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Morning Market Highlights May 29, 2025 # Headline Summary 1 Stock futures trend higher Last evening a federal trade court struck down President Trump’s “reciprocal tariffs”. They claimed the President exceeded his authority by...

Home buying has cooled off There is a notable shift in the housing market, where sellers were previously favored for years, buyers are gaining the advantage in some parts of the U.S. Existing home sales are down 2.4% through April...

May 20 Market highlights

Jonathan Hayes, PPC®

Tuesday, May 20, 2025

BMW announces $2.25B buyback This morning, BMW approved another share buyback program to start later this month with volume up to $2.25B that will be concluded no later than April 30, 2027. BMW shares...

Weekly Market Insights | U.S./China Tariff Truce Tames Markets

Tanya Hawley

Monday, May 19, 2025

Stocks roared higher last week, powered by upbeat trade news and tame inflation reports. The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index rose 5.27 percent, while the Nasdaq Composite Index spiked 7.15 percent. The Dow Jones Industrial Average added 3...

The Eye-Popping Cost of College

Noah Marckwardt

Thursday, May 15, 2025

Did you know that for the 2024–2025 academic year, the average cost for one year of college—including tuition, fees, room, board, and other expenses—is $29,910? That price is for public four-year, in-state schools. To attend a private...

Weekly Market Insights | Fed Talk Calms Volatility for the Week

Ryan Mabie

Monday, May 12, 2025

Stocks were mixed last week as volatility dropped despite ongoing trade concerns and the Federal Reserve's update on short-term rates. The Dow Jones Industrial Average added 0.16 percent, while the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index lost 0...

Upbeat Inflation Report Lost in Tariff Shadow

Jonathan Hayes, PPC®

Friday, May 9, 2025

The March consumer inflation report, which showed some prices at their lowest level in more than four years, was overlooked among all the tariff headlines. Core inflation, which excludes the volatile food and energy factors, rose at a...

Buffett on Retirement, Investing

Noah Marckwardt

Wednesday, May 7, 2025

“Be fearful when others are greedy and greedy when others are fearful,” are the words of wisdom from Warren Buffett. There’s just one small catch—it may be the most difficult thing for an investor to do. Over six decades, Warren has...

Take a Timeout from Tariff Talk

Nathan A. Boonstra, PPC®

Thursday, April 24, 2025

When Warren Buffett said, “Be fearful when others are greedy and be greedy when others are fearful,” he wasn’t just talking about investing. He championed contrarian thinking and urged people to capitalize when groupthink can result...

Who's Right on Inflation? Fed, Shoppers, or Investors

Jonathan Hayes, PPC®

Wednesday, April 23, 2025

Tracking inflation is like herding cats these days. Should you believe the monthly updates from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, what the Fed says about future prices, or your own experience at the grocery store? The answer is maybe a...

Spring cleaning? It’s not just for that dusty closet

Noah Marckwardt

Monday, April 21, 2025

Did you know that the origins of spring cleaning date from when fireplaces heated homes? Through the fall and winter, soot would build up throughout the house, and when the weather warmed, a little clean up was required. “Spring...

It’s been a busy few weeks as all the mixed economic signals have unsettled Wall Street—and market volatility is never comfortable for investors. Here’s a short recap, so grab some popcorn. We’re going to cover a lot of ground...

Take a Timeout from Tariff Talk

Noah Marckwardt

Monday, April 14, 2025

When Warren Buffett said, “Be fearful when others are greedy and be greedy when others are fearful,” he wasn’t just talking about investing. He championed contrarian thinking and urged people to capitalize when groupthink can result...

Tariffs Stir Market Volatility

Nathan A. Boonstra, PPC®

Tuesday, April 8, 2025

Every investor knows there are highs and lows during the year. The challenge is remaining focused during the lows. As the 2025 tariff talks have progressed, stock prices have seen more down days than up days as the details get rolled...

Is it time for a change?

Noah Marckwardt

Tuesday, April 1, 2025

Are you happy with your current financial professional? Have they met with you to discuss how recent market fluctuations could affect your financial plans? When was the last time the two of you sat down to really discuss goals? It’s...

Are the ups and downs of the stock market leaving you unsettled? Feeling hopeful when the market rises and uneasy when it dips is natural. However, these emotions can sometimes lead to hasty buying or selling, and attempting to...

Stocks notched a solid gain last week as upbeat comments from the Fed helped stocks snap their four-week losing streak. The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index rose 0.51 percent, while the Nasdaq Composite Index picked up 0.17 percent. The...

Are You Making the Most of Super Catch-Up Contributions?

Nathan A. Boonstra, PPC®

Wednesday, March 26, 2025

The SECURE Act 2.0 has introduced catch-up contribution choices for those aged 50+, designed to help boost your retirement savings. These enhanced catch-up provisions are available if you're participating in workplace retirement plans...

