Recapping My Predictions For The Economy and Our Wallets In 2010

Last January I laid out my predictions for the economy and other financial indicators for the Year 2010. I thought that it would be interesting to look back at my predictions and the predictions of a few other people now that the year is almost over.

My 2010 Financial Predictions That I Made In January

• Stocks will run out of steam and slow to a normal growth rate of 8% gain again in 2010. The S&P 500 Index will end at 1,250 and the Dow Jones Industrial Average will finish this year at 11,500.
• Unemployment will finish the year at 8%.
• We will see the end of the popularity of frugality.
• America will see a steady, healthy 3% inflation rate.
• Home values will stabilize and return to 3% annual growth.
• The Federal Reserve will raise the Federal Funds Rate to 0.75%.
• GDP growth in the US will return to 3%.
• Mortgage rates and the interest rate on the 10 Year Treasury will increase, steepening the yield curve. The 30 Year Fixed Mortgages will be at a 6.0% interest rate by the end of the year.
• One of the Big Three automobile manufacturers in Detroit will file for bankruptcy again! Maybe it will be Ford’s turn now.
• The personal savings rate in America will continue to fall and finish the year at 1.5%.

Where These Financial Indexes and Indicators Finally Ended In 2010

• Stocks will run out of steam and slow to a normal growth rate of 8% gain again in 2010. The S&P 500 Index ended at 1,256 and the Dow Jones Industrial Average finished this year at 11,573.as of December 26th, 2010.
• Unemployment will finish the year at 9.3%.
• Frugality is still alive and well for the most part.
• The inflation rate slowed to 1.1%.
• Home values are still down, and experts still believe that home prices will still be depressed throughout 2011.
• As of December 14th, 2010, the Federal Funds Rate remained unchanged at 0% to 0.25%
• GDP growth in the United States was 2.5% in the last quarter.
• The 30 Year Fixed Mortgages are currently still at an all-time low level of 4.97% annual interest rate.
• Ford has made a huge turnaround, and the other two of the Big Three are doing fine. Car sales continue to be at the lowest level in years.
• The personal savings rate in America dipped to 5.3% in November.

Below Were The Bloggers And CFPs’ Predictions….

I also asked some of the brightest and most respected personal finance bloggers, CFPs, and investing junkies around the blogosphere where they thought the Dow Jones Industrial Average would end up on December 31^st, 2010. While I did not wait until the 31^st and anything can happen of course, the Dow Jones ended at 11,573.49 on December 26^st, 2010.

J Money of BudgetsAreSexy – 11,000
June Walbert, CFP of USAA – 11,025
Wojciech Kulicki of Fiscal Fizzle – 10,650 (The furthest off prediction!)
Philip of Weakonomics – 11,000
FFB of Free From Broke – 11,250
Mr. Tough Money Love of Tough Money Love – 10,800
PT of PT Money – 11,000

I don’t want to brag or anything, but I was the closest estimate to the Dow Jones Industrial Average. Ryan from CashMoneyLife said it best when he said, “Predicting markets is just like predicting the weather, throw up enough possibilities and something will stick. That’s why I try to avoid listening to the talking heads on TV, who conveniently take both sides of a story so they are always covered. Instead of focusing on a number for the Dow, I plan on improving my personal financial situation to be prepared for anything that the markets throw at me.”

The Dow Jones Industrial Average is not the best indicator for how well the overall stock market is doing because there are a lot of flaws in the number. The index is only comprised of thirty companies for example. While it may be fun to guess what the future holds for the American investor, it is not something that you should get wrapped up around the axle about. Like Ryan stated, preparing your own financial game plan is the most important aspect of financial planning, investing, and preparing for next year and the long term future. So, going forward into this next year, I hope that you have a financial plan. I hope that you have an idea of how you will create a fully funded emergency fund. I hope that you will consider maxing out your Roth IRA and contributing enough to your 401k retirement plan to earn your company’s matching contribution. I hope that you will review your insurance needs. But, most of all, I hope that 2011 will bring you more happiness, health, and wisdom.

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Tagged as: Investing, New Year's Resolutions, Personal Finance, Prediction