The transition from bank-dominated lending to a diversified financing ecosystem offers unprecedented opportunities for private credit investors.
Corporations are currently producing the highest level of profitability, as a percentage of GDP, in history.
We expect high yield bond issuers to maintain healthy balance sheets and defaults to remain low.
Here are six key areas where AI can make a transformative impact on financial advisory practice.
We examine how a potentially complex bond market in 2025 could still offer opportunities in high-yield bonds, municipal bonds, and inflation-protected securities.
U.S. policies are set for a major reshaping as full Republican control takes hold in 2025.
With year-end looming, consider taking action now to determine if annual gifts make sense. Our Bill Cass shares useful strategies to consider for estate planning.
We launched QuantStreet a little over three years ago, and our first accounts went live as of December 2021.
Today’s video is another in the continuing series of videos where we are looking for value in each of the 10 major sectors as reported by Standard & Poor’s.
Our model, How America Spends, has been tracking the purchasing behavior of 135 million U.S. households since 2014. This model is not a black box – it is a data file representing the spending of 135 million households on goods and services since 2014.
With a "Red Sweep" in Washington likely, markets are now pricing in a more aggressive policy agenda.
The Fed’s rate cut last month has not jumpstarted U.S. housing market. Buyers need lower rates to get back in the game.
As you know, economists are normally criticized and accused of being ‘two-handed.’ This is because when we talk, we typically say, “on the one hand, and on the other hand.” Many argue that we are hedging our bets and lack the spine to take a position. While we disagree with that simplistic view of our job, we can understand why we are accused of being ‘two-handed.’
RIAs should consider becoming more like VC firms by adopting the principles that govern them.
Legendary investors Paul Tudor Jones and Stan Druckenmiller are short bonds. You might want to carefully consider the data before you follow their lead.
The Northern Trust Economics team shares its outlook for growth, inflation and interest rates in major markets.
Year-end can be an opportune time to review finances, rebalance portfolios, and possibly reduce taxes. Our Bill Cass shares some highlights from a year-end planning checklist.
Our analysis explores how potential post-election tax policy changes might impact dividends, capital gains, and municipal bonds and how investors might prepare for different election outcomes.
Equities continued to climb in Q3, with fixed income remaining steady despite international conflicts, inflationary pressure, and election-related uncertainty in the United States.
There is a demographic that likes to work with you and consistently hires you – you probably just don’t have it defined for you and your team. If you don’t know who you work best with, there is no way that your prospect efforts will be profitable. Rather, they will be coincidental.
With the election looming, investors should prepare for potential changes in tax policies, particularly given the impending sunset of the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act.
It's important to stay informed regarding the latest updates to 529 college savings plans, for both current account holders and prospective savers. In recent years there have been significant changes, including The Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement (SECURE) 2.0 Act in December of 2022, which helps enhance the flexibility and benefits of 529 plans.
Surviving a disaster involves securing safety, accessing help from agencies, and documenting damages for insurance claims. Our Bill Cass highlights numerous resources for financial relief, including accessing emergency funds, insurance and tax considerations.
The cost of higher education has skyrocketed over the last few decades, and shows no signs of slowing. That’s why it’s more important than ever that parents start saving as early as possible for their children’s future.
Opening a 529 college savings account can be a smart move if you’d like to save for college on a tax-advantaged basis. One thing to consider when opening a 529 plan is whether it should be a custodial or individual account. While both allow you to save for college costs and enjoy some tax breaks, they differ in terms of who has control of the account and the assets in it.
A 529 college savings plan, also known as a qualified tuition plan (QTP), is a popular choice among parents and families looking to meet their children’s future educational expenses. Two of the 529 plan’s helpful features are tax-deferred growth of your contributions and later, tax-free withdrawals for eligible expenses.
529 plans are one of the most popular ways Americans save for the college expenses of their children. As of June 2024, there were 16.8 million 529 savings accounts holding $508 billion, according to the College Savings Plan Network.
The unwinding of positions in Treasury futures stands to rekindle a popular bond-market wager that’s been burned as traders pare back expectations for aggressive Federal Reserve interest-rate cuts.
