How the Costs and Benefits of College Affect Financial Plans
College decisions often mark a celebratory milestone for many families. Yet, they also signify one of the most significant financial commitments, comparable to retirement or home ownership. The current economic climate, characterized by high interest rates, uncertain...
How Oil Prices Impact Inflation, the Fed and Markets
The stock market has grown increasingly volatile, with the S&P 500 seeing its first 5% pullback of the year. Factors such as the potential postponement of the Federal Reserve's initial rate cut, downturns in technology and artificial intelligence stocks, and...
How Investors Can Navigate Market Pullbacks, Geopolitical Risk, and More
Following a robust beginning to the year, the markets have retreated by 2.5% at the onset of the second quarter. The rise in geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, inflation worries, corporate earnings, and other factors have contributed to this downturn, elevating...
Three Market Insights for Investors in Q2 2024
The year 2024 opened with intense debates on whether the Federal Reserve would manage a "soft" or "hard" landing to stabilize the economy, alongside discussions on the durability of the previous year's market surge. However, just three months in, the focus has shifted...
How Residential and Commercial Real Estate Impact Markets
As major stock market indices approach all-time highs, investor concerns about the economy persist. Positive trends in inflation and employment may position the Federal Reserve to lower interest rates later this year, yet apprehensions remain, particularly in the real...
What Fed Rate Cuts and Disinflation Mean for Long-Term Investors
Artificial intelligence stocks and the timing of the Federal Reserve's initial rate reduction continue to propel markets. These factors not only influence daily market fluctuations but also signify broader trends in innovation, productivity, and economic health....
How Presidential Elections Affect the Stock Market
With the presidential election season heating up, there will no doubt be a flurry of daily headlines between now and election day on November 5. A rematch between Joe Biden and Donald Trump seems inevitable with Trump currently leading many presidential polls among...
Perspective on the Magnificent 7 and Valuations
The stock market continues to reach new heights, driven by a stronger-than-expected economy and the largest technology stocks. In particular, Nvidia, a maker of graphics chips used in artificial intelligence applications, recently helped to push markets higher after...
How Consumer Spending Supports the Economy and Markets
Consumer spending is the backbone of the U.S. economy, constituting over two-thirds of our nearly $28 trillion GDP. When consumers spend money on everyday goods and services, and make large one-time purchases, it not only helps to spur economic growth but is also a...
How Loss Aversion and the Sequence of Returns Impact Investors
The S&P 500 index recently closed above 5,000 and set a new all-time high, less than three years after it first crossed the 4,000 mark. While some are understandably nervous any time the market is near record levels, investors also tend to grow more bullish as the...