Chicago, IL – May 5, 2013 - Cliff Morgan, Founder of the Strategic Wealth Advisory Group, a wealth management company, recently published a blog on his website (http://www.TheStrategicWealthSystem.com) discussing the US housing market. The blog, titled “Financial Planning: Is the Housing Market Finally Back on Track?” shares recent information which contains encouraging signs for the future of the economy.

Cliff Morgan writes, “And as we wait for our economy to make a full recovery, economists and investors are paying particularly close attention to the state of the housing market. And recently, there has been good news.”

The Strategic Wealth Advisory Group is dedicated to helping families, professionals, and business owners plan for a brighter financial future.

The entire blog can be found at http://www.thestrategicwealthsystem.com/blog/financial-planning-is-the-housing-market-finally-back-on-track.php

To learn more about The Strategic Wealth Advisory Group, please visit http://www.TheStrategicWealthSystem.com

About Cliff Morgan:

Cliff Morgan is a nationally sought after speaker and author. He specializes in working with families during the college years. His expertise has helped families across the United States save tens of thousands of dollars off the college bill while helping students enter the schools of their dreams. Cliff is also a personal mentor to many financial planners around the US.

Mr. Morgan focuses on helping his clients save significant amounts off the college sticker price thus allowing families to maintain their current lifestyle and save for retirement at the same time.

He was born in Rhode Island and raised in the mountains of New Hampshire. He attended the University of New Hampshire and graduated from Chicago’s Moody Bible Institute with a degree in Church Theology. Cliff has worked with Strategic Wealth Advisory Group and has be a as a trusted advisor for the past nine years. He is passionate about serving people by helping them and their families to build and achieve their short and long term financial goals. Cliff is married to his wife Amy and they have 2 children; William and Charlotte. He is actively involved in his local church, plays soccer recreationally, participates in a bicycling club and is an avid skier. Cliff and his family reside in Chesterton, Indiana.

Cliff’s accomplishments include:

• Founder and Partner of US College Planning & Strategic Wealth Advisory Group
• Author of the bestselling book “WIN”
• Member of the American College Funding Association
• Working as a Wealth Strategist in the financial planning industry since 2003
• MDRT – The Premier Association of Financial Professionals
• 2010 Named to by Chicago Magazine Five Star award for wealth managers
• Member of the National Association of College Admission Counseling
• A nationally recognized speaker on wealth accumulation and preservation
• Named to America’s Premiere Experts as a wealth strategist
• Member of the National Institute of Certified College Planners
• Named to Chicago Magazine Five Star award for wealth managers for 2010 & 2011

In 2007 and 2008, it was a crashing housing market that was largely responsible for the recession and the financial crash that we suffered.

And as we wait for our economy to make a full recovery, economists and investors are paying particularly close attention to the state of the housing market. And recently, there has been good news. Bloomberg.com reports:

New-home construction in the U.S. jumped more than forecast in March as multifamily projects climbed to the highest level in more than seven years.

Starts climbed 7 percent to a 1.04 million annual rate, the most since June 2008, after a revised 968,000 pace in February that was larger than previously reported, Commerce Department figures showed today in Washington. The median estimate of 80 economists surveyed by Bloomberg called for 930,000. Building permits, a proxy for future construction, fell.

Builders are rushing to satisfy growing demand for rental units, propelling the jump in construction that will help support economic growth. Work began on fewer single-family houses last month, adding to evidence that part of the market is pausing.

“Whether it’s driven by demand from homebuyers or renters, it doesn’t really matter because it’s roofs over peoples’ heads,” said Aneta Markowska, chief U.S. economist at Societe Generale in New York, who had the highest starts forecast in the Bloomberg survey. “There’s still a lot of room for improvement in housing, both for activity and for prices. This is critical for the U.S. economy.”

What does this mean for you, as an investor? It’s a sign that the economy may finally be ready for a real recovery. But despite this good news, it’s important to remember that we are still facing a variety of obstacles—from rising government debt and the threat of inflation to rising tax rates and the prospect of further volatility on Wall Street. We’re not out of the woods yet—but there are signs that we are finally heading in the right direction.

If you’d like to learn more about the opportunities that currently exist for investors, or if you’d like help creating a portfolio that is protected against the threats of inflation, increasing tax rates, and market volatility, please contact us today!

Chicago, IL – May 1, 2013 - Cliff Morgan, Founder of the Strategic Wealth Advisory Group, a wealth management company, recently published an article on his website (http://www.TheStrategicWealthSystem.com) discussing the state of the economy. The article, titled “Financial Planning: Are We Heading for Another Recession… or Worse?” warns readers to take action in order to protect themselves.