Fitch Ratings predicts an even gloomier financial outlook for US colleges and universities, with smaller private schools being hit the hardest.
The Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) recently released its second-quarter GDP report for 2024, showcasing a 2.96% growth rate. This number has sparked discussions among investors and analysts, particularly those predicting an imminent recession.
U.S. stocks have handily outperformed their global peers over the past few decades, as well as in the post-World War II period. We document the scale of the outperformance and ask whether it can continue.
With over 36,000 metric tons in reserves—about one-fifth of all the gold ever mined—central banks know something we should too: Gold is the ultimate safety net.
The latest S&P 500 rebalance introduced Dell and Palantir to the index, and Apple’s weight grew with annual float changes, signaling technology’s ongoing influence.
Traders are pushing the dollar toward its second-straight weekly gain in anticipation of a slower pace of interest-rate cuts by the Federal Reserve.
It is hard to be “the most pro-union president in American history,” as Joe Biden likes to claim, while also leading an effort to “reimagine and rebuild a new economy,” as he has also promised. That’s because these goals are fundamentally incompatible: America’s unions no longer fit the modern economy.
Thanks to new legislation, Americans with retirement plans now have easier access to cash in the event of a financial emergency. A provision in the Secure Act 2.0 that took effect this year allows individuals with 401(k)s and other retirement plans to withdraw up to $1,000 without triggering a 10% early distribution penalty.
With interest rates lower, inflation collapsing and wages rising faster than prices, there’s potential for a very happy holiday for US retailers.
Semiconductor stocks continue to rally and will continue to do so as long as the AI and data center themes stay hot.
Our experts explore the implications of wider S&P 500 earnings growth, potential Fed rate cuts, and the outlook for global equities and bonds amidst ongoing economic shifts.
Historically, staying invested has been, in our view, an effective strategy and one to consider when it comes to election years and beyond.
Sand. Salt. Iron. Copper. Oil. Lithium. These, not petabytes or algorithms or innovative ideas, are the building blocks of human life as we know it. At least that’s what Ed Conway, author of Material World, tells us.
News of that day included rioting in northern England, apparently in response to misinformation spread online claiming the person who stabbed to death three children and injured eight others in Southport was a Muslim immigrant.
For families seeking to help their children save for higher education, 529 plans continue to gain broader appeal.
Since mid-2022, when the Federal Reserve was in the midst of its aggressive hiking cycle, investors piled over $1.6 trillion into money market funds, which include Treasury bills.
Despite forthcoming volatility, it's an ideal time to get municipal debt exposure, especially in the current market environment.
Millions of Americans are falling behind on student loan payments a year after the pandemic freeze ended – and soon that will start hurting their credit scores.
As the back-to-school season fills your social media feed with first-day photos and ads for the latest school supplies, it is also a prime opportunity for financial advisors to reconnect with clients about their education savings plans.
MSCI boosted India’s weighting in the MSCI Emerging Markets Index and reduced China’s in its latest quarterly rebalance, continuing long-term trends.
The Federal Reserve’s looming rate cuts are fueling a rally in the riskiest corner of the US corporate bond market, but some investors are concerned the party may not last.
With attractive valuations, emerging market equities look like a good opportunity. A factor investing strategy, designed well, may enhance performance and help manage some key risks.
There’s a puzzle developing in the housing market — mortgage rates have fallen rapidly to their lowest level since early 2023, but would-be homebuyers don’t seem to care. It’s possible this is just a timing issue with rates falling during the slow season for transactions and election jitters giving buyers additional reason to hold off.
States enter fiscal 2025 maintaining stable reserves and moderating fixed costs, yet we expect many will need to make modest spending cuts due to exhaustion of federal pandemic aid.
Balanced risks to inflation and employment indicate it’s time for the Fed to normalize interest rates, enhancing a positive backdrop for bonds.
Passive fixed income index investing has evolved significantly over the previous decade, offering investors the flexibility to align risk requirements and investment goals. Learn more from our experts.
