Blog

Celebrating Black History Month

Every February, Americans celebrate Black History Month. This year, we invite you to join us in remembering the accomplishments of Black citizens, past and present, which are an integral part of American history. Whether it’s...

Happy Year of the Tiger

A very extraordinary time is almost here – a time for family, feasts, fireworks – a time to celebrate the arrival of a new year! May good fortune be yours in the Year of the Tiger! I wish you the very best and send my...

Remembering Martin Luther King Jr.

The third Monday of January is Martin Luther King Jr. Day. The legacy of Dr. King means many things to each American. This is a day of remembrance for both the man and his work. It’s also a day of service, in which we use a day...

Don't Fight the Fed

You may have heard the old Wall Street saying, “Don’t fight the Fed.” It suggests that investors should align their strategy with the Federal Reserve’s outlook rather than try to outsmart the world’s most...

What’s ahead for 2022?

By any measure, 2021 was a strong year for investors. But what’s in store for 2022? From my perspective, I expect that many of the same forces that influenced markets last year will play a role again in the year ahead. COVID-19...

Happy New Year - 2021 into 2022

A new year beckons, promising new opportunities. Now is the time to consider your action plan. The start of a year is the right time to work on a dream or two. It is also a good time to adjust or refine a financial strategy. As I bid...

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas! Hope everyone is getting to enjoy this time of year with friends and family while staying healthy and safe.

Fed Speak

Ready for Medicare Open Enrollment?

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...

401(k) Millionaires

Your workplace retirement account can play a critical role in your overall retirement strategy. However, some have gone further with the accounts than others, especially recently.CNBC reported on findings that place 401(k) accounts at...

Happy Labor Day!

More than just a bookend to the summer season, Labor Day is a celebration of workers' contributions to the well-being of our country and the economy.Labor Day was first celebrated on Sept. 5, 1882, in New York City, in accordance with...

Weekly Market Insights: Powell: Tapering Likely in 2021

The stock market powered to record levels last week amid talk of Fed tapering and a deceleration in new Delta variant cases.The Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 0.96%, while the Standard & Poor’s 500 increased 1.52%. The...

Mixed Signals on Inflation

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...

Economic Lessons from Used-Car Inflation

Inflation is defined as the general upward price movement of goods and services in an economy. The key word is “general.” Inflation tends to be uneven and affects the price of some items more than others.If you’ve...

Weekly Market Insights: Passage of Infrastructure Boosts Stocks

Looking past inflation figures and Delta variant trends, stocks last week found a way to climb higher and set fresh record highs in the process.The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 0.87%, while the Standard & Poor’s 500...

Mixed Signals on Inflation

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...

Are You Ready for the Second Act of the S.E.C.U.R.E. Act?

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...

Weekly Market Insights: Stocks Stay Cool, Inflation Heats Up

Stocks ended the week mixed as investors appeared to shrug off a hotter-than-expected inflation report.The Dow Jones Industrial Average slipped 0.80%, while the Standard & Poor’s 500 advanced 0.41%. The Nasdaq Composite...

2021 Retirement Confidence Survey

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...

Weekly Market Insights: Earnings Season Crests Some Expectations

Stocks meandered around a flatline in a busy week of corporate earnings, ending the trading week slightly lower.The Dow Jones Industrial Average slid 0.50%, while the Standard & Poor’s 500 was flat (+0.02%). The Nasdaq...

When the Fed Talks Inflation, Bond Investors Listen

Most recently, you may have read that Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell announced a change in how the Fed views inflation. In the past, the Fed said it would consider adjusting short-term rates when inflation approached 2 percent....

Weekly Market Insights: Stocks Mixed Amid Uncertainty

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 Average declined 1.75%,...

Football Is Back

Football is back, which means Summer is coming to a close, days will get shorter, and sweaters will soon be in play.This year, there was no pre-season, so professional football started in September, which coincidentally, is a...

CARES Act: Will There Be a Phase 4?

With the economy and financial markets flashing mixed signals, it’s no wonder that lawmakers are deadlocked on whether to pass a Phase 4 of the CARES Act.More than $3 trillion in stimulus has been pushed into the economy since...

Federal Student Loan payments paused due to COVID-19

Are you or someone you know currently making federal student loan payments? In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, some welcome relief may be on the way.Thanks to the recent passage of the CARES Act, the U.S. Department of Education will...