The U.S. population, like those of many developed countries, is aging. According to the latest Census figures, a major shift occurred over the past two decades in which the share of the population under 50 declined, especially among those who are considered to be of prime working age. Even the youngest baby boomers are nearing retirement age while […]
Click here to download this commentary in PDF format. Stock market volatility has once again picked up as recent economic data have led markets to reverse course after a strong start to the year. While investors have grown accustomed to daily swings, it’s still important to remember that stock market fluctuations are normal, expected and unavoidable. After all, […]
Click here to download this commentary in PDF format. For investors, it may feel like déjà vu all over again as inflation and the Fed dominate market headlines on a day-to-day basis. After all, the numerous market swings last year were driven by ever-changing expectations around the Fed – both when investors believed the Fed was doing too […]
While major stock market indices have rallied this year, investors continue to receive mixed signals from the economy. On the one hand, inflation is improving which has allowed interest rates to stabilize at a lower level. On the other hand, last week’s jobs report was a significant surprise to the upside with 517,000 net new jobs created […]
Click here to download this commentary in PDF format. Layoff announcements are ramping up as companies adjust to slowing sales and profitability. So far, major job cuts have been concentrated in technology and consumer-related industries due to overhiring during the pandemic recovery when demand was unusually strong. Whether this spills into the broader economy is the subject […]
To see this commentary in PDF form, click here. Over the past week, there has been nonstop news coverage on the federal government hitting the $31.4 trillion borrowing limit known as the debt ceiling. This once again puts Washington drama on center stage as the Treasury Department enacts “extraordinary measures” to not default on its obligations. Although this […]
The bear market in bonds last year was a shock to markets and raised questions around the role of fixed income securities in portfolios. This is because, until 2021, inflation had been steadily falling for 40 years, pushing interest rates lower and bond prices higher. This period supported the idea that bonds act as a stable foundation to […]
January 11, 2023 Click here to download PDF version. Only one full week into 2023, news headlines have already sparked concern among some investors. From the protracted House Speaker battle in Congress to layoff announcements across industries, markets have been on edge. Despite these challenges, the pivotal issue continues to be whether the Fed will cause a recession […]
2022 was a challenging year for investors. Markets fell into bear market territory and experienced the worst annual performance since 2008. The S&P 500, Dow and Nasdaq declined 19.4%, 8.8% and 33.1%, respectively, last year. Interest rates swung wildly with the 10-year Treasury yield jumping from 1.51% at the start of the year to a […]
Click here to download this commentary in PDF format. Inflation, interest rates and the Fed have been the driving forces behind the market in 2022. These factors broke a number of trends that have influenced portfolio decisions over the past several decades, creating an uncomfortable investment environment. This has kept many investors guessing at what might […]