Category: Markets
Speculating vs. Investing
Over the past several weeks, significant volatility in the share price of video game retailer GameStop dominated news headlines. The shares began to soar at the end of January when investors united on social media platforms to drive the stock price higher (an outcome that was possible given the company’s relatively small size and limited…
Strategic Ways to Optimize Financial Planning in 2021
As 2021 gets underway, there’s a palpable sense of optimism both domestically and internationally as we move forward with an expanded rollout of the COVID-19 vaccine. We hope the New Year will bring an increased demand for travel, dining, and entertainment that will give the private sector a much-needed boost. We also hope that 2021…
Our Perspectives on 2020
When we wrote to our clients at the end of 2019, we opened with the following message: “As we begin a New Year and a new decade, many financial experts are polishing their financial crystal balls in an attempt to predict what the market will – or won’t – do in 2020 and beyond. The…
The Election Is Over. Now What?
Election Day 2020 has come and gone, and many clients are naturally interested in what the results mean for their personal finances. Although President-elect Joseph Biden’s policy agenda offers stark contrasts to many current policies, particularly in the realm of tax policy, the degree to which the political consensus will push through sweeping changes remains…
Why the Dow and S&P 500 Don’t Tell the Whole Story
At the end of August, ExxonMobil, Pfizer, and Raytheon Technologies were replaced in the Dow Jones Industrial Average by Salesforce.com, Amgen and Honeywell International. ExxonMobil’s removal is notable because the company has been a member of the Dow for more than 90 years: Standard Oil Company of New Jersey, a predecessor to ExxonMobil, was added…
Asset Allocation: The Importance of Maintaining a “Balanced” Approach in Today’s Market Environment
As with most things in life, it’s uncommon to find a free lunch in investing. Generally speaking, investment returns tend to be commensurate with the level of risk incurred. However, it seems some investors are questioning that rule and reacting to the current low interest rate environment by reducing their allocation to high-quality fixed income…
Stock Market vs. Economy
Between a double-digit unemployment rate, sputtering economic activity, and a pandemic that has now taken the lives of more than 120,000 people in the United States, there was plenty to be worried about as equity markets plummeted in the month of March. And after the S&P 500 declined by more than 30% from its February…
Speculating During the Pandemic
At a time when casinos around the country are temporarily closed due to COVID-19, Americans have found a new avenue for wagering: short-term trading in the stock market. In addition to stay at home orders, there have also been technological improvements that enable anytime access to trading platforms, as well as a meaningful reduction in…
Planning for Retirement in the COVID-19 Age
This article was originally published within the Savannah Morning News, found HERE. Major economic events give us a compelling reason to revisit our retirement plans, evaluate household spending and take a hard look at our long-term goals. So, with the Coronavirus shaking up the marketplace and creating uncertainty in both the job and stock markets, how…
Understanding the Benefits and Risks of Bonds
Especially in times of significant stock market volatility, bonds have an important place in a balanced investment portfolio. The income that bonds generate coupled with their relatively low-price volatility can help mitigate overall portfolio risk. Unlike stocks, which provide equity interest in a business, bonds are a form of debt in which the investor serves…