September 2024 Market Summary: Equities Gain Strength, Fed Cuts Rates, and Treasury Yields Decline Stocks fell in the first week of September but gained strength leading up to and following the FOMC meeting on September 18th. The S&P 500 rose 2.1% in August, the Dow Jones Industrial Average advanced 2%, and the Nasdaq Composite added 2.8%. Emerging Markets was a big beneficiary […]

Markets tumbled recently, giving their worst performance of 2024.1 And then promptly rallied again. If you’ve been reading our recent emails, you’re probably not surprised. Let’s talk about what’s going on. What’s driving the volatility? Profit-taking, for one. Markets notched big gains in August, and traders decided to cash in some profits, which drove prices […]

July 2024 Market Summary: Rotation into Value, Cooling Inflation, and Falling Treasury Yields Equities experienced some turbulence in the second half of July but most indices finished higher thanks to a solid first half of the month. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 4.5% higher in June, the S&P 500 advanced 1.2%, and the NASDAQ slipped 0.7%. July was a stellar month […]

We wanted to provide you with some essential information regarding the role and responsibilities associated with being named a Power of Attorney (POA).  This is a critical aspect of estate planning and can have significant implications for both you and the principal (the person who has granted you this authority). What is a Power of […]

After months of simmering inflation reports, it looks like inflation finally eased slightly in April.1 Are prices stabilizing? Can we breathe a sigh of relief? Let’s dig a little deeper. What’s inside the latest inflation report? Economists typically look at two major inflation gauges: the Consumer Price Index (CPI) and the Personal Consumption Expenditures Index […]

New research has found a new “magic” retirement savings number. (We explain how inflation factors in below.) We say “magic” because if you put 10 people in a room, you’ll get 10 different opinions about how much you should save for retirement. And this estimate is no different. Northwestern surveyed 4,588 adults and found: The […]

As we kick off 2024, the latest data is raising some concerns about inflation. Let’s dive into some data and take a look.   Inflation is still one of the biggest risk factors we’re watching this year. Here’s why. While inflation is still well below its 2022 peak, the data shows that the fight toward […]

How did 2023 go for you? Let’s take a moment to review some of the year’s major market and economic trends. (Before I sign off, I’ll also pass along a few thoughts about what 2024 could have in store.) AI became a major tech trend1 After ChatGPT launched in late 2022, the AI space race […]

As we approach 2024, it’s essential to prepare for the financial changes that come with it. One critical aspect of financial planning is understanding the annual contribution limits for various accounts, as these limits can significantly impact your ability to save and invest for the future. In this article, we’ll take a closer look at […]

What’s going on with markets? Why does the federal government keep getting into fiscal fights? A lot is going on, so let’s discuss. Why did markets melt down? A combination of things. Some negative news about home sales and consumer confidence created fresh concerns about the state of the economy.1 The reality of what high […]