Many experts expect healthcare costs will continue to rise, making it important that advisors help their clients plan ahead. According to the Kaiser Family Foundation, health care has become somewhat less affordable, even among those with health insurance. Since 2015, larger shares of people with health insurance say they have a difficult time affording their healthcare costs: from 27% to 37% for premiums; 34% to 43% for deductibles; and from 24% to 31% for copays and prescription drugs. Some experts estimate that a 65-year-old couple who retired in 2016 will need $260,000 to cover just healthcare costs in their golden years—6% more than the previous year's estimate of $245,000. That’s the highest estimate since such projections started in 2002, and chances are repealing and replacing the Affordable Care Act, not to mention the high cost of pharmaceuticals, could push retiree healthcare costs even higher. All of which highlights the need for advisors to discuss with clients the flexibility and power of Health Savings Accounts (HSAs). Read on for a summary of their analysis, or view the entire document here. [+] Read More

Concerns about U.S. equity valuations reflect perceptions that the market has fully priced in prospects for earnings acceleration. But analysts' forecasts for 2017 are nearly unchanged from September 2016. U.S. companies are set to report their strongest profit growth in two years for the fourth quarter of 2016, based on consensus Wall Street analyst estimates. Continuing their recovery from a yearlong decline in quarterly profits, companies in the broad U.S.-market representative S&P 500 Index are expected to report their bottom lines grew by 3.4% in the fourth quarter of 2016, the fastest rate of growth since a 4.6% increase in the fourth quarter of 2014. This quarter’s growth is an improvement from the 3% increase witnessed in the third quarter, and growth is projected to accelerate over the course of 2017. Read on for a summary of their analysis, or view the entire document here. [+] Read More

We continue to believe investors will be well-served to focus on dividend growth. As bond yields begin to compete with equities, we recommend an ecumenical approach to equity income and growth in dividends. One of the major impediments to using stocks for yield has been the earnings recession over the last five quarters. The continuation of that trend would have undermined the stability of the dividend payout. The market, however, has now withstood the effects of a stronger dollar on multinational earnings and withstood the energy sector’s adjustment to oil at $50 per barrel. And the S&P 500 is finally growing earnings again, year over year. Read on for a summary of their analysis, or view the entire document here. [+] Read More

How Policy and Politics Shape the Global Outlook for 2017 As the dust settles from the U.S. presidential election, what might investors expect in the coming year? New U.S. leadership working with a Republican-unified Congress likely will have a meaningful impact on U.S. investment values, especially if legislation involving infrastructure spending, repatriation of U.S. corporate foreign cash, and tax reform become early priorities in 2017. Just as influential will be macro factors that weigh on global growth and interest rates. The uncertainties of the “Brexit” process, as the United Kingdom negotiates its separation from the European Union (EU), the related tilt toward protectionism in many nations, the pursuit of currency weakness by major non-U.S. economies, and continued “lower for longer” interest-rate policy should combine to support interest in U.S. investments. Differences between the U.S. economy and many advanced economies with regard to monetary policy, currency movement, and economic growth may define investor preferences among many asset classes in 2017. Here, we survey what 2017 may bring for major global economies—and key U.S. investment categories. Read on for a summary of their analysis, or view the entire document here. [+] Read More

The S&P 500 Index has correctly predicted 19 of the past 22 presidential elections and every election since 1985... Amid unprecedented political polarization, lackluster growth, persistently low interest rates, and mounting geopolitical tensions, investors are grappling with allocation decisions as what may be the most contentious presidential election in their lifetime approaches. Politics aside, the next president will be pressed to boost growth, trade, innovation, and jobs in a slow economy transformed by globalization and technology. Note: The purpose of this special report is to help investors evaluate the potential investment implications of the presidential candidates’ most salient economic policies. It is not intended to take sides but rather to shed light on how, historically, markets and sectors have performed before and after past elections, and how various interests might be affected by current proposals, which might prompt consideration of the possible investment decisions to be made. Read on for an excerpt of Lord Abbett's engaging commentary, or view the entire document here. [+] Read More

U.S. STOCKS: SMALL- AND MID-CAPS’ HOME-COURT ADVANTAGE For those concerned about developments overseas, U.S. small- and mid-cap stocks, which are positioned to benefit from strength in domestic consumer spending, may be worth considering. Bracing for “Brexit”? Challenged by China? You’re not alone. A scan of recent headlines underscores the challenges in the global investment landscape. The United Kingdom is facing a fractious vote (June 23) on whether to leave the European Union. China is grappling with a slowing economy. The eurozone is hindered by sluggish growth and the prospect of more fiscal drama with Greece. Japan is trying to jump-start its moribund economy and counter deflation. The list goes on. [+] Read More

Lord Abbet's Milton Ezrati examines the situation in Greece and its membership within the Euro. "German politicians seem to have lost patience with Athens. Blustering about throwing good money after bad, they have shown a new eagerness to throw Greece out of the currency union, at least a rhetorical one. They are not alone. Similar sentiments have surfaced in Austria, Finland, the Netherlands, even in Estonia. Understandable as such talk is, an expulsion of Greece is not so easy as these naysayers seem to believe, and would almost surely cost the eurozone more than further accommodation would, a lot more. On the assumption that politics will follow at least vague cost-benefit calculations, likelihoods, then, suggest that Europe, for all the tough talk, will find a way to keep Greece in the currency union." Get Free Research Reports about Lord Abbett Company Llc [+] Read More

Lord Abbett's Milton Ezrati looks to the municipal markets and examines a few of the positives taking shape. "State and local government finances remain precarious. The degree of trouble varies from place to place, of course, but generally it will take decades for states and cities to put their finances in anything like good order. It is, in fact, a good bet that no middle-aged person today will live to see such an event. One wag has suggested that the yet unborn will not live to see such a day. But if such cynicism carries truth, the immediate outlook can nonetheless anticipate some modest relief, at least enough to ease some of the strains under which state and local governments have labored and enough to improve investment performance in the area as well as on the overall economic picture." Get Free Research Reports about Lord Abbett Company Llc [+] Read More

Lord Abbett's Milton Ezrati takes a look at the pros and cons of the increase in consumer spending over the last few quarters. "Since late 2011, measures of consumption show acceleration in virtually all categories, despite the recent rise in gasoline prices. In one sense, this is good news for the economy, as it will push the pace of overall growth and, ultimately, prompt more hiring, which in itself will reinforce spending growth. But-and there is always a but-this new trend raises longer-term concerns. More liberal consumer spending can only take the economy so far. Because heightened levels of consumption will limit households' abilities to make needed improvements in their finances, any effort to boost outlays too far too fast would only threaten pinched finances at a later date, followed by spending cutbacks, say in 2014 or 2015, with all the recessionary influence that would impose on the economy in general." Get Free Research Reports about Lord Abbett Company Llc [+] Read More