New research has found a new “magic” retirement savings number. (We explain how inflation factors in below.) We say “magic” because if you put 10 people in a room, you’ll get 10 different opinions about how much you should save for retirement. And this estimate is no different. Northwestern Mutual surveyed 4,588 adults and found: […]
The Federal Reserve has been in the headlines a lot lately as analysts try to figure out when policymakers will cut interest rates. Why does the Fed matter so much? Let’s discuss. The Fed’s decisions on interest rates are a big deal for markets and the economy because they affect how much it costs to […]
The S&P 500 broke the 5,000 level recently for the first time in history as investors embraced euphoria and rallied.1 And then tumbled as investors got jittery.2 Then yo-yo’d a bit more. What’s going on? Let’s talk about investor psychology. Fear and greed are the two halves of the investor psychology coin. When investors are feeling […]
It’s official. The bear market is behind us. The S&P 500 finally hit a new record for the first time since 2022. And then notched multiple higher highs in the days that followed.1 That means it has passed the final bar to formalize the bull market in stocks that started after the October 2022 market […]
As we kick off 2024, the latest data is raising some concerns about inflation. Let’s dive into some data and take a look. Inflation is still one of the biggest risk factors we’re watching this year. Here’s why. While inflation is still well below its 2022 peak, the data shows that the fight toward 2% […]
Before the year ends, we like to sit down and review, thinking through what went well and what didn’t. We try to mentally put the old year to bed before the new year kicks off. Do you have a similar ritual you follow? As we enter the final weeks of 2023, let’s take a moment […]
Do you feel like the economy isn’t making a lot of sense right now? Is there a mismatch between the headlines and your perception? If so, you’re not alone. There’s a big divide between the current data and the “vibes” many Americans are feeling. Here’s what we mean 👇 When you look at the data, the economy […]
We’re posting to offer some thoughts on the horrific situation unfolding in Israel. The devastating terrorist attacks have already cost thousands of lives and may profoundly affect the region. While the violence might seem far away, behind every headline are real people, families, and communities that will never be the same. Let’s take a moment […]
What’s going on with markets? Why does the federal government keep getting into fiscal fights? A lot is going on, so let’s discuss. Why did markets melt down? A combination of things. Some negative news about home sales and consumer confidence created fresh concerns about the state of the economy.1 The reality of what high […]
Is a new recession warning flashing? Let’s discuss. You’ve probably heard us say that consumers (like us) are the backbone of the U.S. economy. It’s true. Consumer spending accounts for nearly 70% of economic growth. It’s been the engine of the pandemic recovery and has played a large part in calming recession fears. As long […]
