JUNE, 1985.


The Great Communicator was President of the United States.

The Dow Jones index closed above 1300 for the first time ever.

Investors worried whether the scourge of the 1970’s, inflation, would return.

The highest income tax rate equaled 50%.

The COLD WAR was in full throttle mode.

Valley National was established and my wife thought I was crazy.

Twenty-five years have passed since then.  I’m not crazy and proud to say that my vision for helping fulfill clients’ financial and life goals is still my mission.  Valley National’s goal and service model continues to be serving individual’s and closely-held business’s need for financial and estate planning, income tax preparation, investments, and risk management.  For over twenty-five years and today, I continue to assemble the team and technology to meet those goals and your goals and I thank you for allowing me to do what I love.

Our radio show, “Your Financial Choices” will explore the last 25 years in the financial services world and in the Lehigh Valley and how we can learn from those experiences, on a special show – Wednesday, June 16, 2010.  It would be great if you can join us – see below for details on tuning into the show.

Question:   I am thinking about changing jobs and I have a 401k loan.  Should I repay the loan before my termination date?

Answer:                

Yes.  Failing to do so means the loan amount will be considered a distribution that will be taxed in your top bracket and, if you’re younger than 55 in the year you leave your job, hit with a 10% penalty, too.           

Feel free to contact me if you or someone you know has this type of situation.  Tax laws can be tricky; thus, the above answer cannot be applied to all circumstances because the slightest variation could cause a different outcome.

– “Government always finds a need for whatever money it gets.”
– “Government does not solve problems; it subsidizes them.”

–Ronald Reagan

1. Super Accurate Radiation Robots Kill Cancer Cells and Leave Healthy Ones Untouched- A new generation of radiation robots is lowering the rate of dead healthy cells by more accurately targeting cancer. (Source:  http://www.physorg.com/news194014523.html)

2. Researchers Manipulate Single Biomolecules at Low Cost – A new massively parallel approach for manipulating single DNA and protein molecules and studying their interactions under force, called “single molecule centrifugation,” has been developed by researchers from the Rowland Institute at Harvard University. The “The Centrifuge Force Microscope” (CFM) allows for improvements in throughput and cost in studying biological systems ranging from DNA replication to blood clotting, compared to technologies such as optical and magnetic tweezers and the atomic force microscope. (Source: http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2010-06/hu-smf052610.php).

“Your Financial Choices” airs on WDIY Wednesday evenings, from 6-7 p.m. The show is hosted by Valley National’s Laurie Siebert CPA, CFP®.  This week, Host Laurie Siebert, CPA, CFP® will be joined by guest Cate Williams, VP of Financial Literacy with Money Management International, a non-profit credit counseling program – managing debt and helping people find that vital balance between having credit to buy smart but still having a saving plan – no matter what stage of life you are in or how much money you make.

Laurie will take your calls on this subject and other financial planning topics at 610-758-8810. WDIY is broadcast on FM 88.1 for reception in most of the Lehigh Valley; and, it is broadcast on FM 93.9 in the Easton/Phillipsburg area; and, it is broadcast on FM 93.7 in the Fogelsville/Macungie area – or listen to it online from anywhere on the internet.  For more information, including how to listen to the show online, check the show’s website www.yourfinancialchoices.com and visit www.wdiy.org. 

Great round of golf on Saturday.  I did not post a great score.  Instead, it was a beautiful day filled with wildlife.  On the first hole I observed a mink running along the creek side; and, at the first green I watched two huge red-tailed hawks glaring at me from their nest 30 feet above me.

U.S. Stocks and Foreign stocks both declined this week while bonds rose.  During the last 12 months, STOCKS have substantially outperformed bonds. 

Source: Morningstar Workstation. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.  Indices are unmanaged and cannot be invested into directly.  Three, five and ten year returns are annualized.  Assumes dividends are not reinvested.