Last summer, Jerome Powell ended his Jackson Hole speech with an intimidating tone — this tone was almost gone at this year’s symposium...

The VIX spike and subsequent collapse. After a historic 65 reading on the CBOE Volatility Index (VIX), a measure of implied volatility for the S&P 500, just a week before the conference, combined with an upcoming presidential election, we would have expected more jittery advisors.

Like a stubbed toe, pullbacks in the market are inevitable, something investors tend to forget during periods of low volatility.

Before the jobs report was released on Friday, we wrote a commentary on the U.S. dollar. In light of the events over the weekend and Monday, we start with some comments on the global stock market selloff.

As we prepare for what’s ahead, the domestic economy looks to be late cycle, and recent data suggests the consumer is becoming a bit more selective on how and where to spend.

Market pricing for Fed rate cuts has been volatile this year, which has meant bond prices have been volatile as well. We expect the Fed to cut rates this year once or possibly twice, with more rate cuts likely coming in 2025.

Market cycles suggest upside may be limited. When assessing how much this stock rally may have left in it for the next six months, it's helpful to refer to historical performance cycles.

With stock valuations elevated after such a strong first half, earnings growth will be key to holding, or potentially building on these gains.

While some are drawing parallels between the current period and the late-1990s tech bubble and concluding that a crash may be coming, that’s not our view at all.

Fed meetings have been important drivers of market performance, especially in the Treasury market. Moreover, Fed meetings in which economic and interest rate projections are updated have been, at least historically, even more important meetings.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent victory in the national elections was muted at best. While he secured a rare third term in the nation’s highest office, his decisive legislative supermajority failed to materialize.

Despite the S&P 500 capping off the month by ending its five-week winning streak, the index still added around 5% in May and posted its 24th record high this year. The advance was largely driven by a handful of mega cap stocks that rallied on strong earnings.

The first quarter earnings season is largely in the books, and it was excellent. In fact, S&P 500 earnings per share (EPS) would have been up double digits in the quarter if not for a big loss Bristol Myers Squibb (BMY) absorbed in an acquisition.

The first quarter earnings season is largely in the books, and it was excellent. In fact, S&P 500 earnings per share (EPS) would have been up double digits in the quarter if not for a big loss Bristol Myers Squibb (BMY) absorbed in an acquisition.

One of the Federal Reserve’s (Fed) tools involves setting the federal funds rate, an interest rate that influences other market rates such as bank loans, CD rates, and mortgage rates.

Preferred securities (preferreds) are often referred to as “hybrid” securities as they have both bond and equity characteristics. This hybrid nature results in preferred securities being senior to common stock but subordinated, or junior to bonds within a company’s capital stack.

The overall domestic economy grew 1.6% annualized in the first quarter, dragged down by inventories and trade. Consumer spending continued to hold up well with an annualized increase for the quarter of 2.5%, though that was shy of expectations near 3%.

Wall Street narratives can change relatively quickly as investors translate new information into speculation over future events. One of the widely publicized narratives at the beginning of the year was the ‘Goldilocks’ economy.

Certainly, geopolitical concerns have added to higher prices, with focus squarely on the Israel-Hamas conflict and worries hovering over markets regarding the potential for the war to broaden into the oil-producing region.

Heading into the last reporting period, the consensus earnings estimate for the fourth quarter came down quite a bit, falling 6.8% between October and December.

Monitoring how an IPO trades over a period of time initially, and three months on, offers an important indication of the strength and reliability of the initial pricing for the company...

Just as the tides follow a predetermined cycle, strategic asset allocations adhere more closely to a specific asset allocation objective over longer periods of time, aiming to maintain balance and alignment to investment views that may take three-to-five years to play out.

Economic downturns and turbulent investment markets can make people nervous. Recognize these events as a normal, although undesirable, part of the economic and investment cycles.

Central bankers from the U.S. to Australia and seemingly everywhere in between will be meeting this week to discuss monetary policy. A total of 15 meetings will take place this week, highlighted by the Fed, the Bank of England (BOE) and the BOJ.

In a market enthralled by mega cap performance and artificial intelligence, the ancient-old gold trade managed to steal some of the spotlight last week as the yellow metal rallied to new highs.

The "Super Six" shows resilient profit margins. The Super Six drove more than nine percentage points of earnings contribution for the S&P 500.

Buyback activity has made a comeback after most companies suspend share repurchase programs in the wake of the pandemic.

Individual retirement accounts (IRAs) allow income earners–and in certain cases, their unemployed spouses–to save for retirement on a tax-deferred basis.

According to recent data from the congressional budget office (CBO), total Treasury debt held by the public is expected to grow to over $46 trillion by 2033.

In the latest employment report, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) issued revisions to the prior 12 months, and it turns out that firms added more jobs in 2023 than originally reported.

A positive January has historically been a bullish sign for stocks. Yale Hirsch, creator of the "Stock Trader's Almanac", first discovered this seasonal pattern in 1972.

Changing jobs can impact your retirement plan. To maximize your savings, understand your options - if any - for your retirement plan when you switch jobs.

You may be able to reduce your tax liability if you consider adopting these tax strategies before year's end.

Debt can be a huge challenge for many people. Understanding good versus bad debt can help you make smart financial moves.

Are you planning to retire within five years? If so, include these three exercises in your flight plan.

For many people, retirement is not a time to slow down and stop. It’s a time to explore the next great chapters of your life and build upon everything you’ve learned and experienced so far.

Buying low or selling high is a prudent strategy for most investors, an effort to maximize returns. But buying lowest or selling highest is an elusive strategy, one that is difficult to execute...

Raising a family is rewarding─and expensive. Consider taking these steps to support your family financially through a program of smart investing...

Required minimum distributions take on added urgency as you approach (and reach) age 73, with specific rules an tax implications

Deciding when to begin collecting Social Security depends on a number of factors, including how long you anticipate needing it.

Whether you’re 23 or 35, it’s important to know whether you are saving enough for your retirement. There is no time like the present to ensure you are allocating enough funds to your retirement account.

Becoming financially fit requires maintaining foundational elements, including a budget, emergency fund, strong credit score, and retirement savings.

Learn how to perform a six-step maintenance checkup on your retirement plan.

Retirement savings isn't the only financial goal you should consider in your lifetime. There are other milestones that you ought to take into account as well.

Everyone is exposed to financial traps. Here are some specific threats to financial stability that people can avoid to help effectively manage their wealth.

As much as you may need the money, taking a distribution or borrowing from your retirement account undermines the potential for funds to grow through tax-deferred compounding.

Diversification is a fundamental aspect of risk management and plays a critical role in building an investment portfolio.