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Here are selected rate of return numbers for the last two years and year to date as of 9/30/17*
(Source: Morningstar) *Inclusion of these indexes is for illustrative purposes only. Keep in mind that
individuals cannot invest directly in any index, and index performance does not include transaction costs
or other fees, which will affect actual investment performance. Individual investor’s results may vary.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
2015 Return
2016
Return
2017 YTD
Dow Jones Industrials +0.21% +16.50% +15.45%
S&P 500 Index +1.38% +11.96% +14.24%
NASDAQ Composite +6.96% +8.87% +14.71%
MSCI World (ex. U.S.) in U.S. dollars
-3.04% +2.75% +19.17%
Russell 2000 -4.41% +21.31% +10.94%
Russell 1000 Value Index -3.83% +17.34% +7.92%
Russell 1000 Growth Index
+5.67% +7.08% +20.72%
Russell 3000 TR USD +0.48% +12.74% +13.91%
Barcap Intermediate Treasury
+1.56% +1.06% +1.18%
Barcap Aggregate +3.14% +2.65% +0.55%
Large-Cap Growth +22.28% +1.79% +7.71%
Large-Cap Value +8.02% +18.91% -1.43%
Small-Cap Growth +17.66% +9.61% -0.18%
Small-Cap Value +4.21% +27.96% -8.65%
Americans lose tens of billions of dollars each year to
financial fraud. In the digital frontier, many crimes—
including identity theft, tax fraud and elder abuse—are
committed by online outlaws, making cybersecurity all
the more important. As cybercrime becomes more
prevalent, learn how to defend yourself with simple,
everyday practices that can help protect your identity,
your accounts and your devices.
Fighting Fraud
Familiarize yourself with common scams to help protect
your assets and your identity. Often, identity thieves
pretend to be someone they’re not, whether they're
claiming to be from a legitimate organization, acting as
though they are in love or purporting to be someone you
MILLER ADVISORS INC. | 11 Tenth Avenue, Kirkland, WA 98033 | 425.822.8122 | www.MillerAdvisors.com
FOURTH QUARTER | 2017
FINANCIAL UPDATE
Major Bond Indexes
Mutual Funds (Morningstar Categories)
Savvy Steps to Stay Cyber-Safe
“Don’t judge each day by the harvest you reap but by the seeds that you plant.” - ROBERT LOUIS STEVENSON
FOURTH QUARTER | 2017
trust. The effort is an attempt to induce you to reveal
personal information, such as passwords or credit card
numbers. Crimes such as these fall under the umbrella of
phishing, a popular fraudulent activity.
Never click on the unknown. If you receive an email from a
reputable company, go directly to their website. If you
receive an unexpected email from someone you know, call
them before opening it. Additionally, never reveal your
passwords and only use credit card numbers on sites you’re
confident are secure. If you have any doubt, refrain from
revealing personal information.
Tax season is a notable time to take extra precaution as
email compromise and mail theft tend to crop up each year
and more than 237,750 tax fraud victims are reported to
the IRS annually. Remember that the IRS will never request
personal or financial information by email, phone, or text
message or social media, nor will they threaten you with
lawsuits, imprisonment or other enforcement action if you
have done nothing wrong. Elect to receive your tax forms
online rather than in your mailbox, where they may be at
risk of physical theft, and file as soon as possible to
decrease the likelihood that someone will maliciously file
on your behalf.
Prudent Prevention
By taking small steps toward a safer online presence, you
and your loved ones will be less likely to experience a loss
of personal information and privacy. There are a number
of everyday practices everyone should follow.
Improve your passwords: Use complex and unique
passwords that are different for each account. Include
numbers, capital and lowercase letters, and symbols.
MILLER ADVISORS INC. | 11 Tenth Avenue, Kirkland, WA 98033 |
Take it one step further: Turn on two-step
authentication for your accounts—a security process in
which the user provides two means of identification
rather than one.
Opt for biometric identification: On top of your standard
password, consider adding a photo of your face, the
sound of your voice or an image of your fingerprint to your
protective arsenal.
Keep an eye on apps: Before you download an app,
review the privacy policy and what data (such as location)
the app can access.
Clean up your mess: Keep your electronics free from
malware and viruses. Apply updates and patches on
computers and mobile devices as soon as possible, and
wipe computers and mobile devices of data before selling
or disposing of them.