Cliff Morgan writes, “While media reports have seemed to indicate that the economy was gathering strength, recent data tells a different story.”

The Strategic Wealth Advisory Group is dedicated to helping families, professionals, and business owners plan for a brighter financial future.

The entire article can be found at http://www.thestrategicwealthsystem.com/articles/financial-planning-are-we-heading-for-another-recession-or-worse.php

To learn more about The Strategic Wealth Advisory Group, please visit  http://www.TheStrategicWealthSystem.com

About Cliff Morgan:

Cliff Morgan is a nationally sought after speaker and author. He specializes in working with families during the college years. His expertise has helped families across the United States save tens of thousands of dollars off the college bill while helping students enter the schools of their dreams. Cliff is also a personal mentor to many financial planners around the US.

Mr. Morgan focuses on helping his clients save significant amounts off the college sticker price thus allowing families to maintain their current lifestyle and save for retirement at the same time.

He was born in Rhode Island and raised in the mountains of New Hampshire. He attended the University of New Hampshire and graduated from Chicago’s Moody Bible Institute with a degree in Church Theology. Cliff has worked with Strategic Wealth Advisory Group and has be a as a trusted advisor for the past nine years. He is passionate about serving people by helping them and their families to build and achieve their short and long term financial goals. Cliff is married to his wife Amy and they have 2 children; William and Charlotte. He is actively involved in his local church, plays soccer recreationally, participates in a bicycling club and is an avid skier. Cliff and his family reside in Chesterton, Indiana.

Cliff’s accomplishments include:

• Founder and Partner of US College Planning & Strategic Wealth Advisory Group
• Author of the bestselling book “WIN”
• Member of the American College Funding Association
• Working as a Wealth Strategist in the financial planning industry since 2003
• MDRT – The Premier Association of Financial Professionals
• 2010 Named to by Chicago Magazine Five Star award for wealth managers
• Member of the National Association of College Admission Counseling
• A nationally recognized speaker on wealth accumulation and preservation
• Named to America’s Premiere Experts as a wealth strategist
• Member of the National Institute of Certified College Planners
• Named to Chicago Magazine Five Star award for wealth managers for 2010 & 2011

However, the economy over the last five years doesn’t seem to be following this trend. In 2007-2008 we experienced a massive “bust”, as the housing market and financial markets crashed. But unlike in decades past, there has yet to be a strong recovery. And while media reports have seemed to indicate that the economy was gathering strength, recent data tells a different story. From a recent Reuters article:

Economic growth regained speed in the first quarter, but not as much as expected, heightening fears an already weakening economy could struggle to cope with deep government spending cuts and higher taxes.

Gross domestic product expanded at a 2.5 percent annual rate, the Commerce Department said on Friday, after growth nearly stalled at 0.4 percent in the fourth quarter. Economists had expected a 3.0 percent growth pace.

“It wasn’t the bang-up start to the year we had hoped for, and the signals from March suggested that we will only decelerate from here,” said Avery Shenfeld, chief economist at CIBC World Markets Economics in Toronto.

Part of the pick-up in activity reflected farmers’ filling up silos after a drought last summer decimated crop output. Removing inventories, the growth rate was a tepid 1.5 percent.

Still, most areas of the economy contributed to growth, with the exception of government, the trade sector and investment by businesses in offices and other commercial buildings.

While consumer spending increased solidly, it came at the expense of saving, which does not bode well for future growth.

A separate report showed worries about finances sapped consumer morale in April. The Thomson Reuters/University of Michigan’s final reading on the overall index on consumer sentiment fell to 76.4 last month from 78.6 in March.

Data ranging from employment to retail sales and manufacturing weakened substantially in March after robust gains in the first two months of the year, and the factory sector appears to have slowed further in April.

Many forecasters expect the economy’s softness to persist into the third quarter until signs of a convincing revival emerge.

To make matters more alarming, this economic weakness is persisting despite an unprecedented level of stimulus from the Federal Reserve, which is pumping billions of dollars into the economy at historically low interest rates. The fact that this stimulus hasn’t been able to re-ignite the economy is a sign that there may be real problems.

As an investor, what does this mean to you? It means that you must be prepared for a worst-case scenario, which could include a stock market collapse, combined with high inflation and rising tax rates.

Is your current portfolio structured to protect you against this “triple threat”? If not, please contact us today—we’d be glad to help you secure your financial future!

