In The News

The summer stock market rally came to a halt in August. As volatility increased, the S&P 500 Index ended the month 1.6% lower than it began. The only S&P 500 sector ending the month higher was energy, while utilities brought up the rear with a 6.2% decline. I would describe last month’s downturn as broad-based […]

You can imagine various strategies for saving for retirement. Poor plans include sticking cash in a freezer or dying on the job. Average plans recognize the advantages of investing in appreciating or income-producing assets. Savvy plans capitalize on the tax benefits of the various retirement accounts. The best plans will consider every possible technique available. […]

“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of light, it was the season of darkness, it was the spring of hope, it […]

Have you ever been discussing a purchase with your spouse or partner and suddenly found yourself feeling intensely angry, sad, or happy? Or does this conversation sound familiar? While on the surface, this is a fight about groceries, it’s really a clash of money scripts. Money scripts are deeply ingrained beliefs about money that stem […]

Inflation Inflation continues to fall steadily from the 40-year high of 9.1% in June 2022 to a more modest 4.0% in May 2023. E Energy prices, driven by the Russia-Ukraine war, which were the most significant contributor to inflation last summer, are now the largest contributor to disinflation. Core goods, including food prices, are improving […]

The most telegraphed recession in history must wait a little longer before coming to fruition. Economic data through the first half of the year remained mixed, with the labor market and service industries remaining strong. However, manufacturing is experiencing some weakness paired with still sticky inflation. Despite the mixed messages, stocks did not waiver much, […]

If you have embarked down the path of estate planning, you have probably asked yourself, Do I need a trust?  While not everyone may need a trust, specific circumstances warrant utilizing a trust.  Estate planning and trust utilization should be considered in unison with your retirement plan. These areas are often planned in separate silos […]

Looking at just the S&P 500 Index, the month of May appears boring since the index increased by only 0.4%. However, about one-quarter of trading days in May saw the index move up or down by over 1%, and there was a difference of almost 20% between the month’s best and worst-performing sectors. May was […]