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Politics and Investing
It would be safe to say that this election season intensified emotions and left many investors uncertain of how the results could impact equity markets and their investments. However, savvy investors have learned that equity markets have historically cared more about...
Proactive Year-end Tax Planning for 2024 and Beyond
One of our main goals as holistic financial professionals is to help our clients recognize tax reduction opportunities within their investment portfolios and overall financial planning strategies. Staying current on the ever-changing tax environment is a key component...
Understanding Volatility and the Benefits of a Long-term Investing Strategy
Investors typically include equities in their long-term plans with the expectation of generating a positive return. Historically, over longer periods of time, this strategy has helped many investors achieve their desired goals. While it would be accommodating if...
Quarterly Economic Update Second Quarter 2024
Equity and bond markets began the second quarter of 2024 with a rough start, thanks to the Federal Reserve’s decision not to reduce interest rates due to stubbornly high inflation rates. However, during the quarter, strong performances from companies tied to...
Research
A Basket of Uncertainty Bolsters the Dollar | Weekly Market Commentary | November 25, 2024
The dollar’s continued climb higher has been predicated on a host of factors — including the rise in geopolitical risk and the dollar’s safe haven status as inflows have picked up markedly, uncertainty with regard to the Federal Reserve’s (Fed) interest rate move in December, a solid domestic economic landscape with inflation still “sticky,” a weakening euro as expectations suggest the potential for a stronger rate cut, and questions regarding the inflationary implications of the Trump administration’s tariff agenda. With more questions than answers, the dollar’s ascent is expected to continue — or level off — until there’s more definitive information regarding the extent of tariffs, and on the other side of the equation, the effect of retaliatory tariffs. Global capital markets seek clarity, particularly the currency market.
Trade, Tariffs, and Inflation | Weekly Market Commentary | November 18, 2024
Trade dynamics have shifted considerably since President Trump’s first administration. Reshoring among U.S. businesses and headwinds to the Chinese economy may limit the inflationary impact from rogue trade policy.
Election Day Takeaways | Weekly Market Commentary | November 11, 2024
The clouds of uncertainty parted last week as former President Donald Trump decisively won the U.S. election, making him the second U.S. president to win non-consecutive terms (Grover Cleveland was the first to do it back in 1892). Investors welcomed the news with renewed risk appetite, bidding the S&P 500 to its 50th record high of the year on Friday. Trump’s proposed economic policies, including deregulation, a likely extension of the 2017 tax cuts, a possible corporate tax rate cut, and proposed tax exemptions on tips, social security, and overtime pay helped underpin buyer enthusiasm. The immediate de-risking of when the election will be decided was another big factor behind the post Election Day rally.
Election Stock Market Playbook | Weekly Market Commentary | November 4, 2024
As Election Day approaches, we discuss potential stock market implications of various possible outcomes. But before we get into that, we offer our regular public service announcement around elections and investing. Political views are best expressed at the polls and not in portfolios.