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A collection of articles, perspectives and hopefully a little humor to help with those tough days in the market and your financial plans. 

Thursday, October 26, 2023

Social Security announced a 3.2% increase in their benefits for 2024. What about your Medicare premiums?

Monday, October 16, 2023

October can be volatile month. Shifting economic strength, rising interest rates, geopolitical threats, US government shutdown means we wouldn’t be surprised if the markets remain a bit choppy this month. Opportunities may be found.

Tuesday, September 12, 2023

Despite the credit-related downgrades, markets were able to navigate their way through the ongoing debate of the country’s financial strength. So where does that leave the market through year-end? More of the same or a change?

Thursday, August 10, 2023

Figuring out what to do now that stocks have gone up is as difficult as considering what to do when stocks are down. Why stay invested if challenges may be ahead and possibly even a recession?

Friday, July 14, 2023

Rate reductions? Recession? Disappearance of COVID stimulus? Reflecting on the first half of 2023, the stock and bond markets have performed better than expected despite these ongoing concerns.

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Thursday, June 15, 2023

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.

Thursday, May 11, 2023

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

Thursday, April 6, 2023

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.

Monday, March 13, 2023

Financial markets were shaken last week as Silicon Valley Bank (SVB), the California bank subsidiary of SVB Financial Group (SIVB), fell into FDIC receivership. SVB is the first FDIC-insured institution to fail since 2020.

Friday, March 10, 2023

Hopeful start to the new year for our economy and markets by take further time to develop. Rewards for investors will come—they always do—but they will require more patience than we had hoped. Time in the market vs timing the market.

Tuesday, February 7, 2023

When we look back on 2022, it’s easy to identify the challenges—but if we look closer, we can also uncover some opportunities. First, we need to remember what we learned in 2022!

Sunday, January 15, 2023

The beginning of a calendar year is often the time when the previous year’s reflections transition to a new year’s hopes. Given the market’s continued instability during 2022 and a resulting tough period for stock and bond prices, everyone

Thursday, December 8, 2022

Our guide to how the readjustments in the economy and markets may impact you in the coming year. The disruptions may not be fully resolved and there may be more challenges to come, but progress toward finding balance is well underway.

Wednesday, November 2, 2022

The months of November and December have historically been constructive for asset prices. We should also have slowing corporate earnings growth and greater economic uncertainty to contend with, some formidable seas to navigate.

Friday, September 9, 2022

Stock market performance august 2022

Wednesday, August 10, 2022

Dear New Stage reader - Last week was epic for market-watchers. A Federal Reserve (Fed) rate hike, a much-anticipated gross domestic product (GDP) report, and the busiest week of earnings season got most of the headlines. There...

Friday, July 8, 2022

As the calendar has turned to July, investors would certainly like to forget the first six months of 2022. However, the Fourth of July Independence Day holiday does bring with it reason for celebration.

Wednesday, June 15, 2022

A bear market is officially here thanks largely to stubbornly high inflation. For many of us, it has probably felt like a bear market for a while now,

Wednesday, May 18, 2022

The S&P 500 Index just had one of its worst Aprils in decades, and May is off to a rocky start. Bond investors have not fared much better as rising interest rates have pushed down bond prices

Friday, May 6, 2022

As we move into spring and leave behind the last signs of a long winter, many worries from a chilly start to the year for markets, unfortunately, are still with us. The S&P 500 Index had its worst April in more than 40 years.

Monday, April 18, 2022

“Bull markets are born on pessimism, grown on skepticism, mature on optimism, and die on euphoria.” - Sir John Templeton

Friday, March 18, 2022

Friday, February 4, 2022

Friday, January 28, 2022

A tough start to a new year.

Friday, January 7, 2022

New Year comes new beginnings, new goals, new challenges, new friendships, and new opportunities.

Monday, January 3, 2022

Markets and Investing Outlook for 2022

Tuesday, December 7, 2021

Omicron impact on the stock market, financial markets and economic recovery

Thursday, November 4, 2021

Dear New Stage Reader - The past year and a half have tested all of us, but overall, the economy continues to strengthen, COVID-19 trends are greatly improving, and this still relatively young bull market is alive and well. As the...

Wednesday, October 13, 2021

Dear New Stage Reader: One constant in life is change. During the past year and a half, we have experienced more change than any of us bargained for. Change is disruptive—but also brings opportunities. For investors right now,...

Friday, September 10, 2021

Dear New Stage Reader, The bull market continues, with the S&P 500 Index now up seven months in a row. Stocks have impressively gained 20% year-to-date, with the S&P 500 making 53 new all-time highs before the end of...

