Amazon Joins DJIA, Signifying Economic Shift

In a move that underscores the ever-evolving landscape of the American economy, Amazon.com Inc. is set to join the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) on February 26th, marking a significant milestone for the e-commerce behemoth. This decision, announced by S&P Dow Jones Indices, heralds a new era for the prestigious 30-stock average, welcoming Amazon into […]

S&P 500 Sector Performance for February 2024

Sector Highlights Through February 2024 For the month of February, sector performance was all good, as every single one of the 11 S&P 500 sectors advanced. Contrast that with the performance for the month of January, which was mixed as 7 of the 11 S&P 500 sectors advanced for that month. Despite February’s solid performance […]

Florida Reclaims Its Retirement Crown in 2024

The Sunshine State has once again emerged as the most desirable haven for retirees, according to the latest findings from WalletHub’s “Best and Worst States to Retire” study. Just last year, Virginia had momentarily dethroned Florida, pushing it to the second spot. However, in 2024, Florida has proudly regained its title, reaffirming its allure for […]

The 2023 World Series and the 2024 Markets

Should investors be worried that the Texas Rangers won the World Series? Is there actually a difference in stock market performance depending on who wins the World Series? Should you really change your investment plans based on an American League or National League victory? Of course not. But let’s explore anyway.

Navigating the Financial Challenges of Dementia

Dementia is a complex and devastating condition that not only affects the emotional and mental well-being of individuals but also places an immense financial burden on families. A recent study from the University of Michigan, published in JAMA Internal Medicine, sheds light on the staggering financial challenges faced by families dealing with dementia. The study […]

Regain 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 indicated by a recent report on the Economic Well-Being of US Adults, conducted by the Federal Reserve. According […]

Market Insights – July 28, 2023

Stocks Advance This Week as Fed Raises Rates Stocks had a good week, as all four of the major U.S. equity indexes advanced on hopes that a soft landing engineered by the Federal Reserve was becoming real. Most encouraging for investors was the fact that the DJIA saw its 13th consecutive daily gain through Wednesday, […]

5 Compelling Reasons to Rethink Social Security

When it comes to planning for retirement, Social Security benefits have traditionally been viewed as a safety net for many individuals. However, in recent years, there has been growing concern about the long-term viability and sustainability of the Social Security system. As a result, it is becoming increasingly important for individuals to reconsider relying solely […]

Market Insights – June 23, 2023

The major U.S. benchmarks snapped a 5-week (the S&P 500) and 8-week (NASDAQ) winning streak on the holiday-shortened trading week. Despite the negative numbers, Growth stocks outperformed Value shares, but Large-caps outperformed Smaller-caps by a healthy margin. Markets were closed on Monday in observance of the Juneteenth holiday. The biggest shadow hanging over Wall Street […]

Market Insights – May 24, 2023

Sales of New Single-Family Houses Are Up While Building Permits Are Not br> The U.S. Census Bureau and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development jointly announced the following new residential sales statistics for April 2023 …

Wall Street is Not Sweating the Debt Ceiling Yet

The debt ceiling refers to a legislative limit imposed by the U.S. government on the amount of debt that can be issued to fund its activities. It sets a cap on the total amount of money the government can borrow to meet its financial obligations. When the government reaches the debt ceiling, it cannot issue […]

5 Essential Planning Tips for High School Seniors

As high school comes to an end, a new chapter of life awaits high school seniors. It’s an exciting and transformative time, but it also brings about new responsibilities and financial challenges. Developing good financial habits early on is crucial for a successful and secure future. To help high school seniors navigate the world of […]

As Volatility Increases, So Does Retirement Worry

Tips to combat banking failures, inflation, rate hikes and market corrections Getting ready for retirement involves more than just calculating how much you will need and the rate you can draw down your savings. The years before you retire is a crucial time to prepare both financially and psychologically. Often – and unfortunately – many […]

Market Insights – March 17, 2023

Dread that more trouble could be unearthed in the banking sector has created a cloud of worry around markets that will not easily be shaken. In the week ahead, the Federal Reserve has its chance to weigh in. Following its meeting Tuesday and Wednesday, the central bank could raise the fed funds rate by another […]

Market Insights – February 15, 2023

Inflation Was Up 0.5% in January and 6.4% Over the Past 12-Months On Tuesday, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) rose 0.5% in January on a seasonally adjusted basis, after increasing 0.1% in December. Over the last 12 months, the all items index increased […]

Inflation and Your Retirement

You hear it all the time: you should make sure your retirement savings at least keep pace with inflation. But what is inflation and how does it really affect your retirement savings? Let’s explore.

