Weekly Commentary February 5th, 2013

The Markets

“The future’s so bright, I gotta wear shades.”

For the last several weeks investors have appeared to agree with the sentiment expressed in the 1980s song by Timbuk3. A high degree of investor optimism has helped push markets higher.[i] The trend continued last week as the National Association of Active Investment Managers’ weekly survey found that professional investors are as bullish as they have been since the survey began six years ago.[ii] That may be part of the reason that the Dow Jones Industrial Index moved to within one percent of its all-time high during Friday’s rally.[iii]

With markets hitting new highs, investors have to ask: Are stocks fully valued in general? According to noted economist Robert Shiller, stocks are somewhat pricey relative to earnings, but not as expensive as they have been in the past.[iv] The Standard & Poor's 500 Index recently traded at about 13 times expected earnings for 2013. It traded at 15.2 times expected earnings in October of 2007 and at 25.6 times in March of 2000.[v] Forecasted or expected earnings reflect analysts’ estimates of companies’ earnings going forward. They are projections that help analysts evaluate companies’ potential and not facts.[vi]

While contrarians – individuals who invest against prevailing market trends[vii] – may argue that all of this optimism means it’s a good time to bet against equity markets, historically strong performance during January often has been followed by strong annual performance. There have been notable exceptions, of course, including 1987 and 1997.²

The unflattering names for victims of elder financial abuse – freeloader’s friend, human ATM, pushover partner – may go a long way toward explaining why the crime often goes unreported. The Administration on Aging (AoA) suggests that for every documented case of elder abuse, up to five cases may go unreported.[i]

Elder financial abuse occurs when someone – a stranger, a family member, a trusted professional, or someone else – illegally takes or uses the assets or property of an older individual or accepts payment for goods and services that are never delivered.[ii] Despite underreporting, the cost to Americans over the age of 60 is enormous. A 2011 study of elder abuse estimated that the annual financial loss suffered by victims was almost $3 billion.[iii]

In an effort to focus attention on the problem, the AoA declared 2013 the Year of Elder Abuse Prevention (YEAP). The organization has developed materials and resources to raise awareness about and protect against elder abuse.[iv] Here are a few of their suggestions:

· Call or visit elderly relatives, friends, and neighbors regularly.

· Offer to fill in for a caregiver for a few hours or days.

· Engage older acquaintances by asking them to share their talents and skills.

· Ask faith leaders to discuss the issue of elder abuse with their congregation.

· Ask the local bank manager to teach tellers the signs of elder financial abuse.

· Suggest to the local paper, radio, or TV station that it cover World Elder Abuse Awareness Day or YEAP.

Source: Administration on Aging Fact Sheet⁸

Educating older people about telephone and computer scams may be a wise idea since fraud can be a significant way in which elders are parted from their money.¹⁰ To learn more about YEAP and protecting elders from abuse of all types, visit the AoA web site at www.aoa.gov.

Weekly Focus – Think About It

“The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.”

—Eleanor Roosevelt. First Lady[v]