Monthly Archives: July 2024

Down Corporate Reports Shake Investors

2024-07-29T08:18:00-05:00July 29, 2024|Categories: Weekly Update|

The Weekly Update

Week of July 29th, 2024
By Christopher T. Much, CFP®, AIF®

Stocks had a mixed, see-saw week as disappointing corporate reports unsettled investors who appeared to rotate away from some leading groups in favor of other names.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average picked up 0.75 percent. Meanwhile, the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index declined 0.83 percent, and the Nasdaq Composite Index dropped 2.08 percent. The MSCI EAFE Index, which tracks developed overseas stock markets, fell 1.49 percent for the week through Thursday’s close.

Q2 Corporate Reports Start
Last week began with some positive momentum, but after Tuesday’s close, two influential tech companies reported disappointing Q2 numbers, which soured sentiment. On Wednesday, the S&P dropped 2 percent, and the Nasdaq fell more than 3 percent.

Stocks attempted to rebound on Thursday on news that gross domestic product grew much faster than expected in Q2, but sellers swooped in near the close.

Stocks rallied broadly …

Investors Shift, Anticipating Lower Interest Rates

2024-07-22T09:58:36-05:00July 22, 2024|Categories: Weekly Update|

The Weekly Update

Week of July 22nd, 2024
By Christopher T. Much, CFP®, AIF®

Stocks were under pressure last week as investors appeared to rotate out of mega-cap tech stocks and into areas that may benefit from lower interest rates.

The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index fell 1.97 percent, while Nasdaq Composite Index declined 3.65 percent. The Dow Jones Industrial Average bucked the downward trend, up 0.72 percent. The MSCI EAFE Index, which tracks developed overseas stock markets, slid 1.48 percent for the week through Thursday’s close.

Dow Leads Again
The week began very differently than it ended.

All three averages rallied over the first couple of days this week, with the Dow leading on both days. Fed Chair Powell indicated the Fed may not wait for inflation to reach its 2 percent target before considering a rate move, buoying the markets.

Then, markets hit a speed bump as investors appeared to take profits and rotated …

  • Legacy Planning and Wealth Transfer

Legacy Planning and Wealth Transfer in the Modern World

2025-03-25T09:55:36-05:00July 18, 2024|Categories: Resource Center|Tags: , , |

Legacy Planning and Wealth Transfer in the Modern World

Legacy planning has evolved significantly in the modern world, requiring careful consideration of both financial and emotional aspects. While traditional estate planning tools remain important, managing family dynamics is now a central concern. Blended families and international relatives introduce complexities, necessitating early and open communication to prevent conflicts. Involving family members in the planning process, discussing roles and asset distribution, and using neutral third-party mediators can help navigate these challenges. This proactive approach ensures that wealth transfer respects family structures and minimizes emotional conflict.

Additionally, the rise of digital assets adds a new layer of complexity to legacy planning. Cryptocurrencies, digital wallets, and online business interests need to be incorporated into a comprehensive plan. Creating a secure inventory of digital assets and ensuring beneficiaries have clear, updated instructions for access are crucial steps. Legal advice is also important to ensure …

  • retirement planning in age of longevity

Retirement Planning In The Age Of Longevity

2025-03-26T20:55:54-05:00July 18, 2024|Categories: Resource Center|Tags: , , , |

Retirement Planning in the Age of Longevity

Over the past 75 years, advancements in healthcare and healthier lifestyles have significantly increased the average American life expectancy. In 1950, the average life expectancy was 68 years, but by 2022 it had risen to 77.5 years. This increase in longevity means retirement planning has become more complex, as the retirement phase now has the potential to span decades. Longer life expectancies bring the challenge of ensuring savings last throughout an extended retirement, alongside rising inflation and healthcare costs.