Market Insights – January 27, 2023

Markets Jump on Hopes of a Soft Landing and No Recession Stocks resumed their winning streak – which makes 3 of the last 4 weeks – as Wall Street had its hopes renewed that the U.S. might avoid a recession this year as the Fed might engineer a soft landing after all. It was clearly […]

Charitable Giving and Your Financial Plan

Giving to causes you care about is satisfying, but are making the most of your donations? Watch this video to see how using smart philanthropic strategies can help you maximize the benefits of giving.

Market Insights – December 17, 2022

Stocks Decline Fed Raises Rates for the 7th Time Once again, fears over rising rates pushed markets to another weekly loss, stoking worries that the Santa Claus rally won’t come visiting this year. Markets were performing exceptionally well through Tuesday mid-day, when better-than-expected CPI data showed cooling inflation, but once the details of the CPI […]

The Federal Reserve Raised Rates Again

This is the 7th rate hike in 2022 – and markets are predicting more in 2023 “Recent indicators point to modest growth in spending and production. Job gains have been robust in recent months, and the unemployment rate has remained low. Inflation remains elevated, reflecting supply and demand imbalances related to the pandemic, higher food […]

Market Insights – November 30, 2022

Home-Price-Gains Continue to Decline Across the United States On Tuesday, S&P Dow Jones Indices released the latest results for the S&P CoreLogic Case-Shiller Indices, the leading measure of U.S. home prices. Data released today for September 2022 show that home price gains declined across the United States. “The S&P CoreLogic Case-Shiller U.S. National Home Price […]

Five things that economists know, but sound wrong to most other people

Economists have shaped the modern world in many ways. Governments make policy choices in response to the data that we produce about things like GDP and inflation. Social media companies use our insights about human behaviour to create features that encourage people to use their platforms. And we’re at the heart of everything from incentivising […]

October Was a Good Lesson for Jittery Investors

Remembering the benefits of dollar-cost-averaging and why it makes sense October is usually one of the worst months for stocks, but October 2022 is shaping up to be the best month on record since 1976.

Market Insights – October 12, 2022

The National Federation of Independent Business was founded in 1943 and is the largest small business association in the U.S. The NFIB collects data from small and independent businesses and publishes the Small Business Economic Trends as well as the Small Business Optimism Index every month. The Index is a composite of 10 components based […]

Most Investors Perceive Losses as More Impactful

When managing personal finances and investments, people frequently exhibit irrational behavior for different reasons. If you’re one of these folks, be fair to yourself: It doesn’t even take a spate of market zigzags like we saw recently to prod you into questionable decisions. Everyone makes choices about money nearly every day – how to earn, […]

Warren Buffetts Directive for His Wifes Assets

Warren Buffett’s will leaves his wife money allocated conservatively: 90% in the Standard & Poor’s 500 and 10% in short-term Treasuries, frozen at those levels. He believes that this allocation is a great idea for the average person without a lot of financial prowess. But is it really?

Market Insights – August 17, 2022

On August 15th, the National Association of Home Builders announced that “Builder Confidence fell for the eighth straight month in August as elevated interest rates, ongoing supply chain problems and high home prices continue to exacerbate housing affordability challenges. In another sign that a declining housing market has failed to bottom out, builder confidence in […]

Shape Up Your Financial Plan

Need to get your small business’s finances in shape? Learn how we help health and wellness professionals maintain the wellbeing of their practices.

