Posts by Reason Financial

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Two forces are significantly impacting global markets. The lack of Security and the element of Surprise are increasing volatility as evidenced by the significant price swings of the last couple months. A global slowdown is in process as evidenced in the most recent measurements of the Global Purchasing Managers Index. With growth cooling…

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Interest rates continue to be a focus of attention, particularly with the current divergence between market expectations and those of the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC). A new word has been added to the lexicon with “Grexit” becoming the title of the Greek crisis. A final agreement appears to be coming to the…

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY • Domestic markets are being pressured by lower consumption readings despite low energy prices putting more money in consumer pockets. , • Despite much hype over the aging of the American population, the U.S. demographic makeup is very encouraging when compared to many of the other developed and developing countries in the world.…

SAN DIEGO–(BUSINESS WIRE)—Rawdin-Baron Financial, Inc., a comprehensive financial planning and tax services firm, announced today that it is changing its name to Reason Financial: A Rawdin-Baron Financial Company. The name change, and corresponding new logo and brand, reflect the company’s commitment to serving the growing needs of its clients well into the future.

The IRS announced in October 2014 new limits and adjustments that affect a wide range of retirement and pension plans for 2015. These new limits were prompted by an increase in the cost-of living index. Each year the IRS reviews the inflation indicators and decides whether contributions and income levels need to be adjusted to…

  EXECUTIVE SUMMARY • Recent manufacturing data from the Institute of Supply Management (ISM®) indicates the economy is growing. • The Federal Reserve brought an end to Quantitative Easing, while also indicating interest rates will remain low until economic data convinces them to do otherwise. (i) • Current data show that housing starts are on…

The Second Quarter came to an end with the Dow Jones Industrial Average at 16,826.6. In the first few days of July the DJIA briefly entered 17,000+ territory for the first time in history. Not to be overshadowed by the stock market, the Unites States energy industry was officially named the world’s largest producer of oil and natural gas liquids by the International Energy Agency, and the U.S. economy added 288,000 jobs in the Second Quarter.[i][ii]

Executive Summary   Unlike 2013, the Commodities and Real Estate sectors have been the best performers in the first quarter of 2014. Recent Market volatility has heightened public sensitivity to the potential of a decline in stock market values. Long term market trends seem to suggest long term flat markets lead to sustained bull market…

The U.S. economy finished off 2013 mixed. With upward revisions to 3rd quarter Gross Domestic Product (GDP) from 2.8% to 4.1% it was a strong start to the last half of the year. Early estimates of 2% growth for the 4th Quarter, however, suggest the expansion may have been slowing in the 4th quarter. The degree to which the government shutdown and inclement weather affected the economy will become clearer when official measurements of 4th Quarter GDP are released on January 30th.