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Market Update: CPI Disappoints

Oct 14, 2022

Disappointing

The core Consumer Price Index (CPI), which excludes food and energy, rose to a multi-decade high in September, disappointing both investors and policy makers. The CPI is one, but not the only metric for inflation. (more…)

Eight Retirement Mistakes to Avoid

Oct 12, 2022

Pursuing your retirement dreams is challenging enough without making some common, and very avoidable, mistakes. Here are eight big mistakes to steer clear of, if possible.

No Strategy.

Yes, the biggest mistake is having no strategy at all. Without a strategy, you may have no goals, leaving you no way of knowing how you’ll get there – and if you’ve even arrived. Creating a strategy may increase your potential for success, both before and after retirement. (more…)

Tags: Certified Financial Planner Charlotte NC, financial advisor charlotte nc, Financial Planner Charlotte NC, retirement, Retirement Planning, Retirement Tax Savings, Wealth Building

Market Update: Is the Value Proposition for Bonds Improving?

Oct 7, 2022

First, we want to acknowledge the tremendous damage and displacement caused by Hurricane Ian. Our thoughts are with those impacted by this devastating storm.

This has clearly been a challenging year for households. Stocks and bonds are both down significantly. Elevated food and gas prices continue to stretch budgets, and higher interest rates have increased borrowing costs. But we continue to see signs that the worst may be behind us. Gas prices are falling. Inflation pressures stemming from supply chain disruptions are easing. And the Federal Reserve (Fed) has taken these price increases seriously and is doing its job by raising short-term interest rates. While the Fed may still gradually increase rates throughout this year, it has already done a lot even as asset prices have come under increasing pressure. (more…)

Tags: Current Events

Market Update: Better Times Ahead

Sep 30, 2022

In the last several weeks, we have continued to face elevated uncertainty in financial markets due to high inflation and rising interest rates, and we thought it was an important time to take stock with the final quarter of 2022 just ahead. (more…)

Market Update – OPEC+ Looks To Defend Higher Oil Prices

Sep 28, 2022

Oil prices are rising today as hurricanes in North America introduce concerns over possible disruptions of supply, coupled with an easing of the U.S. dollar.  But despite this respite, unease among Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries Plus (OPEC+) member countries continues over slower global demand and recession fears given weaker economic forecasts.,. (more…)

Market Update: Fed Gets Pessimistic, Yet Realistic

Sep 23, 2022

The Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) increased the target rate by 75 basis points (bp) to a 3.25% upper bound and delivered a more pessimistic outlook in their published Summary of Economic Projections. (more…)

Tax-Loss Harvesting

Sep 16, 2022

At one point or another, you may realize capital gains, which is a taxable event. What can you do about them? You can do what some investors do – you could recognize investments with a loss and practice “tax-loss harvesting.” (more…)

Tags: financial advisor charlotte nc, Financial Help, Investment Planning, Personal Finance, Tax Advantages, Tax Deductions, Tax Planning

Rebalancing Your Portfolio

Sep 14, 2022

Everyone loves a winner. If an investment is successful, most people naturally want to stick with it. But is that the best approach?

It may sound counterintuitive, but it may be possible to have too much of a good thing. Over time, the performance of different investments can shift a portfolio’s intent as well as its risk profile. It’s a phenomenon sometimes referred to as “risk creep,” and it happens when a portfolio’s risk profile shifts over time. (more…)

Market Update: The Best and Worst of Times

Sep 12, 2022

When it comes to stock market performance, August was “the best of times, and the worst of times.” The strong market rally that peaked in mid-August was viewed by many analysts as a transition from a bear to bull market, based on the surge in breadth that stocks enjoyed and the magnitude of the two-month rally that began in mid-June totaling 17%. (more…)

Tags: charlotte NC, Current Events, financial advisor, financial advisor charlotte nc

Should You Prepare to Retire on 80% of Your Income

Sep 9, 2022

A classic retirement preparation rule states that you should retire on 80% of the income you earned in your last year of work. Is this old axiom still true, or does it need reconsidering?

Some new research suggests that retirees may not need that much annual income to keep up their standard of living. (more…)

Tags: Certified Financial Planner Charlotte NC, financial advisor charlotte nc, Personal Finance, retirement, Retirement Planning, Retirement Tax Savings