Blog
We have gathered a few resources to help you navigate your financial journey.
Navigating the 4 Phases of Retirement
Retirement seems like a long way off, but it arrives faster than you think. The big question is, are you ready? What exactly does retirement entail? Analysts suggest there are four designated phases of retirement that a person often...
Read MoreIs India the New China?
India has emerged as a compelling economic growth story and an increasingly attractive alternative to China within the emerging markets complex. A growing population with a robust and young workforce, significant infrastructure...
Read MoreRetirement Security Starts With Visualizing Your Future
Planning for your financial future and retirement looks much different now than in previous years. Some people must supplement their Social Security to have enough to maintain their desired lifestyle. This means financial planning is...
Read MoreBuy Japan, Hold U.S., Sell Europe
Recent data suggests economic conditions in Europe are deteriorating, removing a key element of LPL Research’s positive view of the attractively valued developed international equities asset class. Previous U.S. dollar weakness...
Read MoreEstate Planning and Asset Protection: Are They The Same?
You may sometimes hear the terms "estate planning" and "asset protection" used interchangeably. They actually have different meanings, and it's important to incorporate both strategies into future financial plans. Below, we discuss key...
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THE GROWING LIST—AND POLITICIZATION— OF BRICS AND FRIENDS
The BRIC acronym, without the “S,” was introduced in 2001 by the Goldman Sachs chief economist who highlighted the prodigious growth and investment prospects of Brazil, Russia, India, and China combined. In 2009, Russia...
Read MoreSeptember 2023 Client Letter
Financial markets lived up to their reputation during the month of August, which has a record for being difficult. On the first day of August, markets had to contend with a downgrade of U.S. long-term debt by the rating agency, Fitch.
Read MoreWhat Is Normal?
Fixed income investors have had a rough time over the last few years. Normally a staid asset class, core bonds (as proxied by the Bloomberg Aggregate Bond Index) have seen negative returns over the last two calendar years and could...
Read MoreCollege Costs Are Rising 5X Faster Than Inflation
The vital role of inflation in planning for children’s college expenses In today's rapidly changing economic landscape, proper planning has become more critical than ever. When it comes to saving for children's college expenses,...
Read MoreLessons Learned from the Grand Tetons
The Federal Reserve (Fed) often uses the Jackson Hole Symposium to announce tweaks in policy. Other central bank leaders are also worth watching as investors try to perceive where rates will be in the coming months. In this piece, we...
Read More5 Emergency Savings Tips for Building a Financial Safety Net
From unemployment to a sudden health crisis to a crippling accident, being financially prepared for life's many challenges may smooth the road ahead. Whether you are just starting out or have been working toward financial health for...
Read MorePullback Perspective
Volatility has returned right on queue as U.S. equity markets continue to pull back from overbought levels. The recent jump in interest rates has proven to be too much too fast for stocks to absorb, especially for the heavyweight and...
Read MoreA Generational Divide Among Retirement Savers
Investors’ perceptions of a financial crisis are different among generations As the global economy grapples with uncertainty, investors' perceptions of a financial crisis diverge significantly along generational lines. While...
Read MoreHow This U.S. Debt Downgrade is Different From 2011
It’s different this time. The four (or five) most dangerous words in investing. We’ll take the risk and use those words here as we break down the recent decision by credit rating agency Fitch to downgrade U.S. government...
Read MoreRegain Confidence and Restore Your Retirement
Sectors hit include air travel, insurance, oil production and entertainment The path to retirement can often seem daunting, with the end goal appearing distant and difficult to reach. This sentiment has only grown in recent years, as...
Read MoreKey Earnings Season Takeaways
Earnings season is mostly behind us with about 85% of S&P 500 companies having reported second quarter results. The high level results aren’t particularly impressive, but if we peel back the onion, the numbers are encouraging....
Read MoreConducting a Midyear Financial Checkup
As we’ve just passed the midpoint of the year, now is the perfect time to assess your financial well-being by conducting a review. Just like a routine health checkup can ensure your physical health, a financial checkup can help...
