Tag: Current Events

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month

Oct 4, 2023

Breast Cancer Awareness month
Regular Screenings and annual check-ups are essential for early detection

October brings to mind the beauty of the leaves changing colors and a time to enjoy the colder weather. But October also holds another meaning for millions of people: it’s Breast Cancer Awareness Month. (more…)

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Investing in Bonds

Sep 27, 2023

calculating bond prices
Bonds can be an important piece of any portfolio

Bonds may not be as glamorous as stocks or commodities, but they are a significant component of most investment portfolios. Bonds are traded in huge volumes every day, but their full usefulness is often underappreciated and underestimated.

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Government Shutdown Looms, Stocks Say ‘Been There, Done That’

Sep 22, 2023

The specter of a U.S. federal government shutdown continues to loom this week as Congress has just 12 days to agree on a budget before the October 1 deadline. House Republicans released a temporary measure on Sunday which could push the deadline out another month, with the hopes of a final solution coming in the interim. However, that proposal has encountered pushback even from within their own ranks, not to mention from across the aisle, and has yet to be voted on. The bad news is it looks like the government is headed for another shutdown; the good news is the stock market has seen this before. (more…)

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The Behavior Gap and Your Financial Health

Aug 28, 2023

Behavior Gap Brain Synapses
how might it affect you?

“It turns out my job was not to find great investments but to help create great investors,” writes Carl Richards, author of “The Behavior Gap.” From increasing our budget mindfulness to taking a steadier approach to investing, Richards has drawn attention to how our unexamined behaviors and emotions can be to our detriment when it comes to living a happy and financially sound life. In many cases, we make poor financial decisions when experiencing panic or anxiety due to personal or widespread events. 1 (more…)

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Market Update – What a Pullback Could Look Like

Aug 16, 2023

Key Takeaways:

  • While there is strong support for stocks being in a bull market, overbought conditions, weak seasonality, rising interest rate volatility, and ongoing uncertainty over monetary policy suggest a shorter-term pullback in this rally could be underway.
  • In terms of downside, support for the S&P 500 sets up at 4,450 (June highs), 4,432 (50-day moving average), and near the 4,200-4,300 range (uptrend/prior highs). We believe the latter support range is the most likely spot for a bounce given the confluence of support in this area, the degree of record-high cash sitting in money market assets, and the fact many investors missed the first half rally.
  • Don’t panic—pullbacks are normal, even during years with above-average returns. History suggests a 5-10% drawdown between now and year-end is not uncommon, even during years with strong rallies into August. However, even with a drawdown, the S&P 500 has still historically generated positive average returns into year-end.

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Should You Downsize for Retirement

Jul 31, 2023

Packing Tape Boxing Moving Boxes
Some retirees save a great deal of money by doing so; others do not.

You want to retire, and you own a large home that is nearly or fully paid off. The kids are gone, but the upkeep costs haven’t fallen. Should you retire and keep your home? Or sell your home and retire? Maybe it’s time to downsize for retirement. (more…)

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The Taylor Swift Era – Consumer Spending Inflation Clarity

Jul 21, 2023

As the dog days of summer roll on, and many of us are taking advantage of warm weather and time off to enjoy experiences, American consumer spending patterns are coming into focus. One experience in particular has captured the most attention and has managed to exemplify today’s consumer—Taylor Swift’s ‘The Eras Tour.’ As the tour scorches through the summer (and in an admittedly light economic data week) we take a look at the revenue generation, and economic trajectory of the world’s biggest pop star’s shows, and how it translates to shifting consumer spending habits that shape inflation. (more…)

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Market Update – Earnings Preview

Jul 14, 2023

Earnings season for the second quarter of 2023 kicks off this week, with some of the largest domestic banks, namely JPMorgan Chase (JPM), Wells Fargo (WFC), and Citigroup (C), reporting results on Friday. FactSet consensus estimates show Q2 earnings for the S&P 500 dropping roughly 7% when compared to a year ago, down from the nearly 2% decline in the prior quarter and significantly lower than the 5-year earnings growth average of 12%. (more…)

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Market Update – The Mid Point

Jul 7, 2023

As we finalize the log on the first six months of 2023, we believe there’s value in reflecting on recent months gone by. Doing so can help crystallize key learnings and help chart a course through the rest of the year. Looking back on the first half of 2023, it’s probably fair to say the outcome has been a bit better-than-expected for the stock and bond markets, especially compared to 2022’s tumult. (more…)

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Market Update: Muni Returns the Second Half of the Year

Jun 28, 2023

Market Update
Market Update

It’s been a case of one step forward, two steps back for municipal (muni) bond investors this year. What started out as one of the best January’s in recent memory for munis, quickly turned into one of the worst February’s on record. And monthly returns have been uneven since. So, what can muni investors expect the rest of the year? Some thoughts: (more…)

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More Insights

Middle East Conflict: How Do Stocks React to Geopolitical Shocks?
Apr 17, 2024

Following Iran’s missile and drone strikes on Israel over the weekend and the apparent escalation likely in any Israeli response, stocks fell sharply during Monday’s trading session. We examine the latest developments in the Middle East conflict, how stocks have reacted historically to geopolitical events, and the possible impact on markets moving forward.

How US Savings Bonds Work
Apr 15, 2024

Did you buy U.S. Savings Bonds decades ago? Or did your parents or grandparents purchase them for you? If they’re collecting dust in a drawer, you may want to take a look at them to see if any of your bonds have matured. If your bonds have matured, that means they are no longer earning … Continue reading “How US Savings Bonds Work”

Market Update – Assessing the Prospect for a Pullback
Apr 12, 2024

In baseball, three strikes and you’re out. With inflation, a third straight month of hotter-than-expected consumer inflation data nearly ruled out probabilities for a June rate cut yesterday (now less than a 25% chance, according to fed funds futures). The core Consumer Price Index (CPI) rose 0.4% in March, or 3.8% when compared on a … Continue reading “Market Update – Assessing the Prospect for a Pullback”

Estimating Your Retirement Income Needs
Apr 10, 2024

You know how important it is to plan for your retirement, but where do you begin? One of your first steps should be to estimate how much income you’ll need to fund your retirement. That’s not as easy as it sounds, because retirement planning is not an exact science. Your specific needs depend on your … Continue reading “Estimating Your Retirement Income Needs”

Can Pre-Election Market Trends Survive This Attention?
Apr 8, 2024

Let’s talk seasonality. For those that are unfamiliar, seasonality is the tendency for markets to perform better during some calendar periods and worse during others in a somewhat predictable way. One of the more amazing things about 2023 and part of the first quarter of 2024 is how well U.S. equity markets have been following … Continue reading “Can Pre-Election Market Trends Survive This Attention?”

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