I talked with a client this week about a “hot topic” in the news as of late – what exactly is a recession? This is an important topic to understand so let’s take a look. Before diving into recession definition, let’s look at the broader business cycle. This chart does a nice job showing the […]

As the old adage goes, “April showers bring May flowers.” For investors, it sure felt like it was storming/raining most of the month of April – so let’s hope some sunnier/happier times lie ahead for us in May and beyond Let’s take a look at a few key events from the stormy month of April […]

If you are a bit (or a lot) confused by the daily news flow and the corresponding market movements, rest assure – you are not alone. There is really a seemingly endless stream of conflicting information coming at us each day (if not each hour). There are statements made, statements retracted, statements made by someone […]

If you’ve been reading any financial news as of late, you may have had the same question a client did this week – “should I be buying gold?” The question is justified as the precious metal regained all-time high prices, last seen in 1980 (adjusting for inflation) and is on pace for its best annual […]

There is no shortage of catch phrases being used on business news channels these days. One you’re likely to hear is “pulling guidance.” I talked with a client about what that means. Let’s take a look as you are very likely to hear this phrase in the coming weeks. The stock market is made up […]

As the famous quote by Vladimir Lenin says, “there are decades where nothing happens; and there are weeks when decades happen.” This has sure been one of those weeks and has reminded me of being on a less than enjoyable roller coaster ride. If you haven’t been keeping up with the news flow and market […]

Before diving into today’s post, let’s all take a collective breath together. This week (well, let’s be honest – this year) has been a lot to navigate for investors. But let’s not lose sight of the fact that we’re all still here, much of what’s good remains, and we have no better option but to […]

If you watched the Rose Garden ceremony on April 2nd, you will undoubtedly remember this visual aid used to illustrate the so-called reciprocal tariffs set to be imposed by the US. Here is a sampling of the data shared. The concept was clear – the administration calculated the tariff being charged to the USA by […]

Have you been feeling a bit down and more negative than usual? If this months Consumer Confidence Index reading is a reliable indicator, you are certainly not alone. The US Conference Board’s monthly Consumer Confidence Index for March (which measures “consumer attitudes, buying intentions, vacation plans, and consumer expectations for inflation, stock prices, and interest […]

I’ve written about this topic in the past but as tax day approaches, I often get questions about filing an extension and what that means. I talked to a client on this very subject earlier this week so let’s recap. What is a tax extension? Tax returns for the previous tax year are due on […]