Markets are down significantly to start the year. The most reliable producers of earnings growth have begun to falter. Indexes are experiencing a broad-based sell-off led by big tech companies. Amazon, one of the largest companies in the S&P 500, dropped 14% on Friday to the lowest level since June 2020. Amazon lost $206.2 billion…… Continue reading Technology Sector Continues Selloff as Stock Market Falls
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Will Rising Mortgage Rates Cool Hot Housing Market?
The housing market is hot. It has been surging since the beginning of the pandemic. The Federal Reserve cut interest rates to historic lows and began purchasing bonds and mortgage securities in an extraordinary effort to boost the economy. As a result, mortgage rates fell to historic lows and stayed there until very recently. Now,…… Continue reading Will Rising Mortgage Rates Cool Hot Housing Market?
Politicians Can’t Do Much About High Oil Prices
The price of oil is surging, and so is the debate over what is causing the fastest runup in recent memory. As we approach the midterm elections, candidates and the broader media will continue to discuss gas prices and inflation. What has caused the surge in oil prices, and can policymakers do anything about it?…… Continue reading Politicians Can’t Do Much About High Oil Prices
401(k) Down? Blame Facebook
Facebook (I still refuse to call it Meta) has had a rough few months. Its stock has fallen over 40% since November. That is a phenomenal drop, especially for a company in the top ten of the S&P 500 Index. The size of Facebook and its plummet have helped drag the S&P 500 Index down…… Continue reading 401(k) Down? Blame Facebook
Is It Better to Pay Down Debt or Invest?
One of the most common questions a financial advisor gets is paying off debt vs. investing. More specifically, is it better to pay down debt or invest? Should you delay retirement savings to pay down a mortgage or student loans? Should you pay off debt before starting an emergency fund? The simple answer is that…… Continue reading Is It Better to Pay Down Debt or Invest?
What’s Going on in the Markets?
Markets are off to a pretty rough start this year. The slide started around the end of November. Markets began to run out of steam with the Federal Reserve’s looming policy shift. The S&P 500 is down over 6% from the beginning of November, and the technology-heavy Nasdaq is down over 12%. Some of the…… Continue reading What’s Going on in the Markets?
A Financial Wellness Guide for Millennials
We often think of wellness in terms of physical or mental health. Paying lots of attention to them, we often spend a lot of time, effort, and money trying to focus on them. To achieve a better quality of life, we focus on our mental and physical health. We rarely talk about money. It’s so…… Continue reading A Financial Wellness Guide for Millennials
Where to Put Money for Short-Term Savings
Short-Term Investments Matching your money to your short-term needs can help you squeak out some gains, even in a low-interest rate environment. A short-term investment can be converted by investors to cash now or soon, with relative ease and safety of principal. However, keeping a pile of money in cash can leave some earnings potential…… Continue reading Where to Put Money for Short-Term Savings
6 Reasons To Roll Over Your 401(k) To an IRA
It is no secret that the job market is hot right now. Many people have changed jobs in the past year or might consider doing so next year. Leaving for a new opportunity can be great, but you shouldn’t forget about your old 401(k). After leaving your job, you may be asking: “Should I roll…… Continue reading 6 Reasons To Roll Over Your 401(k) To an IRA
Your Guide to Talking About Inflation
Inflation is on everyone’s mind at the moment. Many are unfamiliar with how this particular bout of inflation came about or how bad it could get. Or worse, some people know just enough to sound like they know what they are talking about on the subject. In this post, I will look at each of…… Continue reading Your Guide to Talking About Inflation