Consumer Confidence Expected to Rise as Gas Prices Fall
Published August 11, 2022 82 Views
On Wednesday, the average price of gas fell to $4 a gallon; about $1 from it’s high in June. Gas prices play an important role in consumer sentiment, especially since most of us pass at least half-a-dozen gas stations on our way to work. As gas prices fall, experts believe that people will beg...
Have You Recently Changed Jobs? US Economy Adds More Than 500,000 Jobs In July.
Published August 9, 2022 156 Views
Last month, the US economy added 528,000 jobs as reported by the Bureau of Labor Statistics in its latest payroll report. With this, both unemployment and payrolls returned to pre-pandemic levels, with unemployment reducing to 3.5%. This is more than double expectations and continues this year&rsquo...
Are we in a Recession?
Published August 5, 2022 277 Views
Here is a question we’ve been getting a lot. Everywhere we look—radio, television, social media—we see headlines and conversations about being in a recession. I’ve seen varying levels of concern and bias, including talks of the US dollar’s impending collapse. As we all...
Despite Market Troubles, Dividend Payouts Hit a Record High in Q2
Published August 1, 2022 353 Views
In a reassuring sign to investors during a rocky second quarter, dividend payouts have hit another record, paying $140.6 Billion to stockholders. This is up from the beginning of the year, and nearly $20 billion higher than dividends paid at this time last year. Dividends paid to stockholders...
Diamond in the Rough
Published July 25, 2022 1208 Views
Have you seen your recent statement? I have. I know you’re not particularly happy seeing losses, and neither am I. If you work with an Advisor or have been investing for long enough, you may understand that the market ebbs and flows. The media has focused on the negatives for more tha...
What’s Happening to Bonds, and Bond Funds?
Published July 12, 2022 846 Views
If you’re curious about what’s been going on with interest rates, and your bond portfolio, let me explain some of what is going on. Most likely, the bonds in your 401(k), and often those in your IRA, are in bond funds. Bond mutual funds and bond exchange-traded funds are pooled investmen...
The Federal Reserve Raises Interest Rates by 0.75 percent
Published June 15, 2022 1478 Views
After Wednesday’s Federal Reserve meeting, officials announced that they would raise the federal funds target rate by three quarters of one percent, the largest increase since 1994. This displays their intention to get aggressive in tackling inflation, “signaling that its benchmark rate...
What is going on with Inflation?
Published May 23, 2022 2099 Views
As you may have noticed, inflation is here. In April, inflation was 8.3% compared to last year, slightly down from March, which was 8.5%, but still a four-decade high inflation rate. (1) The Federal Reserve believes that they have the resolve and ability to bring U.S. inflation down, but to what lev...
What does a “Strong” Dollar mean for your wallet?
Published April 27, 2022 2623 Views
Lately, the dollar has been rising in strength internationally. What is meant by a “strong” dollar, is that Dollars are more expensive to purchase in other currencies, for example: Euros, Yen, or Pounds. Recently, the price, or the exchange rate, of Euros has dropped to less than 1.08 Do...