A Personal Note…   This week I was asked the question, “What is happening with unemployment?  Why is it that everyone says things are getting better but people still don’t have jobs?”    The short answer is that the economy will improve before we see progress on the job scene.  Remember, employment is a lagging indicator.  The economy will look better before we see more jobs.    Today’s newsletter gives a little more depth into what is happening with the job market and how we should use this time to maximize our investments.   Take a quick peek at our appearance on Fox Business News last week. The clip highlights several of our stock picks. http://www.catherineaveryinvest.com/media/TNY245310_01.wmv Warm regards,  Catherine Maniscalco Avery    CAIM specializes in creating and managing  customized and fully diversified investment portfolios for private investors. 203.966.2712  p 203.966.5697  f www.catherineaveryinvest.com       What We Want to Know is: ‘How is the Job Market?’ Here’s the question: Are things really getting better or have we just settled into a malaise instead?   As far as corporate America is concerned everything certainly seems to be looking up.  We had a great 1st quarter earnings season.  Management at many of the companies we own have been slowly moving up their earnings estimates for the remainder of the year.   But what about the consumer?   Well, retail sales are showing improvement and consumer sentiment is slowly starting to improve.  We think this is possibly due to a more positive jobs outlook in general.   Our own view of the employment picture is as follows:                                                 1. Stabilization.  Weekly unemployment claims are moving steadily lower. 2.  We saw some hiring in the month of April.  The census hired 66,000 workers and private payrolls added 231,000 workers. 3. Temporary employment continued to move higher (a leading indicator in the demand for jobs!)      According to Strategas Research Partners: “On average, employment typically regains its prior peak in about the same amount of time it took to fall from peak to trough, if not sooner.  History strongly suggests a continued string of robust job gains from here.” However, while we do expect to see improvement on the job front later this year, we also believe that 2011 presents some headwinds (higher taxes, costs) for corporations and small businesses, which may dampen the rate of the job recovery.   What should you do with your investments in this environment? 1. Review your portfolio.  Make sure you have the proper asset allocation.                       2. Maximize retirement accounts.  If you are over 50, make sure to take advantage of the catch-up provision.  This means if you are still working and have a 401k, you can contribute $16,500 in 2010. You can add another $5,500 if you are over 50 for a total of $22,000.  This applies to other IRA accounts as well in different amounts.                     3. Make the quality trade.  Make sure your portfolio includes high quality dividend-paying stocks.  On average, these stocks have underperformed the stock market averages and represent a good buying opportunity.   Copyright 2009, CAIM LLC    For those of you with questions, feel free to call me at 203.966.2712   Also please visit my website at www.catherineaveryinvest.com to receive your   *FREE Complimentary Portfolio Evaluation* *Please pass along this newsletter to friends and family*  to spread the word!