Your Home: Asset or Liability?

Jonathan Hayes, PPC®

Friday, February 21, 2025

Have you ever heard the expression, “It’s a buyer’s market?” That phrase describes what’s happening with today’s residential real estate: homes are selling for under their asking price and are taking longer to sell. Good news for...

Navigating 529 Plans: A Comprehensive Guide to Pros and Cons

Noah Marckwardt

Friday, February 14, 2025

A 529 plan is a tax-advantaged savings vehicle designed to help families invest for future education costs. Established under Section 529 of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code, these state-sponsored plans offer flexibility and significant...

Why Setting Up a Roth IRA is So Important for Your Financial Future When planning for retirement, the earlier you start, the better. One of the most powerful tools you can use to build wealth over time is a Roth IRA (Individual...

Navigating the Financial Landscape: Key Developments as of January 31, 2025 As we close out the first month of 2025, global markets are grappling with a mix of cautious optimism and lingering uncertainty. From central bank policy...

News that a Chinese AI firm created an AI model at a fraction of the cost rattled the markets.

Nathan A. Boonstra, PPC®

Thursday, January 30, 2025

Stock prices were jolted lower in late January on concerns that a “black swan” event may lead to some restructuring in the artificial intelligence (AI) industry. A Chinese AI firm appears to have developed a competitive AI model that...

In the rapidly evolving artificial intelligence (AI) sector, a new contender has emerged with the audacious goal of redefining industry norms. DeepSeek, a Chinese AI startup founded in 2023, is making waves by targeting Artificial...

What will 2025 hold?

Ryan Mabie

Friday, January 10, 2025

With 2024 coming to a close, I want to share my thoughts on America's current fiscal policy, geopolitical elements, and other factors that may help shape 2025's financial landscape. This transition period offers both challenges and...

More Investors Join the Ranks of 401(k) Millionaires

Nathan A. Boonstra, PPC®

Wednesday, September 4, 2024

Saving for retirement requires dedication, focus, and some sacrifice–a three-pronged approach embraced by a greater number of investors! Nearly 500,000 retirement savers are now 401(k) millionaires, according to Q2 stats compiled by...

The trader's adage goes, “The stock market takes the stairs up and the elevator down.” The saying helps illustrate the speed at which stock prices can move, especially over the last few days. Here's how the recent stock market drop...

Stocks had a mixed, see-saw week as disappointing corporate reports unsettled investors who appeared to rotate away from some leading groups in favor of other names. The Dow Jones Industrial Average picked up 0.75 percent. Meanwhile,...

Are the people you wanted to benefit from your hard work your entire life this year the same as they were last year? Life can change quite a bit over time, so it’s important that you’ve got a record of who gets what...

April Showers Bring…Financial Literacy Month!

Nathan Boonstra

Wednesday, March 31, 2021

Spring is here! The weather is warming and we’re heading into the season of sun and fun. While we still aren’t fully back to normal, there’s a hopeful light at the end of the tunnel and the month brings some...

Once you complete this year’s taxes, you may wonder what to do with that pile of records, 1099s, receipts, and bank statements. What do you really need to keep? What can you shred?

Cashflow for the Kiddos!

Jonathan Hayes

Tuesday, March 16, 2021

We always hope our clients feel confident discussing money with their families. The truth is, talking about money can be uncomfortable! Where do you begin? What’s the right age? The good news is, it’s never too early to!!

We all know that feeling when April rolls around each year: “I NEED to lower my taxes!”The good news is that there are some strategic planning strategies that can help. As part of our planning process, we work with our...

The COVID-19 pandemic has shaken up nearly every aspect of American life. To say it’s been a difficult time would be an understatement. However, difficult times may open doors to new possibilities. Businesses are changing their...

Does Main Street Need a Wall Street Strategy?

Jonathan Hayes

Thursday, December 10, 2020

As Wall Street pushes higher, a pandemic-weary Main Street is relearning how to manage cash flow with the hope of keeping its retirement dreams alive.Self-employed Americans, and the people working for them, account for roughly 30...

2021 Limits for IRAs, 401(k)s and More

Nathan Boonstra

Wednesday, December 2, 2020

On October 26, the Treasury Department released the 2021 adjusted figures for retirement account savings. Although these adjustments won’t bring any major changes, there are some minor elements to note.401(k)sThe salary deferral...

Inherited IRAs: Learn About The Options

Matthew A. Sernau, AAMS® CRPC®

Wednesday, November 18, 2020

Navigating the death of a close family member can be difficult to endure. When a loved one is lost, the first thoughts likely won’t be about what to do with their IRA. But for beneficiaries, it is important to make wise...

As a firm we have decided we want to continue to provide timely content to our clients and followers and have decided that it is time we start blogging. We want to make sure that the content is timely and sometimes even fun.