Read MoreAugust 2023 Client Letter
Making economic forecasts and stock market predictions can be humbling. It’s especially tough when you expect stocks to go higher and get a big drop instead...
Read MoreA Cloudy Outlook Makes for Choppy Markets
The economy is doing better than expected, and the markets are responding accordingly. In this piece, we discuss some of the factors that cause us to think the Federal Reserve (Fed) hiked for the last time in this cycle as inflation is...
Read MoreActive vs. Passive Portfolio Management
Proponents of active portfolio management believe that a skilled investment manager can generate returns that outperform a benchmark index. Advocates of passive investing argue that the best way to capture overall market returns is to...
Read More(Still) Waiting on the Fed to Be Done Raising Rates
The first half of the year probably didn’t go the way many fixed income investors had hoped, particularly after the historically awful year last year...
Read MoreBack to Basics - Diversification and Asset Allocation
Why is diversification so important? The simple reason is that it helps manage the risk of loss in your portfolio.When investing, particularly for long-term goals, there are two concepts you will likely hear about over and over again...
Read MoreEarnings Need to Do Some Heavy Lifting to Keep This Rally Going
Earnings season is upon us as some banks and a small handful of other blue chip companies have already reported results for their quarters ending June 30...
Read MoreSetting and Targeting Investment Goals
All investing involves risk, including the possible loss of principal, and there can be no guarantee that any investing strategy will be successful.Dollar-cost averaging does not ensure a profit or prevent a loss. Such plans involve...
Read MoreBetter-Than-Expected First Half
Now that we’re beyond the midpoint of the investing year, it’s a great time to look at where we’ve been—to help position your portfolio for the latter half of the year. Our Midyear Outlook: The Path Toward...
Read MoreLPL Financial Research Midyear Outlook 2023: The Path Toward Stability
Our 2023 investing outlook started with a theme of returning to normalcy. Considering 2022’s market volatility and the aftereffects of the pandemic, the idea of finding balance was certainly a welcomed change. It’s a theme...
Read MoreSetting and Targeting Investment Goals
Setting investment goals means defining your dreams for the future. When you're setting goals, it's best to be as specific as possible. For instance, you know you want to retire, but when? You know you want to send your child to college, bu
Read MoreFour Retirement Plan Trends to Watch in 2023
Four Retirement Plan Trends to Watch in 2023Tips so employers can help employees plan a confident and stable retirement Amidst a backdrop of a volatile market and potential inflationary pressures, these shifts can shape the future of...
Read MoreStaying on Track with Your Retirement Investments
All investing involves risk, including the possible loss of principal, and there can be no assurance that any investment strategy will be successful. And asset allocation and diversification alone cannot guarantee a profit or eliminate...
Read MoreCapital Markets: The Essence of American Capitalizm
The long dormant capital markets have recently begun showing signs of interest from institutional investors and deal makers anxious to bring companies to market. While activity remains muted at best, expectations are focused on 2024,...
Read MoreNew Bull May Need a Breather
We know it’s old news at this point, but on June 8, 2023, the S&P 500 entered a new bull market. After such a strong rally off the October lows, this young bull probably needs a breather. A look at the charts suggests this market...
Read MoreIRA Beneficiary Rules Directly From the IRS
Know what to do if you inherit an IRA from a spouse or someone elseAs we get older, it is likely that we might inherit an IRA from mom or dad – or we need to counsel mom or dad as they inherit an IRA after one of them dies. The...
Read MoreMarket Responses to Fed (In)Action
As the economy is likely downshifting, investors should take heed that the Federal Reserve’s (Fed) current stance is eerily similar to early 2007. During that time, the Fed held a tightening bias since they believed the...
Read MoreIs a ROTH IRA Conversion Right for You?
What is a Roth IRA?A Roth IRA is a tax-advantaged individual retirement account to which you can contribute after-tax dollars. A Roth conversion is when you take earned income from another retirement account and put it into a Roth IRA...
Read MoreAre You Maximizing 401(k) Contributions?
The more money that you can save when you are working, the easier it should be for you to retire and enjoy your golden years. Unfortunately, Social Security may no longer provide a sufficient income to live on during retirement. To...