Here we dispel three common myths about elections and investments, demonstrating why we think sticking to a long-term investment plan might be a better path to success than trying to predict political cycles.
History typically shows that election years don't produce major volatility swings in the municipal bond market.
The next-generation processor was unveiled six months ago, but has faced engineering snags that delayed its release. While Chief Executive Officer Jensen Huang tried to reassure the market last month that revenue from the chip is coming soon, some investors were left wanting for details.
To tackle the costs of higher education, many families use a 529 plan to bolster savings. An ETF strategy can bring long-term savings growth.
We think the decline in the S&P 500 Index on Tuesday may be more technical than fundamental.
Recent changes to the FAFSA form and process include a simpler form, fewer questions and a revised eligibility formula. Our Bill Cass highlights what you need to know to apply for federal financial aid for college.
Presidential elections tend to have limited impact on market performance, regardless of party win (although markets prefer Democratic switches). Investors should capitalize on the uptick in market volatility, which investors can use for strategic investing.
Successful advisors are persuasive. They understand persuasion is critical to converting prospects into clients and keeping them as clients.
Half your coworkers might have just spent August in Europe, but there were no holiday doldrums in the booming world of ETFs.
After a bit of an early-August swoon, the stock market came roaring back in the last few weeks of the month. The S&P 500 finished up 2.4%, though certainly in the early days of August, that did not feel like a particularly likely outcome. In client conversations a few days into the selloff, our feeling was to stay put and not tinker with the portfolios we suggested in early August.
In our view, stagflation scenarios tend to be worse for balanced portfolios than recessions.
As I write this, gold continues to trade above $2,500 an ounce after surging past the psychologically important level for the first time ever in mid-August. For seasoned gold mining investors, this should be a moment of validation. After all, the yellow metal has long been seen as the ultimate hedge against economic uncertainty.
Many recent studies have been done on the economics of different generations. Researchers want to know if Millennials and Gen Z are in fact worse off than their Boomer and Gen X parents. There are quite a few ways to look at this data.
While short-term fluctuations and sudden selloffs have tested the markets, key indicators such as corporate profits, employment data, and economic resilience have held firm.
We analyze Federal Reserve Chair Jay Powell’s comments about the potential for rate cuts in September and beyond.
Will 2030 DC plans perform better at preparing U.S. workers for retirement?
The latest retail sales report seems to have given Wall Street something to cheer about. Headlines touting resilience in consumer spending increased hopes of a “soft landing” boosting the stock market.
The market’s 8.5% decline during August sent shockwaves through the media and investors. The drop raised concerns about whether this was the start of a larger correction or a temporary pullback. However, a powerful reversal, driven by investor buying and corporate share repurchases, halted the decline, leading many to wonder if the worst is behind us.
After market expectations spiked to nearly five interest rate cuts in 2024 based on disappointing labor market report early in the month, reassuring data in the form of Retail Sales and Unemployment Claims have quelled market Markets have eased expectations for interest rate cuts, pricing closer to four cuts as of the end of last week.
The last two years of high school can be particularly important as students approach the final college decision. Our Bill Cass highlights some action items for students and parents.
We explore how strong fundamentals and a resilient economy may position high-yield bonds as a potentially compelling choice in today’s fluctuating market.
Stocks that offer artificial intelligence have been the hot ticket in the stock market – seeing their prices surge – many to astronomical heights. In this video, Chuck Carnevale, Co-Founder of FAST Graphs, a.k.a. Mr. Valuation will use FAST Graphs to see if he can locate some AI stocks that might not be so expensive, but his primary focus is going to be on Dell Technologies (DELL), as well as Dell’s competitors.
A recent article co-authored by Stephen Miran and Dr. Nouriel Roubini, aka Dr. Doom, accuses the U.S. Treasury Department of using its debt-issuance powers to manipulate financial conditions.
Markets were recently rattled by concerns the U.S. may slip into recession, but it's not clear that those fears are justified.
Stocks that offer artificial intelligence have been the hot ticket in the stock market – seeing their prices surge – many to astronomical heights.
