GUIDELINES TO FINANCIAL FREEDOM
GUIDELINES TO FINANCIAL FREEDOM
As the landscape of Registered Investment Advisors (RIAs) continues to evolve, the topic of mergers and acquisitions (M&A) has become increasingly prominent. The allure of consolidation, growth opportunities, and potential financial gains has led many firms to explore M&A as a strategic avenue for expansion. However, amidst the flurry of...
Few economic data points receive as much attention as the unemployment rate, which is calculated by dividing the number of unemployed individuals by the total labor force. It serves as a crucial gauge of labor market health and offers insight into the economy and consumer spending power. Figure 1 shows...
Stocks traded higher to start the new year, with the S&P 500, NASDAQ 100, and Dow Jones Industrial Average each setting new all-time highs. In continuation of last year’s trend, the companies with the biggest market caps accounted for a substantial portion of the early-year gains. This leadership can be...
The terms financial advisor and financial planner are often seen as synonymous or interchangeable; however, there is a distinct difference between the use of the financial terms and the financial services that are offered by the two types of professions. While a financial advisor and a financial planner offer guidance...
There are alot of types of financial professionals to choose from when hiring a financial advisor. Acronyms such as Certified Public Accountant (CPA) or Certified Financial Analyst (CFA) ring a bell for most individuals; however, an important designation and professional, the Certified Financial Planner, is often overlooked by those who...
The University of Michigan publishes a monthly Survey of Consumers that assesses the confidence and expectations of U.S. consumers. It asks questions about current economic conditions, expectations for the future, and consumers' attitudes toward making big purchases. There was a notable development in the December 2023 survey, as the percentage...
Financial markets underwent a sizeable shift in the fourth quarter. Treasury yields, which spiked in Q3, reversed lower as inflation eased and the Federal Reserve hinted at interest rate cuts in 2024. The decline in interest rates was a significant tailwind for stocks and bonds. The S&P 500 gained +11.6%...
Tax-loss harvesting is the act of selling securities at a loss to gain back and offset any capital gains tax owed from selling more profitable assets. This is a great strategy commonly used to help limit short-term capital gains, as this type of gain is commonly taxed at a higher...
Running a small business can be a demanding and challenging endeavor. Business owners are often stretched thin across various responsibilities and tasks, including human resources, daily operations, and even legal. With so many obligations, it can be hard to focus on the crucial aspects of one’s business, including the necessary...
The big story during November was the decline in Treasury yields. The bond market experienced large moves in interest rates, with the 10-year Treasury yield falling to 4.36% from over 5% in October. For context, the -0.54% decline in the 10-year yield ranks among the biggest 1-month drops since December...