The longer retirement period increases the risk of outliving savings, necessitating larger savings pools and more careful planning. Inflation further complicates retirement by eroding purchasing power, while healthcare costs often escalate with age, adding pressure to finances. To successfully navigate these challenges, retirees need a strategy that incorporates early and consistent saving, diversified investments, and multiple streams of income, such as Social Security, pensions, 401(k)s, …

  • Active Management: A FIDUCIARY STRATEGY FOR LONG-TERM ASSET PROTECTION

Active Management

2025-03-25T10:09:34-05:00July 18, 2024|Categories: Resource Center|Tags: , , |

Active Management: A Fiduciary Strategy For Long Term Asset Protection

Active management is a key investment strategy aimed at preserving and enhancing assets over time. Unlike passive management, which tracks a market index, it involves portfolio managers making specific, dynamic investment decisions to meet financial goals. This hands-on approach allows managers to adapt to market fluctuations, identify growth opportunities, and potentially reduce risks, all while maintaining a strong fiduciary commitment to act in clients’ best interests.

The core of active management lies in its ability to mitigate downside risks, especially in volatile markets. Active managers can adjust strategies in real-time, using tactics like asset reallocation, derivatives, or stop-losses to protect portfolios from significant losses. For instance, during the 2008 financial crisis or the 2020 COVID-19 market downturn, active managers may have reduced exposure to at-risk sectors or shifted into defensive areas, while passive strategies simply followed market declines. This flexibility makes …

Stocks Advance After New Inflation Data

2024-07-15T07:57:30-05:00July 15, 2024|Categories: Weekly Update|

The Weekly Update

Week of July 15th, 2024
By Christopher T. Much, CFP®, AIF®

Stocks advanced last week as market leadership shifted amid fresh inflation data and quarterly corporate reports starting to roll in.

The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index advanced 0.87 percent, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average picked up 1.59 percent. The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite Index, which has led all year, rose 0.25 percent. The MSCI EAFE Index, which tracks developed overseas stock markets, rallied 1.62 percent for the week through Thursday’s close.

Dow Breaks 40,000 (Again)
Mega-cap tech led modest gains for the S&P 500 and Nasdaq in the first two days of the week, with the Dow posting modest losses both days.

But that narrow trading range didn’t last long as market leadership shifted midweek. Upbeat corporate earnings reports and milder-than-expected consumer inflation in June drove momentum in a handful of larger industrial and consumer stocks.

Q2 earnings season got into full …

Stocks Steady in Short Holiday Trading

2024-07-08T08:41:14-05:00July 8, 2024|Categories: Weekly Update|

The Weekly Update

Week of July 8th, 2024
By Christopher T. Much, CFP®, AIF®

Stocks steadily advanced over the holiday week thanks to strength in mega-cap tech issues and encouraging jobs data.

The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index rose 1.95 percent, while the Nasdaq Composite Index added 3.50 percent. The Dow Jones Industrial Average edged up a modest 0.66 percent. The MSCI EAFE Index, which tracks developed overseas stock markets, rose 2.30 percent for the week through Thursday’s close.

Nasdaq, S&P Extend Runs
ADP’s employment report on Wednesday showed private-sector employers added 150,000 jobs in June—slightly slower than May’s pace—adding to investor hopes that a slowing economy may prompt the Fed to adjust short-term rates as early as September. The Nasdaq and the S&P hit their 23rd and 33rd record closes, respectively, for the year.

Friday morning’s jobs report from the Labor Department showed 206,000 jobs added last month, which also suggested a strong-but-cooling economy. …

Mixed Message from Fed Chair, Governor

2024-07-01T10:00:00-05:00July 1, 2024|Categories: Weekly Update|

The Weekly Update

Week of July 1st, 2024
By Christopher T. Much, CFP®, AIF®

Stocks finished the last week of June and Q2 mixed as investors digested a fresh round of economic data.

The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index slipped 0.08%, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average also dipped 0.08 percent. The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite gained 0.24 percent. The MSCI EAFE Index tracks developed overseas stock markets and rose 0.27 percent for the week through Thursday’s close.

Nasdaq Regains Lead
Last week opened with the S&P 500 and Nasdaq heading lower, while the Dow rallied on momentum from the prior week. But by mid-week, the leadership shifted with the Nasdaq pushing higher.

With the back half of the week packed with fresh economic data, conflicting stories developed about the economy. New home sales fell 11.3 percent in May—the largest month-over-month drop in a year and a half—while the supply of new homes hit a 16-year …

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