Read MoreJune Client Letter
Every so often Washington likes to remind us how hard it can be to get things accomplished. The most recent example is the debt ceiling—the amount Congress can borrow to pay its bills. It seems like we have this debate every few...
Read MoreFOMC Preview: Fed Skip, Pause, or Hike?
The Federal Reserve (Fed) meets this week where it is largely expected to not raise short term interest rates for the first time in 15 months. However, Fed messaging has been all over the place in recent weeks. While some Fed officials...
Read More13 Potholes to Avoid on the Road to Retirement
Perhaps you’re just starting to save for retirement, or within a few years of retiring. Unfortunately, it’s common to take a wrong turn, or make bad financial decisions, as you continue on your journey toward retirement. By...
Read MoreClosing Out Our Equities Overweight
Stocks have had a nice run, but at higher prices, the bar for further gains gets higher. We have recently made the case in this publication that there are a lot of reasons to expect the market to go higher between now and year end. But...
Read MoreA Checklist for Your Retirement Planning
Remember, it is never too early to start planning for your future The time to begin planning for your financial future is now. So, when it comes to preparing for retirement, the earlier you start, the better.Here are some steps to help...
Read MoreHow Much of a Problem Is Concentrated Leadership?
The mega-cap technology companies have powered the broad market higher this year. In fact, the 8.1% gain in the S&P 500 year to date has been driven entirely by six mega-cap stocks: Apple (AAPL), Microsoft (MSFT), NVIDIA (NVDA), Meta...
Read MoreRetiring as a Small-Business Owner: What to Know Before You Go
The thought of retiring may be intimidating for anyone—but if you own your own business, handing your "baby" to new owners might be enough to stop you in your tracks. What might you do to set your successor up for success? What...
Read MoreWill History Rhyme? A FED Pause Has Been Good For Fixed Income
Economists like to remind us there is no such thing as a free lunch. In investment parlance, that just means all investments carry risk—even cash. And the big risk with cash is reinvestment risk. That is, while short-term rates...
Read MoreSmall Business Owners: Are You Retirement Ready (or Not)?
Whether you are an employee in corporate America or a small business owner, retirement is a part of life. For many, the thought of retiring and whether or not you are ready to take those first steps might be overwhelming or...
Read MoreEarnings Update: Better Than Feared Undersells These Results
First quarter earnings season is nearly complete, and it has caused us to regret titling our earnings preview commentary on April 10, “Malaise Continues.” While the “better than feared” label fit the past couple...
Read MoreWhat Business Owners and Employers Need to Know About State-Mandated Retirement Plans
State-mandated retirement plans result from legislation requiring employers to provide their employees with retirement savings opportunities. Businesses can comply with these laws by enrolling their employees into a state-sponsored...
Read MoreMay Client Letter
Spring is often thought of as an uplifting time, marked by growth and renewed hope as we emerge from the long months of winter and look ahead to the rest of year. Investors saw signs of such renewed hope in recent weeks, especially on...
Read MoreKing Dollar Still Rules
Much has been written lately about the threats facing the reserve currency status enjoyed by the U.S. dollar. “De-dollarization” headlines appear on a near-daily basis, suggesting the dollar’s reign is in looming...
Read MoreRetirement Planning Options for Business Owners
In generalPerhaps you are self-employed or own a small business. Or, you may be directly involved in running a corporation or a tax-exempt organization. In any of these cases, you generally have the option of establishing a retirement...
Read MoreSell in May?
“Sell in May and go away” is probably the most widely cited stock market cliché in history. Every year a barrage of Wall Street commentaries and stories in the financial press floods in about this popular, but overused...
Read MoreHow Secure Is Social Security
If you're paying attention to the news, you've probably come across story after story on the health of Social Security. And depending on the actuarial assumptions used and the political slant, Social Security has been described as...
Read MoreDraining the Lifeblood of the Economy
Investors use various analogies to describe the importance of small businesses in the domestic economy. Some refer to the small business sector as the backbone or the lifeblood of the economy. At this current stage of the cycle, we...
