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
Managing Probate When Setting Up Your Estate
Oct 3, 2022
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: 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
Market Update: Big Week for Market Watchers
Aug 5, 2022
Last week was epic for market-watchers. A Federal Reserve (Fed) rate hike, a much-anticipated gross domestic product (GDP) report, and the busiest week of earnings season got most of the headlines. There was even a surprise out of Washington D.C., with a Schumer-Manchin agreement on a climate-healthcare-tax bill and some inflation data that added to the evidence that inflation has peaked. (more…)
Tags: Certified Financial Planner Charlotte NC, charlotte NC, Current Events, financial advisor charlotte nc, Investing
Midyear Outlook 2022: Navigating Turbulence
Jul 18, 2022
Markets rarely give us clear skies, and there are always threats to watch for on the horizon. But the right preparation, context, and support can help us navigate what lies ahead. So far, this year hasn’t seen a full-blown crisis like 2008-2009 or 2020, but the ride has been very bumpy. We may not be flying into a storm, but there’s been plenty of turbulence. How businesses, households, and central banks steer through the rough air will set the tone for markets over the second half of 2022. (more…)
Tags: Certified Financial Planner Charlotte NC, Current Events, Financial Planning, Investing, Investment Portfolio, Investments, Personal Finance, retirement
Market Update: A Bear Market is Officially Here
Jun 17, 2022
A bear market is officially here thanks largely to stubbornly high inflation. For many of us, it has probably felt like a bear market for a while now, but the S&P 500 Index didn’t close more than 20% below its January 3 record high until Monday. Tech stocks are down a lot more—the Nasdaq Composite is more than 32% below its November 2021 record high. (more…)
Tags: Certified Financial Planner Charlotte NC, charlotte NC, Current Events, Financial Planning, Investing, Investment Planning, Investment Portfolio, Personal Finance, Retirement Planning
Market Update: Volatility Continues
May 18, 2022
2022 has been a challenging year for investors so far. The S&P 500 Index just had one of its worst Aprils in decades, and May is off to a rocky start. Bond investors have not fared much better as rising interest rates have pushed down bond prices. Bond losses have made the stock market volatility feel even worse than usual. Markets don’t like uncertainty but it’s getting a healthy dose of it this year, dealing with high inflation, tighter Federal Reserve monetary policy, COVID-19 shutdowns in China, and snarling global supply chains, all while the war in Ukraine continues. (more…)
Tags: Current Events, financial advisor, financial advisor charlotte nc, Financial Planner Charlotte NC, Investing, Investment Planning, Personal Finance
Protecting Yourself While Shopping Online
Apr 15, 2022
We’re all at home now and shopping online has become commonplace. Whether you shop online routinely or infrequently, the risk of identity theft rises as you offer more and more information about yourself online. (more…)
Tags: charlotte NC, Current Events, Financial Help, Personal Finance
Getting Mentally Prepared to Retire
Mar 14, 2022
A successful retirement is not merely measured in financial terms. Even those who retire with small fortunes can face boredom or depression and the fear of drawing down their savings too fast. As you retire, how can new retirees try to calm these worries? (more…)
Tags: Certified Financial Planner Charlotte NC, Current Events, Personal Finance, retirement, Retirement Planning, Retirement Tax Savings
Market Update: Navigating Geopolitical Tensions
Mar 9, 2022
The green shoots are hard to see right now as spring approaches, clouded by war in Ukraine. Democracy is under attack and innocent lives are tragically being lost. But while we keep one eye on overseas developments, the other remains squarely focused on the fundamentals of the U.S. economy and the stock market to help investors stay the course. (more…)
Tags: Current Events
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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