estate planning Archives - CTS Financial Group

Markets Process Tariff Deals, New Data

jmuch2025-02-10T08:51:49-06:00February 10, 2025|Categories: Weekly Update|Tags: 401(k), AI, artificial intelligence, chicago, CPI, debt, estate planning, Fed, financial planning, financial strategy, Inflation, Interest Rates, investing, market volatility, retirement, risk management, taxes, wealth management, wealth transfer, women|

The Weekly Update

Week of February 10th, 2025
By Christopher T. Much, CFP®, AIF®

Stocks posted modest losses last week as tariff deals, January jobs data, and Q4 corporate reports injected volatility into markets.

The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index slipped 0.24 percent, while the Nasdaq Composite Index lost 0.53 percent. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 0.54 percent. The MSCI EAFE Index, which tracks developed overseas stock markets, edged ahead 0.17 percent.

Tariffs, Q4 Reports, and Jobs
On Monday, stocks opened lower on news that tariffs on Mexico, Canada, and China went into effect over the weekend. However, markets rebounded midmorning following news of a U.S.-Mexico deal that delayed new trade rules. News of a similar last-minute agreement with Canada followed.

Stocks continued their rally midweek, led by technology stocks from companies that provided upbeat Q4 corporate reports.

The S&P 500 and Nasdaq rose for the third consecutive day on Thursday, while the Dow experienced …

Black Swan Casts Shadow Over Wall Street

jmuch2025-02-03T08:29:02-06:00February 3, 2025|Categories: Weekly Update|Tags: 401(k), AI, artificial intelligence, chicago, college education, CPI, debt, estate planning, Fed, financial planning, financial strategy, income taxes, Inflation, market volatility, markets, retirement, risk management, social security, taxes, wealth management, wealth transfer, women|

The Weekly Update

Week of February 3rd, 2025
By Christopher T. Much, CFP®, AIF®

Stocks were mixed last week as investors parsed market-moving news nearly every trading day—from an unsettling AI update to White House news to Q4 corporate reports.

The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index fell 1.00 percent while the Nasdaq Composite Index slid 1.64 percent. Meanwhile, the Dow Jones Industrial Average rose, picking up 0.27 percent. The MSCI EAFE Index, which tracks developed overseas stock markets, added 0.75 percent.

A Choppy End to January
The week started on a down note with news that a Chinese artificial intelligence (AI) startup had made a breakthrough, which put pressure on a wide range of tech stocks. The tech-heavy Nasdaq fell 3 percent for the day, but the Dow Industrials ended the trading session slightly higher.

Stocks were under pressure again mid-week as investors waited on news from the Federal Reserve. The Fed voted to hold …

Shifted Policy Gears Rev Markets

jmuch2025-01-27T08:59:03-06:00January 27, 2025|Categories: Weekly Update|Tags: 401(k), aging parents, AI, alternative investments, artificial intelligence, college education, CPI, debt, estate planning, Fed, financial planning, financial strategy, income tax brackets, Inflation, Interest Rates, investing, market volatility, markets, retirement, risk management, social security, taxes, wealth management, wealth transfer, women|

The Weekly Update

Week of January 27th, 2025
By Christopher T. Much, CFP®, AIF®

Stocks rallied last week as investors reacted positively to a handful of better-than-expected corporate earnings reports and developments out of Washington, D.C.

The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index gained 1.74 percent, while the Nasdaq Composite Index added 1.65 percent. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 2.15 percent. The MSCI EAFE Index, which tracks developed overseas stock markets, added 3.03 percent.

Flurry of News
Markets surged over the first three trading days as investors cheered a flurry of new policy announcements and executive orders following Monday’s inauguration. For example, investors responded to news that the White House trade team is considering taking a softer stance on tariffs.3
It was also a good week for Q4 company reports and other upbeat corporate news.

Markets leveled off Friday as investors were disappointed that existing home sales fell to a 30-year low. But for the week, …

Investors Read Inflation Risk in Job Numbers

jmuch2025-01-13T08:32:22-06:00January 13, 2025|Categories: Weekly Update|Tags: 401(k), aging parents, artificial intelligence, chicago, CPI, estate planning, Fed, financial planning, financial strategy, Inflation, insurance, Interest Rates, investing, market volatility, markets, retirement, risk management, social security, wealth management, wealth transfer, women|

The Weekly Update

Week of January 13th, 2025
By Christopher T. Much, CFP®, AIF®

Stocks fell for the second consecutive week as a round of fresh economic data stoked inflationary fears among investors.