Wednesday, August 11, 2021

Dear New Stage Reader - Six months and counting. That is the current monthly winning streak for the S&P 500 Index. To take that a step further, this key equity benchmark has posted gains in 13 of the last 16 months—dating back to...

Friday, July 9, 2021

Dear New Stage Reader - In the first half of 2021, the U.S. economy powered forward faster than nearly anyone had expected. Speed can be exhilarating, but it can also be dangerous. In our view, the overall economic picture remains...

Friday, June 4, 2021

Dear New Stage Reader - As we move into June, a path to normalcy is coming quickly with stadiums allowing full capacity, restaurants filling up, and summer vacations in full swing. Meanwhile, the U.S. economy continues to recover...

Thursday, May 6, 2021

Dear New Stage Reader, As the calendar has turned to May, the popular “Sell in May and Go Away” stock market cliché is getting a lot of airtime. This is the idea that the stock market tends to be weakest between May...

Tuesday, April 6, 2021

New Stage Reader - “The real key to making money in stocks is not to get scared out of them.” Peter Lynch They say April showers bring May flowers. Well, after a lot of showers and storms over the past year, flowers are...

Thursday, March 4, 2021

Dear New Stage Reader, It’s now been over a year since COVID-19 first hit American shores. While the pandemic has affected everyone to varying degrees, we can all agree that everyone’s life is different today than it was a...

Thursday, February 4, 2021

Dear New Stage Reader, “In the short-term, the market is a popularity contest. In the long-term, the market is a weighing machine.” Warren Buffett 2021 is under way, as our nation and the rest of the world look to begin to...

Monday, January 11, 2021

Dear New Stage Readers, Happy New Year! A new year offers a welcomed turn of the calendar and a fresh start. However, it’s difficult to put 2020 completely behind us just yet because the COVID-19 pandemic still presents a...

Friday, December 18, 2020

LPL Research Outlook 2021: Powering Forward is designed to help you navigate a year in which economic conditions may continue to improve dramatically. Like the markets, Outlook 2021 looks ahead. 2021 will bring advances to further...

Thursday, December 3, 2020

Dear New Stage Reader - As 2020 comes to a close, we are already looking forward to a new year—and to a world very different from the one we’re leaving behind. Areas of the economy have been damaged and may never fully...

Friday, November 13, 2020

Dear New Stage Reader, A record number of people voted in the 2020 US presidential election, and several media outlets have projected that former Vice President Joe Biden has won enough electoral college votes to be declared...

Wednesday, October 7, 2020

Dear New Stage Reader: Autumn has arrived, with students back in school, baseball playoffs beginning, and football in full swing. Life is trying to get back to as normal as possible despite the ongoing impact from COVID-19. While the...

Friday, September 4, 2020

Dear New Stage Reader Back to school this year will be different. On the one hand, like other years, it marks the end of summer, the arrival of cooler weather, kids hitting the books again, and Labor Day gatherings. But unlike other...

Friday, August 7, 2020

Dear New Stage Reader, The battle versus COVID-19 continues. The spread in some of the recent hotspots like California and Florida is slowing, while states in the Northeast and Midwest are now experiencing increases in cases. According...

Friday, July 17, 2020

Dear New Stage Reader: We are at the midpoint of 2020, and it would be an understatement to say it’s been a challenging year so far in the United States and around the world. We’ve faced health, social, and economic crises...

Wednesday, July 1, 2020

Dear New Stage Reader The July Fourth holiday will be very different this year. Although it’s a time to enjoy family and friends, and maybe even watch some fireworks, social distancing and a new wave of COVID-19 cases also may...

Thursday, June 4, 2020

Dear Valued Investor: As we look ahead to the summer months, we can’t help but think what a challenging year it’s been so far. At the same time, we’re encouraged by the resiliency and accelerated innovation among US...

Thursday, May 21, 2020

Dear Valued Investor: “Never confuse a single defeat with a final defeat.” — F. Scott Fitzgerald The economic struggles in our country are among the worst we’ve ever seen. In April, a record 20 million people...

Monday, May 11, 2020

Dear Valued Investor: Investors like labels for the economy and financial markets—many of them with the word “great” in them. The Great Depression. The Great Recession. The Great Lockdown. Well, we’ve moved into...

Wednesday, April 22, 2020

Dear Valued Investor, “Life is 10% what happens to you and 90% how you respond to it.” — Lou Holtz, Hall of Fame football coach As the battle against the COVID-19 pandemic continues, how we respond to it will...

Friday, April 10, 2020

Dear Valued Investor: These are challenging times, and this week may be the toughest as we wait for COVID-19 to reach its peak in the United States. As the war against COVID-19 wages on, we continue to be inspired by the tremendous...