Read MoreDivorce and Social Security
How does divorce affect Social Security retirement benefits? After a divorce, you can claim retirement benefits based on your own earnings record (if you have been employed and have accumulated enough credits over the years), or you can...
Read MoreA Closer Look at Commercial Real Estate
The commercial real estate (CRE) market has recently captured the spotlight after being flagged as the next potential shoe to drop following last month’s banking turmoil. While rising rates have weighed on financing costs and the...
Read MoreThe Basics of the 401(k)
Most often, the first question a prospective employee will ask is about your company’s benefit program. And in my experience, the two most often-asked questions are about health insurance and an employer-sponsored retirement...
Read MoreA Resilient March
The financial markets’ resilient performance during March was striking, despite pockets of uncertainty surrounding the strength of the economy—and not to mention concerns over the durability of the banking system. The ability of the market
Read MoreEarnings Preview – Malaise Continues
First quarter earnings season kicks off this week with some big banks reporting toward the end of the week. In some ways this quarter’s earnings season will probably be déjà vu all over again—earnings declines and...
Read More5 Last Minute Considerations Before Tax Day
With April’s federal tax filing and payment deadline on the horizon, Americans are dotting their i’s and crossing their t’s as they prepare for the countdown to Tax Day. But before you rush to get that return...
Read MoreTradition At The Masters Tournament
Do you have a yearly tradition of reviewing your financial plan?It is Masters time again, and we ask why is the Masters so special? Well, it starts because the tournament’s co-founder – Bobby Jones– was one of the...
Read MoreWho Is Right, Federal Reserve or Financial Markets?
Financial markets and the Federal Reserve are reading from two different playbooks. Who is right? The markets are pricing in several rate cuts by the end of this year, while the Federal Reserve communicated more rate hikes with an...
Read MoreThe 36-Hour SVB Collapse and Hierarchy of Blame
A lot has changed in the past few weeks, both in terms of expectations for interest rates and lost confidence in the health of the banking system as a result of the sharp rise in interest rates that has led to some things...
Read MoreGen Z Should Be Your Retirement Role Models
Tips to Help Your Retirement Planning as You Move Towards Your GoalsGeneration Z, the youngest working generation, is commonly thought of as being consumed with the present and uninterested in the future. However, recent research has...
Read More7 Financial Planning Tips for Single Parents
For decades the number of single-parent households has been rising worldwide, with the U.S. having the highest rate of children living in single-parent households. Economic well-being for these households is concerning since it is up...
Read MoreWading Through Financial Stability Risks: An Action Plan
The Federal Reserve (Fed) has a history of raising short-term interest rates until something “breaks.” Considering the Fed has raised rates from a near-zero level to 4.75% (upper bound) over the course of only one year, it...
Read MoreThe Tax Benefits of a Backdoor Roth IRA for High Earners
A Backdoor Roth IRA is a strategy that allows individuals who earn too much to directly contribute to a Roth IRA to still contribute to one indirectly. The strategy takes advantage of a loophole in the tax code that allows individuals...
Read MoreStress in Banking System | Latest Equity Asset Allocation Views
Last week did not play out how we anticipated. Coming into the week, it was all about Federal Reserve (Fed) Chair Jerome Powell’s congressional testimony and the February jobs report. Instead, we got a shockingly fast collapse of...
Read MoreWaiting for New Highs
Financial markets have experienced quite a bit of change this year in just two short months. We started the year hopeful that stocks would benefit from a better economic and monetary policy environment by the spring, but recent...
Read MoreNo Landing = No Sense
Suggesting an economy makes “no landing” makes no sense. Analogies eventually break down, especially this one. Economic activity does not stop like an airplane eventually does, but rather the economy will settle into a...
Read MoreNational Debt & Your Personal Debt Ceiling
The U.S. has not been debt free since 1835 – should you be debt free? As 2023 heats up, talk about the national debt spiraling out of control will too.But what is the national debt and should investors worry about it? More...
Read MoreWork-Life Benefits and Employee Retention
Recruiting and retaining employees who are both qualified and motivated is an ongoing challenge for most businesses. One way to build staff loyalty and increase productivity is to put policies in place to help your employees balance...
