Be prepared: Wall Street advisor recommends guns, ammo for protection in collapse

A top financial advisor, worried that Obamacare, the NSA spying scandal and spiraling national debt is increasing the chances for a fiscal and social disaster, is recommending that Americans prepare a “bug-out bag” that includes food, a gun and ammo to help them stay alive.
David John Marotta, a Wall Street expert and financial advisor and Forbes contributor, said in a note to investors, “Firearms are the last item on the list, but they are on the list. There are some terrible people in this world. And you are safer when your trusted neighbors have firearms.”
His memo is part of a series addressing the potential for a “financial apocalypse.” His view, however, is that the problems plaguing the country won't result in armageddon. “There is the possibility of a precipitous decline, although a long and drawn out malaise is much more likely,” said the Charlottesville, Va.-based president of Marotta Wealth Management.  (more)

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5 Moves to Make Before 2014

While it’s tempting to slip into an eggnog stupor from Christmas Eve to New Year’s Day, there are five items we should all check off of our to-do lists before the ball drops on 2014…

Review your loss carry forward numbers. If you have any capital loss carry forward from previous years, now is a good time to take some profits. You can take your gains and offset them against your carry forward, plus $3,000. Who knows when our desperate government will still demand its share of our gains via taxes but leave us alone to cover our losses? Offset those carry forward losses and take some profits where it makes sense to do so.
Maximize your 401(k) and IRA contributions. If you’re over 50, don’t forget the catch-up contribution. You can contribute $17,500 per year to a 401(k), plus an additional catch-up contribution of $5,500. If you have an IRA, you can contribute $5,500, plus a catch-up contribution of $1,000. Check with your CPA for the details specific to you. (more)
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'Blood in the Streets' Gold Miner Play Could Pay Off Big

Haters gonna hate, politicians gonna lie, and gold bashers gonna bash. The third of these homespun truisms has never been more prevalent then of late, as nearly every pundit I've heard these days is ready to toss the metal, and miners, out like a red-headed stepchild.
Year to date, gold prices have admittedly been dismal. So far in 2013, SPDR Gold Trust (NYSE: GLD) is down more than 28%. Mining stocks have fared even worse.
Year to date, Market Vectors Gold Miners (NYSE: GDX) is down 54%. That's the worst performance in the sector since the widespread equity meltdown of 2008.
The chart below shows the fund trading well below both the short-term, 50-day moving average and the long-term, 200-day moving average. In fact, GDX now trades just slightly above multi-year lows.

So, what's made gold and gold miners such an unappealing trade this year?  (more)
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Hormel Foods Corporation (NYSE: HRL)

Hormel Foods Corporation processes, markets, and sells consumer-branded meat and food products. The Grocery Products segment offers shelf-stable food products, including canned luncheon meats, shelf-stable microwaveable meals, stews, chilies, hash, meat spreads, flour and corn tortillas, salsas, and tortilla chips in the retail market. The Refrigerated Foods segment provides branded and unbranded pork and beef products for retail, foodservice, and fresh product customers. The Jennie-O Turkey Store segment offers branded and unbranded turkey products for retail, foodservice, and fresh product customers. The Specialty Foods segment is involved in the packaging and sale of various sugar and sugar substitute products, salt and pepper products, liquid portion products, dessert mixes, ready-to-drink products, sports nutrition products, gelatin products, and private label canned meats to retail and foodservice customers. The International and Other segment manufactures, markets, and sells its products internationally.
To review Hormel’s stock, please take a look at the 10-month chart of HRL (Hormel Foods Corporation) below with my added notations:

The $44 level (blue) was clearly a key point of resistance for HRL from August through mid-November. In addition, the stock formed a trendline of support (red) starting back at the end of August. These two levels combined had HRL stuck within a common chart pattern known as an ascending triangle. The stock broke through the $44 level to a new 52-week high towards the end of November and has now pulled back to that level.

The Tale of the Tape: HRL broke the resistance of its ascending triangle. A long trade could be made on a pull back to $44. A break back below the $44 level would possibly negate the forecast for a move higher.
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Dow on track for best year since 1996

The Dow Jones Industrial Average (Dow Jones Global Indexes: .DJI) is on track to end the year with its biggest percentage gain since 1996 and is almost certain to have its best year in a decade. 

If it closes on Dec. 31 above 16,422.11, the Dow will beat its 25.32 percent surge in 2003. 

That would make it the best year since 1996, when the Dow gained 26.01 percent. 

If the Dow ends above 16,512.53, it would beat even that year's surge, but it would only add one year to the bragging rights because it was up 33.45 percent in 1995.

The Dow is also heading for its fifth straight annual gain, its longest winning streak since nine consecutive gains ending in 1999.

The index is up 87 percent since it closed at 8,776.39 on Dec. 31, 2008.

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