Weekly Commentary August 13, 2012 The Markets

Is the cult of equity dying? Since 1912, stocks have returned on average 6.6 percent per year after inflation, according to Bill Gross, the legendary bond manager from PIMCO. Recently, Gross ruffled some feathers when he wrote that the historic 6.6 percent return is an historical freak, a mutation likely never to be seen again as far as we mortals are concerned. Histrionics aside, Gross makes a point that deserves elaboration. Gross believes that, in the future, less of the countrys wealth will be captured by capital (the financial markets) and more will flow to labor (as higher wages) and government (in the form of higher taxes). For the past 30 years, he said, capital markets were the big winner, as real labor wages and corporate taxes declined as a percentage of GDP. By his analysis, that will start to reverse with the capital markets being on the losing end. Is Gross right? Well, his chief critic, Wharton professor Jeremy Siegel, emphatically says no. In an August 2 Bloomberg interview, Siegel made the following three rebuttals to Gross: 1. The 6.6 percent real return was similar in the 19th century in the U.S., too, so its not just a 20th century anomaly or historical freak. 2. Other researchers have discovered non-U.S. equity markets with similar 6 to 7 percent real return averages over the past century, further supporting the idea that the U.S. is not an anomaly. 3. Often, when the media declares equities are dead, thats a sign a bull market is just around the corner remember the infamous August 1979 BusinessWeek The Death of Equities cover story? Three years later, stocks took off on one of the centurys greatest secular bull markets. So, whos right, Gross or Siegel? It turns out they both could be right. The key is your timeframe. Since markets fluctuate, well likely see periods when the market delivers more than a 6.6 percent real return and other times when its less.

However, simply buying and holding on for dear life hoping Gross is wrong probably isnt the best strategy. Rather, rigorous analysis of all the investment opportunities and careful portfolio tweaking could be the solution. Data as of 8/10/12 Y-T-D 10-Year Standard & Poor's 500 (Domestic 11.8% 4.5% Stocks) DJ Global ex US (Foreign Stocks) 2.2 4.7 0.1 2.4 -5.4 6.2 10-year Treasury Note (Yield Only) 1.7 N/A 2.1 3.8 4.8 4.2 Gold (per ounce) 1.0 2.8 -8.7 19.7 19.3 17.7 DJ-UBS Commodity Index 0.2 1.8 -7.5 3.3 -3.1 3.7 DJ Equity All REIT TR Index -2.3 15.5 30.9 22.6 3.8 11.3 Notes: S&P 500, DJ Global ex US, Gold, DJ-UBS Commodity Index returns exclude reinvested dividends (gold does not pay a dividend) and the three-, five-, and 10-year returns are annualized; the DJ Equity All REIT TR Index does include reinvested dividends and the three-, five-, and 10year returns are annualized; and the 10-year Treasury Note is simply the yield at the close of the day on each of the historical time periods. Sources: Yahoo! Finance, Barrons, djindexes.com, London Bullion Market Association. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Indices are unmanaged and cannot be invested into directly. N/A means not applicable. COULD THE THREE WORDS PRIME CHILDBEARING AGE FORESHADOW the next big up move in the stock market? Were all familiar with the Baby Boom generation and the massive impact theyve had on society. But, less noticed is their offspring, dubbed the Echo Boom. Nearly 80 million strong, they will be become the next dominant generation of Americans, according to CBS News. Today, the number of women in prime childbearing age is surging and is at an all-time high. While the recent recession and lingering weak economic environment caused many Echo Boomers to postpone childbirth, this could change quickly if the economy picks up speed. If this potential pent-up demand for babies actually materializes, we could see a spike in births that helps drive consumer spending, corporate profits, and the stock market higher. This potential demographic trend is one reason to be optimistic about Americas economic future. Weekly Focus Think About It Making the decision to have a child it is momentous. It is to decide forever to have your heart go walking around outside your body. --Elizabeth Stone 1Week 1.1% 13Year Year 5-Year 25.4% 11.8% -0.7%

Best regards,

Patty Loris, MBA, CFP CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER P.S. Please feel free to forward this commentary to family, friends, or colleagues. If you would like us to add them to the list, please reply to this e-mail with their e-mail address and we will ask for their permission to be added. Securities offered through LPL Financial, Member FINRA/SIPC. * This newsletter was prepared by Peak Advisor Alliance. * 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 DJ Global ex US is an unmanaged group of non-U.S. securities designed to reflect the performance of the global equity securities that have readily available prices. * 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. * Gold represents the London afternoon gold price fix as reported by the London Bullion Market Association. Precious metal investing is subject to substantial fluctuation and potential for loss. * The DJ Commodity Index is designed to be a highly liquid and diversified benchmark for the commodity futures market. The Index is composed of futures contracts on 19 physical commodities and was launched on July 14, 1998. * The DJ Equity All REIT TR Index measures the total return performance of the equity subcategory of the Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT) industry as calculated by Dow Jones. * Yahoo! Finance is the source for any reference to the performance of an index between two specific periods. * 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. * To unsubscribe from the Patty Loris Weekly Commentary please reply to this e-mail with Unsubscribe in the subject line. Compliance Number: 1-091669