Tag Archives: Quarterly Performance Cover Letter

Dear Investor:

As we say goodbye to the end of the second quarter, the middle of the year is currently right before us, and remarkably interesting cross currents abound.

“It was the best of times; It was the worst of times.”

The Charles Dickens old favorite seems like a good quote given the cross currents at our mid-year review and more importantly forward-looking possibilities.

It is no secret that interest rates have risen dramatically, actually on a percentage basis fastest ever, quoting our Q3 2023 Newsletter and main lead article. What is most interesting is the continued stamina of the US economy given the FOMC (Federal Open Market Committee) chaired by Jerome Powell gigantic attempt to slow the US economy in bludgeon hammer like format, with the afore mentioned higher interest rates.

In true what is old is new again “Higher interest rates for longer” again a terrific article in our Q3 Newsletter.  What was once a necessary evil of stability, (fixed income/bonds), is possibly the most pleasurable fixture in our investment house. Now that the preponderance of interest rates hikes is likely far behind us, the hard work is done, and the reward of higher income with lower volatility is looking forward!

Partying like it’s 1999

The vast majority of stocks are adhering to Powell’s desires and at best treading water, at worst admitting defeat. Similar to the dot com (.com) times of 1999, Artificial Intelligence aka AI is the sexy theme of the moment and has put jet fuel on a small handful of company stocks.

Just like lightning, markets rarely tend to repeat, but they do rhyme, and while our hope is that this is not the.com 1999 party, our radar is certainly up.

Referring to our Q3 Newsletter one more time, there seems to be stimulus, just like the candy for the kids at the pool, that has not worked its way through the system. We continue to find more evidence of this and call your attention to the “Slower for longer Article” again in our newsletter.

While cautiously optimistic, we are happy not to be swinging for the fences investors and look forward to how this economic book is finally written!  Time will tell and is our Friend.

Thank you for your time talk to you in the fall,

Sincerely,

John A. Kvale CFA, CFP

Enclosure (2023 Report)

Dear Investor:

Putting Q1 of the year (2023) behind us, compared to last year at this time, seemed straight forward. recall last year at this time, we had just began interest rate hikes.

As the calendar turned we began searching for a similar series to last years’ “Back to Basics”, due to the popularity, comments, and sharing that occurred with this multiple series.

By luck or accident, we landed upon the antithesis like series called “Advanced Analysis” in part due to the current economic cycle and the nearing of the end.

Advanced Analysis Pilot

Our Pilot/Part 1 of the series was extremely timely and focused around M2 a broad economic measurement of money sloshing around the financial system. This is discussed in greater detail in our Q2 Newsletter at a very high level. Whether lucky, or preeminent, our observation, was to watch out for more high risk debt players in the capital markets and especially junk bonds. This fact seems to be occurring much faster than originally though.

Tax Season – Hints and Reminders

As we turn to Q2 of the year in what seems like expeditious fashion, it is tax season.  We once again call your attention to our Q2 Newsletter as there are some great last minute tips not only looking forward to this year, but also things available that may help last year’s taxes.

Interest Rate Anniversary – Most Likely Nearing an End

As mentioned in the intro, within the last two weeks we have just passed the start of the interest rate cycle, which was the fastest on a percentage basis we have ever seen The US economy and the global economy for that matter, operate much more like an aircraft carrier then a ski boat in their change of direction. The financial sector seems to be in the early innings with other parts of the economy much later in the economic game cycle. We will get through the slowdown eventually with all parts of the economy and move forward.

Have a great spring. Talk to you in the summer!

Sincerely,

John A. Kvale CFA, CFP

Enclosure (2023 Report)

Dear Investor:

Bill(s)

On December 20^th, 2019 the Secure Act was singed into law. On December 27^th , 2022 the Secure Act 2.0, a bill long in the works and a mere 4200 pages long was signed into law. The most important item in the financial world (there were a multitude of areas addressed) as the second upping of RMD’s to age 73. Look for more information soon from us.

Rates

In December the FOMC (Federal Open Market Committee) led by Jerome Powell raised rates to over 4% after starting the year at zero.  As mentioned in our Q1 2023 Newsletter article (Maybe a Tiger can change Stripes0, on a percentage basis this would be a possible once in a lifetime speedy move.  This may also be a return to a normal interest rate policy (hopefully) with no intention of going to the zero boundary again.  See Next point.

