Five Charts for the Week That Was: June 20, 2025
Chief Economist Jeanette Garretty provides 5 economic charts covering topics including the Fed Rate, GDP estimates, home sales, oil prices, and Chinese exports and imports.
FOMC Commentary – June 18, 2025
The Federal Reserve’s Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) today confirmed the current monetary policy, keeping the target Fed Funds rate in the 4.25%-4.5% range and continuing to reduce the Fed’s holdings of US Treasuries and agency debt (“the balance sheet.”)
Corporate Earnings Off to a Solid Start in 2025
June 17, 2025 – The stock market’s performance is a function of two variables: earnings and valuations. A company generates profits, and investors assign a multiple to those profits, such as 15x or 20x earnings, to determine the company’s valuation. This year, earnings have been in the spotlight as policy uncertainty around tariffs and global […]
After the Disaster: An Expert’s Guide to Deciding Whether to Rebuild or Relocate
As published in Kiplinger A home is more than an asset — it’s where milestones are celebrated, memories are made, and a sense of stability is anchored. The emotional and financial impact can be profound when a natural disaster strikes. And once the immediate damage is assessed, a more complex question emerges: Should we rebuild […]
Five Charts for the Week That Was: June 6, 2025
Chief Economist Jeanette Garretty provides 5 economic charts covering topics including oil prices, the US Dollar, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, Supply Management Purchasing Managers Index, and employment.
Five Charts (and a Bonus) for the Week That Was: May 23, 2025
Chief Economist Jeanette Garretty provides 5 (and a bonus) economic charts covering topics including federal debt, the bond market, long-term treasury yields, household debt, and US labor markets.
Understanding the Difference Between Soft and Hard Economic Data
We finally received the details on the scope of the Trump Administration Tariffs, and it’s beyond market consensus. Risk markets currently do not like the announcement, with stock futures currently down and the NASDAQ leading markets lower. Copper and oil are also falling in post-market trading, suggesting concerns about dimmer growth prospects. The Asia open seems more muted than the headlines would potentially justify.
Five Charts For The Week That Was: May 9, 2025
Chief Economist Jeanette Garretty provides 5 economic charts covering topics including US Jobs Numbers, container freight rates, US Dollar, and US Exports to China.
FOMC Commentary – May 7, 2025
No surprises in the official announcement: The Fed leaves interest rates unchanged and stands ready to respond if economic conditions demand, which they do not yet. With employment growth still strong and inflation trends calm enough to claim a continued movement towards the all-important 2% target, there was no reason for the Federal Open Market Committee […]
When Should You Take Social Securtity?
May 6, 2025 For wealthy individuals and couples, Social Security might appear to be a smaller component of the overall wealth plan. However, overlooking its nuances could mean leaving value on the table long-term. Let’s discuss considerations for optimizing your Social Security benefits, ensuring this component of your retirement works hardest for you. Social Security […]
Five Charts For The Week That Was: April 28, 2025
Chief Economist Jeanette Garretty provides 5 economic charts covering topics including global growth, tax revenues, and real estate.
Will My Children Inherit Too Much?
As published in Kiplinger If you worry about how your children will handle an inheritance, you’re not alone. Luckily, you have options — from lifetime gifting to trusts — that can help. Some parents worry that leaving too much money to their children could hinder their growth or well-being. But what constitutes “too much” is […]