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Stocks surged higher last week, fueled by the Fed’s rate cut decision and post-election enthusiasm as investors looked to future policy impacts of a Republican-controlled Senate and executive branch. (The House of Representatives...

Stocks slid last week as mixed economic data and strong-but-not-spectacular Q3 corporate reports failed to inspire investors. The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index fell 1.36 percent, while the Nasdaq Composite Index declined 1.50 percent....

Stocks were mixed last week as fresh economic data points and election-related uncertainty slowed market momentum. The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index fell 0.96 percent, while the Nasdaq Composite Index rose 0.16 percent. The Dow Jones...

Stocks posted modest gains last week, with quarterly earnings season in full swing and the election on the horizon. The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index increased 0.85 percent, while the Nasdaq Composite Index rose 0.80 percent. The Dow...

Stocks advanced last week despite mixed inflation data, lurching oil prices, and lingering anxiety about the Middle East. The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index gained 1.11 percent, while the Nasdaq Composite rose 1.13 percent. The Dow Jones...

Stocks were essentially unchanged last week as geopolitical tensions added some volatility to an otherwise quiet trading week. The Dow Jones Industrial Average was flat (+0.09 percent), while the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index ticked up...

Stocks moved higher last week, continuing to build on the momentum generated after the Federal Reserve decided to cut short-term rates by 0.50 percent. The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index gained 0.59 percent, while the Nasdaq Composite...

Is a Recession Looming? What YOU Should Know from Leading Indicators

Charles A. Villano J.D.*, CFP®, CLU®, LUTCF

Friday, September 27, 2024

As an investor, staying informed on economic trends is essential during uncertain times. Right now, three major indicators—the yield curve inversion, the Leading Economic Index (LEI), and unemployment trends (specifically, the Sahm...

Stocks moved higher last week after the Federal Reserve’s half-point rate cut, bolstered by multiple data points supporting a cooling but still strong economy and decelerating inflation. The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index gained 1.36...

Stocks rallied last week as investors received better-than-expected consumer and producer inflation data. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 2.60 percent, while the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index gained 4.02 percent. The Nasdaq...

Stocks fell last week as soft economic data rattled investors focused on the Fed’s next move with interest rates. The Dow Jones Industrial Average lost 2.93 percent, while the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index dropped 4.25 percent. The...

What is the value of advice?

Charles A. Villano J.D.*, CFP®, CLU®, LUTCF

Friday, September 6, 2024

As we move forward with more and more online services and AI, is the human interaction going to be missed? Nowadays, you don't need a lawyer to do your estate planning. Just go to firms like Legal Zoom, right? Tax planning? No need,...

There were mixed results for stocks last week as upbeat economic data and a critical Q2 corporate report shaped the week. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 0.94 percent, while the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index increased 0.24 percent...

Stocks notched a solid gain as dovish comments from Federal Reserve officials boosted the market’s recovery from early August lows. The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index rose 1.45 percent, while the Nasdaq Composite added 1.40 percent. The...

Will Layoff Trends and Payroll Declines Signal a Potential Recession in 2024?

Charles A. Villano J.D.*, CFP®, CLU®, LUTCF

Friday, August 23, 2024

The economic outlook is increasingly troubling this year, with significant layoffs across various sectors and market cap sizes. We are aware of these trends and seek to properly diversify our client portfolios. Communication with our...

Stocks posted solid gains last week, buoyed by robust economic data and constructive comments from Fed officials. The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index rose 3.93 percent, while the Nasdaq Composite gained 5.29 percent. The Dow Jones...

Benefits of Backtesting

Charles A. Villano J.D.*, CFP®, CLU®, LUTCF

Friday, August 16, 2024

Uncover Profitable Strategies: Harness the Power of Backtesting! Backtesting an investment strategy involves analyzing historical market data to determine how the strategy would have performed in the past. The process helps advisors...

