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What’s on my mind? You can read about it in my blog. Whether it’s ideas from the industry or emerging trends, you can read about it here. And once in a while, I may throw in a movie review or some other surprise. So keep checking in. I'm glad to have you reading along.

Monday, May 22, 2023

Stocks rallied last week, propelled by growing optimism over reaching a deal on raising the debt ceiling and avoiding a technical debt default by the U.S.The Dow Jones Industrial Average edged 0.38% higher, while the Standard &...

Monday, May 15, 2023

Stocks were mixed last week as good inflation news was offset by mounting debt ceiling concerns and rekindled regional banking fears.The Dow Jones Industrial Average lost 1.11%, while the Standard & Poor’s 500 slipped 0.29%. The...

Friday, May 12, 2023

Emotions and money are not great partners. While emotions can be useful, don’t let them control your financial decisions.

Monday, May 8, 2023

A Friday rebound, triggered by a big tech company’s earnings beat and a strong jobs report, shaved much of the week’s accumulated losses.The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 1.24%, while the Standard & Poor’s 500...

Monday, May 1, 2023

Strong earnings from several mega-cap technology companies offset renewed regional banking jitters and weak economic data, leaving stocks higher for the week.The Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 0.86%, while the Standard &...

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Tuesday, April 25, 2023

Stocks remained resilient last week amid mixed earnings reports, hawkish Fed-speak, and lingering recession fears, closing out the five trading days with small losses.The Dow Jones Industrial Average slipped 0.23%, while the Standard &...

Monday, April 10, 2023

Stocks ended a shortened week of trading mixed amid revived recession fears on Wall Street triggered by weak economic data.The Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 0.63%, while the Standard & Poor’s 500 slipped 0.10%. The Nasdaq...

Tuesday, April 4, 2023

Avoid the most common challenges in your early retirement! Read these tips to safeguard your financial future.

Monday, April 3, 2023

Stocks rallied last week on receding fears of a widening banking crisis, led by resurging investor interest in technology and communication services names.The Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 3.22%, while the Standard & Poor’s...

Tuesday, March 28, 2023

Modest gains in major market indices masked sharp volatility amid the uncertainty arising from mixed messages emanating from public officials and revived banking fears. The Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 1.18%, while the Standard...

Monday, March 20, 2023

Amid the reverberations of two U.S. banks being taken over by regulators and the spread of uncertainty to European banks, stocks trended higher last week on the strength of the technology sector.The Dow Jones Industrial Average was...

Monday, March 13, 2023

Stocks tumbled last week as investors reconsidered their interest rate expectations after Fed Chair Powell’s Congressional testimony that rates may need to go higher. Stocks also were rattled when a west coast bank was placed...

Tuesday, March 7, 2023

There’s an abundance of financial advice available to us, but this is the one I believe is the most important of them all.

Monday, March 6, 2023

A late-week surge, triggered by reassuring Fed-speak, propelled stocks higher last week.The Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 1.75%, while the Standard & Poor’s 500 advanced 1.90%. The Nasdaq Composite index picked up 2.58% for...

Monday, February 27, 2023

Concerns over a firmer monetary policy were heightened by fresh economic data, touching off a climb in bond yields and a slide in stock prices last week.The Dow Jones Industrial Average skidded 2.99%, while the Standard & Poor’s...

Tuesday, February 21, 2023

Growing concerns about further interest rate hikes, prompted by fresh economic data, reversed early-week gains and left stocks mixed for the week.The Dow Jones Industrial Average slipped 0.13%, while the Standard & Poor’s 500...

Tuesday, February 14, 2023

Stocks drifted lower as a week of mixed earnings reports and resurgent worries over Fed monetary policy dragged on investor sentiment. The Dow Jones Industrial Average slipped 0.17%, while the Standard & Poor’s 500 declined...

Tuesday, February 7, 2023

Stocks were mixed last week following better-than-expected corporate reports and increasing optimism over a slowdown in interest rates.The Dow Jones Industrial Average edged lower, slipping -0.15%. The Standard & Poor’s 500 rose...

Monday, February 6, 2023

Have you heard of these 6 tax deductions? If not, you’re probably paying more in taxes than you should.

Tuesday, January 31, 2023

Stocks added to their early 2023 gains amid a busy stream of mixed corporate earnings results and conflicting economic data.The Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 1.81%, while the Standard & Poor’s 500 added 2.47%. The Nasdaq...

Tuesday, January 24, 2023

Stocks showed mixed results last week as recession fears resurfaced in response to weak economic data and a tepid start to a new corporate earnings season.  The Dow Jones Industrial Average skidded 2.70%, while the Standard &...

Tuesday, January 17, 2023

Stocks rallied last week thanks to fresh confirmation of inflation’s cooling trend and growing optimism that an inflation slowdown may provide the Fed with space to ease up on future rate hikes.The Dow Jones Industrial Average...

Tuesday, January 10, 2023

Planning to Retire in 2024? Take a look at this 12-month checklist to ensure you are prepared to make the transition easy and smooth.