The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index declined 1.94 percent, while the Nasdaq Composite Index dropped 2.34 percent. The Dow Jones Industrial Average lost 1.86 percent. The MSCI EAFE Index, which tracks developed overseas stock markets, slipped 0.49 percent.

Inflation Stymies Markets
Stocks rallied broadly to start the week, but two economic reports on Tuesday—job openings and the prices-paid index among service companies—raised fresh inflation concerns. Higher Treasury yields also put pressure on stocks.

Stocks flattened out on Wednesday. Investors reacted to news that most Federal Open Market Committee members agreed inflation risks had increased, per minutes from the Fed’s December meeting.

U.S. stock markets were closed Thursday in observance of President Jimmy Carter’s funeral.

On Friday, a warmer-than-expected December jobs report caused investors to …

Stocks Decline Slightly as New Year Dawns

jmuch2025-01-06T09:48:26-06:00January 6, 2025|Categories: Weekly Update|Tags: 401(k), alternative investments, artificial intelligence, chicago, CPI, debt, estate planning, Fed, financial planning, financial strategy, Inflation, insurance, Interest Rates, investing, market volatility, markets, retirement, risk management, taxes, wealth management, wealth transfer, women|

The Weekly Update

Week of January 6th, 2025
By Christopher T. Much, CFP®, AIF®

Stocks edged lower last week despite a powerful end-of-week rally.

The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index lost 0.48 percent, while the Nasdaq Composite Index slid 0.51 percent. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 0.60 percent. The MSCI EAFE Index, which tracks developed overseas stock markets, dropped 0.90 percent.

Selling Then Buying
Stocks were under pressure right out of the gate on Monday for no apparent reason other than worries over the loss of year-end momentum. By the end of trading on Monday, markets recovered some losses, but the selling picked up again on Tuesday.

After being closed for the New Year’s holiday, stocks opened higher for the first trading day of 2025. But sellers gained the upper hand by the end of trading. On Friday, Investors perked up with tech stocks leading a recovery rally that erased most of the week’s …

Holiday Spending Up

jmuch2024-12-30T10:10:07-06:00December 30, 2024|Categories: Weekly Update|Tags: 401(k), artificial intelligence, chicago, CPI, debt, estate planning, Fed, financial planning, financial strategy, income tax brackets, insurance, Interest Rates, investing, market volatility, markets, retirement, social security, wealth management, wealth transfer, women|

The Weekly Update

Week of December 30th, 2024
By Christopher T. Much, CFP®, AIF®

Stocks notched a slight gain over the holiday week. A tech-driven rally in the first half of the week was clawed back in the second half as investors took profits following the market holiday.

The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index advanced 0.67 percent, while the Nasdaq Composite Index rose 0.76 percent. The Dow Jones Industrial Average added 0.35 percent. The MSCI EAFE Index, which tracks developed overseas stock markets, rose 1.54 percent.

Ho-Ho, Then No-Go
Stocks rallied during the first half of a shortened holiday trading week. Holiday cheer won out despite news of declining consumer confidence in December, a drop in durable goods, and new home sales reporting below expectations.

The “Santa rally” lost its ho-ho-go after the midweek holiday. Megacap technology stocks led markets down on Friday, giving back most of the gains from the first half of the …

Powell Signal Leaves Investors Cold

jmuch2024-12-23T10:04:49-06:00December 23, 2024|Categories: Weekly Update|Tags: 401(k), AI, artificial intelligence, chicago, CPI, debt, estate planning, Fed, financial planning, Inflation, insurance, Interest Rates, investing, investment, market volatility, markets, retirement, risk management, social security, taxes, wealth management|

The Weekly Update

Week of December 23rd, 2024
By Christopher T. Much, CFP®, AIF®

Stocks were under pressure last week as the Fed Chair’s hawkish comments unsettled investors ahead of the holiday season.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average received the hardest hit, falling 2.25 percent. The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index lost 1.98 percent, while the Nasdaq Composite Index dropped 1.78 percent. The MSCI EAFE Index, which tracks developed overseas stock markets, retreated an eye-catching 3.38 percent.

