August 2019 Market Review and Outlook

Market Recap August 2019 -Darren Leavitt, CFA Investors endured a volatile month in August that saw most developed and emerging equity markets decline. The S&P 500 lost -1.81% during the month, the Dow lost -1.72%, the NASDAQ shed -2.60%, and the Russell 2000 lost...

2019 Mid-Year Review, Outlook and Expectations

US Consumer – Still Strong, Best is Behind Us Expected to contribute 1.5% (solid) of GDP growth, chugging along at 2%ish spending clip Nothing related to the consumer on the horizon that would force the Fed’s hand one way or the other. From the consumer standpoint, it...

May 2019 Market Review and Outlook

Market Review May 2019 -Darren Leavitt, CFA Equity markets did an about-face in May with the S&P 500 inking its first monthly loss of 2109.  Investors fled risk assets for safe-haven US treasuries as trade negotiations between the US and China soured.  Trade...

April 2019 Market Review and Outlook

Market Review April 2019 -Darren Leavitt, CFA Global risk assets continued to rally in April.  First quarter earnings are coming in better than expected, Central banks around the globe remain accommodative, economic data saw improvement, US & China trade...

Pre-Retirement Checklist: Tips for How to Prepare for Retirement

Get tips on what to do if you’re 10, 5 or 1 year out from retirement. What is your current retirement outlook? If you’re 10 years or less from retirement, does getting everything in order seem like too much to process? Do you know where to even start? According to a...

March 2019 Market Review and Outlook

-Murray Titterington, CFP, CIMA Most of the major U.S. equity indices rose in March, and all of the indices notched their biggest quarterly gains in nearly a decade. The rise in US equity markets was attributed to signs of progress on U.S. – China trade negotiations...

February 2019 Market Review and Outlook

Murray Titterington, CFP, CIMA The US equity markets rose again during the second month of the new year, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average and the S&P 500 both posting their best two-month start to a year in nearly three decades. The indices’ rise was aided by...

Top 10 Tips for Excellent Grilling

Cold weather, little rain and still a lot of us are firing up that backyard grill. If you are shying away from grilling, or just want a refresher course on the basics of grilling, then keep reading. Here are my top 10 tips for excellent summer grilling. 1: Start with...

Why Get Your Grill Professionally Cleaned?

To get your grill professionally cleaned means an annual investment that you’ll be happy you made. Think about the advantages: Extend Your Grills’ Lifespan You took weeks deciding what grill would make you feel like the king of burgers, now take care of it. Your BBQ...

January 2019 Market Review and Outlook

January 2019 Market Review and Outlook -Murray Titterington, CFP, CIMA It’s déjà vu all over again. 2019 is off to a good start, just like January of 2018. Stocks climbed during the first month of the year, with the S&P 500 rising the most in January since 1987,...

December 2018 Market Review and Outlook

December 2018 Market Review and Outlook -Murray Titterington, CFP, CIMA Be careful what you wish for. Last month we hoped for a “Santa Claus” rally in the markets (defined as a rally beginning the day after Christmas and extends through the end of the year). Well, the...

December 2018 Market Review and Outlook

December 2018 Market Review and Outlook -Murray Titterington, CFP, CIMA Be careful what you wish for. Last month we hoped for a “Santa Claus” rally in the markets (defined as a rally beginning the day after Christmas and extends through the end of the year). Well, the...

October 2018 Market Review and Outlook

U.S. stock markets closed out the month of October with the largest monthly losses we’ve seen in more than six years. All of 2018’s gains were essentially wiped out over just a few days of trading. Bond markets have been hurt all year as interest rates have continued...

ROTH IRAS AND IRA CONTRIBUTIONS: TODAY’S SLOTT REPORT MAILBAG

By Sarah Brenner, JD IRA Analyst Question: Good Morning, I have a question in regards to Roth 401k vs Roth IRA. Can you roll over your Roth 401k to a Roth IRA to avoid the RMD that must be taken when the individual reaches 70 1/2 with a Roth 401k? Thank you. Carol...

August 2018 Market Review and Outlook

The US equity markets closed the month of August with gains despite apprehension concerning trade policy. The S&P 500, NASDAQ, and Russell 2000 all reached new highs during the month. The S&P 500 had its best August performance since 2014, while the NASDAQ...

July 2018 Market Review and Outlook

The US stock markets rose during the month of July as mostly strong corporate earnings trumped weakness in Technology shares. Additionally, fears of a prolonged trade war with China eased a bit as news reported that Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin and Chinese Vice...

June 2018 Market Review and Outlook

The US stock markets gyrated between gains and losses during the month of June, as investors assessed the impact of proposed trade tariffs, political turmoil in the Eurozone, and signals of a slowing global economy. Most of the major US stock indices had positive...

May 2018 Market Review and Outlook

The US stock markets had a roller-coaster ride during the month of May, as the month began with a rally after strong first quarter earnings were reports, trade war concerns subsided, emerging markets calmed, and political instability in Europe was shrugged off. Trade...

April 2018 Market Review and Outlook

All of the major US stock indices had positive returns for the month of April, as strong earnings reports allowed the markets to regain some of the earlier losses due to proposed tariffs and interest rate increase concerns. During the month, concerns about a hawkish...

March 2018 Market Review and Outlook

During the first quarter, investors wavered from euphoria to despair, as record market gains in January were followed by the first “corrections” (drops of 10% from record highs) in February in more than 2 years. The Dow and S&P 500 closed out the month of March...