Why Do Stocks Keep Rising and What Should You Be Concerned With Right Now?
By John Lau, CPA, CFP® June 1, 2026 – I get this question almost every week now. The market has had a tremendous run, yet if you turn on the news, you’d think investors should be worried about inflation, interest rates, government deficits, tariffs, wars, or the next economic slowdown. With all that uncertainty, many […]
A Strong Economy… But Not a Simple One
By John Lau, CPA, CFP® May 1, 2026 – April gave us a clearer picture of where things stand—and where the tension is building. We saw a series of important economic reports, including the Q1 GDP estimate, jobless claims, and Core PCE inflation (the Fed’s preferred measure). While each report told a slightly different story, […]
War, Credit Worries and AI Anxiety Weigh on Stocks
By John Lau, CPA, CFP® April 1, 2026 – The first quarter of 2026 started off with a bumpier ride than many investors expected. Markets were pulled in different directions by a mix of global events, concerns in parts of the financial system, and some growing questions around how artificial intelligence could impact certain industries. […]
The Four Pillars of the Rally — An Updated Assessment
By John Lau, CPA, CFP® March 1, 2026 – For much of the past year, the S&P 500 advance has been supported by what I’ve called the Four Pillars of the Rally: In recent weeks, each of these pillars has come under varying degrees of stress. That does not mean the bull market is over. […]
January’s Surprise Headlines — And What They Really Mean for Investors
By John Lau, CPA, CFP® February 1, 2026 – If it feels like January delivered an unusual concentration of unsettling headlines, you’re not imagining it. In just a few short weeks, investors were confronted with stories ranging from renewed tariff threats involving the EU, South Korea, and Canada, to geopolitical flashpoints such as the reported […]
AI, Fed Rate Cuts and Stable Growth Power Stocks to New Highs in 2025
By John Lau, CPA, CFP® January 2, 2026 – The S&P 500 rose to an all-time high in the fourth quarter as economic data showed solid growth, the Fed met investor expectations and cut interest rates and massive investment in AI infrastructure continued apace, supporting expectations for continued economic and corporate earnings growth in 2026. […]
Year-End Rally or Not? Three Things to Keep an Eye On
By John Lau, CPA, CFP® December 1, 2025 – The S&P 500 has bounced back nicely after its early-November dip. We’ve regained most of that pullback, and the market could still deliver a classic “Santa Claus rally” into year-end—but only if a few key events don’t throw cold water on the momentum. Since the holiday […]
Did the Fed Weaken the Bullish Argument?
By John Lau, CPA, CFP® November 1, 2025 – Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell gave markets a bit of a surprise last Wednesday. His comments sounded more hawkish (meaning less eager to cut rates) than many investors expected. Up until his press conference, markets were almost certain—about 90%[1] sure—that the Fed would cut interest rates […]
Rate cuts, Trade Deals and Strong Earnings Power Stocks Higher in Q3
By John Lau, CPA, CFP® October 1, 2025 – Major stock indices continued the 2025 rally and surged to new all-time highs in the third quarter as economic growth remained stable, tariff increases were no worse than feared and the Federal Reserve cut interest rates, beginning the long-awaited rate-cutting cycle. Markets started the third quarter […]
Powell, Rate Cuts, and Stagflation Risks
By John Lau, CPA, CFP® September 2, 2025 – Markets surged following Fed Chair Jerome Powell’s Jackson Hole speech, where he struck a more dovish tone and openly signaled that a September rate cut is on the table. That shift fueled aggressive rate-cut assumptions, propelling cyclical sectors, small caps, and broad indices higher. On the […]
What Could Possibly Go Wrong? (Four Candidates for Market Mayhem)
By John Lau, CPA, CFP® August 1, 2025 – Since the market bottomed on April 8, stocks have been on a near uninterrupted climb, with the S&P 500 hitting new all-time highs. What’s driving this rally? A potent cocktail of improved trade clarity, stable economic data, a drama-free Washington (relatively speaking), a solid start to […]
New Tax Law: 7 Big Changes You Should Know About
By John Lau, CPA, CFP® July 23, 2025 – You’ve likely heard about this from every possible media channel. A sweeping new tax law just hit the books: the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act,” and it could represent a big overhaul to household finances. Think of it like a home renovation. The 2017 tax cuts […]