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Category: Current & Economic Events

Calendar page with push pins marking days on Tuesdays and Fridays, covering the 5th, 9th, 12th, 16th, 19th, 23rd, and 30th. The 30th is also circled in red.
  • Current & Economic Events, Investing
6 min read

How Dollar-Cost Averaging Can Help Investors Get Into the Market

There are investment methods for managing the emotions that come from market volatility. What should investors know about how they can stick to an investment plan through years and decades?
A vibrant graph displaying fluctuating financial data with an overall upward trend amidst a glowing background of bar graphs and bright lights.
  • Current & Economic Events, Investing
5 min read

What Dow 40,000 Means for Consumer Net Worth

The Dow Jones Industrial Average reached 40,000 for the first time recently as markets continue to rebound from a 5% decline earlier this year. While this has felt like a difficult year for many investors due to inflation, high interest rates, and growth concerns, the reality is that the broad market has achieved 23 new all-time highs. Other asset classes, including international stocks, commodities, and even gold, have surged alongside the U.S. stock market as interest rate expectations have fallen.
A straight road with "2024" and an arrow painted on it, surrounded by greenery under a cloudy sky with sunlight in the distance.
  • Current & Economic Events
6 min read

5 Insights for Your Investment Program in 2024

In 2023 markets reversed their 2022 performance with strong gains across both stocks and bonds. The S&P 500, Dow, and Nasdaq all generated exceptional returns last year: 26.3%, 16.2%, and 44.7% respectively (with reinvested dividends). The S&P has come full circle and is now only a fraction of a percentage point below the all-time high from exactly two years ago. The US 10-Year Treasury yield climbed as high as 5% in October before falling to end the year around 3.9%, pushing bond prices higher in the process.
A large crowd of people standing together outdoors. One person in the center holds up a small American flag.
  • Current & Economic Events, Recent Events
5 min read

What Washington Politics and the National Debt Mean for Long-Term Investors

While war escalates in the Middle East, a political battle is also heating up in Washington. As of this writing, there is still no House speaker in Congress after Kevin McCarthy's exit and Steve Scalise's withdrawal. While a number of Republican and House votes are scheduled to attempt to resolve this leadership vacuum, there are more political hurdles on the horizon. This only complicates the market and economic environment for investors who are already navigating higher interest rates, Fed uncertainty, stock market volatility, and more.
Gold-plated seal of the United States Department of the Treasury on a stone wall, featuring scales, a key, and stars with the year 1789 inscribed.
  • Current & Economic Events
5 min read

How the Highest Real Yields Since 2009 Affect Investors

Interest rates have swung wildly over the past two years in response to inflation, economic concerns, and market volatility. After falling as low as 3.3% earlier this year, the 10-year U.S. Treasury is now yielding around 4.2%, back to where it was roughly a year ago. However, while today's long-term yields look similar to last year's on paper, they are quite different from an economic and market perspective. What are interest rates telling us today and how does this impact long-term investors?
A digital representation of artificial intelligence with a central "AI" symbol surrounded by interconnecting circuit-like lines and numbers, set on a dark background.
  • Current & Economic Events
6 min read

How Artificial Intelligence, Tech, and Productivity Impact Portfolios

The world has been abuzz over artificial intelligence and its possible benefits and threats. These range from the practical, such as better tools for knowledge workers and ways for students to avoid writing papers, to the philosophical, including what it means to be sentient and how such an emergent phenomenon could impact human civilization. In between, there are more mundane questions around the economy and markets, especially for technology-related sectors. Given the promises and hyperbole around AI, what makes sense for long-term investors?
A smartphone displaying the U.S. Department of the Treasury website with the "Debt Limit" section open, against a background of hundred-dollar bills.
  • Current & Economic Events, Investing
5 min read

What the Looming Debt Ceiling Deadline Means for Investors

The federal debt limit is once again in the news as the country rapidly approaches a critical deadline on June 1st. Investors are understandably nervous about Washington failing to reach an agreement, a possibility that both sides agree would be self-inflicted damage. And while it's unclear how this will play out in the coming weeks, the fortunate news is that financial markets are mostly taking these events in stride. How can investors maintain the right perspective around political and fiscal uncertainty?
The facade of a building with "Federal Reserve" engraved on its wall. The structure is made of light-colored stone with decorative elements.
  • Current & Economic Events
5 min read

Why Oil, the Fed and Jobs Are Surprising Markets

There is an old saying that happiness equals reality minus expectations. This is particularly relevant when it comes to financial planning and investing during times of great uncertainty.
Stone structure shaped like a classical bank building with the word "BANK" cracked and breaking apart.
  • Current & Economic Events
6 min read

Special Update: Navigating Bank Failures, Fed Rate Hikes, and Risks to the Financial System

The recent failure of three U.S. banks has raised concerns over the economy and financial system. The situation is still evolving and there is plenty of speculation as to what might come next. One recent development is that government officials from the Treasury, Federal Reserve, and FDIC have announced that depositors will be made whole in an effort to backstop the system and restore confidence.
A scattered assortment of American currency bills in various denominations, including $100, $50, $20, and $5 notes.
  • Current & Economic Events, My Money & Me
8 min read

Special Edition: Is My Money Safe?

The events of the past several days provide us all with an instructive backdrop for several important financial topics. Even folks who don’t routinely pay attention to financial goings-on are now likely to have heard about the collapse (and subsequent rescue) of Silicon Valley Bank. The first and most obvious of these is a reminder that stock investing always comes with risks. When the economy is booming and companies are doing well, it’s easy to forget about risk. But it’s always there. That’s why the first thing we think about when investing in the stock market is how to manage risk.
A hand arranges wooden letter blocks to spell "NEW JOB" on a wooden surface, surrounded by pencils, paper clips, and a binder clip.
  • Current & Economic Events, Investing, My Money & Me
4 min read

How Corporate Earnings Can Guide Long-Term Investors

While major stock market indices have rallied this year, investors continue to receive mixed signals from the economy, and that has made a lot of people nervous.
Three people are sitting at a table in an office, engaged in a discussion with a laptop, plants, and papers on the table.
  • Current & Economic Events, My Money & Me, Retirement Planning
4 min read

Big Changes for Retirement Accounts in Congress’s New Spending Bill

In December 2022, Congress passed a new spending bill which also contains many changes to retirement accounts. The changes are extensive, but here is a summary of specific changes that are most likely to impact you.
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