Student loan forgiveness

President Joe Biden announced a program to provide student debt relief to millions of borrowers of federal loans. The plan would offer up to US$10,000 in forgiveness for people who earn less than $125,000 – $250,000 for couples – and up to $20,000 for Pell Grant recipients. Biden also extended the pause on repaying federal […]

Market Insights – August 31, 2022

JOLTS Report Shows Job Openings Unexpectedly Rise to 11.2 Million – Near Record Levels The Labor Department creates the Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey – the JOLTS Report – which tracks monthly changes in job openings as well as job offerings and “quits.” Unlike other reports that track employment data, the JOLTS reporting period […]

You Got This!

We’re here to help you determine and achieve your unique financial goals. Check out this video to see how we can work together to overcome your current financial challenges.

Elon, Twitter and the Importance of Due Diligence

Elon Musk – the world’s richest person – recently announced that he was pulling out of his agreement to buy Twitter, saying that there was a lack of information about the number of Twitter users made up by bots. In a letter sent to Twitter, Musk said that Twitter was “in material breach of multiple […]

Why 9.1% Inflation Is Likely to Go Even Higher

On July 13th, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (inflation) increased 1.3% in June after rising 1.0% in May. Over the last 12 months, the all items index increased 9.1%.

Market Insights – July 13, 2022

Small Business Expectations for Future Conditions Hit All-Time Low On Tuesday, the National Federation of Independent Business reported that its Small Business Optimism Index dropped 3.6 points in June to 89.5, marking the sixth consecutive month below the 48-year average of 98. Unfortunately, it gets worse.

The Fed Makes the Biggest Rate Hike in 28 Years

No One Was Surprised This rate hike – as the previous hike earlier this year – was one of the most predictable and predicted rate movement the markets have ever seen. What was not predicted until recently, however, was the magnitude of the rate hike.

Market Insights – June 17, 2022

Everyone knew the Fed was going to raise rates and some might have been surprised at the 75 basis point-hike, the most aggressive since 1994. But Wall Street nonetheless traded much lower, as fears that a recession is in the cards spooked investors. Besides it being another big week of losses (the major equity indices […]

No Teeth Left for the FAANG Stocks & Microsoft?

Since the COVID-bear retreated in March 2020 through the end of 2021, all we heard was how stock market gains were driven by just a handful of stocks – the FAANG stocks (and Microsoft). But since the beginning of 2022, investors are now wondering whether the FAANG stocks and Microsoft have lost their teeth.

Market Insights – May 4, 2022

Construction spending is viewed as a good indicator of the economy’s momentum because both individuals, businesses and our governments generally only put money into construction when they are confident to justify the building expenses (that might not be as true with respect to our local-, state- and federal-government, but that’s another topic altogether). On May […]

Elder Care

Taking care of your parents can be emotional and expensive. Watch this video to learn about steps you can take to overcome these challenges.

How to Avoid Making Emotion-Based Financial Decisions

Making investment decisions based on fear or fluctuating market activity can keep you from meeting your goals. Here’s how to keep emotions out of the equation and stick to the plan.

April is National Financial Literacy Month

April is National Financial Literacy Month – an entire month dedicated to underscoring the importance of learning, establishing and maintaining healthy financial habits. But ask yourself this: what have you learned about anything financial lately? Do most of your neighbors keep a household budget or save for retirement? Does your cousin live hand-to-mouth? Do you […]

Market Insights – April 15, 2022

U.S. equity and bond performances were down again this week, as Wall Street digested very frothy inflation numbers as first quarter earnings season kicked off. As was the case last week, growth names and large-cap tech names were hit especially hard. Value stocks continued to outperform their growth cousins, but the small-caps picked up some […]

Market Insights – March 4, 2022

Markets Drop as Oil Prices Surge It was another volatile week for Wall Street, as Russia’s invasion of Ukraine intensified, pushing domestic markets to slump, developed-international markets to retreat and emerging markets – especially those in Eastern Europe – to continue dropping significantly. When the week was over, U.S. equity markets were lower, pushing NASDAQ […]

