Weekly Market Insights 01.13.25
A Change of Mood Financial Markets United States equity markets had a difficult week, driven by stronger-than-expected economic data. Interestingly, under different circumstances, markets may have rallied. However, in the current state of the world, financial markets are dominated by inflation concerns and Federal Reserve decisions. Market participants analyze every new piece of information through…
Read MoreInvestment Review & Outlook – January 2025
Key Takeaways The consumer-driven US economy has remained resilient, despite inflation above the Federal Reserve’s target of 2%, driven by low unemployment, modest wage growth, and an uptick in consumer confidence during much of 2024. Attention now turns to the economic impact of the incoming Trump administration, key priorities being higher tariffs, lower taxes, and…
Read MoreWeekly Market Insights 01.06.24
Ending With Concern, But Opening With A Smile Financial Markets United States equity markets ended 2024 on a down note but rebounded to close out the first week of the year, closing only slightly in the red. As of market close Friday, 1/3/2025, Factset Looking back on 2024, it was quite a remarkable year. In…
Read MoreWeekly Market Insights 12.30.24
A New Beginning Financial Markets This past week was a disappointing one for equity markets. The major market indices opened the week on a strong note but faltered as the week went on. It will be interesting to see what the last trading week of the year brings. Looking at equity returns for 2024, readers…
Read MoreWeekly Market Insights 12.16.24
A Market in Confusion Financial Markets Equity markets moved lower in the first two days of trading last week but looked like they would turn higher after a Wednesday in-line Consumer Price Index (CPI) report. For a moment, life was great, but traders changed their tune, and markets once again moved into negative territory. Some…
Read MoreWeekly Market Insights 12.09.24
A New Beginning Financial Markets Equity markets put in a mixed performance last week. Led by big tech, the S&P 500 still managed to finish in the green for a third straight week. Although the incoming economic reports were largely positive, markets reacted in lackluster fashion. Investors were encouraged by this past week’s jobs report.…
Read MoreEquity Compensation Plans: What Do I Need To Know?
In today’s competitive job market, compensation is about more than just a paycheck—it’s about creating long-term value for employees and employers alike. One increasingly popular way companies are achieving this is through equity compensation, offering employees a stake in the company’s future success. According to a survey of HR leaders, 76% of companies offer equity…
Read MoreCharitable Giving Using Donor-Advised Funds and IRAs
As the end of the year approaches, we will all receive many solicitations to make charitable gifts. These can be anything from small cash donations to larger gifts of stock or other property. When considering your year-end charitable giving, here are some tax-smart ways to give to charity. Donor-Advised Funds (DAFs) offer one of the…
Read MoreWeekly Market Insights 11.18.24
A State of Confusion Financial Markets Equity markets have been in a state of confusion these past two weeks. Markets rallied strongly after Donald Trump’s decisive victory but experienced a decline of equal magnitude just one week later. The markets fell over a fear of higher interest rates, which has been the principal mover of…
Read MoreWeekly Market Insights 11.11.24
Remarkable! Financial Markets It’s over! Yes, the long-awaited presidential election is over, and it was an unexpectedly clean, quick, and uncontested affair. Equity markets rallied similarly to the 2016 election. In many respects, it was a relief rally with investors happy to avoid a long, drawn-out process. It was the Dow Jones’ largest post-election day…
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