Read MoreDebt Ceiling Primer: What You Need to Know
While concerns about the debt ceiling have been increasing, markets, businesses, and the economy are likely to see only minimal impact until we are days, or maybe a few weeks, from the “x date,” the date on which the...
Read MoreA Penny Saved is a Penny Earned
There are many reasons why people save money. For some, it is so they can enjoy a certain amount of financial confidence and freedom, while others squirrel away money for emergencies or future plans like the down payment for a home,...
Read MoreWhat’s Changed in the Markets in 2023 and What it Could Mean
Markets have adjusted to several changes this year. The pace at which inflation has cooled is slowing. The market has started to believe the Federal Reserve’s (Fed) “higher for longer” message. The bar for earnings...
Read MoreThese Facts Are Positively Presidential
The legacies of our past presidents are among the most important lessons we learn in school, but our history books often leave out the quirky and fascinating facts that made the lives of our leaders so remarkable. You probably...
Read MoreTrying to Stick the Landing
Soft landing or no soft landing, that is the question, with all due respect to William Shakespeare. But while this may be the most commonly asked question these days, it may not be the most important or the toughest. That honor goes to...
Read MoreNothing Says Love on Valentine's Day Like a Spousal IRA
Looking for ways to save "I love you" on Valentine's Day? Then you may want to consider opening a spousal individual retirement account (IRA). This gift says, "Let's grow old together comfortably," and shows your partner that you care...
Read MoreOpportunities in 2023
Whether you’re one to set ambitious New Year’s resolutions or simply use the beginning of the year to reset on a few habits, there’s almost always some value in reflecting on the past year before looking ahead. The...
Read MoreBrightening Outlook for International Equities
Investors got more excited about international investing late last year. Some of that was chasing better returns, as developed international equities solidly beat the U.S. over the last three months of 2022. Some was the increased...
Read MoreIs the Yield Curve Signaling a Recession?
Long-term bonds generally provide higher yields than short-term bonds, because investors demand higher returns to compensate for the risk of lending money over a longer period. Occasionally, however, this relationship flips, and...
Read MoreWill January Hit the Trifecta?
The script has been flipped in 2023. Last year’s underperformers have turned into outperformers this year, driving the S&P 500 Index up over 5% this month. The pace and composition of the rally have left many investors skeptical...
Read MoreA Feisty Bull-Bear Update
The latest episode of the debate between stock market bulls and bears has gotten more interesting. For every valid point from one side, there’s an equally compelling argument on the other side. Perhaps the best reason for the...
Read MoreHow Our Financial Wellness Impacts Us
Financial wellness studies over the past few years indicate that investors desire financial wellness. The recent pandemic, economic and inflationary conditions, changes in work-life balance, and more responsibility for financial...
Read MoreQ4 Earnings Preview: Pessimism May Be Overdone
Fourth quarter earnings season is underway and probably won’t bring much good news. Lackluster global growth, ongoing profit margin pressures from inflation, and negative currency impacts are likely to translate into a...
Read MoreThe Best Items to Help You Organize Your Finances and Important Documents
The first step to improving your finances is to get organized. These top Amazon finds can help you create a monthly budget, plan your spending, and safely store your important insurance or personal documents for easy access when...
Read MoreLessons Learned In 2022
We believe accountability and modesty are among the keys to success in this business. In striving for those qualities, LPL Research has a tradition of starting off a new year with a lessons learned commentary. We got some things wrong...
Read MoreTax Prep Checklist: Everything You Need to Be Ready for Tax Season
Regardless of whether you prepare your taxes yourself or use a professional's services, it's a good idea to gather the information and documentation you need well in advance of your actual tax filing date. Below, we've listed some key...
Read More2023 Market Outlook
2022 was a dizzying year as markets and the global economy continued to find itself out of balance due to the still present aftereffects of the COVID-19 pandemic and the policy response to it. If 2022 was about recognizing imbalances...
Read MoreNew Year, New Goals: Your Countdown to Financial Health
New Year, New Goals: Your Countdown to Financial Health: For many people, a new year provides a new start—and nothing says "new start" like a fresh new set of financial goals. But setting these goals is easier said than...