Chicago, IL – March 28, 2013 - Cliff Morgan, Founder of the Strategic Wealth Advisory Group, a wealth management company, recently published an article on his website (http://www.TheStrategicWealthSystem.com) discussing the economy. The article, titled “Investment Planning: Is the Federal Reserve Bank Compromising Your Financial Future?” urges investors to protect their hard-earned assets.

Cliff Morgan writes, “While it’s encouraging to see that the economy is starting to pick up speed, both here in the United States and across the globe, prudent investors are left wondering what these developments mean for the future.”

The Strategic Wealth Advisory Group is dedicated to helping families, professionals, and business owners plan for a brighter financial future.

The entire article can be found at http://www.thestrategicwealthsystem.com/articles/investment-planning-is-the-federal-reserve-bank-compromising-your-financial-future.php

To learn more about The Strategic Wealth Advisory Group, please visit  http://www.TheStrategicWealthSystem.com

About Cliff Morgan:

Cliff Morgan is a nationally sought after speaker and author. He specializes in working with families during the college years. His expertise has helped families across the United States save tens of thousands of dollars off the college bill while helping students enter the schools of their dreams. Cliff is also a personal mentor to many financial planners around the US.

Mr. Morgan focuses on helping his clients save significant amounts off the college sticker price thus allowing families to maintain their current lifestyle and save for retirement at the same time.

He was born in Rhode Island and raised in the mountains of New Hampshire. He attended the University of New Hampshire and graduated from Chicago’s Moody Bible Institute with a degree in Church Theology. Cliff has worked with Strategic Wealth Advisory Group and has be a as a trusted advisor for the past nine years. He is passionate about serving people by helping them and their families to build and achieve their short and long term financial goals. Cliff is married to his wife Amy and they have 2 children; William and Charlotte. He is actively involved in his local church, plays soccer recreationally, participates in a bicycling club and is an avid skier. Cliff and his family reside in Chesterton, Indiana.

Cliff’s accomplishments include:

• Founder and Partner of US College Planning & Strategic Wealth Advisory Group
• Author of the bestselling book “WIN”
• Member of the American College Funding Association
• Working as a Wealth Strategist in the financial planning industry since 2003
• MDRT – The Premier Association of Financial Professionals
• 2010 Named to by Chicago Magazine Five Star award for wealth managers
• Member of the National Association of College Admission Counseling
• A nationally recognized speaker on wealth accumulation and preservation
• Named to America’s Premiere Experts as a wealth strategist
• Member of the National Institute of Certified College Planners
• Named to Chicago Magazine Five Star award for wealth managers for 2010 & 2011

Specifically, the Fed’s decision to continually flood the market with “cheap” money. In an effort to spur borrowing, lending, and investing, the Fed has made it possible for major financial institutions to borrow money at interest rates of essentially zero. In addition, the Fed has now purchased trillions of dollars with of treasury securities, enabling the US government to continue borrowing money at low interest rates.

And though these measures have been successful in the short term, many experts are concerned that these actions are setting the economy up for rampant inflation down the road. Last week, Fed chairman Ben Bernanke responded to this criticism. From a Reuters article on the subject:

Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke on Monday defended the central bank’s aggressive easing of monetary policy, saying while it was aimed at bolstering the economic recovery, it was helping other countries as well.

The Fed’s asset-purchase programs, aimed at keeping long-term borrowing costs down and spurring investment, have been criticized overseas for their adverse impact on emerging market currencies.

But the Fed chief, fresh from a grilling from Congress on the potential domestic risks of his quantitative easing measures, countered the rhetoric about “currency wars,” though he did not use the term specifically.

In prepared remarks to a group of academics in London, Bernanke said the integrated nature of the global economy meant the whole world benefits from a sturdier outlook.

“Because stronger growth in each economy confers beneficial spillovers to trading partners, these policies are not ‘beggar-thy-neighbor’ but rather are positive-sum, ‘enrich-thy-neighbor’ actions,” he said.

In response to a deep financial crisis and recession, and subsequent weak recovery, the Fed not only lowered overnight interest rates to effectively zero but bought more than $2.5 trillion in mortgage and Treasury securities.

While it’s encouraging to see that the economy is starting to pick up speed, both here in the United States and across the globe, prudent investors are left wondering what these developments mean for the future. Specifically, the basic economic law of supply and demand would indicate that flooding the market with cash (which the Fed is now doing) will eventually reduce the value of the currency—a phenomenon also known as inflation.