The Rising Price of Crude Oil and Gasoline Prices

The stock market in 2022 has seen large declines, beginning with a January drop, followed by a down February, and so far a declining March. Naturally, this volatility makes investors nervous. At the center of this volatility has been the price of oil. Oil prices skyrocketed over 50% in 2021 and in the first week […]

How To Measure Your Portfolio in Uncertain Times

Too often during uncertain times, we inadvertently compare ourselves to the people around us – and that leads us to make financial mistakes. In his book Predictably Irrational: The Hidden Forces That Shape Our Decisions, Dan Ariely remarks, “We don’t have an internal value meter that tells us how much things are worth. Rather, we […]

Market Insights – February 18, 2022

The themes of this week were the exact same themes as the prior week: more inflation and worries about a Russian invasion of Ukraine. And while the former saw the Producer Price Index leap almost 10% year-over-year, it was the latter that pushed Wall Street’s emotions all over the board. When the market closed on […]

Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer is Retiring

Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer announced his retirement on January 27, 2022, having served almost three decades on the Supreme Court. Appointed in 1994 by President Bill Clinton, Breyer – now 83 years old – has had an illustrious legal career. While Justice Breyer’s retirement was formally announced in a letter released by the court […]

Seven Suggestions for Tom Brady Before Retiring

The day before the AFC and NFC Championships were played on Sunday, ESPN broke news that Tom Brady was officially retiring from football. Well, by the time Sunday night ended and football fans knew that the Los Angeles Rams and Cincinnati Bengals would play each other in Super Bowl LVI on February 13th, it was […]

Market Insights – January 28, 2022

It was a very volatile week for equities and there were a lot of large intraday swings as most of the week seemed to continue last week’s hammering. But when it was over, the larger-cap DJIA and S&P 500 wrung out modest gains, almost right after moving into correction territory. The small-cap Russell 2000 Index, […]

What Can the Best/Worst Stocks of 2021 Tell Us?

Let’s be honest for a second: the DJIA, the S&P 500, NASDAQ and the Russell 2000 all delivered one of the most surprising years in recent history. And while many are happy to see 2021 in the rear-view mirror, the 2021 performance for the major U.S. indices was nothing short of impressive, especially given the […]

Market Insights – December 31, 2021

U.S. stocks continued last week’s rebound, except for the tech-laden NASDAQ which slipped a bit. The S&P 500, DJIA and Russell 2000 all ended the week positive, as Wall Street closed the books on the week, the month, the quarter and the year. There was not a lot of economic news that pushed markets around, […]

Walk in Our Shoes

The path that leads to financial success includes detours along the way. Allow us to be your co-pilot to keep you on track.

Business Applications Soared During COVID

Thinking of starting a business? Owning a business is a dream for many, but often business success comes down to timing (hard work and luck are givens). Did you know that the U.S. Census Bureau keeps track of the total number of business applications and formation statistics? It’s done by measuring the number of applications […]

Is Vacant-Office-to-Housing the Next Big Thing?

COVID-19 severely impacted the office commercial real estate market because more workers were simply performing their jobs remotely. In fact, as of September 2021, the National Association of Realtors estimates that over 20.3 million workers worked remotely compared to 8.9 million in 2019. Consequently, occupancy has fallen by 127 million square feet since the second […]

Market Insights – November 12, 2021

Stocks pulled back from recent record highs, as Wall Street digested data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics that showed the highest inflation in 30 years. The Materials sector made a big jump, as the passing of a multi-trillion infrastructure bill drove speculators to invest. Consumer Discretionary on the other hand retreated, mostly driven by […]

Market Insights – October 29, 2021

As Wall Street wrapped up the last trading day in October, markets were hitting new record highs. And while most will agree that October brought more treats this year, there were plenty of tricks too, although Wall Street seemed to ignore. For the treats this week, just look at what was the busiest week of […]

Market Insights – September 24, 2021

The major U.S. equity benchmarks shook off a big decline on Monday and ended the week with modest gains. But after the close on Monday, it looked as if a bigger decline was imminent as the S&P 500 recorded its worst drop since mid-May and dipped below its 100-day average. Monday’s decline really did seem […]

Planning for Your Goals with Monte Carlo

Financial plans are built using a Monte Carlo simulation to ensure durability against various market and life situations. Watch this video to see how your plan is built to last.

