The present economic and investing environment is particularly challenging. Nevertheless, we do see opportunities for positive investment returns in the year ahead as the recovery continues. http://budgeting-investing.ameriprise.com/planning-and-budgeting/financial-analysis/?cid=RSS_commentary Evidence of slowing global growth, along with the realization that policy options are limited and increasingly complicated by political disunity, has pushed risk assets lower across the board. http://www.ameriprise.com/budgeting-investing/planning-and-budgeting/financial-analysis/weekly-markets-commentary/2012-05-15.asp?cid=RSS_commentary In such an environment expect asset values to rise and fall in reaction to the daily flow of economic data, until a trend is firmly established. http://www.ameriprise.com/budgeting-investing/planning-and-budgeting/financial-analysis/weekly-markets-commentary/2012-05-07.asp?cid=RSS_commentary Admittedly, the bar had been set fairly low coming into earnings season due to concerns over sluggish economic growth and peaking profit margins. Nevertheless, results so far have been encouraging. http://www.ameriprise.com/budgeting-investing/planning-and-budgeting/financial-analysis/weekly-markets-commentary/2012-04-23.asp?cid=RSS_commentary