Tuesday, December 20, 2022

Hawkish comments by the Fed and weak economic data heightened investors’ recession concerns and sent stocks lower last week.The Dow Jones Industrial Average lost 1.66%, while the Standard & Poor’s 500 retreated 2.08%. The...

Wednesday, December 14, 2022

Recession fears and concerns that the Fed may consider a longer rate-hike cycle sent stocks lower for the week.The Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 2.77%, while the Standard & Poor’s 500 fell 3.37%. The Nasdaq Composite index...

Saturday, December 10, 2022

You may be planning on retiring later in life, but life might have other plans. Learn why retiring later might not be a viable strategy.

Tuesday, December 6, 2022

Stocks ended higher last week as investors navigated the crosscurrents of a potential easing in future rate hikes and continued strength in the labor market.The Dow Jones Industrial Average edged 0.24% higher, while the Standard &...

Thursday, December 1, 2022

You are close to retirement, but have a lot of questions as you approach this milestone. Let Stratos Wealth Partners help you answer 5 important questions before you retire.

Wednesday, November 30, 2022

Growing optimism that the Fed may be ready to ease future interest rate hikes sent stocks higher in a quiet trading week.The Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 1.78%, while the Standard & Poor’s 500 added 1.53%. The Nasdaq...

Tuesday, November 15, 2022

The long-term valuation of the market is commonly measured by the Cyclically Adjusted Price to Earnings ratio, or “CAPE”, which smooths-out shorter-term earnings swings in order to get a longer-term assessment of market valuation.

Wednesday, October 12, 2022

Whatever you hope to achieve, it’s our mission to simplify the complexities of your financial life so you can focus on what matters most.

Friday, September 9, 2022

Retirement may be just around the corner. Are you prepared? Our upcoming class will teach you the strategies for success.

Friday, August 19, 2022

Make sure you work with a qualified and experienced financial advisor. Ask these 5 questions before partnering up!

Monday, July 18, 2022

Do you have multiple employer-sponsored retirement accounts to your name? It’s time to consider account consolidation.

Tuesday, June 7, 2022

Does the state of the world and the markets have your head spinning? With Stratos Wealth Partners watching over your money, you can shake off some of that stress.

Tuesday, May 10, 2022

Life insurance with living benefits can help you make the most of your premium payments. Find out if it’s the right choice for you!

Tuesday, April 26, 2022

Know someone who’s too busy to take care of finances? A trusted financial advisor at Stratos Wealth Partners can help cross this off their to-do list.

Thursday, March 3, 2022

Do current events have your stomach in knots? Here’s what you need to know about the Russia-Ukraine crisis and what it means for your money.

Tuesday, February 15, 2022

Discover the Stratos Wealth Partners difference and learn more about how Liam can build a custom investment portfolio for your retirement needs!

Wednesday, January 26, 2022

Do you have something to retire to? Discover how Liam at Stratos Wealth Partners helps his clients make their retirement dreams a reality.

Tuesday, January 25, 2022

Don’t let short-term market fluctuations derail your portfolio. Protect your wealth with these six steps.

Tuesday, January 18, 2022

Wednesday, January 12, 2022

Tuesday, December 14, 2021

Monday, December 6, 2021

Tuesday, November 30, 2021

You see it in prices at the grocery store and the gas station. You feel it in your monthly budget. So why don’t the financial markets seem too concerned about inflation?Remember, financial markets are considered...

Monday, November 22, 2021

At the White House on Monday, President Biden signed a $1T bipartisan infrastructure bill set to enable enhancements for transportation and utilities over the next five years.1Over those five years, $550 billion will be invested into...

Monday, November 15, 2021

Preparing for retirement just got a little more financial wiggle room. This week, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) announced new contribution limits for 2022.Staying put for 2022 are traditional Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs)...

Monday, November 8, 2021

While it’s still too early to draw any final conclusions, Congress is getting closer to outlining what tax law changes are under consideration to pay for the proposed $1.75 trillion Build Back Better Plan.1For now, it appears...

Tuesday, November 2, 2021

To help raise revenue to pay for President Biden’s Build Back Better Plan, Congress is considering a number of tax law changes, including adjusting estate taxes.One of the proposals would reduce the estate tax exemption to...

Monday, October 25, 2021

There are a lot of questions about President Biden’s Build Back Better plan and potential tax law changes, including an adjustment to capital gains taxes.One of the proposals Congress is considering sets the top rate for taxing...

Monday, October 18, 2021

Financial markets tend to function best when they have clear, strong leadership. When there’s concern about who’s the boss, markets can struggle.Jerome Powell’s first term as Fed Chair ends in February 2022. Until...

Monday, October 11, 2021

Medicare’s annual open enrollment period begins October 15 and ends December 7. During this time, current Medicare beneficiaries have the option to adjust their coverage for the coming year. Any changes to your plan will go into...

