Blogs

Quarterly Market Review: Q4 2023 By: Paul Dickson, Director of Research and Giri Krishnan, Senior Portfolio Manager The “Soft-Landing” Has Become the Default Scenario The Federal Reserve signaled that it is likely done with rate hikes. The markets responded favorably, nearly doubling the annual return on the S&P 500. This signaling also moved the U.S. Aggregate Bond market from being in the red to having a decisively positive year. The pivot in policymakers’ outlook was somewhat of a surprise given that the data-informed policy has not improved nearly as much as their stance has changed. While...

For anyone searching for a simple, easy-to-understand investment strategy, target-date funds may be worth a look. A target-date fund is a mutual fund that invests with the assumption that investors will need to start withdrawing money from the fund at a specified time in the future. A professional fund manager monitors the fund and makes adjustments to the underlying investments as needed for the time frame. A Focus on Long-Term Financial Goals The primary feature of a target-date fund is that the fund adjusts its risk level over time. When the target date is still far away (2035, for example)...

In the world of investing, the stock market has always been ruled by two very intimidating and unpredictable animals prone to emotional outbursts and a distrust of people, especially those wearing a red cape or carrying a pot of honey. This is the awesome power of bulls and bears. But when it comes to investing, there’s no reason to fear them. They simply represent the two major twists and turns of the stock market over time. Understanding what they are and keeping history in perspective are keys to being a confident and successful investor. This is Bull A bull market is a period when the...

Four ways interest rate hikes can affect your finances – and how to manage it Inflation is affecting many areas of our lives – whether you’re at the grocery store, a gas station, buying clothes online, hiring a contractor or doing almost anything that requires you to spend money. Earlier this year, the Federal Reserve started raising interest rates to rein in inflation, which reached another 40-year high in June. By raising rates, the Fed hopes to slow the economy and slow inflation. That’s because as borrowing becomes more expensive, consumers tend to reduce spending. The drop in demand for...

Understanding Uncertainty: Retirement Plan Webinar View Full Webinar Presentation All of us are surrounded by fear of risk. When the media discusses investments, so much is driven by what an investor could lose or gain. Some investments are marketed as growth, guaranteed, or safe. What is risk? What risks are relevant in your retirement plan? What is considered investment risk and what is our own behavioral risk? What do you do as a saver to combat the short and long-term risks so pervasive in our society? With the right strategies, you can manage risk and help grow your retirement account...