Families may want to consider a comprehensive plan for college, including actions to take during the high school years, and consider how a 529 plan can help guide savings. Our Bill Cass offers details on college planning.
Economic indicators are released every week to provide insight into the overall health and performance of an economy.
Investor complacency is often blamed when rising stock markets ignore potentially unsettling data for weeks and then viciously sell off. But this very human-sounding characteristic mostly isn’t in the minds of traders: It’s baked into the structure of modern investment strategies.
Today’s passive index investing requires active choices, as customization and innovations in index funds have resulted in new considerations for investors and the potential for greater control.
According to some pundits, we had a bloodbath in the information technology sector yesterday, should you buy, sell or hold?
The case for beginning to recalibrate rates in the S. is on a winning streak for getting stronger with each data print
Notwithstanding whether there was a formal agreement, the petrodollar is not going anywhere. Even if Saudi Arabia accepts rubles, yuan, pesos, or gold for its oil, it will need to convert those currencies into dollars in almost all instances.
We are in the time of year when Americans pack transatlantic airliners for their European vacations. I had actually hoped to be one of them. That didn’t work out but we can still talk about events in Europe. And we probably should, because potentially major changes are happening.
Explore the complexities of the high-yield market through comprehensive insights from our experts.
The addition of Dell Technologies and Super Micro boosted the weighting to the technology sector. We also analyze changes to the value and growth indexes.
529/College Planning
Private Credit: Asset-Based Finance Shines as Lending Landscape Evolves
The transition from bank-dominated lending to a diversified financing ecosystem offers unprecedented opportunities for private credit investors.
The Kalecki Profit Equation And The Coming Reversion
Corporations are currently producing the highest level of profitability, as a percentage of GDP, in history.
Yields and Credit Quality Make High Yield Bonds Attractive for 2025
We expect high yield bond issuers to maintain healthy balance sheets and defaults to remain low.
How Artificial Intelligence Can Transform Your Practice
Here are six key areas where AI can make a transformative impact on financial advisory practice.
Bond Market Opportunities for Investors in 2025
We examine how a potentially complex bond market in 2025 could still offer opportunities in high-yield bonds, municipal bonds, and inflation-protected securities.
An Investor’s Guide to Potential U.S. Policy Changes in 2025
U.S. policies are set for a major reshaping as full Republican control takes hold in 2025.
Year-End Estate Planning: Strategies for Maximizing Tax Benefits and Legacy Planning
With year-end looming, consider taking action now to determine if annual gifts make sense. Our Bill Cass shares useful strategies to consider for estate planning.
QuantStreet December 2024 Letter: Our Three-Year Anniversary
We launched QuantStreet a little over three years ago, and our first accounts went live as of December 2021.
Discovering Income and Value in Energy Cyclicals
Today’s video is another in the continuing series of videos where we are looking for value in each of the 10 major sectors as reported by Standard & Poor’s.
An Investor's Guide to Potential U.S. Policy Changes in 2025
U.S. policies are set for a major reshaping as full Republican control takes hold in 2025.
How America Spends: A Macroeconomic Inflation Model
Our model, How America Spends, has been tracking the purchasing behavior of 135 million U.S. households since 2014. This model is not a black box – it is a data file representing the spending of 135 million households on goods and services since 2014.
Notes From the Desk: Red-Wave Recalibration: Navigating the Post-Election Market Shift
With a "Red Sweep" in Washington likely, markets are now pricing in a more aggressive policy agenda.
The Housing Market Is Still Stuck
The Fed’s rate cut last month has not jumpstarted U.S. housing market. Buyers need lower rates to get back in the game.
Oh, No, a Three-Handed Economist
As you know, economists are normally criticized and accused of being ‘two-handed.’ This is because when we talk, we typically say, “on the one hand, and on the other hand.” Many argue that we are hedging our bets and lack the spine to take a position. While we disagree with that simplistic view of our job, we can understand why we are accused of being ‘two-handed.’
Think Fast: How RIAs Can Make Decisions at the Speed of Venture Capital
RIAs should consider becoming more like VC firms by adopting the principles that govern them.
Can Paul Tudor Jones and Stanley Druckenmiller Be Wrong?
