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"Economic Dashboard Update - October Data, 2011" - Russell Investments provides a look at the economic activity for the past few months. This piece provides insight concerning macro-economic forces and their respective trends. This provides details concerning both lagging and leading economic indicators for your review.

"Economic Dashboard Update - August Data, 2011" - Russell Investments provides a look at the economic activity for the past few months. This piece provides insight concerning macro-economic forces and their respective trends. This provides details concerning both lagging and leading economic indicators for your review.

"Oil and the Economy" - JP Morgan provides an excellent summary of the forces of supply and demand as it relates to the oil market. With the economic unrest happening in the middle east, it's not a great time to be a dictator. This summary provides a key summary of the relationship between the price of oil and the potential for inflation.

"Retirement Planning using Trusts" - Trusts are a useful part of the financial lives of our clients. How would an individual properly structure a trust in order to provide maximum protection and income during the life of a beneficiary? Trusts are an excellent tool, with many of the benefits overlooked and underestimated in the retirement planning process.

"Economic Dashboard Update - February, 2011" - Russell Investments provides a look at the economic activity for the past quarter. This piece provides insight concerning macro-economic forces and their respective trends. This provides details concerning both lagging and leading economic indicators for your review.

"Libya - is it a risk for our own economic recovery?" - Fidelity's Market Analysis Research and Education provides a summary of the geo-political situation in Libya and their opinion on whether or not it is sufficient to derail any economic recovery for our country.

"What If?" - The Bush tax cuts are set to expire at the end of 2010. What if they do expire? What are the implications of a pre-2001 tax regime assuming things revert back to the higher tax system? This piece from Russell Investments addresses the probability and result of each possible outcome.

"The Messy Middle" - Any period of transition is messy. This one is no different as we begin to emerge from a sluggish period of economic growth back to something more sustainable and consistent. Our commentary addresses how we see the fundamentals of our market system as it stands today.

"Goldilocks or Gridlock?" - Now that the elections are over what are the market implications of a potentially gridlocked Congress? Has it been a good thing, something bad, or a non-event? Fidelity provides a summary of the historical returns of the markets during different Congressional periods.

"Economic Dashboard Update - October, 2010" - Russell Investments provides a clear look at economic indicators updated through the third quarter. Are things actually improving? This piece looks at all the fundamental aspects of our economy using both lagging and leading economic indicators.

"The next ten are more important than the last ten." - Even though the equity investor has been disappointed over the past ten years, does it mean that the next ten will be just as bad? Old Mission Investment Company examines the result of several 'low return' decades for equity investors, with the returns following those periods. The next ten years are more important than the last ten years.

"Bear for Bonds." - The bond market has enjoyed a great three year run. With above average returns for bond investors, and record low interest rates, at what point will things change for the bond investor? Old Mission takes a short look at how the recent history and risk within the bond market can be evaluated.

"Taking a Breather" - The markets have been on a tear. With high returns from both equities and fixed income, it should lead investors to question when things will temporarily change course. This piece is written just to say 'take a breather' and prepare for short-term corrections to enter the picture during periods of long-term growth.

"Getting three, instead of two." - How would you get the advantage of paying taxes over three years, instead of two, when doing your Roth conversion in 2010? If you have a spouse with an IRA balance, this strategy might be an attractive option for your consideration.

"The Healthcare Bill, Explained." - Who wants to take a stroll through a 2,000 page healthcare bill when you can read a great synopsis from our friends at JP Morgan? Please take a read for a short commentary concerning the implications for the investor.

"A 'Valuation' Trap" - It's a classic mistake - Using the past to value the future. Valuations have been all over the map during 2008 and 2009. A one-sided traditional valuation method can lead you to miss some tremendous investment opportunities.

"Best Practices concerning Roth IRA Rollovers" - What are a few of the things that you can do to make your Roth Rollover even more successful? We provide comments concerning some tips and strategies that can improve the proper care and feeding of your newly-converted Roth IRA. This is a big decision for many people, and getting it right the first time is the only way to go.

"'Average' is Good Again" - Just imagine if 'average' returns were to come back into vogue for market investors. You would see lower volatility, more consistent returns from asset classes, and happier investors. The shortened 'boom to bust' cycles aren't necessarily the norm, and we don't see this ugly cycle repeating every decade ad infinitum.

"Beneficiaries and Taxation" - The assumption is that unless you have millions, your beneficiaries aren't subject to taxation once you pass away. This isn't always the case. We present a simple explanation of the 'how's and why's' behind the complicated maze of the taxation of your financial assets once they pass to beneficiaries.

"Did diversification really fail?" - 2008 was a difficult year. With rumors of diversification failing for investors, was this truly the case? It was a difficult year for investors, without much doubt, but diversification did prove useful since it kept you from ultimately piling all your financial assets into the worst performing asset class for 2008.

"Red Sky in the Morning, Investors Take Warning" - With the Madoff situation full front and center, what are the warning signs that investors must be looking for? Old Mission prepares a short list of those items that, when caught, can keep your financial situation from becoming prey to a financial scheme.

"A Valuation Enigma" - Understanding the 'mark to market' accounting principles that may be at the heart of the balance sheet valuation process. With financial companies starving for capital, relaxing the mark to market rules may provide a serious solution to this financial problem.

"Time Horizons" - What is a 'time horizon'? Is it the number of years before you need your money to produce retirement income? Or is it the amount of time you have to utilize your financial assets during your lifetime?

"Panic is the reason corporate bonds are in season!" - Could the corporate bond market be a growth opportunity for investors in 2009 and beyond? Corporate bonds are attractively priced at the moment for opportunistic investors.

"Investment News Interviews Old Mission" - Investment News, an advisory services publication, provides a summary of our discussion concerning investment market expectations for 2009.

"Bonds go boom, yields go bust!" - Government bond prices are at all-time highs, and yields are at all time lows. Why is this the case? It is worth examination.

"Diversification 101" - Portfolio volatility seems to be at an all time high. Are there some basic elements to your portfolio that seem to be missing?

"Why Stocks go Up" - Is it actually possible that stocks can make money over the long-term? With the markets in turmoil, it's certainly been a difficult 10-year period of time for investors.

"Giving the Farm" - Old Mission Investment Company prepares a short summary of philanthropic options for individuals to consider. Writing a check is simple, but what do you do when you would prefer to create a structured giving plan for you and your family?

"Wills and Trusts" - A comprehensive estate plan is important. How do you make sure that your estate planning documents are effective? It goes beyond signing your documents.