BlogMarket Commentaries
Q1 2019 Recap & Commentary
Thankfully, the financial markets rebounded strongly from the dismal end to 2018. If we had to summarize the Q1 2019 market performance in a sentence, it would be this. Markets rebounded strongly from the fourth quarter selloff but began slowing as global growth fears and recession risks increased. As a … Continued
June 2019 Commentary
What a long, strange trip it’s been. The year 2019 started with strong growth. The market jumped in January to an 8% growth rate and continued its rise through February. A detour emerged in March that has taken the markets into choppy waters. Slowing growth after a busy first two … Continued
Q2 2019 Recap & Commentary
The spring months for financial markets (Q2 2019) were marked with new all-time highs, increased volatility, and plenty of geopolitical tension. In April, the S&P 500 reached an all-time closing high. In May, many investors were spooked by the lack of progress in trade negotiations between the U.S. and China. … Continued
Recession? You Bet! Keep Reading…
Will we have a recession? Is it coming? The answers to those questions are, “yes.” However, please keep reading. What nobody truly knows is when a recession will actually take place. Economists use charts, data, surveys-all of which are great but provide no clear indication of a recession. I’ve been … Continued
2020: Trump, Iran, & RMDs
Well, the first 20 days of 2020 have been very eventful. Trump is continuing with his never-ending tweets; Iran shot down a civilian Ukrainian airliner and shot missiles at US bases in Iraq; US and Iran tensions are higher than they have been in years; and if you turn 70.5 … Continued
A Message from Means Wealth
Good Afternoon, Over the last few weeks, the consternation concerning personal health, our families, the markets, and the economy has been palpable. Like you, I am concerned. These are no doubt challenging times. Many clients expressed how different this situation feels, and I certainly cannot argue that. This is … Continued
What’s Next?
I always enjoy writing with good news. I have some for you today. As I write this, the S&P is up roughly 32% from its lows in March. We are only down a “mere” 13% from its all-time highs. It seems like a long way to go to get back … Continued
Why Do the Markets Do Well When the Economy Isn’t?
The last few days notwithstanding, the stock market has staged a significant recovery from the market lows we saw in late March. While off its all-time high reached in February, the S&P 500 stands at a level that was first reached in the last quarter of 2019. Yet the economy … Continued
Presidential Election & the Stock Market: What History Tells Us
By: Zachary Means, CEO Source: DFA Funds It was election day 2016. I’ll never forget watching the news stations read off which candidate, Clinton or Trump, won each state. Massachusetts went to Clinton. Florida went to Trump. It was neck and neck. I flipped from one major news network to … Continued
Perspectives 2020/2021
Check out our Year-End Booklet, Perspectives! Click to view.
The Odds
By: Zachary Means, CEO “The only value of stock forecasters is to make fortune-tellers look good.” – Warren Buffett. Every year, top firms, analysts, and economists provide projections on the markets’ direction. They offer a year-end price target, indicating where they expect the markets to end the year. “We are … Continued
Investing at All-Time Highs
“I have some extra cash. What should I do with it?” Or, “I don’t want to invest right now. The market is too high. A correction is coming.” As advisors, we’ve heard questions and statements like this a lot lately. With historically low interest rates, most people recognize that it … Continued