Use public wireless networks with caution: Avoid visiting
sensitive websites or conducting financial transactions on
an unsecure network.
Post prudently: Be mindful of what you’re posting on
social media platforms, and avoid sharing personally
identifiable information. Check privacy settings to ensure
that you are not sharing your profile with people you
don’t know.
Be alert to risks online: Never open attachments or links
in suspicious emails or from senders you don’t recognize.
Secure your information: Keep software up to date and
install an antivirus product. Shred sensitive material or
store securely in a digital or physical vault.
Post-Theft Protection
The Federal Trade Commission reports that 11.7 million
people are victims of identity theft each year. Should your
information be compromised, these are the actions you
should take.
Contact the Federal Trade Commission: Call to report the
issue or access the online complaint form. Visit the FTC’s
identity theft website for more information.
Report the incident: File a police report, and retain a
copy as proof.
Contact the creditors’ fraud departments: Close
affected accounts and speak with someone in the security
or fraud department. Notify credit card companies and
banks in writing. Follow up with a letter of affidavit as well
as copies of any supporting documents. Order new debit
and credit cards.
Alert credit bureaus: Report the breach to one of the
three major credit bureaus and ask for credit monitoring,
fraud alerts, credit freezes and copies of your credit
reports.
Keep good records: Notify businesses and agencies by phone and in writing. Log dates, times and the names of people you spoke with as well as what they tell you. Keep copies of any correspondence, and use certified mail, return receipt requested. Reset your passwords: Consider using password manager software if needed. Experts blame weak or stolen usernames and passwords for 76% of data breaches. Check for additional fraudulent activity: Watch your monthly statements, emails and regular mail, sign into Investor Access, and call your advisor to report suspicious activity. Other steps: Contact the Social Security Administration, the Postal Inspection Service or your issuing driver’s license office if your Social Security card, mail or driver’s license has been stolen. Talk to your advisor about these and other ways you can protect yourself and your accounts. Together, you can explore options like secure file sharing, fraud and consumer preference text alerts, and two-factor authentication. Source: Raymond James Point of View
MILLER ADVISORS INC. | 11 Tenth Avenue, Kirkland, WA 98033 | 425.822.8122 | www.MillerAdvisors.com
FOURTH QUARTER | 2017
Social Security Benefits to Get 2% Boost in 2018
Social Security recipients will get a 2% increase in benefits in 2018, an amount slightly lower than what was projected this summer but up sharply from the past two years. The cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) covers more than 61 million Social Security beneficiaries and more than 8 million recipients of Supplemental Security Income benefits. Some people get both. The boost is the highest since a 3.6% bump in 2012. The average person will get about $25 more a month. The average monthly Social Security payment is $1,258, or about $15,000 a year. The rate of the increase is tied to the Consumer Price Index, an inflation gauge. The Social Security Board of Trustees projected in July that this year’s increase would be 2.2%. Though it fell short of that amount, it came after an increase of 0.3% for 2017 and no change in 2016. Advocates for seniors claim that the inflation index doesn't accurately capture rising prices faced by seniors, especially for health care. “It’s squeezing them. It’s causing them to dip into savings more quickly,” said Mary Johnson of the Senior Citizens League.
“The lifetime income that they were counting on just
isn’t there.”
Some conservatives said the inflation index is too
generous because when prices go up, people change
their buying habits and buy cheaper alternatives.
For upper-income retirees, the gains will be partially
offset by an increase in the maximum amount of
earnings subject to Social Security tax, which will
jump 1.2% to $128,700.
The Government will increase the earnings limit for
retirees younger than 66. The limit for that category
will rise 0.7% to $17,040, so their benefits will fall by
$1 for every $2 above that amount that they earn.
