator of workers' confidence in their ability to get another job-- was higher than it's been since April 2008.


Key Dates/Data Releases

11/17: Industrial production, Empire State manufacturing survey
11/18: Wholesale inflation, international capital flows
11/19: FOMC minutes, housing starts
11/20: Consumer inflation, Philly Fed manufacturing survey, home resales
11/21: Options expiration


Eye on the Week Ahead

In the wake of the end of quantitative easing, minutes of the most recent Federal Open Market Committee meeting will be of interest, especially if there are any clues to committee members' thinking about future interest rate increases. Also on tap are data on the manufacturing sector and inflation.
Data sources: Economic: Based on data from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (unemployment, inflation); U.S. Department of Commerce (GDP, corporate profits, retail sales, housing); S&P/Case-Shiller 20-City Composite Index (home prices); Institute for Supply Management (manufacturing/services). Performance: Based on data reported in WSJ Market Data Center (indexes); U.S. Treasury (Treasury yields); U.S. Energy Information Administration/Bloomberg.com Market Data (oil spot price, WTI Cushing, OK); www.goldprice.org (spot gold/silver); Oanda/FX Street (currency exchange rates). All information is based on sources deemed reliable, but no warranty or guarantee is made as to its accuracy or completeness. Neither the information nor any opinion expressed herein constitutes a solicitation for the purchase or sale of any securities, and should not be relied on as financial advice. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) is a price-weighted index composed of 30 widely traded blue-chip U.S. common stocks. The S&P 500 is a market-cap weighted index composed of the common stocks of 500 leading companies in leading industries of the U.S. economy. The NASDAQ Composite Index is a market-value weighted index of all common stocks listed on the NASDAQ stock exchange. The Russell 2000 is a market-cap weighted index composed of 2,000 U.S. small-cap common stocks. The Global Dow is an equally weighted index of 150 widely traded blue-chip common stocks worldwide. Market indices listed are unmanaged and are not available for direct investment.