Monday, October 4, 2021

How long has it been since you’ve reviewed your Medicare policy? With open enrollment fast approaching, there are a few questions you may want to ask yourself before you renew, add, drop, or switch coverage.Have you switched...

Monday, September 27, 2021

There’s a famous saying about a hurricane starting from a butterfly flapping its wings on the other side of the world. That “butterfly effect” is certainly happening in terms of the Chinese property market’s...

Monday, September 20, 2021

Most likely, you’ve heard what’s brewing in Washington, D.C., called by one of these names.The Build Back Better Act. Or the $3.5 trillion budget reconciliation bill. Or the Jobs and Economic Recovery Plan for Working...

Monday, September 13, 2021

The economic impact of COVID-19 has been felt from coast to coast. And, unfortunately for many pre-retirees, it could potentially impact Social Security benefits as well.A new report indicates that if Congress doesn’t take...

Tuesday, September 7, 2021

The most recent stats on corporate dividends suggest that global companies are bullish on the world’s economic recovery.Dividends paid to investors are on track to hit $1.4 trillion this year and are expected to stretch even...

Monday, August 30, 2021

Over the last year, many have seen their lives impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The ways in which we work, live, and communicate have drastically changed, to say the least.It’s difficult to predict what other aspects of life...

Monday, August 23, 2021

Are you having a tough time keeping track of inflation's mixed signals? You’re not alone.Consumer prices in July climbed at their fastest rate since August 2008. Worse, producer prices, which can be an indicator of future price...

Monday, August 16, 2021

Have you ever heard the Wall Street expression, "markets climb a wall of worry?"It's the idea that financial markets are constantly on edge. Traders fret about how long a market rally can continue before it runs into trouble. Worry...

Monday, August 9, 2021

With overseas investments, we remind people that, “international markets carry additional risks, which include differences in financial reporting standards, currency exchange rates, political risk, foreign taxes and regulations...

Monday, August 2, 2021

Summer jobs are a perennial aspect of the American workforce. It’s a time when teenagers are filling out applications and, in many cases, earning wages of their own for the first time. But some of what we’ve become...

Monday, July 26, 2021

Corporate earnings season has begun, and the results are turning heads on Wall Street.Of the 120 companies in the S&P 500 index that reported numbers as of Friday, July 23, 89% of them beat the Street’s earnings-per-share...

Monday, July 19, 2021

The news keeps getting better for Social Security recipients.It's now projected that benefits will increase 6.1% in 2022, up from the 4.7% forecast just two months ago. That would be the most significant increase since 1983.1...

Wednesday, July 14, 2021

With all the attention given to inflation, stock prices, and job reports, it’s been easy to overlook the remarkable move in the bond market during the past few months.The yield on the 10-year treasury closed at 1.37% on Friday,...

Tuesday, July 6, 2021

Summertime rouses our desire to hit the road (or the airport) and travel. Here are a few things you’ll want to consider before you take off.Employment Issues for Airlines: Airlines have canceled hundreds of flights due to...

Monday, June 14, 2021

Recently, you may have seen headlines regarding the Securing a Strong Retirement Act, also referred to as the second version of the SECURE Act, or SECURE Act 2.0.As the bill moves from the House of Representatives to the Senate, many...

Monday, June 7, 2021

If there is a "silver lining" to all the inflation talk, it may be that Social Security benefits are expected to see a larger-than-normal increase in 2022.Preliminary estimates call for a 4.7% cost-of-living increase (COLA) in Social...

Tuesday, June 1, 2021

As our nation continues to recover from the effects of COVID-19, one economic trend has been capturing news attention as of late. Consumer prices are rising amidst economic recovery. In fact, the Consumer Price Index (CPI) rose 0.8%...

Monday, May 24, 2021

Inflation can be a scary word for people who are retired. It’s code for “prices are going up, but my income may stay the same.”The most recent reading on consumer prices put inflation back into the conversation. The...

Monday, May 17, 2021

A cyberattack shut down a major gas and energy pipeline supplying the East Coast of the United States for several days. The actual pipelines themselves are still functional and have since started running again, but it’s led to...

Monday, May 10, 2021

The San Diego Padres signed infielder Fernando Tatis, Jr., to a 14-year, $340 million contract roughly one year after the Los Angeles Dodgers inked outfielder Mookie Betts to a 12-year, $365 million deal. That brings the total to 8...

Monday, May 3, 2021

Will your retirement dreams match your reality?That's perhaps the most critical question to ask people who are currently retired. Was your retirement what you expected, or was it something else?For more than 30 years, the Employee...

Monday, April 26, 2021

Non-fungible tokens, or NFTs, have been the recipient of the latest buzz. NFTs are digital files attached to blockchain codes. If you know anything about digital currencies, you’re probably aware that these blockchain codes are...

Tuesday, April 20, 2021

Recently, you may have seen reports that a record-low number of homes are available for sale—roughly 1.03 million nationwide. If you compare that to the average number of homes for sale during the past 10 years, it's no surprise...