No Santa Yet
Divergence marked the start of the week as megacap tech stocks rallied while the Dow Industrials fell for the eighth-straight session—its longest losing streak since 2018.

Following its scheduled December meeting, the Fed announced it was cutting short-term rates by a quarter point, as widely expected. However, Fed Chair Jerome Powell also signaled fewer rate reductions next year. “From here, it’s a new phase and we’re going to be cautious about further cuts,” he said …

Mixed Data, Mixed Results

jmuch2024-12-16T08:42:48-06:00December 16, 2024|Categories: Weekly Update|Tags: 401(k), alternative investments, artificial intelligence, chicago, estate planning, Fed, financial planning, financial strategy, Inflation, Interest Rates, investing, market volatility, markets, retirement, retirement planning, risk management, taxes, wealth management, wealth transfer, women|

The Weekly Update

Week of December 16th, 2024
By Christopher T. Much, CFP®, AIF®

Stocks finished the week mixed, bookending losses around midweek gains as investors digested fresh inflation data.

The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index slipped 0.64 percent, while the Nasdaq Composite Index ticked up 0.34 percent. The Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 1.82 percent. The MSCI EAFE Index, which tracks developed overseas stock markets, slid 1.48 percent.

Up and Down Week
Stocks fell broadly over the first part of the week. Leading chipmakers who produce semiconductors for artificial intelligence applications were under pressure after Chinese regulators announced an antimonopoly investigation.

Investors breathed a sigh of relief Wednesday morning following news that consumer inflation in November was in line with expectations. Mega-cap tech stocks led the rally, with the Nasdaq closing above 20,000 for the first time. Meanwhile, the Dow fell as healthcare stocks came under pressure.

Stocks remained in the trading range for the …

Markets Mixed; Jobs Back on Track

jmuch2024-12-09T09:57:23-06:00December 9, 2024|Categories: Weekly Update|Tags: chicago, CPI, debt, estate planning, financial planning, Interest Rates, investing, market volatility, risk management, social security, taxes, wealth management, wealth transfer, women|

The Weekly Update

Week of December 9th, 2024
By Christopher T. Much, CFP®, AIF®

Stocks were mixed during the first trading week of December. Technology stocks led, while the widely followed Dow Jones Industrial Average struggled.

The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite Index picked up 3.34 percent while the Dow Industrials lost 0.60 percent. The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index added 0.96 percent. The MSCI EAFE Index, which tracks developed overseas stock markets, gained 1.46 percent.

Tech Takes Charge
The S&P and Nasdaq rallied to start the week, closing at record highs Monday and Tuesday. The Dow fell on both days. During a conference speech, Fed governor Christopher Waller said he supports a rate adjustment in December for now, which seemed to add momentum to the S&P’s and Nasdaq’s gains.

Tech shares continued to propel stock gains midweek on the strength of a few better-than-expected Q3 reports.

On Friday, the S&P and Nasdaq hit new record highs following …

Solid Gains for Thanksgiving Week

jmuch2024-12-02T05:45:52-06:00December 2, 2024|Categories: Weekly Update|Tags: chicago, CPI, estate planning, financial planning, financial strategy, Inflation, insurance, Interest Rates, investing, investment, market volatility, markets, PPI, retirement, retirement planning, risk, risk management, social security, taxes, wealth management, wealth transfer, women|

The Weekly Update

December 2nd, 2024
By Christopher T. Much, CFP®, AIF®

Stocks posted solid gains over a short and busy holiday week as investors parsed fresh economic data, comments on potential future trade policy, and a few Q3 reports from technology companies.

The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index gained 1.06 percent, while the Nasdaq Composite Index advanced 1.13 percent. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 1.39 percent. The MSCI EAFE Index, which tracks developed overseas stock markets, added 2.02 percent.

Rally Extends
Stocks staged a broad-based rally to start the week as investors reacted to the nominee for Secretary of the Treasury. Small-cap stocks continued their month-to-date surge as the Russell 2000 Index rose to an all-time high. News that consumer confidence rose in November appeared to contribute to gains.

Then stocks took a pre-Thanksgiving pause as investors digested economic data. Also, disappointing Q3 updates from two computer hardware manufacturers weighed on the tech …