May 15, 2012

Commodities. . .

"To put it even more simply, financial assets with long interest rate and spread durations were winners:  long maturity bonds, stocks, real estate with rental streams and cap rates that could be compressed.  Commodities were on the relative losing end although inflation took them up as well.  That's not to say that an oil company with reserves in the ground didn't do well, but the oil for immediate delivery that couldn't benefit from an expansion of P/Es and a compression
 

   As a Registered Investment Advisor, Just Plans Etc. has a fiduciary duty to each and every client of the firm.  The policy of Just Plans Etc. is to protect the interests of each of the firm's clients and to place the client's interests first and foremost in every situation.
   The firm's fiduciary duty includes providing full and fair disclosure of all relevant facts and any potential or actual conflicts of interest, a duty of loyalty and good faith, providing recommendations that are suitable, and seeking best execution of all client transactions.

of risk spreads - well, not so well.  And so commodities lagged financial asset returns.  Our numbers show 1, 5 and 20-year histories of financial assets outperforming commodities by 15% for the most recent 12 months and 2% annually for the past 20 years."

Bill Gross, PIMCO Investment Outlook, April 2012




 

       Please do not hesitate to call us with questions or comments as we are here to serve you.  Welcome to our website!

   People use financial planners because they don't have the time, interest, or ability to create a plan by themselves, or they do have the time and ability and want a second opinion.

   Clients of Just Plans are mostly of the first group, and are generally overwhelmed by the multitude of options with which they are confronted.  The #1 item most are concerned with is having an adequate retirement income.  Number two is funding their children's college costs.  While college costs can be paid from current income or monies accumulated beforehand, retirement income can only be provided by setting money aside ahead of time and investing it wisely.

   Our business is built on relationships.  We work with you to identify and quantify your objectives.  The first step involves gathering personal and financial information.  Goals are established and constraints identified.  Relationships prosper when expectations are realistic. Investments are based on what is needed to reach your goals, taking into consideration your ability to tolerate market volatility.

   When you choose to have us manage your investments, the accounts are 100% discretionary. We allocate portfolio assets to CDs, Treasuries, separate accounts, exchange traded and traditional mutual funds and individual stocks. Depending on the size of the account, up to 60% may be allocated to core holdings, with the balance allocated to industry specific or asset class specific positions. Monthly statements are provided by the custodian. Just Plans provides quarterly performance reports and we are available for personal reviews.

    In 1982 Just Plans was formed to provide investment products for retirement plans, and to provide financial counseling to business owners and retirement plan participants. The predecessor insurance firm (started in 1967) designed and implemented retirement plans for closely held businesses. It provided estate-planning strategies for the business owners, their key people, and other individuals.

   Just Plans refers to its services as "ABEL Strategy." Conceived in 1991, the concept was initially a non-discretionary investment account using no load mutual funds held at Charles Schwab & Co. A 1% fee was charged. The program is now 100% discretionary, using CDs, Treasuries, exchange traded and traditional mutual funds and individual stocks, with accounts at Schwab or TD Ameritrade.

   We can be a resource for any situation that has to do with finances. For services in which we do not specialize, we refer our clients to many other partner professionals and firms with whom we network.