Legendary investors Paul Tudor Jones and Stan Druckenmiller are short bonds. You might want to carefully consider the data before you follow their lead.
Closing The Year Well
The Northern Trust Economics team shares its outlook for growth, inflation and interest rates in major markets.
Get a Jumpstart on Year-End Planning With This Useful Checklist
Year-end can be an opportune time to review finances, rebalance portfolios, and possibly reduce taxes. Our Bill Cass shares some highlights from a year-end planning checklist.
U.S. Election: Prepare Now for Potential Tax Shifts
Our analysis explores how potential post-election tax policy changes might impact dividends, capital gains, and municipal bonds and how investors might prepare for different election outcomes.
Climbing the Wall of Worries
Equities continued to climb in Q3, with fixed income remaining steady despite international conflicts, inflationary pressure, and election-related uncertainty in the United States.
Niche Slapped: If Everyone Is Your Client, No One Is Your Client
There is a demographic that likes to work with you and consistently hires you – you probably just don’t have it defined for you and your team. If you don’t know who you work best with, there is no way that your prospect efforts will be profitable. Rather, they will be coincidental.
U.S. Election 2024: An Analysis of the Tax Scenarios for Investors
With the election looming, investors should prepare for potential changes in tax policies, particularly given the impending sunset of the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act.
Is College 529 Financial Planning Really That Simple?
It's important to stay informed regarding the latest updates to 529 college savings plans, for both current account holders and prospective savers. In recent years there have been significant changes, including The Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement (SECURE) 2.0 Act in December of 2022, which helps enhance the flexibility and benefits of 529 plans.
Surviving Disaster: Key Considerations for Moving Ahead
Surviving a disaster involves securing safety, accessing help from agencies, and documenting damages for insurance claims. Our Bill Cass highlights numerous resources for financial relief, including accessing emergency funds, insurance and tax considerations.
How an UTMA Compares to a 529 Plan
The cost of higher education has skyrocketed over the last few decades, and shows no signs of slowing. That’s why it’s more important than ever that parents start saving as early as possible for their children’s future.
529 Plans: Custodial Versus Individual Accounts
Opening a 529 college savings account can be a smart move if you’d like to save for college on a tax-advantaged basis. One thing to consider when opening a 529 plan is whether it should be a custodial or individual account. While both allow you to save for college costs and enjoy some tax breaks, they differ in terms of who has control of the account and the assets in it.
529 Plan Withdrawal Rules
A 529 college savings plan, also known as a qualified tuition plan (QTP), is a popular choice among parents and families looking to meet their children’s future educational expenses. Two of the 529 plan’s helpful features are tax-deferred growth of your contributions and later, tax-free withdrawals for eligible expenses.
This 529 Plan Mistake Could Cost You Big at Tax Time
529 plans are one of the most popular ways Americans save for the college expenses of their children. As of June 2024, there were 16.8 million 529 savings accounts holding $508 billion, according to the College Savings Plan Network.
Shakeup in Bond Futures Stands to Reignite Burned Treasury Trade
The unwinding of positions in Treasury futures stands to rekindle a popular bond-market wager that’s been burned as traders pare back expectations for aggressive Federal Reserve interest-rate cuts.
Fitch Sees More Stress for Colleges With Budgets Under Pressure
Fitch Ratings predicts an even gloomier financial outlook for US colleges and universities, with smaller private schools being hit the hardest.
GDP Report Continues To Defy Recession Forecasts
The Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) recently released its second-quarter GDP report for 2024, showcasing a 2.96% growth rate. This number has sparked discussions among investors and analysts, particularly those predicting an imminent recession.
U.S. Versus International Stock Performance
U.S. stocks have handily outperformed their global peers over the past few decades, as well as in the post-World War II period. We document the scale of the outperformance and ask whether it can continue.
Top 10 Countries That Have Bought the Most Gold Over the Past Decade
With over 36,000 metric tons in reserves—about one-fifth of all the gold ever mined—central banks know something we should too: Gold is the ultimate safety net.