Monday, April 12, 2021

Strong economic data and a resurgent technology sector propelled stocks to solid gains last week.The Dow Jones Industrial Average advanced 1.95%, while the Standard & Poor’s 500 picked up 2.71%. The tech-heavy Nasdaq...

Monday, April 5, 2021

President Joe Biden introduced the much-anticipated American Jobs Plan, which outlines an approach to spend roughly $2.2 trillion on the nation's infrastructure and other projects.As part of the legislative process, the Biden...

Tuesday, March 30, 2021

A rocky week with wide price swings led to mixed results for stocks last week, as investors grappled with anxieties over economic growth and weakness in technology and other high-growth stocks.The Dow Jones Industrial Average added 1...

Monday, March 22, 2021

Rising bond yields and improving economic conditions led to a choppy week of trading that ended in modest losses for investors.The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 0.46%, while the Standard & Poor’s 500 declined 0.77%. The...

Tuesday, March 16, 2021

Stocks touched new record highs last week as bond yields steadied, a fiscal relief bill was signed into law, and confidence in a strong economic recovery grew.The Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 4.07%, while the Standard &...

Monday, March 8, 2021

Stocks were mixed last week as rising bond yields and heightening inflation fears sent stocks on a wild ride, capped by a remarkable Friday afternoon rally.The Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 1.82%, while the Standard &...

Monday, March 1, 2021

Stocks dropped amid rising long-term bond yields, with sharp declines in high-valuation growth stocks leading the overall market lower.The Dow Jones Industrial Average slipped 1.78%, while the Standard & Poor’s 500 declined...

Monday, February 22, 2021

Rising bond yields dampened investor enthusiasm for high-multiple growth companies last week, sending market averages mostly lower in a holiday-shortened week of trading.The Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 0.11% for the week. But...

Tuesday, February 16, 2021

Stock prices inched higher last week amid declining COVID-19 cases, a pick-up in vaccinations, and progress on a fiscal relief bill.The Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 1.00%, while the Standard & Poor’s 500 rose 1.23%....

Monday, February 8, 2021

Stocks notched strong gains last week, paced by a string of solid economic reports and consensus-beating corporate earnings.The Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 3.89%, while the Standard & Poor’s 500 advanced 4.65%. The...

Monday, February 1, 2021

Despite strong corporate earnings, stock prices closed lower after a volatile week of trading triggered by unprecedented activity in a handful of companies.The Dow Jones Industrial Average lost 3.27%, while the Standard &...

Monday, January 25, 2021

Anticipation of a new fiscal stimulus and improved vaccine distribution powered stocks to fresh record highs last week with technology stocks leading the way.The Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 0.59%, while the Standard &...

Wednesday, January 20, 2021

Markets drifted lower last week as uninspired investors digested mixed news on the economic front.The Dow Jones Industrial Average lost 0.91% while the Standard & Poor’s 500 slid 1.48%. The Nasdaq Composite index stumbled 1...

Tuesday, January 19, 2021

Hardly a day goes by that the topic of bitcoin or other cryptocurrency assets doesn’t come up in meetings with clients and prospects or from friends and relatives who want to know, “what all the buzz is about?”The...

Monday, January 11, 2021

The Week on Wall Street Shrugging off COVID-19 infections and the disruption at the Capitol on January 6, stocks powered higher to kick off a new year of trading.The Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 1.61%, while the Standard &...

Monday, January 11, 2021

Shrugging off COVID-19 infections and the disruption at the Capitol on January 6, stocks powered higher to kick off a new year of trading.The Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 1.61%, while the Standard & Poor’s 500...

Monday, January 4, 2021

The Week on Wall Street Stocks moved higher during a holiday-shortened week of trading, capping off a turbulent, but otherwise strong year for equity investors. The Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 1.35%, while the Standard &...

Monday, December 21, 2020

The Week on Wall Street Stocks climbed higher amid the COVID-19 vaccine rollout and an improving outlook for a fiscal stimulus bill.The Dow Jones Industrial Average, which has lagged all year, gained 0.44%. The Standard & Poor’s 500...

Monday, December 14, 2020

The Week on Wall Street Stocks retreated last week on rising COVID-19 infections and slow progress on an economic relief bill. The Dow Jones Industrial Average dipped 0.57%, while the Standard & Poor’s 500 dropped 0.96%. The Nasdaq...

Monday, November 30, 2020

The Week on Wall Street Stocks surged last week, ignited by another COVID-19 vaccine announcement, encouraging economic data, and the easing of political uncertainty.The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 2.21%, while the Standard &...

Monday, November 23, 2020

The Week on Wall StreetDespite news of another COVID-19 vaccine candidate, stocks were mixed amid investor anxiety over an increase in new infections and economic lockdowns.The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 0.73%, while the...

Monday, November 16, 2020

The Week on Wall Street News of a COVID-19 vaccine ignited a rally in economically sensitive stocks and a broad retreat in technology companies last week, though enthusiasm was tempered by reports of rising new infections and fresh...

