With inflation and recession fears dominating headlines, both stocks and bonds continued their fall in the second quarter of 2022. At times, it useful to put short term market conditions in the context of longer market cycles. If we go back to the January 1, 2009, we observe that the S&P 500 (with dividends reinvested)…
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As the global pandemic extended into 2021, the markets continued the remarkable run that began the third week of March 2020. Since that time, US large company stocks, as measured by the S&P 500 Index, have more than doubled in value. For 2021, the broad US stock market generated a positive return of more than…
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When it comes to determining how to allocate your savings, what is the difference between investing and speculating? Investing is characterized by: Productive capacity: An investment involves deploying capital in a company, property, or other entity that produces something of value. A stream of benefits: The value produced by an investment can ultimately be measured…
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The annual change in the Consumer Price Index “CPI” exceeded more than 5% for the second month in a row, raising concern that we may be entering an inflationary period. How concerned should investors be? Before we get into that, we should begin with a short primer on what inflation is. Inflation refers to an…
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With election time now getting closer, we are inundated with opinions and prognostications about not only who will win but what that victory will mean for the markets. When you couple the uncertainties of the election with the other trials facing our country including, but not limited to, high unemployment, the economic and personal consequences…
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The terms “stock market” and “economy” are often used interchangeably, but they are not one in the same. Perhaps this has never been more evident than over the past several months. The state of the economy, according to most measures, is bleak, with economic activity contracting, an unemployment rate of more than 10%, and an…
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After a surprisingly strong year for stocks in 2019, the new decade got off to a rough start for investors with one of the most abrupt and rapid stock market declines on record. In just 5 weeks, the S&P 500 declined by more than 33%. Overall, U.S. stocks ended the quarter down about 20%, while…
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Global markets closed on Monday approximately 30% off of the highs reached just one month ago. The sell-off has been dramatic and breathtakingly swift. We have been getting some great questions from clients, so we thought we might share some of them along with our thoughts in the following Q&A. We hope you find it…
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Over the last several weeks, the coronavirus has grabbed global headlines. So far, U.S. markets have remained relatively immune. But should you try to dodge markets that have been exposed? The answer to that question is simple: breaking news should not impact your investment program. A portfolio that is invested according to an evidence-based investment…
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After a down year in 2018, the outlook for stocks in 2019 was not positive. The markets had experienced an abrupt decline in the last quarter of 2018, and many thought the bull market that had begun in March of 2009 was coming to an end. But those who stayed invested were rewarded with a…
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