S&P 500 Index Rebalance: Steady Preference for Technology
The latest S&P 500 rebalance introduced Dell and Palantir to the index, and Apple’s weight grew with annual float changes, signaling technology’s ongoing influence.
Dollar Extends Weekly Gaining Trend as Traders Trim Fed Cut Bets
Traders are pushing the dollar toward its second-straight weekly gain in anticipation of a slower pace of interest-rate cuts by the Federal Reserve.
Unions Need to Join the 21st Century Economy
It is hard to be “the most pro-union president in American history,” as Joe Biden likes to claim, while also leading an effort to “reimagine and rebuild a new economy,” as he has also promised. That’s because these goals are fundamentally incompatible: America’s unions no longer fit the modern economy.
Raise the $1,000 Limit on Emergency 401(k) Withdrawals
Thanks to new legislation, Americans with retirement plans now have easier access to cash in the event of a financial emergency. A provision in the Secure Act 2.0 that took effect this year allows individuals with 401(k)s and other retirement plans to withdraw up to $1,000 without triggering a 10% early distribution penalty.
Retailers Have No Room for Error This Holiday
With interest rates lower, inflation collapsing and wages rising faster than prices, there’s potential for a very happy holiday for US retailers.
AI & Data Centers Provide Fuel for Chip Stocks Rally
Semiconductor stocks continue to rally and will continue to do so as long as the AI and data center themes stay hot.
S&P 500 Earnings Breadth Broadens
Our experts explore the implications of wider S&P 500 earnings growth, potential Fed rate cuts, and the outlook for global equities and bonds amidst ongoing economic shifts.
Party in the USA: Election Facts
Historically, staying invested has been, in our view, an effective strategy and one to consider when it comes to election years and beyond.
Living in a Material World: The Surprisingly Gripping Tale of Six Natural Resources
Sand. Salt. Iron. Copper. Oil. Lithium. These, not petabytes or algorithms or innovative ideas, are the building blocks of human life as we know it. At least that’s what Ed Conway, author of Material World, tells us.
Change Required: Immigration Reform is an Economic Necessity
News of that day included rioting in northern England, apparently in response to misinformation spread online claiming the person who stabbed to death three children and injured eight others in Southport was a Muslim immigrant.
529 Plans Passed a New Savings Milestone. Here’s Why
For families seeking to help their children save for higher education, 529 plans continue to gain broader appeal.
Considering Moving Out of T-bills? A Guide to Determine What’s Next in Your Portfolio
Since mid-2022, when the Federal Reserve was in the midst of its aggressive hiking cycle, investors piled over $1.6 trillion into money market funds, which include Treasury bills.
Don't Shy Away From Munis to Avoid Election Volatility
Despite forthcoming volatility, it's an ideal time to get municipal debt exposure, especially in the current market environment.
Americans Face Credit Hit as Student Debt Goes Delinquent Again
Millions of Americans are falling behind on student loan payments a year after the pandemic freeze ended – and soon that will start hurting their credit scores.
Back to School, Back to Saving!
As the back-to-school season fills your social media feed with first-day photos and ads for the latest school supplies, it is also a prime opportunity for financial advisors to reconnect with clients about their education savings plans.
MSCI Index Rebalances: China’s Weight Continues Decline
MSCI boosted India’s weighting in the MSCI Emerging Markets Index and reduced China’s in its latest quarterly rebalance, continuing long-term trends.
Junk Bond Investors Are Getting Ahead of ‘Rate Cutting Party’
The Federal Reserve’s looming rate cuts are fueling a rally in the riskiest corner of the US corporate bond market, but some investors are concerned the party may not last.
Seizing the Opportunity in Emerging Markets
With attractive valuations, emerging market equities look like a good opportunity. A factor investing strategy, designed well, may enhance performance and help manage some key risks.
Mortgage Rates Puzzle Is a Worry for Housing and the Fed
There’s a puzzle developing in the housing market — mortgage rates have fallen rapidly to their lowest level since early 2023, but would-be homebuyers don’t seem to care. It’s possible this is just a timing issue with rates falling during the slow season for transactions and election jitters giving buyers additional reason to hold off.