Monday, November 9, 2020

The Week on Wall Street Stocks soared last week as investors anticipated that a split Congress would raise legislative hurdles to changing corporate taxes and adjusting regulatory oversight of big technology companies.The Dow Jones...

Monday, November 2, 2020

The Week on Wall Street Stock prices dropped last week as hopes for a fiscal stimulus bill faded and investors focused on rising COVID-19 infections, here and abroad. The Dow Jones Industrial Average slid 6.47%, while the Standard &...

Monday, October 26, 2020

The Week on Wall Street The failure to reach an agreement on a new fiscal stimulus bill soured investor sentiment and sent stocks modestly lower for the week. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 0.95%, while the Standard & Poor’s...

Monday, October 19, 2020

The Week on Wall Street Stocks treaded water last week amid fading prospects for a stimulus bill, fears of a second wave of COVID-19 cases, and increasing political and regulatory pressures on Big Tech companies.The Dow Jones...

Monday, October 12, 2020

The Week on Wall Street Stocks staged a powerful rally last week, riding a wave of optimism over the prospect of the passage of a new fiscal stimulus bill.The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 3.27%, while the Standard & Poor’s 500...

Monday, October 5, 2020

The Week on Wall Street Stocks advanced last week, propelled by hopes that legislators may reach an agreement for a new fiscal stimulus package and optimism generated by a few corporate deal announcements and initial public offerings....

Monday, September 28, 2020

The Week on Wall Street Stocks were mixed last week as worries that stretched from Washington D.C., where prospects of a new fiscal stimulus bill dimmed, to Europe, which saw an increase of new COVID-19 cases.The Dow Jones Industrial...

Monday, September 21, 2020

The Week on Wall Street Stocks slipped as the technology sector remained under pressure and a mid-week announcement by the Federal Reserve failed to inspire investors.The Dow Jones Industrial Average declined 0.03%, while the Standard...

Monday, September 14, 2020

The Week on Wall Street Stocks traveled a volatile path last week as investors appeared concerned about the upcoming elections, an uncertain economy, and more delays with additional fiscal stimulus. The Dow Jones Industrial Average...

Tuesday, September 8, 2020

The Week on Wall Street A late week sell-off sent stocks broadly lower as investors took some profits after stocks reached all-time highs earlier in the week. The Dow Jones Industrial Average slid 1.82%, while the Standard & Poor’s...

Monday, August 31, 2020

The Week on Wall Street Stocks advanced relentlessly last week on positive COVID-19 developments, encouraging economic data, and a supportive policy shift in the Fed’s approach to its target inflation rate. The Dow Jones Industrial...

Monday, August 24, 2020

The Week on Wall Street Stocks powered to another week of gains as the S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite set multiple new record highs along the way.The Dow Jones Industrial Average was essentially unchanged while the Standard & Poor’s 500...

Monday, August 17, 2020

The Week on Wall StreetStock prices drifted higher in an otherwise quiet news week, as a slowdown in new COVID-19 cases outweighed a Congressional impasse on a new fiscal-spending measure. The Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 1.81%...

Monday, August 10, 2020

The Week on Wall StreetOverlooking stalled efforts by Congress to pass a new fiscal stimulus bill, stocks marched higher last week with the Dow Jones Industrials leading the way and the NASDAQ Composite setting multiple fresh record...

Monday, July 27, 2020

The Week on Wall Street Stocks slipped in the final days of trading last week on higher jobless claims and rising tensions in the U.S.-China relationship. The Dow Jones Industrial Average lost 0.76%, while the Standard & Poor's 500...

Monday, July 20, 2020

The Week on Wall StreetStocks were mixed last week as investors reacted to positive economic data, progress on a COVID-19 vaccine, and the continued nationwide increase in COVID-19 cases. The Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 2.29%,...

Monday, July 13, 2020

The Week on Wall StreetStock prices notched solid gains last week, looking past an increase in COVID-19 cases and any potential economic concerns raised by the trend. The Dow Jones Industrial Average increased by 0.96%, while the...

Monday, July 6, 2020

The Week on Wall StreetIn a holiday-shortened week, stock prices turned higher as encouraging economic data outweighed an increase in COVID-19 cases and a rollback in economic re-openings.The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 3.25%,...

Monday, June 29, 2020

The Week on Wall StreetA jump in COVID-19 cases dampened investor enthusiasm last week, sending stock prices lower on worries that rising infections could derail the economic recovery. The Dow Jones Industrial Average slumped 3.31%,...

Monday, June 15, 2020

The Week on Wall StreetInvestor sentiment turned negative last week, amid an increasing number of COVID-19 cases in states where reopening has been underway as well as a subdued economic forecast from the Federal Reserve. The Dow Jones...

Monday, June 8, 2020

The Week on Wall StreetA positive jobs report sent stocks soaring last Friday, capping a solid week as evidence of a global economic recovery outweighed concerns over civil unrest and tensions with China.The Dow Jones Industrial...

