Steep declines in the stock market often follow periods of extreme enthusiasm and growth. The bear market of 2001, for instance, was preceded by a long surge in stock prices during the dot-com boom. Market highs can drive mixed emotions. When the market hits new all-time highs, as it did recently, investors are pleased with […]

Nvidia’s fourth quarter earnings, released in February, ignited a fresh surge in investor enthusiasm, propelling the stock price to new heights. The company (ticker NVDA) is the poster child for the artificial intelligence (AI) revolution currently gripping the stock market. Central to Nvidia’s success are its Graphics Processing Units (GPUs) – innovative computer chips that

In January, the U.S. stock market reached an all-time high. The S&P 500 Index, which includes dividends, closed the month with a 1.7 percent gain. For some, this signals the end of the “bear market”. Bear markets have always come to an eventual end in the U.S. stock market. The worst of these was the

The last two years have been a whirlwind for capital markets. 2022 saw one of the worst performances on record for the traditional 60/40 portfolio as stocks and bonds grappled with significant setbacks. Heading into 2023, the consensus view foresaw a continuation of the challenges, predicting a probable recession. Contrary to these expectations, a recession

In its latest decision, the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) opted to keep overnight lending rates unchanged at the December meeting. This choice preserves the target range, which has remained the same since July 2023. The Fed signaled a likelihood of keeping rates stable in the near future, while also hinting at the possibility of

Investing in the stock market is emotionally difficult because of the possibility of loss. The market fluctuates from day-to-day and month-to-month and can be wildly erratic. It is all but impossible to consistently predict its direction successfully. Despite the random nature of short term stock returns, investing in the stock market is not like a

As Thanksgiving approaches, the world appears gloomy. War and geopolitical strife dominate the news. Several worrisome trends loom over the US economy, despite signs of growth (see page 66). Meanwhile, rather than inform, the media seems increasingly driven to inflame our passions regarding crime, immigration, education and other serious matters. In this environment it is

A popular media refrain of late suggests that stocks are overvalued compared to historical benchmarks. The Wall Street Journal, for instance, recently opined that “Stocks are expensive (and not just the big ones)”. Meanwhile, The Economist declared, “American stocks are at their most expensive in decades”, and MarketWatch concurred, affirming that “U.S. stocks are expensive

Since inflation began to surge in early 2021, several key tax parameters indexed to inflation have increased as well. These provisions helped to protect households’ real, after-tax income. But not all elements of the Internal Revenue Code (IRC) are indexed to inflation. These omissions can cost tax payers dearly. Many IRC stipulations are indexed to

Money is a tool – it is a means to an end. Money alone does not bring life satisfaction, but it can allow you to achieve greater freedom. Retirement may be the ultimate expression of freedom. Retirement planning usually involves an assessment of whether your life savings are adequate to cover specific planning objectives –