Bills

Not getting too wordie, but US citizens “bills” or the increase in them in the form of food, travel, energy, housing just to name a few are what is creating the opportunity of the afore mentioned speed of rates or rate increases. The CPI (Consumer Price Index) measurements continue to hold at much loftier levels than anyone thought possible (somewhat due to lagging indicators) and are allowing rates to rise and likely stay higher for longer.  This is a good thing for our safe assets aka Fixed Income/Bonds thankfully as most of the headwinds are likely behind us, again see Q1 2023 Newsletter lead article and associate graphs.

Sunshine

Last year at this time we were reviewing items such as “Anatomy of a Slowdown” and “The R” Word – Recession.

Today, from our unique “Personal Reflections” portion of our Q1 2023 Newsletter :

“Future is better

Just as we pointed out over a year ago what a slowdown looks like and that it might occur, we are now ready to point out later on this year it’s very likely the clouds of higher interest rates and two feet on the economic brakes by Powell are likely to clear.”

This is also the time we attach our Private Policy Statement for the year, along with our opportunity to offer our latest ADV filings and Client Relationship Summary (Form CRS); Requests for review will be accepted via phone, mail or email, and mailed immediately upon request.

Happy Turn of the Calendar, and Best Wishes for the Start of a New Year!

Sincerely,

John A. Kvale CFA, CFP

Enclosure (2022 Report)

J.K. Financial, Inc.

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In this review, we have chosen not only to look back over the prior 90 days, like we usually do, but we also wanted to look forward as we go up to the end of 2022!

Patience is a Virtue

Jerome Powell (Chair of FOMC) and his fellow FOMC board members have continued to raise rates, much faster and much greater than many, including ourselves thought possible. Rewind back just to the beginning of the year and the federal reserve were actually pushing rates down, in a quick about face by the end of the first quarter, rates were on their way up an asset purchases by midyear had reversed and become asset runoffs. Their purpose is of course to slow inflation a.k.a. CPI (consumer price index), while with great intentions many of the inputs in the CPI index are very lagging and have likely already rolled over but have yet to feed into the actual report due to their delayed nature.

Patience is needed as mentioned in the bullet before this commentary and also greatly outlined in our Q4 2022 newsletter. In that newsletter, which you should already have in your possession, we outline the normal lengths of time that a slowdown occurs and what to expect from almost all angles. The main reason that we did this is to remind ourselves, and everyone else as well, as the last decade has garnered an unusually fast and short slowdowns and commensurate recoveries. With the FOMC on a continued rate increase, this slowdown is likely to be much more similar to prior slowdowns in both time and fatigue of the economy. Patience, we will get there.

Looking Forward but no Predictions

Using history as our guide, the fourth quarter is indeed usually one of the best. However, as mentioned above, the macro economy pulled down by the federal reserve and continued right increases may overwhelm seasonal historical blossoms and weigh down a normally sunny period on the calendar.

Contra moves in both Equity/Stock and Fixed Income/Bond

In slow downs, equity markets have an unusual tendency to slowly drip in reverse and then all the sudden make a jump forward only to slowly start dripping in reverse again.

In this economic cycle, we have a new asset class that is also participating, the Fixed Income Market. As mentioned earlier with the federal reserve and Powell on a continued increase goal interest rates on the longer end of the yield curve i.e., the 10 year (versus the very short one or two) have smartly slowly gone down only to jump backwards up again and then slowly begin their decrees again. Patience is again a virtue, a slowdown leads to lower rates eventually, even with the FOMC raising rates.  Patience really is a virtue, we will be there with you, thanks for your time and your patience

Sincerely,

John A. Kvale CFA, CFP

Enclosure (2022 Report)

The Halfway Point 

While we have just reached the halfway point of 2022, for what it’s worth in seemingly much faster fashion than prior several years, likely due to the various lockdowns that we endured, even with such seemingly speed of time, there has been a tremendous amount of interesting events that have occurred so far this year! 

