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 […]

The equity pullback continued into the first week of August but most indices regained a substantial amount of their losses by month’s end. The S&P 500 rose 2.4% in August, the Dow Jones Industrial Average advanced 2%, and the Nasdaq Composite added 0.7%. The one laggard on our chart (below) was the small-cap Russell 2000 […]

Stating the obvious: no one enjoys watching their portfolio balance decline. And as advisors we know all too well how clients can feel uneasy about “staying the course” as their nest eggs shrink in periods of volatility. However, rushing for the exit when the market goes south can actually stunt long-term portfolio growth. “Timing the […]

What Doesn’t Drive Long-Term Returns As someone who invests in theirfuture, you’re likely eyeing what drives investment returns. But it’s all-too-easy to be distractedby a number of investment myths. These are nothing but short-term noise thatcan cause you to miss the big picture of long-term gains. And it’s no one’s fault. Theseinvestment myths are so widespread that […]

We’re sure you saw the headlines.After hitting new highs last month, markets dropped dramatically, erasing months of gains.1 It feels like the sky is falling. Let’s take a step back and take a look at what’s going on. (Scroll to the end if you want our takeaways.) What’s behind the market drop? A couple of […]

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 […]

How do you feel about the state of the economy? In more contemporary terms, what are your “vibes” telling you? Are you feeling confident and comfortable? Or are you feeling a nagging worry that things aren’t going well? If you’re experiencing a disconnect between official economic data and your personal perception, you’re not alone. This […]

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 […]

Clouds may be gathering. Should investors be worried about a storm? Let’s look at some factors that could trigger a market selloff in the weeks or months ahead. (Note: we’re not saying a selloff is definitely going to happen—we want you to be prepared if it does.) Factor #1: Stocks are trading near record highs […]