Economic Commentary – September 22 2025
Amid the focus last week on the FOMC meeting and the interest rate decision, the threat of a government shutdown wasn’t a dominant issue; there is only so much conflict one can handle at one time. However, the looming deadline for funding the federal government after the current fiscal year ends on September 30 is now […]
How Fed Rate Cuts Could Raise Your Property and Casualty Insurance Premiums
Lower Rates Likely Raise Your Insurance Premiums It is very possible that the Federal Reserve will lower interest rates this week, and this could potentially affect the premiums you pay for your property and casualty (P&C) insurance. The relationship between interest rates and insurance premiums isn’t immediately obvious, but it’s a fundamental part of the […]
Economic Commentary – September 15, 2025
The burning question this week is NOT “What Will the Federal Reserve Do?” It is the question of how bad the US labor market really is, and it is a question that will not be answered. But it will be much discussed, especially on Wednesday, during Federal Reserve Chairman Powell’s press conference following the Federal Open […]
Economic Commentary – September 8, 2025
The data being released in the next few days should cause a certain amount of acid reflux, both in global financial markets and in Washington, D.C. One statistic that seldom generates much attention outside of economic circles is the annual benchmark revision (think of it as a “true-up” with all the now-available data) in US […]
Investment Commentary – September 8, 2025
Executive Summary Financial markets have weathered months of policy-driven volatility, and after a nearly 20% decline, the S&P 500 has regained all its losses and set numerous all-time highs. What remains is a sharply higher effective tariff rate and uncertainty about the impact of 2026 corporate earnings, consumer demand, and economic growth. While easing tensions […]
What Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce Can Teach You About Couples and Financial Planning
A Love Story and a Financial Roadmap When you see a couple like Taylor and Travis in the news, it’s easy to get lost in the romance. The glitz, the glamour, the record-breaking stadium tours, and the Super Bowl wins—it’s all part of the modern fairy tale. But for a moment, let’s pull back the […]
Interest Rate Cuts on the Horizon: How Lower Rates Could Affect Your Financial Plan
Will Interest Rates Drop? How it May Affect Your Plan There’s increasing speculation that the Federal Reserve might start lowering interest rates later this year or next. While no one can pinpoint the exact timing, it’s helpful to consider how a lower rate environment could impact financial decisions related to housing, estate planning, taxes, investing, […]
Investment Commentary – September 2, 2025
Executive Summary The S&P 500 closed out August near an all-time high, defying consensus commentary that was pessimistic. Coming into the month, many investors were bracing for seasonal weakness, the onset of new tariffs, elevated valuations, compressed credit spreads, and commentary related to the Federal Reserve’s independence. What drove the resilience? U.S. economic growth remained firm, […]
Economic Commentary – September 2, 2025
Lost in the sigh of relief that the inflation numbers (Personal Consumption Expenditures Index, or “PCE”) last Friday weren’t all that bad was the fact that inflation has conclusively ceased its movement to the Federal Reserve target of 2%. Given that the Federal Reserve has not changed its target inflation rate, it would normally be assumed […]
Financial Planning After Losing a Spouse: Essential Steps for Surviving Partners
Coping Financially After the Loss of a Spouse Losing a spouse is one of life’s most difficult experiences, and it can leave behind not only emotional pain but also a host of financial responsibilities. Amid grief, the idea of sorting through documents, accounts, and decisions can feel overwhelming. Having a plan in place before that […]
Investment Commentary – August 25, 2025
Executive Summary Rising corporate earnings and expectations of lower policy rates are positive for risk-asset markets. Many asset-market valuations are not appealing, but risk-on is likely to persist until earnings are challenged by a weakening economy, or long-term government bond yields potentially break out to the upside (price down/yield up) due to unanchored inflation expectations, increasing […]
Economic Commentary – August 25, 2025
The White House’s intense focus on the monthly labor market revisions by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) has muddied the debate over the true health of US employment and its near-term direction. Even without the revisions, there would be serious questions as to the policy implications of the nonfarm payroll numbers. For example, is the […]