All about the FED, once again 

After multiple years of Federal Reserve stimulus both through lowering of interest rates and large asset purchases, as the calendar turned the federal reserve, FOMC, led by Jerome Powell pivoted and moved their foot from the accelerator to the brake. Not only has the FOMC pivoted to the brakes, but they have put both feet firmly on said pedal. First talking aggressively about rate increases leading up to the fastest interest rate increases on a percentage basis that have ever occurred, putting headwinds in safe assets also known as bonds or fixed income, but the other foot on the pedal included reversing asset purchases through balance sheet runoff. 

The first glimmer of easing of the brakes by the Federal Reserve occurred several weeks ago in a public testimony by Jerome Powell in which he stated the federal reserve cannot control oil and food prices. Capital Markets participants read that to be not as aggressive in posture, maybe one foot easing off the brake. 

Literally the last week of the quarter, the second major event occurred oddly enough from the research partner at the Atlanta Federal Reserve. The Atlanta Federal Reserve research department has a forward looking predictive model that attempts to predict GDP (gross domestic production), the most blunt instrument of economic activity. Just days ago, they updated their model from an expectation of 1% growth in Q2 2022 to -2.1% growth or an actual contraction. While seemingly unimportant, this estimate if true would mark the official R word for the economy – Recession. This second event was even more impactful as market participants began pricing in an even less firm brake pedal fed.

 

Persistent hot CPI Consumer Price Index reports present challenges 

Back to the Jerome Powell lead FOMC, one of their favorite inflation measuring sticks, the CPI or Consumer Price Index a very blunt measuring instrument of price increases and inflation measures, looks to remain high, mostly due to the severe lag effects of some of the input data. This puts the FOMC in a pickle, with the aforementioned possible R word and a slowing economy, but lagging blunt measurement showing high blood pressure in the economy a.k.a. the CPI . Not a fun time to be a member of the FOMC! 

How about some positives? 

In our latest newsletter, hopefully already on your reading table, we point out in multiple graph format tons of positives. While some may say were looking through rose colored glasses, we prefer to say the glass half full. Of course, these can change, but the pictures we pointed out at the time, were positives. 

Time is our friend on all of these matters, be sure to avoid the ugly headlines which most certainly will continue likely throughout the remainder of this year, we have your back and will talk to you at the end of the next quarter! 

Sincerely,

John A. Kvale CFA, CFP

Enclosure (2022 Report)

Remember when we were kids and it seem like the birthday would never come? Now they seem to come on almost a quarterly basis!

Speaking of a quarter, as we look back over the first quarter of this year, 2022, Wow, we had a lot of things occur.

Interest Rates

As the calendar turned, the FOMC, led by chair Jerome Powell, reading very rearview mirror inflation data points, began verbally discussing aggressive rate hikes.  Right on cue fixed income participants front ran the Fed and raised interest rate across the board.

Mortgage rates, specifically 30 year fixed mortgage rates have risen in percentage terms faster than any time in history.  This is likely a product of the stopping of monthly FOMC purchases of mortgage back securities. It would not be unreasonable to think that current levels could be an overshoot from the artificial downward pressure the federal reserve had been creating.

As of late, several Federal Reserve Presidents have publicly doubled down on even more aggressive rate increases, pushing rates even higher.

Longer-term, recall increasing interest rates are headwinds to fixed income instruments initially, but higher interest rates mean greater income longer term.

Fiscal Stimulus Comparables

As we exit this quarter, and enter the next, we begin a journey over one of the most interesting comparable times in history. As noted in our Q1 and Q2 newsletter, tough comparables will likely make for a natural slowing of the economy. Recall last year at this time over $1 trillion of stimulus was pushed into the economy. As mentioned once again in our newsletter, this is a natural slowing and will be a tail wind to the federal reserve as they raise short term interest rates in an attempt to slow the economy.

And did we mention there was major Geopolitical conflict?

There is a saying that conflict is the great geography educator. Certainly it was a surprise to see the amount of resources that come from the two countries in conflict. The lack of resources on the natural market may be a headwind to lower prices of certain commodities..

In closing, the really good news is that much of what we have experienced in this past quarter, and the coming next quarter, in birthday like format may likely come and pass much faster than previously experienced.

Sincerely,

John A. Kvale CFA, CFP

Enclosure (2022 Report)