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Resolve to Review Your Strategy Before New Year's

Advisors' Academy, November 2021

So much for “The October Effect”. The idea that stock market crashes are common in October was not only rejected by Wall Street last month, but completely reversed. After falling by about 5% in September, the market rebounded strongly in October, with all three major indexes hitting new peak highs. What fueled the rally? Will it continue or is another big correction still possible? More importantly, are you still comfortable with your current strategy?

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What’s Driving Wall Street’s New Nervousness? Lots!

Advisors' Academy, October 2021

Last month, I identified several issues that could shake up the markets this fall, and they’ve been shaking them. However, new issues have also emerged. Entering September, the stock market was on a seven-month winning streak and had achieved new record highs as recently as mid-August. Then volatility began to spike around Labor Day, and September saw all three major indexes finish down for the month for the first time since January.

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Skeletons are Piling Up in the World's Closet as Fall Arrives

Advisors' Academy, September 2021

The Summer that began with so much optimism is coming to an end. While Wall Street is still clinging to optimism, its grip may be severely tested this Fall. A host of issues have emerged that could impact all the financial markets just as we head into a season already known for market turmoil. Are you prepared?

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Optimism Holds as Summer Fades, But Can it Continue?

Advisors' Academy, August 2021

Through much of July, the financial markets seemed as confused about the future of the economy as the rest of us were about the coronavirus. Investors seemed giddy with optimism one week, wary the next week, then giddy again. That’s how most of us are feeling about the pandemic as Covid-19 variant cases spike, and politicians send mixed messages about how cautious we should or shouldn’t be. How will this confusion play out as Summer gives way to Fall?

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Will the Second Half of 2021 be 'Better' in Every Way?

Advisors' Academy, July 2021

We’re halfway through the year already, and in some ways the second half of 2021 is poised to be dramatically different than the first. That’s because the “return to normal” that began at the start of this year is now well underway and will continue to expand in the next six months. Most mask-wearing mandates have already been lifted and most Covid-19 restrictions have been greatly relaxed. Socially, things should keep getting better, but what about financially? Will the second half of 2021 be better, about the same, or worse for your investments than the first half?

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Inflation Fears Rise Higher but No One’s Panicking…Yet

Advisors' Academy, June 2021

In last month’s newsletter I talked a bit about brewing inflation fears. Those fears increased in May as prices continued to do the same. That triggered some stock market volatility and a lot of debate about whether inflation might start to impede our economic recovery in the coming months—or even reverse it. According to the U.S. Labor Department, prices today are rising faster than at any time since 2008.* Inflation has been a growing concern for months as our economic recovery from the pandemic has picked up speed. Remember, inflation is defined as “too much demand chasing too few goods and services.” A little inflation is generally seen as good because it means consumers are consuming. That fuels demand, which creates jobs, drives growth and, overall, signals a thriving economy.

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As Markets Pause to ‘Take Stock’, So Should You

Advisors' Academy, May 2021

What a difference a year makes. At the start of May 2020, the stock market was struggling to crawl out of a deep crater triggered by the onset of the Covid-19 crisis. By May 1st it was only halfway back. Meanwhile, the economy was about to experience its worst quarter of economic shrinkage ever. Businesses were shutting down, unemployment was skyrocketing, and the worst was yet to come. The picture could not be more dramatically different in May 2021—but that doesn’t mean we aren’t still facing challenges.