Source: “Social Security benefits to get 2% boost in
2018” Nathan Bomey, USA Today.
https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/
personalfinance/retirement/2017/10/13/social-
security-benefits-get-another-small-boost-
2018/760857001/
Marcel’s Mastermind
“Most of us have far more courage than we ever dreamed we possessed.” Dale Carnegie
MILLER ADVISORS INC. | 11 Tenth Avenue, Kirkland, WA 98033 | 425.822.8122 | www.MillerAdvisors.com
FOURTH QUARTER | 2017
Seahawks Party Join Miller Advisors for game time! We are pleased to host a Seahawks party at the Wilde Rover in Kirkland on November 9th for the Seahawks vs. Cardinals Thursday night football game. The party starts at 5:00 PM and kickoff is at 5:25 PM. Make sure to wear your favorite Hawks gear! Heavy appetizers will be served along with a variety of beers and wine. Parking is available behind the restaurant and at the Kirkland Public Library. Watch for your invitation in the mail and please RSVP to Judy Chambers. (425) 822-8122 Holiday Party Please join us at the Heathman Hotel on Thursday, December 14th from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. for an evening of mingling and merriment. Light hors d’ oeuvres and wine will be served. Mark your calendars! Valet parking will be provided. Watch for your invitation in the mail with more details and please RSVP to Judy Chambers. We look forward to celebrating the season with you! (425) 822-8122
Staff News
2017 is shaping up to be a great one for the Miller
Advisors team, especially for Kathleen and Nicole. The
latest achievement occurred this past week when
Kathleen received the 2017 IAD Woman of Distinction
Award from Raymond James. This is a peer nominated
award. It recognizes an advisor who serves as a role-
model through mentoring, coaching and sharing her
vast knowledge and experience. Kathleen has embod-
ied these attributes for more than 30 years and is
well-deserving of this honor. The fact that her peers
nominated her speaks to the respect and influence she
has in the industry. From the birth of Maddalena to
the accolades for Kathleen, yes, 2017 is indeed a good
year for Miller Advisors.
FOURTH QUARTER | 2017
Key Dates To Remember For 2017
12/29/2017—Last day to sell securities to realize a
gain or loss.
12/29/2017—Last day to establish a qualified
retirement plan for 2017. SEP IRA plans may be
established until the tax-filing deadline (generally
April 15) plus extension.
12/29/2017—Last day to complete charitable
contributions for 2017. (Be sure to allow enough
time to complete donations that may require
additional time.)
1/16/2018—Fourth estimated payment for 2017 is
due.
1/31/2018—Deadline for employers to send W-2s
and 1099’s to individuals.
2/15/2018—Deadline for financial institutions to
send 1099s to individuals. (Delayed 1099s will be
sent 30 days after.)
4/18/2018—Deadline to file individual income tax
return or file an extension with the IRS.
4/18/2018—Last day to contribute to a Traditional
and Roth IRAs for 2017.
MILLER ADVISORS INC. | 11 Tenth Avenue, Kirkland, WA 98033 | 425.822.8122 | www.MillerAdvisors.com
We would like to remind you that in the event you are unable to
speak with someone at our office, you can contact Raymond James
Client Services directly for assistance with your accounts at
(800) 647-7378.
We would like to thank those of you who have referred your
associates, clients, family members, and friends to us. Your referrals
are personally and professionally the most satisfying way for our
practice to grow.
MILLER ADVISORS INC. | 11 Tenth Avenue, Kirkland, WA 98033 | 425.822.8122 | www.MillerAdvisors.com
FOURTH QUARTER | 2017
Miller Advisors, Inc. is a SEC Registered Investment Advisor. The
information contained in this report does not purport to be a
complete description of securities, markets, or developments
referred to in this material.
The information has been obtained from sources considered to be
reliable, but we do not guarantee that the foregoing material is
accurate or complete. Expressions of opinion are as of this date and
are subject to change without notice. Past performance does not
guarantee future results.
If you have any questions or feedback regarding the newsletter,
please contact Nicole Miller and let her know how we can improve
our communication with you.
By The Numbers
Living Longer—Life expectancy at birth for an
American has increased 6.9 years over the last 40
years, i.e., life expectancy at birth is increasing by 1
year every 6 years.
Source: National Vital Statistics Report
Seniors—15% of the US Population is at least age 65,
ranging from 19% of Florida’s citizens to just 11% of
Utah’s residents.
Source: Census Bureau
Nice Raise—Stephen Curry, 2-Time NBA MVP, signed
a 5-year contract in July 2017 that will pay him a guar-
anteed $201 million through 2022. Curry, who made
$12.1 million last season, will make $34.7 million for
his 2017 season that begins 10/17/17.
Source: Golden State Warriors
Please contact us at 425.822.8122 or by email.
Be sure to include more than one email address to
ensure a prompt response.
Kathleen Miller
Nicole Miller
Kelli Young
David Simpson
Judy Chambers
Jane Castro
