Insight Reports
December 3, 2024
2025 Important Planning Numbers Download There are lots of important numbers that we work with in financial, tax, and retirement planning. At the same time, there are many core numbers our clients ask us about and need to keep in mind. In some cases, those numbers change each year. Other […]
December 3, 2024
Major Asset Classes November 2024 Performance Comparison Introduction November returns for the S&P 500 index (+5.7%) were the strongest of the year, benefiting from a post-election rally. Government tax reform, deregulation, and improvements in government efficiencies launched the S&P 600 Small Cap index (+11.1%), while the 20Y+ Government Bond (+2.0%) […]
October 16, 2024
Medicare 2025 – Key Changes and Demographics Today is the beginning of the 2025 open enrollment for Medicare. In response, I share a recent article from the Wall Street Journal. The article is noteworthy as it reveals new challenges tied to the annual contracting process for Medicare Advantage (MA) programs. […]
October 10, 2024
The MasterClass on Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) was taught October 7, 2024 at the Magrath Library, UofM St. Paul campus. The focus on REITs is part of an ongoing series of classes on retirement planning that looks at the building blocks for income generation. For example, a REIT is […]
October 2, 2024
Major Asset Classes September 2024 Performance Comparison Introduction September returns for the S&P 500 index began with a price correction of -4.8% and then rallied back to gain +2.0% for the month, as inflation continued to stabilize and given a jumbo rate cut of 0.5% by the Fed. Moreover, analysts’ […]
August 31, 2024
Major Asset Classes August 2024 Performance Comparison Introduction August returns for the benchmark S&P 500 index (+2.3%) benefited from optimism regarding a ‘soft landing’ and encouraging inflation data. More astounding, US large-cap stocks recovered from a sharp drawdown at the start of the month, with a dramatic shift from risk-off […]
August 2, 2024
Market Update: Mid-Year Outlook 3Q.2024 The midyear outlook provides an overview of the current market and our best ideas looking out over the next six months. The original aim of the report was to provide our clients with essential insight into the health of the economy given that the S&P500 […]
July 1, 2024
Major Asset Classes June 2024 Performance Comparison Introduction June 2024 returns for the benchmark S&P 500 index (+3.50%) deflected concerns about inflation, market breadth, government debt levels, and large bond auctions by the U.S. Treasury. The index is now up +14.5% year-to-date and the United States continues to have the […]
May 5, 2024
Major Asset Classes April 2024 Performance Comparison Introduction April 2024 returns for the S&P 500 index (-4.2%) were negative after five straight months of gains. The end of March sent clear ‘risk-off’ signals. Market conditions included a spike in 10Y yields and the cost of risk insurance (e.g. VIX index), […]
April 6, 2024
Major Asset Classes March 2024 Performance Comparison Introduction March 2024 returns marked the second quarter and the fifth straight month of positive stock market gains. Economic strength and diminishing recession fears led to the best Q1 U.S. market performance since 2019, with total returns for the S&P500 index up +10.2% […]