Market Update – The Correlation Comparison: Years That Resemble 2024
Jan 17, 2025
Outsized returns, record highs on nearly a weekly cadence, and low volatility were three major themes of price action in 2024. The S&P 500 posted a total of 57 record highs, marking the fifth-highest number of new highs in a calendar year since 1950. Furthermore, the CBOE Volatility Index (VIX) averaged only 15.5 on a daily closing basis in 2024, well below its historical average close of 19.5 and ranking as the 12th lowest average annual VIX since 1990.
Tags: Current Events, Investing, Investment Planning
A Decision Not Made is Still a Decision
Jan 15, 2025
Investment inaction is played out in many ways, often silently, invisibly, and with potential consequence to an individual’s future financial security, especially when it comes to retirement planning.
Let’s review some of the forms this takes. (more…)
Tags: Certified Financial Planner Charlotte NC, charlotte NC, Current Events, Investing, Personal Finance
Market Update – Another Strong Year for Stocks
Jan 10, 2025
Stocks had another very strong year in 2024. In fact, 2024 marked the first time the S&P 500 has enjoyed a +20% gain in back-to-back years since 1997–98. Last year didn’t start out so optimistically though. The list of worries among stock-market bears included high valuations, narrow leadership by the largest technology stocks, rising long-term interest rates, election uncertainty, deficit spending, and more. Stocks rallied through all of that without so much as one 10% correction. (more…)
Tags: 2024 Stock Market, Current Events, Stock Market
Bad Money Habits to Break
Jan 3, 2025
Do bad money habits constrain your financial progress? Many people fall into the same financial behavior patterns, year after year. If you sometimes succumb to these financial tendencies, New Year’s Resolutions are a great time to alter your behavior and set your year up for financial success! (more…)
Tags: Certified Financial Planner Charlotte NC, charlotte NC, Current Events, Personal Finance
Market Update – A November to Remember
Dec 6, 2024
Solid gains for stocks gave investors a November to remember. In fact, the S&P 500’s more than 5% advance marked its best month of 2024. Several factors played into the stock market’s continued move higher. The U.S. economy continued its steady run of solid growth. The Federal Reserve (Fed) cut interest rates as expected, providing some reassurance about the outlook for inflation. Third quarter earnings season was solid, revealing that corporate America still has double-digit earnings power in its bag of tricks. The combination of election clarity and prospects for deregulation and lower taxes from the incoming administration also played a role. Market leadership was also encouraging, as small caps and economically sensitive consumer discretionary and financial sectors led, which may bode well for further gains. (more…)
Tags: Current Events
Talking to Your Heirs About Estate Planning
Nov 25, 2024
Talking about “the end” is not the easiest thing to do, and this is one reason why some people never adequately plan for the transfer of their wealth. Those who do create estate plans with help from financial and legal professionals sometimes leave their heirs out of the conversation. (more…)
Tags: Certified Financial Planner Charlotte NC, charlotte NC, Current Events, Estate Planning, financial advisor, Retirement Planning
Market Update – What Trump Means for the Markets
Nov 8, 2024
Donald Trump was elected the 47th president of the United States, defeating Vice President Kamala Harris thanks to strong performance in key swing states that gave him 277 electoral votes to 224 for Harris (according to The Associated Press, while five states have yet to be called). The gains at the top of the Republican ticket filtered down to state-level races, where Republicans achieved a majority in the Senate by flipping three seats to take a 52-seat majority, with several tight races still yet to be called. House control is still up in the air, but Republicans appear headed for a razor-thin majority and a GOP sweep. (more…)
Tags: Current Events
Managing Probate When Setting Up Your Estate
Nov 1, 2024
The probate process can be expensive for some estates. Settling an estate through probate can cost you both time and money. It could take up to a year for the estate to be settled, plus attorney’s fees, appraiser’s fees, and court costs may eat up as much as 5% of a decedent’s assets. Probating an estate valued at $400,000 could cost as much as $20,000.1 (more…)
Tags: Certified Financial Planner Charlotte NC, charlotte NC, Current Events, Estate Planning
Market Update – Beyond the Federal Reserve Rate Cuts
Oct 9, 2024
Finally! For the first time in more than four years, on September 18, the Federal Reserve (Fed) cut interest rates. While the debate over how big the cut would be was settled (a half point, not a quarter), questions about where the Fed will go from here and what it might mean for the economy and markets will continue. (more…)
Tags: Current Events
The Behavior Gap and Your Financial Health
Sep 9, 2024
“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…)
Tags: Certified Financial Planner Charlotte NC, Current Events, financial advisor charlotte nc, Financial Planning, Investing, Investment Portfolio
More Insights
Jan 17, 2025
Outsized returns, record highs on nearly a weekly cadence, and low volatility were three major themes of price action in 2024. The S&P 500 posted a total of 57 record highs, marking the fifth-highest number of new highs in a calendar year since 1950. Furthermore, the CBOE Volatility Index (VIX) averaged only 15.5 on a … Continue reading “Market Update – The Correlation Comparison: Years That Resemble 2024”
Jan 15, 2025
Investment inaction is played out in many ways, often silently, invisibly, and with potential consequence to an individual’s future financial security, especially when it comes to retirement planning. Let’s review some of the forms this takes.
Jan 13, 2025
Will you pay higher taxes in retirement? Do you have a 401(k) or a traditional IRA? If so, you will receive income from both after age 73. However, if you have saved and invested much of your life, you may also end up retiring at a higher marginal tax rate than your current one. Tax … Continue reading “Tax Efficiency in Retirement”
Jan 10, 2025
Stocks had another very strong year in 2024. In fact, 2024 marked the first time the S&P 500 has enjoyed a +20% gain in back-to-back years since 1997–98. Last year didn’t start out so optimistically though. The list of worries among stock-market bears included high valuations, narrow leadership by the largest technology stocks, rising long-term … Continue reading “Market Update – Another Strong Year for Stocks”
Jan 8, 2025
Saving for retirement is not easy, but using your retirement savings wisely can be just as challenging. How much of your savings can you withdraw each year? Withdraw too much and you run the risk of running out of money. Withdraw too little and you may miss out on a more comfortable retirement lifestyle.
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