Insight Reports
October 19, 2023
Treasury Yields and the Probability of Recession The Treasury yield curve depicts the interest rates on debt for different maturities. Analyzing changes in the yield curve can provide valuable insights into the market’s expectations for future economic conditions. This article explores the relationship between Treasury yields and the probability of […]
October 17, 2023
3Q.2023 Earnings Update – S&P 500 Index Earnings The 3Q earnings season is off to a strong start with 7% of firms reporting. In aggregate, actual earnings reported are 10% above consensus estimates. As a result, the annual earnings growth rate for the S&P 500 index has increased from 0% […]
October 3, 2023
Major Asset Classes September 2023 Performance Comparison Introduction September 2023 returns were negative across many asset groups. U.S. equities declined two months in a row for their first quarterly decline since Q3 2022. In addition, rates on long bonds posted their biggest quarterly advance since 2009. In response, the US […]
September 11, 2023
3Q.2023 Earnings Update – S&P 500 Index Earnings 3Q.2023 earnings for the S&P 500 index are increasing based on a bottom-up consolidaiton of earnings estimates by company. Change results since June 30 vary widely by company and sector, but the consolidated change for the S&P 500 index is for annual […]
September 9, 2023
Roth 401K vs. Traditional 401K The Roth 401K was built on a simple idea: Save today and get a tax break tomorrow. This is the inverse of the traditional 401K, where workers set aside money to save for tomorrow and they get a tax break today. The Roth 401K is […]
September 8, 2023
7 Signs Its Time to Hire A Financial Advisor People often wonder if now is the right time for them to hire a financial advisor. And if not now, then when? While almost anyone could benefit from working with a financial advisor, there are certain times in life where it […]
September 1, 2023
Major Asset Classes August 2023 Performance Comparison Introduction August 2023 returns were negative, ending a 5 month stock market rally. At one point, the S&P 500 index was down -5.5%, but ended the month down -1.8%. The primary driver of returns was higher borrowing costs , which weighed on the […]
August 28, 2023
Last week, the IRS announced new changes to the 401k catch-up rule. Previously, the IRS required high-earners to place their catch-up savings in Roth accounts with no immediate tax benefit. The new rule allows savers age 50 and older to make catch-up contributions to pre-tax accounts for two more years. […]
August 14, 2023
How to Make a Qualified Charitable Distribution from an IRA Introduction to QCDs A qualified charitable distribution (QCD) is an allocation from an individual retirement account (IRA) to a qualifying charity. Internal Revenue Code Section 408(d)(8) contains the guidelines for doing a QCD. This article summarizes the rules in simple […]
August 2, 2023
Major Asset Classes July 2023 Performance Comparison Introduction July 2023 returns added to gains seen in June, logging the 5th straight month of gains. The S&P 500 index was up +3.1% in July and the NASDAQ 100 index up +3.9%, buoyed by resilient GDP growth and a drop in developed […]