September is typically a tough months for markets. This year is fulfilling on that promise of weakness & volatility as equity markets have been reminiscent of a popular ice cream flavor the past two weeks- Rocky Road! As we noted last week, there are quite a few major events happening in September and once they […]

I talked with a Client this week about what to expect as his granddaughter (for whom he has established a custodial account) approaches her twenty first birthday. Let’s take a closer look at custodial accounts as many of your have children in your lives you care about – and the future will be here before […]

Yikes. This shortened trading week felt rather long, don’t you agree. As kids headed back to school, the market headed back to its wild trading ways (not seen all that often in 2024). Weeks like this can be unsettling. Let’s be honest – there are very few people (other than short sellers) that enjoy seeing […]

If you have been listening to the business news this week, you may have the same question a client did..what is the VIX and why is everyone talking about it? The VIX is shorthand for the Chicago Board Options Exchange (CBOE)’s Volatility Index. It is a tool used to measure the expected volatility in the […]

In talking with a client this week about the market’s closure for Labor Day, the question was said in passing – “is the market always closed on National Holidays?” This is a question I’ve never answered here, so let’s take care of that today! As is often the case, the question doesn’t have a straightforward […]

The biggest market event this past week was the Jackson Hole Economic Symposium last Friday, August 20th, 2024. At that meeting, Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell spoke and provided the first definitive commentary that clearly signaled interest rate cuts are imminent. Powell made note of the consistent summer of slowing inflation (after some bumpier readings […]

I came across an article in the Wall Street Journal earlier this year by Jason Zweig. In it, he discussed a strategy to help investors remain grounded in uncertain times. The strategy was based on the work of Hal Hershfield, a psychologist at the University of California, Los Angeles. Hal advocates that envisioning how you […]

While there has been talk of interest rate cuts for virtually all of 2024, it seems as though we may be fast approaching that prediction becoming a reality. This has clients rightfully asking what actions they should take regarding cash liquidity in the coming months. Let’s take a look The challenge facings my clients, and […]

If you’ve been a loyal reader of the Friday Five, you will be all too able to name the “star of the show” when it has come to economic data over the past several years. You guessed it – inflation! Yet after this week’s two inflation prints (discussed in more detail below), I think it’s […]

As interest rates fell last week (and with talk of Fed rate cuts coming in September), I talked with two clients about real estate related questions this week. Let’s take a look at these important topics Selling a Home Without a doubt, lower mortgage rates spark increased home buying (and selling) activity. As rates come […]