What Are Personal Tax Credits?
Feb 28, 2024
Have you ever thought that you’re paying too much income tax? You may be, if you’re not claiming all of the tax credits for which you are eligible when you file your federal tax return. These credits may significantly reduce your tax liability.
Tags: Certified Financial Planner Charlotte NC, Current Events, Family Wealth, financial advisor charlotte nc, tax guide, Tax Planning, taxes
How Could the Markets Surprise Us in 2024?
Feb 12, 2024
Byron Wien recently passed away. He was a true Wall Street icon. I had the good fortune of meeting Mr. Wien once when I was seated behind him at an investment conference during the depths of the Great Financial Crisis (GFC). Mr. Wien was probably best known for his annual top ten list of surprises for the year ahead. He defined a surprise on his list as something that the average investor would only assign about a one-in-three chance of occurring, but that he thought was closer to 50/50. I always thought this was a useful exercise. Markets have a way of habitually surprising us and proving the conventional thinking wrong, so having an idea of where the potential forks in the road may come just makes us better prepared and informed as investors. (more…)
Tags: Current Events
Market Update – Solid Start to 2024
Feb 9, 2024
Stocks are off to a solid start in 2024. January gains are particularly enjoyable because of the old adage from the Stock Trader’s Almanac, “As goes January, so goes the year.” Nearly 75 years of historical data shows that when the S&P 500 has risen in January, the average gain for the remainder of the year has been about 12%. This January, the S&P 500 was up 1.6%. (more…)
Tags: Current Events
Market Update – As Goes January, So Goes the Year
Feb 2, 2024
After a relatively slow start, the S&P 500 rallied during the back half of January and closed out the month with a gain of 1.6%. Buying pressure was relatively narrow, as declining shares on the index modestly outpaced advancers. Similar to 2023, a few mega-caps did most of the heavy lifting. Shares of NVIDIA (NVDA), Microsoft (MSFT), and Meta (META) contributed 80% of the S&P 500’s total return during the month.
Tags: Current Events, Personal Finance
Important Lessons from 2023
Jan 3, 2024
Stocks defied the skeptics in a very unpredictable 2023. The Dow Jones finished at an all-time record high on December 28, and the S&P 500 came within a whisker of a fresh all-time high after the index rallied more than 20% for the year. (more…)
Tags: Current Events
Market Update – Dow Rallies to Record Highs
Dec 18, 2023
Key Takeaways
- The Dow Jones Industrial Average (INDU) has gone from correction to record highs in only 32 trading days. Broadening participation predicated on falling interest rates and signs of a soft-landing scenario have underpinned the recovery.
- What happens after a record high? Over the last 100 years, and filtering for record highs occurring at least three months apart, upside momentum has historically continued. The INDU has generated an average 12-month forward return of 11.1% after posting a new record high, with 71% of occurrences producing positive results.
- And with the INDU already at record highs, all eyes are now on the Dow Jones Transportation Average (TRAN) to confirm the breakout, per Dow Theory.
- LPL Research views the INDU’s recent record-high rally as another piece of evidence supporting the health and sustainability of the current bull market.
It only took 489 trading days, but the INDU climbed back into record-high territory this week. Broadening participation in the equity market recovery has lifted the index 15% above its recent October low and above the prior January 4, 2022 record high of 36,800. (more…)
Tags: Current Events
Is the Santa Claus Rally Still Coming to Town?
Dec 1, 2023
November lived up to its reputation as a strong month for stock market seasonality with the November “Turkey Rally” delivering outsized returns for stocks. Now as we look ahead to December, investors are asking the question: Is the Santa Claus Rally still coming to town? (more…)
Tags: Current Events
Is Gold a Good Investment?
Nov 29, 2023
Key Takeaways:
- Gold is starting to shine again after confirming support off its rising 200-day moving average last week. A meaningful pullback in interest rates and the dollar underpinned the recovery in the yellow metal.
- Momentum indicators point to a bullish trend change, while speculator long positions in gold continue to outpace shorts.
- Central bank demand for gold is building, evidenced by record buying during the first nine months of the year.
- Seasonal tailwinds return next month as gold enters its best two-month seasonal period.
- However, resistance near $2,070 has been problematic for gold over the last several years, so while a retest of this level may be in the cards, a confirmed breakout will be required to keep gold’s upside momentum moving forward.
Tags: Current Events
October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month
Oct 4, 2023
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…)
Tags: Current Events, Health Care Needs
Investing in Bonds
Sep 27, 2023
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.
Tags: Certified Financial Planner Charlotte NC, Current Events, financial advisor charlotte nc, Investing, Investment Planning, Investments
More Insights
Jul 15, 2024
The S&P 500 strung together 37 record highs this year aboard an 18.1% rally, as of July 10. The advance has largely been powered by a handful of mega cap names tied to technology and/or artificial intelligence. In fact, six stocks — NVIDIA (NVDA), Microsoft (MSFT), Apple (AAPL), Amazon (AMZN), Meta (META), and Alphabet (GOOG/L) … Continue reading “Market Performance is a Tale of Haves & Have-Nots”
Jul 12, 2024
Investors are people, and people are often impatient. No one likes to wait in line or wait longer than they have to for something, especially today when so much is just a click or two away.
Jul 10, 2024
You can prepare for the transition years in advance. In doing so, you may be better equipped to manage anything unexpected that may come your way.
Jul 8, 2024
When developing your estate plan, you can do well by doing good. Leaving money to charity rewards you in many ways. It gives you a sense of personal satisfaction, and it can save you money in estate taxes.
Jul 5, 2024
How healthy a retirement do you think you will have? If you can stay active as a senior and curb or avoid certain habits, you could potentially reduce one type of retirement expense. Each year, Fidelity Investments presents an analysis of retiree health care costs. In 2023, Fidelity projected that the average 65-year-old couple would … Continue reading “Retirement Wellness”
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