Monday, June 1, 2020

The Week on Wall StreetThe shortened week, which began with a powerful two-day rally of trading, was enough to drive the markets into another week of solid gains. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 3.75%, while the Standard &...

Monday, May 18, 2020

The Week on Wall StreetStocks drifted lower last week, weighed down by Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell's unsettling comments on the economy and signs of renewed tensions with China.The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 2.65%,...

Monday, May 11, 2020

The Week on Wall StreetDespite a historic downturn in employment, stocks managed to climb higher last week as investors were emboldened by the pace of economic re-openings, both here and abroad.The Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 2...

Monday, May 4, 2020

The Week on Wall StreetStock prices ended the week slightly lower, despite news of positive results from a test trial of a COVID-19 drug treatment and several states easing their economic lockdowns. The Dow Jones Industrial Average...

Monday, April 27, 2020

The Week on Wall StreetStock prices bounced around last week as investors reacted to wild swings in the price of oil and reports that called into question the efficacy of two potential virus treatments.The Dow Jones Industrial Average...

Monday, April 20, 2020

The Week on Wall StreetStock prices pushed higher last week as news of a White House plan to reopen the economy and reports of a potential COVID-19 treatment helped the market overcome weak economic data and an ugly start to the...

Monday, April 13, 2020

The Week on Wall StreetThe stock market staged a broad rally this week, buoyed by the prospect that COVID-19's grip on the nation may be easing and news of another Federal Reserve program to help stabilize businesses.The Dow Jones...

Monday, March 30, 2020

An open-ended commitment by the Federal Reserve to support American businesses and capital markets along with the passage of a $2 trillion aid package improved investor sentiment and drove a strong rally in stock prices. The Dow Jones...

Monday, March 23, 2020

The Week on Wall StreetThe stock market suffered through another volatile week as it wrestled with the health and economic fallout of the domestic spread of the coronavirus. Swift and decisive actions by the Federal Reserve and policy...

Monday, March 16, 2020

The Week on Wall StreetMarkets remained exceptionally volatile, buffeted by the spreading impact of coronavirus, uncertain responses from federal policymakers, and the sudden drop in oil prices.The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 10...

Monday, March 9, 2020

The Week on Wall StreetHeightened coronavirus fears, falling yields, and Super Tuesday primary results sent stocks on a rollercoaster ride of sharp price swings, leaving stocks marginally higher for the week.The Dow Jones Industrial...

Monday, March 2, 2020

The Week on Wall StreetStocks fell sharply last week as Wall Street considered how the coronavirus outbreak might influence global business activity and household spending.The selloff became a correction for the U.S. markets. The S&P...

Monday, February 24, 2020

The Week on Wall StreetTraders paid close attention to coronavirus developments and earnings last week, while wondering how the former might eventually impact the latter. Concern over updated infection numbers moderated risk appetite.A...

Monday, February 24, 2020

In recent weeks, we’ve seen several major stories in the news. On the political front, in addition to the arrival of the presidential election through the 2020 caucuses and primaries, we have just experienced the third...

Tuesday, February 18, 2020

The Week on Wall StreetDaily headlines about the coronavirus had little impact on stock market averages last week. Earnings and mergers had more influence. All three Wall Street benchmarks improved. The Nasdaq Composite rose 2.21%,...

Monday, February 10, 2020

The Week on Wall StreetStocks advanced four days out of five during the past market week, erasing the losses of the week before. The Nasdaq Composite surged 4.04%, the S&P 500 3.17%, and the Dow Jones Industrial Average 3.00%. Foreign...

Monday, February 3, 2020

The Week on Wall StreetStock benchmarks declined for a second straight week as coronavirus news tempered risk appetite.The S&P 500 fell 2.14% on the week. The Nasdaq Composite dipped 1.76%, and the Dow Jones Industrial Average, 2.55%....

Monday, January 27, 2020

The Week on Wall StreetStock prices fell last week as investors considered the potential health and economic risks of the flu-like coronavirus.Foreign stock markets, as tracked by the broad MSCI EAFE index, fell 1.03% for the week....

Tuesday, January 21, 2020

The Week on Wall StreetTraders were in an upbeat mood last week, reacting to news out of Washington: the signing of the phase-one trade deal between the U.S. and China as well as the Senate passage of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement...

Monday, January 13, 2020

The Week on Wall StreetThe market had a choppy five days, with traders reacting to geopolitical developments and weaker-than-expected jobs data. Even so, the three major U.S. equity indices posted weekly gains and continued their...

Monday, January 6, 2020

The Week on Wall Street Stocks descended from record highs Friday, as traders reacted to a U.S. drone strike that killed Iran's top military officer. Oil prices rose more than 3% following the breaking news.[1] Wall Street benchmarks...

Monday, December 30, 2019

What Drove the Markets? Four factors influenced investment performance in 2019: a shift in U.S. monetary policy, the ongoing trade dispute between the U.S. and China, earnings, and the economy. Stocks reached record highs in 2019. The...