Inflation is a grave threat to investors as it has the potential to wipe away years of hard-earned investment returns. Severe inflation has the capability to render these gains meaningless and leave investors holding devalued assets. As an investor, it is crucial that you continue to monitor this situation and pay particular attention to factors that may further encourage inflation.

The good news is that it’s not too late—you can still take action and protect yourself from the dangers of inflation. If you’d like to learn more, or if you’d like help creating a portfolio that is protected against the threats of inflation, increasing tax rates, and market volatility, please contact us today!

Chicago, IL –March 21, 2013 - Cliff Morgan, Founder of the Strategic Wealth Advisory Group, a wealth management company, recently published a blog on his website (http://www.TheStrategicWealthSystem.com) discussing the state of the economy. The blog, titled “Despite the Sequester, Signs of Economic Growth Continue” notes that many economic questions still remain.

Cliff Morgan writes, “The question investors must ask themselves is whether or not this recent run of economic good news is here to stay—or whether it’s just a ‘blip’ on the radar that will quickly disappear.”

The Strategic Wealth Advisory Group is dedicated to helping families, professionals, and business owners plan for a brighter financial future.

The entire blog can be found at http://www.thestrategicwealthsystem.com/blog/despite-the-sequester-signs-of-economic-growth-continue.php

To learn more about The Strategic Wealth Advisory Group, please visit  http://www.TheStrategicWealthSystem.com

About Cliff Morgan:

Cliff Morgan is a nationally sought after speaker and author. He specializes in working with families during the college years. His expertise has helped families across the United States save tens of thousands of dollars off the college bill while helping students enter the schools of their dreams. Cliff is also a personal mentor to many financial planners around the US.

Mr. Morgan focuses on helping his clients save significant amounts off the college sticker price thus allowing families to maintain their current lifestyle and save for retirement at the same time.

He was born in Rhode Island and raised in the mountains of New Hampshire. He attended the University of New Hampshire and graduated from Chicago’s Moody Bible Institute with a degree in Church Theology. Cliff has worked with Strategic Wealth Advisory Group and has be a as a trusted advisor for the past nine years. He is passionate about serving people by helping them and their families to build and achieve their short and long term financial goals. Cliff is married to his wife Amy and they have 2 children; William and Charlotte. He is actively involved in his local church, plays soccer recreationally, participates in a bicycling club and is an avid skier. Cliff and his family reside in Chesterton, Indiana.

Cliff’s accomplishments include:

• Founder and Partner of US College Planning & Strategic Wealth Advisory Group
• Author of the bestselling book “WIN”
• Member of the American College Funding Association
• Working as a Wealth Strategist in the financial planning industry since 2003
• MDRT – The Premier Association of Financial Professionals
• 2010 Named to by Chicago Magazine Five Star award for wealth managers
• Member of the National Association of College Admission Counseling
• A nationally recognized speaker on wealth accumulation and preservation
• Named to America’s Premiere Experts as a wealth strategist
• Member of the National Institute of Certified College Planners
• Named to Chicago Magazine Five Star award for wealth managers for 2010 & 2011

And while economists had predicted that the cuts would harm the economy, early signs have been positive. Unemployment has continued to decrease, though it still remains high. And other economic indicators have been positive as well. The New York Times article reports:

The American economy appears to be bucking the headwinds from Washington, buoyed by healthy business activity and resilient consumers.

The latest evidence came on Friday with a better-than-expected report on industrial production, led by a jump in the automobile sector. It follows bullish indicators earlier in the week, including a drop in new unemployment claims and strong retail sales.

The data has surprised economists like Ethan Harris of Bank of America Merrill Lynch, who on Friday revised upward the company’s prediction for growth in the first quarter to 3 percent from an earlier estimate of 2 percent.

Many experts had been looking for more of a drag from the restoration of full Social Security taxes in January and the automatic, across-the-board cuts in federal spending that began March 1, a process known as sequestration.

“It feels like the economy has some momentum and is in a little bit better shape to handle the sequester,” Mr. Harris said. While higher taxes and lower federal spending are a “speed bump,” he said, “the economy has better shock absorbers.”

The question investors must ask themselves is whether or not this recent run of economic good news is here to stay—or whether it’s just a “blip” on the radar that will quickly disappear. After several years of recession and sluggish recovery, these signs are certainly encouraging. But investors who remember the market crash of 2008 and the subsequent volatility are understandingly leery. Stay tuned.

If you’d like to learn more, or if you’d like help creating an investment portfolio that is protected against inflation, taxation, and economic volatility, please contact us today!