3 Critical Business Mistakes

Video to educate business-owning clients and prospects about critical mistakes to avoid

COVID-19 Causes College Enrollment to Shrink

The disruptions from COVID-19 have completely changed the college experience for many, prompting prospective students to reexamine whether a college degree is worth it. And the latest enrollment figures show the greatest decline in a decade. Consider that the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center recently reported that overall college enrollment fell to 16.9 million students, […]

Market Insights – August 27, 2021

U.S. stocks advanced on the week, despite geopolitical worries, as the smaller-cap Russell 2000 leapt an astonishing 5.1%. And the larger-cap S&P 500 and tech-infused NASDAQ posted gains every day except Thursday, hitting new highs each time, with much of the gains on the last trading day of the week. The Energy sector reversed its […]

IFP’s Director of Asset Management, Pete Nunley

S&P 500 Highs, #Mortgage Rate Lows, and Small-Cap and Growth #Stocks all on this week’s 3Pete with Peter Nunley, CFA, MBA. #FinanceNews

Market Insights – July 30, 2021

The major U.S. stock markets were mixed this week, as only the small-cap Russell 2000 advanced modestly. The other three indices all pulled back, but only after hitting record highs at the beginning of the week. It was a surprisingly busy week with a lot of earnings reports for Wall Street to digest as 177 […]

IFP’s Director of Asset Management, Pete Nunley

Active ETFs, #Lumber Prices, and Dropping #Bitcoin all on this week’s 3Pete with Peter Nunley, CFA, MBA. #FinanceNews

Walk in Our Shoes

The path that leads to financial success includes detours along the way. Allow us to be your co-pilot to keep you on track.

IFP’s Director of Asset Management, Pete Nunley

Check out IFP’s Director of Asset Management, Pete Nunley, as he discusses current events, market news, and other interesting investment tidbits. 

Market Insights – June 25, 2021

U.S. stock indices generally marched higher all week, amidst relatively low summer-like trading volume. The Energy sector was the big winner with a gain of more than 6%, helped along by the price of oil reaching its highest point since October 2018. The Federal Reserve was in the news again this week, this time saying […]

The Biggest Financial Pressures Facing Retirees (and How to Plan for Them)

As you plan for retirement, here are some of the most common financial challenges you may face and ideas on how to address them.

IFP’s Director of Asset Management, Pete Nunley

On today’s 3Pete, Peter Nunley, CFA, MBA talks value stocks’ ascension, inflation overshooting expectations, and TIPs having 2021’s largest inflow. Oh, and by the way, we got a green screen. 🤪

Retirement Income Education

Do you understand your retirement options? Working with a professional can help you understand the risk and reward associated with retirement strategies.

Global Market Commentary May 2021

Global equity markets were mixed for the month of May, as the larger-caps outperformed the smaller-caps, value stocks outperformed growth stocks, and the blue-chips outpaced the technology-names. And May also saw investors struggling between the competing forces of positive economic news and much-better-than-expected corporate earnings on the one hand and inflation and tax worries on […]

IFP’s Director of Asset Management, Pete Nunley

On the latest Weekly 3Pete, we’re talking the S&P’s first decline in a month, commodities surge and earnings setting records in Q1.

Business Planning

When the time comes, it’s important that you’re prepared for a smooth ownership transition of your business. This video explains how we can work together to prepare a plan for you.

Cryptocurrency

Cryptocurrency in the Spotlight: Top 3 Things You Need to Know Now

IFP’s Director of Asset Management, Pete Nunley

Join Peter Nunley, CFA, MBA for another dose of your Weekly 3Pete. On the agenda today we have a review of Q1 2021, a rough quarter for iShares Aggregate Bond ETF, and the S&P’s record closing.

