The market narrative in 2025 was dominated by tariffs, artificial intelligence, and questions about the direction of U.S. relationships with the rest of the world. For investors, this resulted in a wild ride, but in the end, investors who stayed invested did just fine, another reminder of the benefit of having a plan and sticking
During the 2nd quarter of 2025, the news cycle was fast and furious. Following Liberation Day, volatility exploded, and a 20% drawdown ensued under the premise that tariffs would result in higher inflation and lower corporate earnings. The Federal Reserve kept interest rates unchanged due to the expected inflationary pressures from these tariffs and anticipated
In the first quarter of 2025, the Trump administration implemented dramatic shifts in foreign policy, trade policy, and executive power. Vladimir Lenin, the Bolshevik revolutionary and the first leader of the Soviet Union, once said, "There are decades where nothing happens; and there are weeks where decades happen." This aptly describes the tumult of the
As we move into 2025, it's essential to stay informed about changes in tax rates, schedules, and financial contribution limits. Whether you're an individual, a family, or a business owner, understanding these updates can help you plan effectively for the year ahead. This year's key changes include updates to income tax brackets, capital gains rates,
Last year was a banner year for stocks but not bonds. The S&P 500 ended the year up 25%, while bonds, as measured by the Bloomberg Aggregate Index, returned just 1.3%. Most of the S&P gain occurred before the election, with the S&P 500 returning 22.6% through election day. Since election day, we have been
The Challenge The idea of so‐called Smooth‐Ride strategies is to deliver competitive long‐run returns relative to fixed‐mixed allocations but with less volatility. When equities are down, these strategies look great and garner significant interest. When equity markets are up, FOMO can take over and cause investors to buy at ever‐rising valuations. This is an individual
March 2024 Market Recap Stocks continued to surge in March with all three major indexes setting new record highs. Strong economic reports and growing anticipation of interest rate cuts by the Federal Reserve (Fed) continue to buoy investor sentiment and stoke buying. The latest housing and mortgage rate data points to a housing market that
In the second quarter, we witnessed several events which were in large part expected by most market participants, including the continuation of inflation easing, the slowing U.S. economic growth, the near end of the Federal Reserve rate-hike cycle, and the U.S. government debt ceiling resolution. Yet, few expected the strength of the stock market, with
04/05/2023 Stocks retreated in March as investor confidence sank following a handful of major shakeups in the banking sector. These included the failures of Silicon Valley and Signature Banks, the hurried acquisition of Credit Suisse by its rival UBS, and the propping up of First Republic by 11 of America’s biggest banks. Investors flocked to
