In this month’s recap: Stocks dropped as escalating tensions in Eastern Europe upended the market. U.S. Markets Escalating tensions in Eastern Europe upended markets in February, sending stocks lower for the month. The Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 3.53 percent while the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index fell 3.14 percent, and the Nasdaq Composite lost 3.43 per … [Read more...] about Market Update (March 2022)
Market Update (February 2022)
In this month’s recap: Stocks fell as rising bond yields, elevated inflation, and a hawkish-sounding Fed took turns rattling investor confidence. U.S. Markets Rising yields, elevated inflation, and a hawkish-sounding Fed took turns rattling the stock market in January, with technology-heavy Nasdaq particularly hard hit. The Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 3.32 p … [Read more...] about Market Update (February 2022)
Retirement Preparation Mistakes
Why are they made again and again? Much is out there about the classic financial mistakes that plague start-ups, family businesses, corporations, and charities. Aside from these blunders, some classic financial missteps plague retirees. Calling them “mistakes” may be a bit harsh, as not all of them represent errors in judgment. Yet whether they re … [Read more...] about Retirement Preparation Mistakes
Market Update (January 2022)
In this market recap: U.S. economy confronts a new COVID-19 variant amid continuing inflation and supply chain bottlenecks. Europe institutes new social restrictions in response to a surge in Delta and Omicron variant infections. Investors turn cautious as uncertainties increase. THE QUARTER IN BRIEF The stock market kicked off the fourth quarter with a powerful rally … [Read more...] about Market Update (January 2022)
Market Update (December 2021)
In this month’s recap: Reports of a new COVID-19 variant blindsided markets as a wave of late selling erased the month’s earlier gains. U.S. Markets Reports of a new COVID-19 variant in late November roiled markets as a wave of selling erased the month’s earlier gains. The Dow Jones Industrial Average took the hardest hit, dropping 3.73 percent. The Standard & Poo … [Read more...] about Market Update (December 2021)
Market Update (November 2021)
In this month’s recap: Stock prices notched solid gains as a strong start to the corporate earnings season fired up investors. U.S. Markets A strong corporate earnings season renewed investor enthusiasm for stocks and propelled the market to healthy gains in October. The Dow Jones Industrial Average advanced 5.84 percent while the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index rose … [Read more...] about Market Update (November 2021)
Making Investment Decisions
Are your choices based on evidence or emotion? Information vs. instinct. When it comes to investing, many people believe they have a “knack” for choosing good investments. But what exactly is that “knack” based on? The fact is, the choices we make with our assets can be strongly influenced by factors, many of them emotional, that we may not even be aware of. Deal du jour … [Read more...] about Making Investment Decisions
Translating Stock Market Jargon
Have you ever been confused by the jargon used on Wall Street? Allow me to translate some esoteric stock market terms into plain English. Blue chips: Stocks with a history of consistently strong dividend payments, issued by huge corporations with solid management. In addition, a nickname for the Dow Jones Industrial Average, which includes 30 companies that usually deserve … [Read more...] about Translating Stock Market Jargon