Inflation and interest rates. The majority of the market movements these days are being driven by a single topic: inflation. Inflation keeps cruising at near double-digit rates, as the Federal Reserve responds with higher rates and tighter policy. The result is market volatility as investors act on conflicting forecasts of an impending recession or easing of Read More
It may be difficult to imagine your parents needing to lean on you for help as they get older. They have always been the ones to give you a hand and keep you moving in the right direction in life. But one day, the roles will likely be reversed. If you will be the primary Read More
Inflation. Inflation continues to push itself to the top of the list of the market moving forces these days. Everyone (myself included) is parsing any and all data regarding the direction of inflation. Recent numbers potentially indicate that inflation could be beginning to decelerate, meaning we may be nearing the top of the inflationary hill. The Federal Reserve is Read More
Do you know that feeling when you finally clean out a closet, toss basement-dwelling boxes, or organize a messy attic? Phew! It’s done. Ridding yourself of clutter is time consuming, sometimes stressful, and often just a pain in general. But in the end, it’s almost always well worth the effort. Decluttering your financial life Read More
Federal Reserve. Rhetoric from relevant minds at the Federal Reserve escalated over the past month. Many important decision makers at the Fed have expressly stated that a half percentage point increase in interest rates is likely to occur when they meet next week. This is an acceleration in their tightening plans, which underscores two things: (1) inflation is Read More
Ah, homeownership. There’s so much to think about. First, a few things to keep in mind: This isn’t an anti-homeownership post. In fact, buying a house can be an excellent financial goal to accomplish. It can also be one of the biggest financial mistakes out there. Knowing what you’re really getting into is the best Read More
War in Ukraine. The continued conflict in Ukraine remains the dominant headline moving the market. We expect companies in the energy and agricultural sectors to remain in high demand given both Ukraine and Russia’s significant exports in those areas. These companies can also serve as a decent hedge to inflation. The conflict will hopefully resolve Read More
It’s been a long time coming. The federal government has made substantial changes to the rules governing retirement account withdrawals, known as RMDs. As Americans are generally living longer and nest eggs are relied upon for additional years, an overhaul was certainly warranted. The recent rules shift has the potential to offer more income planning Read More
The Russia/Ukraine conflict. There is no doubt that the conflict in Ukraine perpetuated by a belligerent and hostile Russia has upended the market. This is THE issue currently moving the markets and will continue to do so until a resolution is reached. The disruption to the global economy from coordinated sanctions on Russia is real and Read More
Stock market tremors can feel like a roller coaster ride. Even the thought of the market potentially hitting the skids deters many young people from starting to invest to begin with. Others don’t even realize they’re uncomfortable with their investments until the market takes a nosedive. Then they panic and frantically instruct their advisors to Read More