Chicago, IL –February 28, 2013 - Cliff Morgan, Founder of the Strategic Wealth Advisory Group, a wealth management company, recently published an article on his website (http://www.TheStrategicWealthSystem.com) discussing the upcoming sequester cuts. The article, titled “Financial Planning: What Does the ‘Sequester’ Mean for Your Investments?” warns investors of the potential for market volatility.

Cliff Morgan writes, “The fundamental concern for most economists is that, while government spending has grown at an unsustainable rate in recent years, cutting this spending dramatically may have a devastating effect.”

The Strategic Wealth Advisory Group is dedicated to helping families, professionals, and business owners plan for a brighter financial future.

The entire article can be found at http://www.thestrategicwealthsystem.com/articles/financial-planning-what-does-the-sequester-mean-for-your-investments.php

To learn more about The Strategic Wealth Advisory Group, please visit  http://www.TheStrategicWealthSystem.com

About Cliff Morgan:

Cliff Morgan is a nationally sought after speaker and author. He specializes in working with families during the college years. His expertise has helped families across the United States save tens of thousands of dollars off the college bill while helping students enter the schools of their dreams. Cliff is also a personal mentor to many financial planners around the US.

Mr. Morgan focuses on helping his clients save significant amounts off the college sticker price thus allowing families to maintain their current lifestyle and save for retirement at the same time.

He was born in Rhode Island and raised in the mountains of New Hampshire. He attended the University of New Hampshire and graduated from Chicago’s Moody Bible Institute with a degree in Church Theology. Cliff has worked with Strategic Wealth Advisory Group and has be a as a trusted advisor for the past nine years. He is passionate about serving people by helping them and their families to build and achieve their short and long term financial goals. Cliff is married to his wife Amy and they have 2 children; William and Charlotte. He is actively involved in his local church, plays soccer recreationally, participates in a bicycling club and is an avid skier. Cliff and his family reside in Chesterton, Indiana.

Cliff’s accomplishments include:

• Founder and Partner of US College Planning & Strategic Wealth Advisory Group
• Author of the bestselling book “WIN”
• Member of the American College Funding Association
• Working as a Wealth Strategist in the financial planning industry since 2003
• MDRT – The Premier Association of Financial Professionals
• 2010 Named to by Chicago Magazine Five Star award for wealth managers
• Member of the National Association of College Admission Counseling
• A nationally recognized speaker on wealth accumulation and preservation
• Named to America’s Premiere Experts as a wealth strategist
• Member of the National Institute of Certified College Planners
• Named to Chicago Magazine Five Star award for wealth managers for 2010 & 2011

As you may know, these are cuts designed to reduce the federal government deficit. They will have a broad impact—from defense funding to domestic programs. Unfortunately, economists on both sides of the political spectrum are concerned about the impact that the cuts may have on an economy that is still recovering.

Not surprisingly, there is little hope that the politicians in Washington will arrive at a deal. The Washington Post reports:

The sequester is set to kick in on Friday, leaving Congress little time to prevent across-the-board spending cuts that would start this week and last until they’ve saved up to $1.2 trillion over 10 years.

Democratic and Republican leaders are expected to introduce competing proposals this week that would replace the indiscriminate reductions, but neither side sees much chance of winning passage for their plans.

That means the sequester is almost certain to kick in on Friday.

Republicans have been working on a proposal that would preserve the cuts but give the administration more discretion over how to implement them. They may also produce a plan that would structure the defense reductions to have minimal impact on national security.

The Democratic plan would delay the sequester until January and replace the sequester with $110 billion in new tax revenue and a more narrow menu of spending cuts.

Administration officials have spent the past several weeks sounding alarms over how the reductions would impact everything from government services and national security to federal workers and the economy.

The fundamental concern for most economists is that, while government spending has grown at an unsustainable rate in recent years, cutting this spending dramatically may have a devastating effect. For instance, one of the areas that will be cut is defense spending. These spending cuts translate into less money for contractors and others associated with the defense industry. The ripple effect means that less money is being spent, and that economic growth is likely to slow.

As an investor, it’s hard to say exactly what will happen. If the cuts do go into effect and the economy is weakened, don’t be surprised to see the stock market tumble. If the politicians in Washington are able to avert this crisis, it will be smooth sailing… until the next crisis comes along.

The real question that investors should be asking is “how can we shield our investment so that political dysfunction doesn’t compromise our future?”  The good news is that we can help. If you’d like to learn more about creating an investment portfolio that protects your assets from market volatility, get in touch with us today!