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September 2016 Performance Review

October 4, 2016

September was one of the dullest months in quite some time in the markets. The only broader fund categories up more than 3% where China and Japan funds. Most fund categories were within plus or minus 1%. Even in sector funds no category gained or lost over 5%.

While relatively decent returns in foreign funds helped, our exposure to longer-term government bonds, which were down around 1% for the month after recent strong returns, kept the Powerfund Portfolios a little under benchmarks in September.

Our Conservative portfolio declined 0.07%. Our Aggressive portfolio fell 0.43%. Benchmark Vanguard funds for September 2016 were as follows: Vanguard 500 Index Fund (VFINX) up 0.01%; Vanguard Total Bond Market Index Fund (VBMFX) down 0.07%; Vanguard Developed Markets Index Fund (VTMGX) up 1.40%; Vanguard Emerging Markets Stock Index (VEIEX) up 1.27%; Vanguard Star Fund (VGSTX), a total global balanced portfolio, up 0.53%.

Other drags included shorting oil, with PowerShares DB Crude Oil Dble Short (DTO) down 16% as Texas Tea rebounded fairly strongly in September, Italy, with iShares MSCI Italy Capped (EWI) down 3.08% on continued fears over Europe's shakier economies, and shorting biotech stocks, with Proshares Ultrashort NASDAQ Biotech (BIS) down just over 8% as healthcare and biotech stocks continued to rebound. Our only real winners in September were iShares MSCI BRIC Index (BKF) in stocks, up 2.12% on strength in emerging markets and SPDR Barclays Intl. Treasury (BWX) in bonds, up 0.70%.

Stock Funds1mo %
iShares MSCI BRIC Index (BKF)2.12%
[Benchmark] Vanguard Tax-Managed Intl Adm (VTMGX)1.40%
[Benchmark] Vanguard Emerging Mkts Stock Idx (VEIEX)1.27%
Vanguard Utilities (VPU)0.94%
Vanguard Europe Pacific ETF (VEA)0.80%
Artisan Global Equity (ARTHX)0.79%
Vanguard Telecom Services ETF (VOX)0.59%
Homestead Value (HOVLX)0.30%
[Benchmark] Vanguard 500 Index (VFINX)0.01%
Vanguard European ETF (VGK)-0.01%
Vanguard Value (VTV)-0.34%
Gold Short (DZZ)-0.93%
iShares Mortgage REIT (REM)-1.78%
ETRACS 1xMonthly Short Alerian MLP (MLPS)-2.10%
Proshares Ultrashort Russel2000 (TWM)-2.77%
iShares MSCI Italy Capped (EWI)-3.08%
Proshares Ultrashort NASDAQ Biotech (BIS)-6.53%
PowerShares DB Crude Oil Dble Short (DTO)-16.02%
Bond Funds1mo %
SPDR Barclays Intl. Treasury (BWX)0.70%
Vanguard Mortgage-Backed Securities (VMBS)0.54%
Artisan High Income Fund (ARTFX)0.10%
[Benchmark] Vanguard Total Bond Index (VBMFX)-0.07%
Vanguard Long-Term Bond Index ETF (BLV)-0.59%
Vanguard Extended Duration Treasury (EDV)-2.50%

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