Over the last two months, our investment team has been privileged to meet with many of our clients and professional partners as we’ve delivered our annual Investment Outlook presentation.
The Last Mile
Norris Interviewed by KXL Radio
Jason Norris, CFA, recently spoke with KXL Radio about the recent increase to the Consumer Price Index.
This one-minute interview can be heard below.
Double Your Savings With a Spousal IRA
Maximizing retirement savings is an important goal for many couples. While there are a variety of tax-advantaged accounts that allow individuals to save for retirement, most are only available to those with earned income during the year.
”Is It Over Now?”
Over the last several weeks, company layoffs have been in the headlines, specifically in the technology sector.
2024 Key Numbers Related to Wealth Planning
As we move into the new year, we want to provide you with the latest 2024 Annual Limits Guide from the College for Financial Planning® . This guide contains many of the important financial and tax planning numbers that may apply to you in the year ahead. Staying up-to-date and proactive with these figures can help you maximize your financial opportunities and make informed decisions throughout the year.
Just More of It
It was an action-packed week in the capital markets headlined by the Federal Reserve’s first meeting of 2024. The central bank decided to leave their benchmark interest rate unchanged at a 23-year high – a level at which it has been since July of last year.
Oregon Business Magazine Names Ferguson Wellman Number One on Financial Planners Powerlist
Ferguson Wellman has been named by Oregon Business magazine as a top financial planner on their annual Powerlist. Oregon Business ranked Ferguson Wellman first in the state on their list of 11 financial planning companies. The listing was compiled based upon assets under management in Oregon.
Lago and Pahlow Promoted to New Leadership Roles
Unexpected Bounce: U.S. GDP Defies Gravity
Remember "2023: The Year of the Hard Landing"? That was the dreary refrain echoing through late 2022, with recession fears dominating headlines and investment strategies. Fast forward to today, and the picture couldn't be more different.
2024 Investment Outlook Webinar Video: Sticking the Landing
Annual presentation from Ferguson Wellman sharing our views for the year regarding the global economy and capital markets, as well as a planning update from our wealth management team.
Do I Need to Sell My Investment?
In the 1950’s Harry Markowitz published his article “Portfolio Selection” which set the framework for what he dubbed Modern Portfolio Theory (MPT). This theory became so widely adopted that Markowitz was awarded the Nobel Prize in Economics in 1989. A basic tenant of the investment philosophy outlined by MPT says that diversification of portfolios reduces the volatility of the portfolio, which in turn can improve investment performance over multiple market cycles.
Strong Start
The final data points of 2023 are trickling in, and investors are using this information to inform their opinions on what is expected in 2024. Starting this month, we have begun to share our 2024 Investment Outlook with clients and professional partners – we look forward to having the opportunity to be together and celebrate what’s to come.
Wealth Management Insights: The Value of Planning
2024 Outlook Publication: Sticking the Landing
What's Next for Interest Rates?
One irony from the bond market in 2023 was that the year started with near unanimous calls for a recession, finished with an over 20% return for the S&P500 and consensus for a soft landing, yet the yield on the benchmark 10-year U.S. Treasury ended the year right where it started at 3.88%.
Not Too Hot, Not Too Cold
All investor eyes were on the jobs report today and per usual, the economic data did—and did not—disappoint. The most recent report outpaced expectations, with 216,000 more jobs created in December compared to the estimate of 170,000.
Reflections
As we wrap up 2023, we always like to look back on the year in the markets and put the last 12 months in perspective. In December 2022, the S&P 500 had just finished an 8% rally from the October lows. With stocks still down close to 20% for the year, the outlook for 2023 looked bleak as forecasts by economists were overwhelmingly skewed toward recession.
Holiday Jubilation
The Santa Claus Rally arrived early this year as investors’ wish for a pivot in Federal Reserve policy appears to be all but granted. After peaking at 9.1% in June of 2022, inflation, as measured by the Consumer Price Index (CPI), now stands at 3.1% with increases in the price of gasoline, apparel and food materially lower.
Hitting the Essentials Before Year-End
As the year draws to a close, it’s good practice to take stock of your financial situation, finish any important financial transactions by the end of the year and begin to look ahead to the next one. It can be helpful to refresh yourself on some of the key numbers related to year-end tax planning and take a peek at how they will change next year so that you can tackle any final items for 2023 and begin to plan for 2024.
Crystal Ball or Magic 8 Ball?
It’s the holidays; for many, it is a time to reconnect with loved ones, share meals, exchange gifts and create memories that will last a lifetime. For those of us in the investment industry, it also means our news feed will be inundated with every research analyst, economist, strategist and personality on CNBC making predictions for the year ahead.