Read MoreNew Year's Financial Resolutions to Implement Now
When it comes to New Year's Resolutions that include financial goals, writing them down and being visible is essential to your success. After you’ve written down what your financial resolutions for the New Year are, tell others...
Read MoreHistoric Year for Central Bank Activity
The Federal Reserve (Fed) wrapped up its last Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) meeting of the year last week, where it hiked short-term interest rates for the seventh time in as many meetings, taking the fed funds rate to 4.5%...
Read MoreDecember Down But Not Out
Despite the S&P 500 Index starting December with five consecutive days of losses, we think December is down but not out. December often starts slow but historically has been a strong month. There are also some potentially supportive...
Read MoreA Brief Overview of Philanthropic Vehicles
As you grow your wealth, you may find the desire to give back to others and support causes and organizations you believe in through philanthropic giving. Philanthropy often casts a broader net of giving over charity as it helps society...
Read MoreResilient Consumers Have Not Saved Retail Stocks
Economic and corporate data support the initial strong reads on holiday retail sales despite the macro headwinds, reinforcing the idea that today’s consumer is in a better position than usual at this point in the business cycle....
Read MoreWays to Minimize Tax on an Investment Portfolio
Although we are all obligated to pay our fair share of taxes, few of us would be pleased to pay taxes unnecessarily. Because taxes lower the actual return on your investments, you should be...
Read MorePlaybook for a Fed Pivot
Recent inflation data has tempered expectations for future Federal Reserve tightening, including a potential peak in the terminal rate near 5.0% in May or June of 2023. While the market has welcomed this news, history suggests the path...
Read MoreFive Questions to Ask As You Consider Retiring
You might be thinking about retiring, but how do you know when you are really ready for it, mentally and financially? For decades, the normal retirement age was 65. This was when you became eligible for Social Security and Medicare....
Read MoreHigh Inflation and Rising Rates Supported Value in 2022
Increasing the cost of capital for businesses, increasing capital investment costs required to fund the fast growth of the business, thus lowering returnsThe growth vs. value debate has been pretty one-sided in 2022, with value...
Read MoreTips for Organizing Your Financial Documents
In an increasingly paper-free society, organizing your financial documents can still be a challenge. No matter how simple or complex your financial picture might be, it takes some thought-out organization to keep your tax...
Read MoreDonor Advised Funds: A Unique Way to Give
If you’re in search of a way to reduce your tax bill and give back to the community, a donor advised fund may be worth considering. Also known as a DAF, a donor advised fund is a charitable investment strategy you can use to...
Read MoreHOW MIDTERM ELECTIONS MAY MOVE MARKETS
Midterm elections are upon us, with Election Day on Tuesday. Republicans are strongly favored to win the House, and the Senate is roughly a tossup. We believe either outcome would be market-friendly, although the bigger market driver...
Read MoreWorried About Your Financial Health? It May Be Time For A Checkup
When was the last time you gave yourself a financial checkup? As the saying goes, there’s no time like the present. This is especially true when it comes to reviewing the current state of your finances and figuring out what you...
Read MoreLooking Ahead
October is now behind us and it has delivered on its track record as a historically favorable month for stocks, offering some respite for investors as major equity indices rose for the month. The downside pressure on equities had...
Read MoreFederal Reserve Preview: TRICK or Treat?
With a series of important economic indicators suggesting the economy is declining and inflation is finally decelerating, albeit very slowly, markets are beginning to factor in that the Fed may soon transition to a less aggressive...
Read MoreYour 2022 Year-End Planning Checklist
It may be easy to forget we're nearing the end of the year. Even during the busy end of year rush, it's a good time to reevaluate your 2022 finances and turn an eye toward 2023. What can you do now to potentially improve and streamline...
Read MoreThree Things to Know About Recessions
If the U.S. economy enters a recession, the causes and potential outcome will be hotly debated. At LPL Research, our starting point is always looking at history. This week’s commentary will remind us of three things we know about...
Read MoreLow Bar for Earnings Season Brings Third Quarter Expectations Down
Expectations are very low for this earnings season. The challenges are many, with intense cost pressures and slowing economic growth at the top of the list. The chorus of analysts and strategists calling for big cuts to estimates has...