Stocks ended last week with modest losses, masking a volatile five-day trading period that saw investors embrace recession concerns and then dismiss the slow-down talk as speculation as the week progressed. The Dow Jones Industrial...

From Gold to Greenbacks: How Ditching the Gold Standard Made Our Money Go Wild

Charles A. Villano J.D.*, CFP®, CLU®, LUTCF

Friday, August 9, 2024

You’ve heard of the Gold standard. You know this is a policy the United States no longer follows. But do you know why? Check out the following blog post to learn a little something about the Gold Standard and its potential historical...

Stocks fell broadly last week as investors looked past upbeat Fed comments and focused on disappointing corporate reports and weaker-than-expected economic data. The Dow Jones Industrial Average lost 2.20 percent, while the Standard &...

Stocks had a mixed, see-saw week as disappointing corporate reports unsettled investors who appeared to rotate away from some leading groups in favor of other names. The Dow Jones Industrial Average picked up 0.75 percent. Meanwhile,...

Stocks were under pressure last week as investors appeared to rotate out of mega-cap tech stocks and into areas that may benefit from lower interest rates. The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index fell 1.97 percent, while Nasdaq Composite...

Stocks advanced last week as market leadership shifted amid fresh inflation data and quarterly corporate reports starting to roll in. The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index advanced 0.87 percent, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average picked...

Stocks steadily advanced over the holiday week thanks to strength in mega-cap tech issues and encouraging jobs data. The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index rose 1.95 percent, while the Nasdaq Composite Index added 3.50 percent. The Dow Jones...

Stocks finished the last week of June and Q2 mixed as investors digested a fresh round of economic data. The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index slipped 0.08%, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average also dipped 0.08 percent. The tech-heavy...

Stocks edged higher over the four trading days last week, with the three major averages taking turns leading based on various economic and artificial intelligence (AI) news. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 1.45 percent–its best...

Stocks notched a solid gain last week, driven by the Fed’s decision, May's inflation report, and Apple’s AI-related news. The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index rose 1.58 percent, while the Nasdaq Composite picked up 3.24 percent. The Dow...

Stocks rose last week despite conflicting stories from economic reports. The Dow Jones Industrial Average inched up 0.29 percent while the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index powered ahead 1.31 percent. The Nasdaq Composite led, picking up 2...

Stocks edged lower in the final week of May as fresh news on economic growth and inflation failed to inspire investors. Stocks Slide Markets shrugged off news that the Q1 Gross Domestic Product was revised lower to 1.3 percent from...

Graduation Season

Charles A. Villano J.D.*, CFP®, CLU®, LUTCF

Wednesday, May 15, 2024

To all those that have had and/or will have graduations this season, I want to wish your children much success in their lives. As a parent myself, with twins, watching my sons grow up to become the men they are today has been one of...

Knowing what you own is a Myth. Rules-Based Investing Wins the Race

Charles A. Villano J.D.*, CFP®, CLU®, LUTCF

Thursday, May 9, 2024

They say knowledge is power, and in the investing world, the mantra seems to be "know what you own." But what if we told you this age-old advice is holding you back? Here's why: focusing only on familiar companies limits your...

A comprehensive sell-off on Friday following comments by Fed Chair Jerome Powell drove stocks to losses for the week.The Dow Jones Industrial Average tumbled 4.22%, while the Standard & Poor's 500 dropped 4.04%. The Nasdaq Composite...

As the U.S. presidential election draws near, expect to see more and more headlines that propose, "What will happen next if this person is elected?" or, "What policy changes to prepare for in the next four years?"In reality, however,...

Don’t Let Headlines Get You Down

Charles A. Villano J.D.*, CFP®, CLU®, LUTCF

Wednesday, May 27, 2020

Even in “normal” times, the news can be depressing. But these days, it can seem like there’s an awful lot to worry about. Here’s a sampling of the types of headlines I’ve seen recently:Why US hospitals...