Market Insights – April 9, 2021

The larger-cap U.S equity benchmarks marched steadily to new record highs this week as the smaller-cap Russell 2000 ended the week with a small loss. NASDAQ was once again the best performer on the week, as it moved up over 3%, but the DJIA and S&P 500 each recorded gains of over 2% too. In […]

Special Needs Trust

Join George Cattat as he discusses the Special Needs trust. Special needs trust can ensure that a child with special needs is properly cared for, even after you’re gone.

IFP’s Director of Asset Management, Pete Nunley

Join Peter Nunley, CFA, MBA for the Weekly 3Pete as he discusses drawdowns in the U.S. Treasury Bond Index, a rise in air passenger numbers, and COVID-19 no longer being the largest ‘tail risk’.

The Ugly Truth About Managing Your Company’s 401(k)

“When you add up all of the plan’s expenses, are you (and your employees) receiving the value you expected or are you paying too much?”

IFP’s Director of Asset Management, Pete Nunley

He discusses current events, market news, and other interesting investment tidbits

Market Insights – March 12, 2021

Markets surge on another stimulus package while walls street digests and shrugs off a lot of economic data.

IFP’s Director of Asset Management, Pete Nunley

We’re talking a strong economic data week, copper’s big rally and crypto’s total market cap crossing the $1 trillion mark on this week’s 3Pete. Yo, Peter Nunley, CFA, MBA, what up?

Market Insight – February 19,2021

Market trades sideways as inflation worries creep back into the market amidst mixed economic data

IFP’s Director of Asset Management, Pete Nunley

In this week’s 3Pete, Peter Nunley, CFA, MBA updates us on the continuing GameStop saga, talks Google searches and offers some commentary on what the month of January meant for the S&P 500.

New President, New Policies

After months of election uncertainty, Joe Biden was inaugurated as our 46th president, bringing the peaceful transfer of executive power that defines us as a democracy.

Market Insights – January 29, 2021

Market retreats as David punches goliath in the face

IFP’s Director of Asset Management, Pete Nunley

In this episode of The Weekly 3Pete, Peter Nunley, CFA, MBA covers emerging markets, Bespoke’s Ludicrous indicator, and Game Stop’s big week.

Market Insights – December 11 , 2020

Small Caps continue to outshine the large caps while Doordash and Airbnb make their market debuts.

Market Insights – November 13, 2020

Positive vaccine news pushes equity markets mostly higher a sector rotation are starting to take shape.

Is Your Retirement Income at Risk?

Worried about what markets will do to retirement income? Not sure about making financial moves that seemed like no-brainers before? Feeling uncertain about what you should do next? I’m offering a Retirement Income Diagnostic to assess income streams and determine whether changes are needed to help protect lifestyles.

Market Insights – October 17, 2020

As earnings season kicks off, stocks endure a choppy week punctuated by lots of uncertainties and volatility

Veterans

Through your military service, you’ve earned the right to enjoy financial peace of mind. Watch this video to see how we can help.

How to Be Happy When Life Doesn’t Go as Planned

In finance and in life, expectations often eclipse reality. They become anchors for how we evaluate opportunities (like companies and stocks) and our own sense of happiness.

Monetary Policy and the Federal Reserve

While the Federal Reserve’s decisions certainly impact the US (and global) economy, it’s important to know that the Fed does not set economic policy. The Fed does, however, control monetary policy in an attempt to influence the direction of the US economy. Let’s explore the history of the Federal Reserve, its role and how it carries out its mandate.

Understanding Interest Rates and Your Financial Situation

When discussing bank accounts, investments, loans, and mortgages, it is important to understand the concept of interest rates. Interest is the price you pay for the temporary use of someone else’s funds; an interest rate is the percentage of a borrowed amount that is attributable to interest. Whether you are a lender, a borrower, or both, carefully consider how interest rates may affect your financial decisions.

Market Insights – September 11, 2020

U.S. equity markets lose ground for the second week in a row despite mostly positive economic data and less volatility.