Investing

Given the choice between more time or more money, which would you pick? This question is not just a thought experiment but a reflection of the trade-offs we make daily in our pursuit of happiness and success. How you answer can significantly impact your saving, spending, and goal setting.

Research shows that our sense of happiness and fulfillment is directly linked to how we spend our time and money. When we prioritize time over money, we may find more joy and satisfaction in our lives but may have less financial security. On the other hand, prioritizing money may leave us feeling unfulfilled and stressed.

Since 2024 is a leap year, you’ll have an additional day. Why not spend some time on that day considering one practical action to optimize your resources?

Onward to rates… Interest rates affect us all. Whether you’re seeking the highest rate for your savings or the lowest for your mortgage or credit cards, knowing how to manage this aspect of your finances is increasingly important in an ever-changing environment.

Though most forecasters expect the Fed to cut a benchmark short-term interest rate soon, rumors of “higher for longer” rates persist. And although we can’t predict the future, we can prepare for it. Are you ready for when this change happens?

Understanding key financial concepts is important to maintaining not just your financial health but also your financial confidence and happiness. And interest rates are more than just numbers in the news; they’re the heartbeat of your financial wellness. More on the current interest rate environment in the Market Brief below.

Feel free to share if you know someone who could use guidance. As always, I’m available for any questions or ideas you have regarding financial strategy.

Market Brief – New Year New Rates

Another week is behind us in 2024, while stocks have seen more recovery highs and the major indices have seen more all-time highs. The week ending Feb 23 saw the S&P 500 rise 1.7%, the Nasdaq added 1.4%, and the Russell 2000 lost 0.9%. For the S&P 500 and Nasdaq indices, last week was the 15th of 17 on the upside. During the 17 weeks, the S&P has gained 23.6%, and Nasdaq is up over 26%. Those are great returns for a full year!

In other news, Amazon.com replaced Walgreens Boots Alliance in the 30-stock Dow. New home sales in January 2024 rose 1.5% from December to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 661,000 units. The median sales price was $420,700 and the average sales price was $534,300.

As for a recession, it is likely that the U.S. economy will avoid one into 2025. The Federal Reserve will likely start to lower interest rates later this year, and earnings growth is poised to accelerate over the next few quarters. There are fundamental risks to be sure, such as geopolitical developments (Russia, Mideast, China), high interest rates (the Fed hasn’t cut yet), the chance of recession (always a possibility), not to mention the upcoming 2024 U.S. presidential election.

The Fed’s next rate decisions come at the end of March and May. For March, odds of a rate cut are only about 4%, according to the CME Fed Watch. For May, odds go up to 26%. That’s also much lower than was the case over in last few weeks. Year-to-date the S&P is up 6.8%, Nasdaq up 7.9%, and Dow up 2.9% through intraday today.

Click here if you would like to learn more about your options and if we can assist you with your wealth management, investment, and retirement planning.

This website is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be specific advice or recommendations. For specific advice or recommendations you would need to meet directly with one of our advisers. This is not a solicitation or offer of service in states we are not licensed in.

Financial Advisor Erie CO focus on investment and wealth management, retirement planning; Boulder, Louisville, Niwot, Lafayette, Windsor, Berthoud, CO

Happy New Year, happy January, and welcome back to All-time highs! As we embark on this fresh chapter, consider this, it has been two years since we last reached this threshold. A lot has happened since then. In some areas of life, value is unlocked by starting, while in others, it’s found in the finish. What’s your focus for 2024 and beyond? Whether you need to kickstart new financial habits or follow through on existing plans, I’m here to help you navigate the journey.

Financial success often hinges on effective beginnings and successful completions. Starting on the right foot positions us for a year of financial achievements. This year let’s work together to initiate valuable habits like automatic savings, strategic budgeting, and a tailored financial strategy aligned with your long-term goals. If there’s anything left unfinished from 2023 – unsure what changes to make, coverage to put in place, accounts to contribute to, when to save, etc. – let’s tackle it head-on for a more financially fulfilling year ahead. Even minor adjustments to your financial strategy today can make a big difference over time.

The second Friday of every January is infamously known as “Quitter’s Day.” It’s the day on the calendar by which most people have already abandoned their freshly made resolutions. Hopefully you powered through and are still on track with your 2024 goals. Truthfully, it’s not hard to believe. As we’ve all experienced at one time or another, it’s easy to get discouraged with our goals, especially after the initial enthusiasm starts to fade. The secret to staying power is breaking down your long-term goals into smaller, more manageable milestones. What can you do today that will improve your situation by December?

As always, if you have questions any day of the year, reach out to me. Together, we can create an action plan tailored specifically to you. As the saying goes, winners are not people who never fail, they are people who never quit. Here’s to unlocking value and achieving financial success in 2024!

Market Brief – All-time Highs

This is a huge earnings week, with many big-name companies reporting. The week also features important inflation data, and talk about the Fed’s next rate move will heat up ahead of the rate meeting next week. The FOMC decision on January 31 is widely expected to result in unchanged interest rates, while future rate-cut expectations have become less optimistic. Last week, the Dow Jones Industrial Average was higher by 1%, the S&P 500 up 1.2%, and the Nasdaq up 1.6%.

Mortgage rates dropped slightly last week, to 6.6% for the average 30-year fixed-rate mortgage. Gas prices fell a penny to $3.06 per gallon for the average price of regular gas. The Atlanta Fed GDP indicator is forecasting for 4Q and calls for expansion of 2.4%.

Stocks headed higher today with the S&P 500 on track to hit another all-time high. The stock market blasted off late last week, propelling the S&P 500 to an all-time high. It has been a long recovery (over two years) for the index, as its last All-time high was on January 3, 2022. The Nasdaq still has work to do to reach their all-time high from late 2021 and early 2022. Year-to-date, the DJIA is now up 1%, the S&P is up 1%, and the Nasdaq is up 1.6%.

Click here if you would like to learn more about your options and if we can assist you with your wealth management, investment, and retirement planning.

This website is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be specific advice or recommendations. For specific advice or recommendations you would need to meet directly with one of our advisers. This is not a solicitation or offer of service in states we are not licensed in.

Erie CO Financial Advisor; investments, wealth management, retirement income planning; Boulder, Broomfield, Louisville, Niwot, Windsor, Berthoud CO

#investing #marketbrief #stockmarket #retirement #wealthmanagement #financialadvisor #retirementplanning #investmentmanagement #retirementincomepla