The Anna Maria Island Sun Newspaper

Vol. 12 No. 28 - April 25, 2012

BUSINESS

Find your treasures at Time Zone

Anna Maria Island Sun News Story

louise bolger | sun
Marianne and Tom Ferrara offer jewelry, purses,
luggage , wallets, clothing and more at Time Zone

What inspires you? Some people are inspired by beautiful sunsets, beautiful words or beautiful art. But if you're inspiration comes from owning beautiful things, I know exactly where you can go.

Marianne and Tom Ferrara have been selling designer inspired purses, luggage, wallets, jewelry and a host of other apparel for over 20 years. They were formerly at The Red Barn, but in October of last year they moved into their own shop, Time Zone & Silver Touch, in the Jennings Arcade on Old Main Street in downtown Bradenton.

Originally from Massachusetts, the Ferraras relocated to Florida 25 years ago when Tom retired from teaching. His interest in all types of watches led him to a new career, and when Marianne retired from managing a doctor's office she joined him and expanded their inventory.

Tom is the expert in watches carrying all styles from bling to vintage and collectibles. He has a collection of pocket watches, an inventory of watch bands, and he can change the battery in your existing timepiece.

Marianne has taken the shop to a whole new level by adding designer inspired shoes, handbags, silver and gemstone jewelry, sunglasses, wallets, scarves and T-shirts. She says her inventory consists of high grade artesian inspired or manufactured pieces.

She personally hand chooses her designer inspired purses, wallets and luggage to determine they are the highest quality available. The purses range from $40 to $90, and Marianne likes to point out that everything in their shop "only looks expensive."

You'll also find handcrafted silver jewelry and jewelry featuring semi-precious stones, some of it containing quartz, larimar and rhodochroisice. They also carry the new line of Charles Albert jewelry called Alchemia. Inspired by the ancient mythical craft of transforming lesser metals into gold, Alchemia blends base metals to simulate the look and feel of 18K gold. The resulting handcrafted jewelry has the look of expensive pieces at affordable prices.

It's hard to believe that the Ferraras can offer the wide variety of items they do in this petite shop. Once you get inside, you'll be amazed at how much there is to choose from and how many of your favorite designers' names you will recognize.

Inspiration is in the eye of the beholder. Visit Time Zone & Silver Touch for your dose of inspiration and take away a beautiful thing at an inspirational price.

TIME ZONE & SILVER TOUCH

417 12th St. W. (Old Main Street), Bradenton
Suite #106
941-720-3376

Tuesday and Wednesday:
11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Thursday: 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Friday: 11 a.m. till
Saturday: 10 a.m. till

MasterCard, Visa, Discover

 

Anna Maria Island Sun News Story

Seasonal patterns for investors

Investment Corner

The passage of time allows us to make observations about seasonal or calendar-based tendencies of price movements in the stock market and other asset classes. Many of these appear to be solid patterns to be followed at first glance, but none are perfect, and all are subject to modification when they become too popular.

One well-known pattern we are approaching is the "Sell in May and go Away" theory. This historical observation correctly observes that the bulk of the stock market's gains are achieved in November through April, and that being invested in May through October yields little gains for the risk assumed. The trouble is that it doesn't work that way each year.

Using average return data compiled over 50 or 60 years produces an analysis of what would have happened in the past, but there are also years where the pattern doesn't fit. If you sell on the last day of April and the market moves up 10 percent in May, June and July, what do you do then? Hopping back in would be the normal tendency, but that may prove to be a mistake since after the move up, the market is that much closer to the next correction. You can imaging the frustration if you had moved back in breaking the Sell in May and go Away model, only to then lose money after not participating in the upside.

I'm not a proponent of the Sell in May and go Away theory, but if you're going to use a seasonal pattern to trade the markets, you should probably stick with it even when it doesn't work. Violating the rules will likely achieve even worse results. I am a fan of rules based portfolio management, even if I don't like every system that someone can mine out of the data. My favorite methods tend to be designed more around the price action of the markets themselves, not a fixed point on the calendar. Of course, each type of method will have its day in the sun, only to be cast to the scrap heap after it doesn't work for a while.

An example of another calendar-based observation is the presidential election cycle. Over the years, the worst years for the stock market, on average, are the first and second years of the new term. Years three and four are far and away the best. 2011 was the third year of the cycle and last year turned out to be very lackluster for equity returns and included a gut wrenching correction in the middle part of the year. So last year, Sell in May and go Away would have worked great, but the presidential cycle theory would not have.

Another consideration is the tax ramifications of timing the markets using any system including seasonal or calendar based rules. In non-qualified accounts, short-term gains are taxed at higher rates than long-term gains, and most seasonal pattern trades will be short-term in nature. Obviously in qualified accounts such as IRAs and other retirement plans, this point is moot since realized gains and losses are not taxed in these accounts.

Perhaps a blend of techniques might be best. If you want to follow a seasonal pattern, then doing so in your IRA might be best for tax reasons. You can use your non-qualified accounts to own investments in more of a buy and hold strategy, which will enhance tax efficiency.

We'll re-convene in November to see how the patterns work out this year. Good luck and good investing.

 

Tom Breiter is president of Breiter Capital Management, Inc., an Anna Maria based investment advisor. He can be reached at 778-1900. Some of the investment concepts highlighted in this column may carry the risk of loss of principal, and investors should determine appropriateness for their personal situation before investing. Visit www.breitercapital.com.

 


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