RBFI Investment and Market Perspective

Rawdin-Baron Financial, Inc.

San Diego, California, August 12, 2011 –  Late last Friday Standard & Poors issued a historic downgrade of U.S. Debt from AAA to AA+. This unprecedented step has triggered immense debate and concern. It has also precipitated dramatic volatility in stock markets around the world.

We anticipate markets will continue to be volatile. Investor Sentiment is affected by the downgrade announcement and what we expect to be a series of downgrades to companies that rely on US Government support for their ratings.

Our attention is focused on these events and the current and future impact they may have on your portfolios.  Consistent with your investment objectives, we remain focused on protection of principal.

We continue to diligently monitor both fundamental and technical market indicators and remain prepared to make adjustments if deemed appropriate.

We are here for you to address questions you may have.

Please call us if you have additional questions or concerns.

Best regards,

Bruce Rawdin-Baron

Steve Pollock, MS, CFP®, EA

Securities through 1st Global Capital Corp., Member FINRA and SIPC. Bruce Rawdin-Baron and Steven W. Pollock are Registered Representative of 1st Global Capital Corp. Investment Advisory Services offered through Rawdin-Baron Financial, Inc. Rawdin-Baron Financial, Inc. and 1st Global are unaffiliated entities. We currently have individuals licensed to offer securities in the states of Arizona, California, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Massachusetts, Michigan, New York, Oregon, and Washington. This is not an offer to sell securities in any other state or jurisdiction. CA Department of Insurance License: Bruce Rawdin-Baron #0736631, Steven W. Pollock #OE98073.

Disclosure

This material is for general information only and is not intended to provide specific advice or recommendations for any individual. There is no assurance the views or strategies discussed are suitable for all investors or will yield positive outcomes. Investing involves risks including possible loss of principal. Any company names noted herein are for educational purposes only.

All information is believed to be from reliable sources; however we make no representation as to its completeness or accuracy. All economic and performance data is historical and not indicative of future results. Market indices discussed are unmanaged. Investors cannot invest in unmanaged indices. Additional risks are associated with international investing, such as currency fluctuations, political and economic instability and differences in accounting standards.

Investing in securities in emerging markets involves special risks due to specific factors such as increased volatility, currency fluctuations and differences in auditing and other financial standards. Securities in emerging markets are volatile and can decline significantly in response to adverse issuer, political, regulatory, market, or economic developments.

An index is a statistical measure of change in an economy or a securities market. In the case of financial markets, an index is an imaginary portfolio of securities representing a particular market or a portion of it. Each index has its own calculation methodology and is usually expressed in terms of a change from a base value. Thus, the percentage change is more important than the actual numeric value. An investment cannot be made directly into an index.

Investing in fixed income securities involves credit and interest rate risk. When interest rates rise, bond prices generally fall. Investing in commodities may involve greater volatility and is not suitable for all investors. Investing in a non-diversified fund that concentrates holdings into fewer securities or industries involves greater risk than investing in a more diversified fund. The equity securities of small companies may not be traded as often as equity securities of large companies so they may be difficult or impossible to sell. Neither diversification nor asset allocation assure a profit or protect against a loss in declining markets. Past performance is not an indicator of future results.

Financial Planning offered through Reason Financial, a state Registered Investment Advisor. Investment advice offered through Merit Financial Group, LLC an SEC Registered Investment Advisor. Merit Financial Group and Reason Financial are separate entities. Tax related services offered through Reason Tax Group. Reason Tax Group is a separate legal entity and not affiliated with Merit Financial Group, LLC. Sean P. Storck CA Insurance Lic#OF25995 and Steven W. Pollock CA Insurance Lic#OE98073

Copyright © 2026 Reason Financial all rights reserved.

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