Finance

April Recap and May Outlook April began with the shock of tariff announcements that were much more punitive than anticipated by businesses, markets, investors, and economists. Equity markets promptly pulled back, even entering bear territory, although not closing there. The administration initially stood by the tariff enactment date. However, the bond markets became increasingly wobbly, [...]

Planning the transition of your assets isn’t just about maximizing the amount passed on and simplifying the handover—it’s really about ensuring that the help, love and wisdom you provide for your people now can continue even after you are gone. A thoughtful plan can look ahead and smooth obstacles in the same way you would [...]

A Shock to the System: Tariffs, Stagflation and Market Corrections March Recap and April Outlook The month started out on a positive note as CPI came in lower than expected, creating a brief respite from worries about the impact of tariffs. It was short-lived, as the result of the Federal Open Market Committee meeting at [...]

February Recap and March Outlook The new administration’s priority of “reindustrializing the U.S.” is coming into focus as tariff announcements - even if softened or rescinded - indicated that this is a policy, not just a campaign plank. Throughout the month, the Department of Government Efficiency (“DOGE”) continued its mandate of shrinking government with a [...]

Last year ended with a strong economy and positive stock and bond market returns. With inflation under 3% and GDP over 3%, the soft landing remained in place. While volatility was not a constant theme, 2024 saw some very dramatic single-day stock movements. As a new administration gets underway and campaign promises coalesce into an [...]

A New Administration Gets Down to Business January Recap and February Outlook January seemed to go on forever, as the country faced extreme weather and devasting wildfires. The  new administration got underway with a lot of sound and fury, particularly around tariffs, which had been a highlight – or a wild card – of the [...]

A new presidential administration will be working towards a very different agenda, and it will play out against the backdrop of a changed inflation and interest rate environment. Everything has changed from where it was at this time last year, which may mean that the short-term positioning of your portfolio should be shifted to be [...]

November Recap and December Outlook The transition to a new administration is underway with announcements of cabinet position nominees. The pro-business lean of the incoming government is not a surprise, and the emphasis is likely to be on deregulation and tax cuts. Several of the provisions of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 [...]

Saving for retirement should be part of every stage of your work life, from your first job to your last years before retirement. A 401(k) or other similar employer-sponsored, tax-advantaged retirement savings vehicle is, for many people, the core piece of their retirement nest egg. The sooner you start, the better; however, as you move [...]

October Recap and November Outlook   An election season with several twists and turns came to a not-unexpected end with the reelection of President Donald Trump. The received wisdom is that the financial markets hate uncertainty, and we certainly saw some evidence of that in the rally that followed the decisive election results. How will [...]