Monday, December 16, 2019

The Week on Wall Street The U.S. and China announced a limited trade agreement last week. That news lifted U.S. and foreign stocks, leading to weekly gains. Advancing 0.91% on the week, the Nasdaq Composite outperformed the S&P 500...

Monday, December 9, 2019

The Week on Wall Street Key Wall Street benchmarks were up and down last week – or rather down and then up. A Tuesday retreat was offset by a Friday rally spurred by the Department of Labor’s November jobs report. While the S&P 500...

Monday, December 9, 2019

Some people approach buying a car like they approach marriage, “‘til death do us part.” Others prefer to keep their options open, trading in every few years for the latest make and model, the most cutting-edge...

Monday, December 2, 2019

Chris Rock once remarked, “You don’t pay taxes – they take taxes.” That applies not only to income, but also to capital gains...

Monday, November 25, 2019

Full Size Version

Monday, November 18, 2019

According to Yale University's Crash Confidence Index, only about 27% of investors are confident the stock market will not crash sometime during the next six months.1 But if fear leads investors to avoid the entire investment class,...

Monday, November 11, 2019

Caring for Aging Parents Thanks to healthier lifestyles and advances in modern medicine, the worldwide population over age 60 is growing. The United Nations estimates that by 2050 the number of people aged 60 and older will have more...

Monday, November 4, 2019

The U.S. labor market stood strong against headwinds in October. Nonfarm payrolls increased 128,000 last month, higher than consensus estimates for an 85,000 gain. October’s payrolls beat expectations despite a 42,000 slide in...

Monday, October 28, 2019

Everyone loves a winner. If an investment is successful, most people naturally want to stick with it. But is that the best approach? It may sound counter intuitive, but it may be possible to have too much of a good thing. Over time,...

Monday, October 21, 2019

The reason withdrawals from an Individual Retirement Account (IRA) prior to age 59½ are generally subject to a 10% tax penalty is that policymakers wanted to create a disincentive to use these savings for anything other than...

Monday, October 14, 2019

Pursuing your retirement dreams is challenging enough without making some common, and very avoidable, mistakes. Here are eight big mistakes to steer clear of, if possible. No Strategy: Yes, the biggest mistake is having no strategy at...

Monday, October 7, 2019

This modern twist on the Ben Franklin maxim reflects the multiplicity of taxes to which earnings are subject in today’s world.¹ Finding ways to manage expenses is one of the cornerstones of a sound financial strategy. Here...

Tuesday, October 1, 2019

Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi announced last week that she would support an impeachment inquiry into President Donald Trump...

Monday, September 30, 2019

The city of Detroit emerged from bankruptcy in 2014. Still, its previous inability to pay investors left some questioning their long-held assumption about the relative safety of municipal bonds.¹ Without question, in the wake of...

Monday, September 23, 2019

Economic BlogSeptember 19, 2019 U.S. leading indicators were unchanged in August, following a 0.4% increase in July. The Conference Board’s Leading Economic Index (LEI) was flat month over month, beating Bloomberg estimates of a...

Monday, September 16, 2019

Immediate vs. Deferred Annuities Despite not being as well known as some other retirement tools, annuities account for 8% of all assets earmarked for retirement. With about $2.3 trillion in assets, annuities hold more funds than Roth...

Tuesday, September 3, 2019

U.S. consumers are feeling especially empowered these days, despite growing pessimism about the economic outlook. As shown in the LPL Chart of the Day, Consumer Confidence Pushes Through Trade Uncertainty, the Conference Board’s...

Monday, August 26, 2019

U.S. leading indicators rebounded in July, a good sign for the durability of the expansion. The Conference Board’s Leading Economic Index (LEI) rose 0.5% month over month, the biggest gain since September 2018, and above...

Monday, August 12, 2019

We’re a week into August, and trade tensions have been the biggest driver of U.S. stocks...

Tuesday, August 6, 2019

Most portfolios are constructed based on an individual's investment objective, risk tolerance, and time horizon. Using these inputs and sophisticated portfolio-optimization calculations, most investors can feel confident that they own...

Monday, July 29, 2019

“Prediction is very difficult, especially if it’s about the future.” Niels Bohr, A Danish physicist who won the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1922 Hardly a day goes by that we don’t get a question regarding the...

Monday, July 22, 2019

The baby boomers have re-defined everything they’ve touched, from music to marriage to parenting and, more lately, to what “old” means—60 is the new 50! Longer, healthier living, however, can put greater stress...

Monday, July 15, 2019

After Federal Reserve (Fed) Chair Jerome Powell’s congressional testimony this week, it appears at least a 25 basis point (.25%) cut is in the cards on July 31. This...

Tuesday, July 9, 2019

If you live in or have visited a big city, you’ve probably run into street vendors—people who sell everything from hot dogs to umbrellas in carts—on the streets and sidewalks. Many of these entrepreneurs sell...

Monday, July 1, 2019

Insurance is meant to protect you against financial loss...

Tuesday, June 25, 2019

Social Security’s been a fact of retirement life ever since it was established in 1935. We all think we know how...