Municipal Bonds: Fiscal 2025 State Outlook
States enter fiscal 2025 maintaining stable reserves and moderating fixed costs, yet we expect many will need to make modest spending cuts due to exhaustion of federal pandemic aid.
Cuts and Consequences
Balanced risks to inflation and employment indicate it’s time for the Fed to normalize interest rates, enhancing a positive backdrop for bonds.
Index Investing as an Active Decision: Implications for Fixed Income Investors
Passive fixed income index investing has evolved significantly over the previous decade, offering investors the flexibility to align risk requirements and investment goals. Learn more from our experts.
Dispelling Three Election Cycle Myths That Can Undermine Investment Success
Here we dispel three common myths about elections and investments, demonstrating why we think sticking to a long-term investment plan might be a better path to success than trying to predict political cycles.
Don't Let an Election Year Keep You From Munis
History typically shows that election years don't produce major volatility swings in the municipal bond market.
Nvidia’s Blackwell Chip Delay Is Center Stage Amid Stock Slump
The next-generation processor was unveiled six months ago, but has faced engineering snags that delayed its release. While Chief Executive Officer Jensen Huang tried to reassure the market last month that revenue from the chip is coming soon, some investors were left wanting for details.
With 529 Plans in Demand, Try an ETF Strategy
To tackle the costs of higher education, many families use a 529 plan to bolster savings. An ETF strategy can bring long-term savings growth.
Volatility Strikes in September: Our Thoughts
We think the decline in the S&P 500 Index on Tuesday may be more technical than fundamental.
Navigating Financial Aid: New FAFSA Rules and Tips for Families
Recent changes to the FAFSA form and process include a simpler form, fewer questions and a revised eligibility formula. Our Bill Cass highlights what you need to know to apply for federal financial aid for college.
Maintain Your Investment Strategy During Election Years
Presidential elections tend to have limited impact on market performance, regardless of party win (although markets prefer Democratic switches). Investors should capitalize on the uptick in market volatility, which investors can use for strategic investing.
Evidence-Based Persuasion Secrets
Successful advisors are persuasive. They understand persuasion is critical to converting prospects into clients and keeping them as clients.
Sizzling ETF Flows in Manic Markets Fuel a $609 Billion Haul
Half your coworkers might have just spent August in Europe, but there were no holiday doldrums in the booming world of ETFs.
Quant Street September 2024 Investor Letter: All Eyes on the Fed
After a bit of an early-August swoon, the stock market came roaring back in the last few weeks of the month. The S&P 500 finished up 2.4%, though certainly in the early days of August, that did not feel like a particularly likely outcome. In client conversations a few days into the selloff, our feeling was to stay put and not tinker with the portfolios we suggested in early August.
Stagflation vs. Recession
In our view, stagflation scenarios tend to be worse for balanced portfolios than recessions.
Why Gold Stocks Could Be a Contrarian Investor’s Dream Right Now
As I write this, gold continues to trade above $2,500 an ounce after surging past the psychologically important level for the first time ever in mid-August. For seasoned gold mining investors, this should be a moment of validation. After all, the yellow metal has long been seen as the ultimate hedge against economic uncertainty.
Break the Cycle and Create Generational Wealth
Many recent studies have been done on the economics of different generations. Researchers want to know if Millennials and Gen Z are in fact worse off than their Boomer and Gen X parents. There are quite a few ways to look at this data.
Fundamentals Matter
While short-term fluctuations and sudden selloffs have tested the markets, key indicators such as corporate profits, employment data, and economic resilience have held firm.
Analysis of Fed Chair Powell’s Comments: September Cut Likely, but What After?
We analyze Federal Reserve Chair Jay Powell’s comments about the potential for rate cuts in September and beyond.
8 Ways DC Plans Are Likely to Change by 2030
Will 2030 DC plans perform better at preparing U.S. workers for retirement?
Red Flags In The Latest Retail Sales Report
The latest retail sales report seems to have given Wall Street something to cheer about. Headlines touting resilience in consumer spending increased hopes of a “soft landing” boosting the stock market.