Read MoreThe Murkiest Part of Estate Planning is Talking
Specific questions to help frame your thinking as you talk to your heirs. The murkiest part of estate planning is to discuss when and how to distribute your assets to your heirs.
Read MoreSix Steps to Consider Before Tapping Your Retirement Savings Plan
You've worked long and hard for years, saving diligently through your employer-sponsored retirement savings plan. Now, with retirement on the horizon, it's time to begin thinking about how to tap your plan assets for income.
Read MorePockets of Vulnerabilities
As Federal Reserve (Fed) officials continue to emphasize the Fed’s commitment towards restoring price stability, the dollar marches ever higher. Markets are currently pricing in another 75-basis point rate hike at the November 2...
Read More5 Helpful Halloween Tricks to Navigating a Scary Stock Market
Investing can be a roller coaster—and, when the market starts dropping, it may even feel more like a haunted house. With recession fears mounting, what can investors do to stay the course and escape unscathed? Here we discuss...
Read MoreCould the Worst be Behind Us?
First, we want to acknowledge the tremendous damage and displacement caused by Hurricane Ian. Our thoughts are with those impacted by this devastating storm. This has clearly been a challenging year for households.
Read MoreMarkets on Watch as Xi Jinping’s Influence to be Tested in October
On October 16, China will begin its 20th National Congress of the Chinese Communist Party in Beijing. This plenum is especially significant because it is expected that President Xi Jinping will be granted an unprecedented third term,...
Read MoreProtecting Your Financial Information Online
More consumers are conducting financial transactions online and may become vulnerable to tracking, hacking, identity theft, phishing scams, and other cyberspace risks. While nothing can guarantee complete safety on the Internet,...
Read MoreWhy It May Be Time to Take Advantage of Higher Yields
The LPL Research Strategic and Tactical Asset Allocation Committee is increasing its recommended interest rate exposure in its tactical allocation from underweight to neutral.
Read MoreHow Much Higher Can Rates Go?
Inflationary dynamics continue to surprise to the upside, and markets now expect the Fed to pursue one of its most aggressive rate hiking campaign in years. U.S. Treasury yields continue to move higher as well.
Read MoreGetting Jobs Market Back into Balance
Federal Reserve Chairman Jay Powell reiterated his warning that getting inflation under control will require some pain. Powell is likely making these warnings based on the arcane, clunky relationship between inflation and unemployment....
Read MoreNew Job and Four Tips for Your New 401(k)
Land a great new job? Now is the perfect time to think about your 401(k) and retirement plan, whether you had one before or not. Saving for retirement is important at all ages, so don’t let this opportunity fall to the bottom of your list.
Read MoreSeptember’s Calendar Cruelty for Stocks
The difficult 2022 for stocks may not get much easier because as we now wait for better news on the inflation front, we have to contend with a seasonally weak month of September.
Read More3 Ways To Improve Your Finances for Self-Improvement Month
Getting your financial health in order may help alleviate stress and give you some breathing room to improve your life in other ways.
Read MoreEarnings Recap: Still Hanging In There
Weekly Market Commentary: Earnings growth of 6-7% doesn’t sound very exciting, but given the challenges corporate America has faced, we consider the nearly-complete second quarter earnings season a resounding success.
Read More5 Ways a Financial Professional Could Be a Small-Business Owner's Best Friend
The earlier you seek financial advice, the more this advice might help your business as it grows. Here are five ways a financial professional could be your ally as a small-business owner.
Read MoreWhere Will Housing Go From Here?
Existing home sales fell 5.9% in July, the sixth consecutive month of declines as higher interest rates weigh on housing affordability and prospective buyers. As the housing market slowed, so did prices.
Read MoreWhat Can A Financial Professional Do for Non-Profits?
For non-profit organizations where every penny has a purpose, having the services of a financial professional can be incredibly valuable.
Read MoreSecuring Your Future with Life Cycle Planning
The need for regular saving and investing spans many life stages. Through the years, your goals will change and your strategies will shift, but don’t be alarmed.
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