Tuesday, June 18, 2019

Of those aged 65 and older, 10 to 20 percent have mild cognitive impairment...

Tuesday, June 11, 2019

A power of attorney is a legal document that authorizes someone to act for you...

Monday, June 3, 2019

Well, it finally happened. The S&P 500 Index pulled back more than 5% from its all-time high...

Monday, May 20, 2019

There's no right time to begin collecting Social Security benefits...

Monday, May 13, 2019

Trade fears drove stocks to their worst week of the year...

Monday, May 6, 2019

There are many factors to consider when deciding whether to roll over a distribution from a 401(k)...

Monday, April 29, 2019

If you're receiving benefits based on your own work record, your benefits will continue...

Monday, April 22, 2019

As we get older and our health declines, the greater the chances are....

Monday, April 15, 2019

A living trust is a popular estate planning tool that lets you...

Monday, April 8, 2019

What a start to 2019! The S&P 500 Index had its best first quarter since 1998....

Thursday, April 4, 2019

To qualify for an income tax deduction for home office expenses...

Monday, April 1, 2019

One way to get an estimate of...

Monday, March 25, 2019

The Federal Reserve (Fed) has doubled down on its patient stance...

Monday, March 18, 2019

Answer: The federal government insures certain pension benefits. Specifically, it insures defined benefit plans..

Monday, March 11, 2019

Answer: Generally speaking, as much as possible. You need to build a fund that you'll be able to draw on for much of your retirement income. Believe it or not...

Friday, March 8, 2019

This Saturday, March 9, 2019, marks the 10-year anniversary of the end to the worst bear market for U.S. stocks since the Great Depression. Although at that time no one could have imagined we’d be looking at the longest bull...

Monday, March 4, 2019

“March comes in like a lion, and goes out like a lamb."What a start to 2019...

Monday, February 25, 2019

It depends on what kind of IRA you're talking about. Traditional IRAs and Roth IRAs are each subject to different contribution rules. You're allowed to contribute up to $5,500 to a traditional IRA in 2018 (unchanged from 2017)...

Tuesday, February 19, 2019

Investors have been especially patient during the S&P 500 Index’s 93-day drought of record highs, especially considering the gauge has posted a new high every 12 days on average in this bull market. However, history shows the S&P...

Monday, February 11, 2019

The Federal Reserve (Fed) just delivered a widely expected, but important monetary policy decision. On January 30, policymakers decided to leave interest rates unchanged, removing the “some further gradual (rate) increases”...

Monday, February 4, 2019

Every year the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) releases its list of tax scams, spotlighting the myriad ways that people try to separate you from your money.¹ The “Dirty Dozen” Identity Theft Using your personal...

Monday, January 28, 2019

The Super Bowl indicator suggests that stocks rise for the full year when the Super Bowl winner comes from the original National Football League (now the NFC), but...

Tuesday, January 22, 2019

The right answer in your case will depend on a number of key factors. These include, among others, your income and assets, your attitude toward risk, whether you have access to an employer-sponsored plan at work,...

Thursday, January 17, 2019

The U.S. government is in Day 27 of a partial government shutdown, now the longest in history.

Monday, January 14, 2019

The S&P 500 Index is off to its best start in years, but this is on the heels of the worst year for stocks since 2008. The trifecta of crashing oil prices, confusion from the Federal Reserve (Fed), and trade issues with China all...

Thursday, January 10, 2019

The results may surprise you...

Monday, January 7, 2019

(Fed) rhetoric has spooked financial markets, especially as uncertainty has clouded investors’ horizons. But we still believe the fundamental U.S. economic landscape is compelling,...

Thursday, January 3, 2019

Retirement can have many meanings. For some, it will be a time to travel and spend time with family members. For others, it will be a time to start a new business or begin a charitable endeavor. Regardless of what approach you intend...

Saturday, October 7, 2017

Answer: Asset allocation is the process of deciding how to divide your investment dollars across several asset categories. Stocks, bonds, and cash or cash alternatives are the most common components of an asset allocation strategy....

Saturday, September 30, 2017

Answer: It depends. The right answer in your case will depend on a number of key factors. These include, among others, your income and assets, your attitude toward risk, whether you have access to an employer-sponsored plan at work,...

Saturday, September 23, 2017

Answer: The right answer for you will depend on your situation. First of all, don't underestimate the psychological impact of early retirement. The adjustment from full-time work to a more leisurely pace may be difficult for you. So...

Thursday, March 9, 2017

Health Care Costs Can Add Up In Retirement Tip: Medicare beneficiaries spent an average of $4,734 out of pocket on health care in 2010, the most recent year for which figures are available. Forty-two percent of that went to premiums,...

Tuesday, November 29, 2016

Tip: Still Selling Strong. In 2015, investors purchased $236.7 billion in annuity contracts. Most of this capital—$133 billion—went into variable annuities. Source: LIMRA, 2016 Individuals hold more than $2.0 trillion in...