Market Decline Over As Investors Buy The Dip
The market’s 8.5% decline during August sent shockwaves through the media and investors. The drop raised concerns about whether this was the start of a larger correction or a temporary pullback. However, a powerful reversal, driven by investor buying and corporate share repurchases, halted the decline, leading many to wonder if the worst is behind us.
Macro Thoughts – Recalibration or Accommodation
After market expectations spiked to nearly five interest rate cuts in 2024 based on disappointing labor market report early in the month, reassuring data in the form of Retail Sales and Unemployment Claims have quelled market Markets have eased expectations for interest rate cuts, pricing closer to four cuts as of the end of last week.
College-Bound High School Juniors and Seniors Focus On a Strong Finish
The last two years of high school can be particularly important as students approach the final college decision. Our Bill Cass highlights some action items for students and parents.
High-Yield Bonds: Exploring Opportunities in a Volatile Market
We explore how strong fundamentals and a resilient economy may position high-yield bonds as a potentially compelling choice in today’s fluctuating market.
Investing in Transformative AI: How Dell Technologies is Shaping the Future
Stocks that offer artificial intelligence have been the hot ticket in the stock market – seeing their prices surge – many to astronomical heights. In this video, Chuck Carnevale, Co-Founder of FAST Graphs, a.k.a. Mr. Valuation will use FAST Graphs to see if he can locate some AI stocks that might not be so expensive, but his primary focus is going to be on Dell Technologies (DELL), as well as Dell’s competitors.
Stealth QE Or Rubbish From Dr. Doom?
A recent article co-authored by Stephen Miran and Dr. Nouriel Roubini, aka Dr. Doom, accuses the U.S. Treasury Department of using its debt-issuance powers to manipulate financial conditions.
Schwab Market Perspective: Spinning
Markets were recently rattled by concerns the U.S. may slip into recession, but it's not clear that those fears are justified.
Investing in Transformative AI: How Dell Technologies is Shaping the Future
Stocks that offer artificial intelligence have been the hot ticket in the stock market – seeing their prices surge – many to astronomical heights.
Kick Off Your College Planning During the First Two Years of High School
Families may want to consider a comprehensive plan for college, including actions to take during the high school years, and consider how a 529 plan can help guide savings. Our Bill Cass offers details on college planning.
Exploring Economic Indicators: Household Debt, Services PMI & Trade
Economic indicators are released every week to provide insight into the overall health and performance of an economy.
Beware the Bombs Baked Into Modern Stock Markets
Investor complacency is often blamed when rising stock markets ignore potentially unsettling data for weeks and then viciously sell off. But this very human-sounding characteristic mostly isn’t in the minds of traders: It’s baked into the structure of modern investment strategies.
Index Investing as an Active Decision: Implications for Equity Investors
Today’s passive index investing requires active choices, as customization and innovations in index funds have resulted in new considerations for investors and the potential for greater control.
15 Semiconductor Stocks Plunge: Should You Buy, Sell, or Hold?
According to some pundits, we had a bloodbath in the information technology sector yesterday, should you buy, sell or hold?
The Case for Recalibrating Rates Gets a Winning Streak
The case for beginning to recalibrate rates in the S. is on a winning streak for getting stronger with each data print
Petrodollar Panic: Separating Fact from Fiction
Notwithstanding whether there was a formal agreement, the petrodollar is not going anywhere. Even if Saudi Arabia accepts rubles, yuan, pesos, or gold for its oil, it will need to convert those currencies into dollars in almost all instances.
Attitude Adjustments
We are in the time of year when Americans pack transatlantic airliners for their European vacations. I had actually hoped to be one of them. That didn’t work out but we can still talk about events in Europe. And we probably should, because potentially major changes are happening.
Finding Value in High-Value Bonds and Credit Markets
Explore the complexities of the high-yield market through comprehensive insights from our experts.
Russell 1000 Index Annual Rebalance: Tech Leads Weighting Gains
The addition of Dell Technologies and Super Micro boosted the weighting to the technology sector. We also analyze changes to the value and growth indexes.