Tax Planning

The Federal Reserve is widely expected to begin cutting interest rates at its September meeting. Market performance may depend on whether the pace of cuts is fast or slow.

The Federal Reserve (Fed), and markets, overreacted to the slightly higher inflation seen during the first quarter of the year. After that scare, the Fed went from expecting three cuts in the federal funds rate in 2024 to just one cut during its June dot plot release.

In this article, Russ Koesterich discusses why the next bout of market volatility may last a bit longer than previous downturns and how to best position your portfolio against this backdrop.

The August consumer price index report showed that U.S. inflation slowed to 2.5%

How rapidly should the Fed cut rates?

You don’t have to read or listen for long these days before you hear a politician, pundit, or politically-inclined person say: “Government spending causes inflation.”

The time has come! After the most aggressive tightening cycle in modern history, the Fed is ready to turn the page and begin dialing back its policy restraint after the second longest ‘on hold’ period (14 months) in history. Barring any surprises, the Fed should lower interest rates at its meeting next week—the first rate cut in over four years—in the hopes of preserving a soft landing for the economy.

With tax-loss harvesting season on the horizon, investors may want to consider a pair of tax-conscious, active fixed income ETFs.

As we move into the final stretch of 2024, many investors may be asking themselves: Is it time to give airline stocks another look? According to a new report from Bank of America (BofA), the answer might very well be yes

States enter fiscal 2025 maintaining stable reserves and moderating fixed costs, yet we expect many will need to make modest spending cuts due to exhaustion of federal pandemic aid.

Due to balance sheet concerns, the higher-for-longer interest rate environment has been a significant headwind for the relative performance of U.S. small-cap equities.

Certificates of deposit (CDs) and Treasuries both can offer steady, predictable investment income—but how to decide between them? Here are five factors to help you choose.

How an election affects stock market performance depends more on how close and contentious it is than on whether the winner is Republican or Democrat, liberal or conservative.

While the pace of Federal Reserve cuts is in question, all roads lead to lower interest rates.

Nvidia’s strong earnings exceeded expectations, but the stock fell as investors recalibrated their expectations given its high valuation.

As we approach the end of 2024, the latest Consumer Price Index (CPI) report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) has provided us with critical insights into the health of the U.S. economy, particularly concerning inflation.

Passive fixed income index investing has evolved significantly over the previous decade, offering investors the flexibility to align risk requirements and investment goals. Learn more from our experts.

Here we dispel three common myths about elections and investments, demonstrating why we think sticking to a long-term investment plan might be a better path to success than trying to predict political cycles.

As AI's usage becomes increasingly widespread around the globe, energy consumption is soaring, along with a demand for additional power.

Fed officials must recalibrate their policy stance to ensure the economy stays on solid footing to achieve that elusive soft landing they have been aiming for after their quest to quash inflation.

Labor shortfalls will become the norm in advanced economies.

Regardless of which administration takes power after an election, a balanced portfolio has made strong gains in the years immediately after.

Post-Jackson Hole and now post-jobs report, the markets can settle in for a rate cut at next week’s FOMC meeting.

Determining the age when retirement account owners need to begin taking distributions is key for heirs to understand how to implement the 10-year rule for inherited accounts. Bill Cass explains what beneficiaries need to know.

History typically shows that election years don't produce major volatility swings in the municipal bond market.

With U.S. equities perhaps calling for diversification, an active international ETF like TOUS could play a helpful role.

The next U.S. president will face immediate fiscal challenges.

If overlays haven’t been on your radar so far this year, it’s high time to start thinking about them.

Given the backdrop of monetary policy stimulus, the global economy is poised for growth and international stocks for continued leadership.

August’s employment report, which was weaker than markets were expecting but stronger than our call, cements our view that the easing cycle will begin during the next FOMC meeting, September 17-18.

The BRICS Pay initiative aims to better integrate currencies for trade and facilitate cross-border transactions among its members.

To tackle the costs of higher education, many families use a 529 plan to bolster savings. An ETF strategy can bring long-term savings growth.

Last week, the BlackRock Target Allocation Team reduced their equity exposure and reduced some growth allocations in favor of value.

Shares of Nvidia are down 17.22% for the week ending Sept. 4. The firm is widely viewed as one the equity proxies on the AI investment theme.

Since the end of the “Yen Carry Trade” correction in August, bullish positioning has returned with a vengeance, yet two key risks face investors as September begins. While bullish positioning and optimism are ingredients for a rising market, there is more to this story.

We are entering a time I think will include a deep crisis. We are going to need each other. We really do need to “find our tribe.”

On the latest edition of Market Week in Review, Investment Strategist BeiChen Lin assessed the state of the economy, including the health of the services and manufacturing sectors, and the likelihood of a big rate cut at the upcoming Federal Reserve meeting.

High-yield investors put off by today’s narrow spreads could be missing out.

The main focus for investors should is no longer if the Fed will cut rates in 2024, but how much and how quickly the Fed will lower interest rates.

We think the decline in the S&P 500 Index on Tuesday may be more technical than fundamental.

The concept of portable alpha is over 40 years old. And while it has evolved through various forms over that time, it continues to be a valuable portfolio tool for institutional investors. Arguably, the most popular iteration right now is adding alpha expected from hedge funds on top of synthetic beta exposure.

In a recent discussion with Adam Taggart via Thoughtful Money, we quickly touched on the similarities between the U.S. and Japanese monetary policies around the 11-minute mark. However, that discussion warrants a deeper dive. As we will review, Japan has much to tell us about the future of the U.S. economically.

Money can still be a factor in inflation.

Candidate tax policies could affect municipal bonds, but the bigger picture is important too.

Recent changes to the FAFSA form and process include a simpler form, fewer questions and a revised eligibility formula. Our Bill Cass highlights what you need to know to apply for federal financial aid for college.

Presidential elections tend to have limited impact on market performance, regardless of party win (although markets prefer Democratic switches). Investors should capitalize on the uptick in market volatility, which investors can use for strategic investing.

We often write about the opportunity for fixed income investors to lock in relatively attractive long-term rates. And we would argue that investment consultants and financial advisors have no more important charge than to convince their clients to take advantage of this while they still can.

High interest rates have had the predictable effect of restraining the performances of dividend stocks and related exchange traded funds.

The Federal Reserve is creating the potential for extreme bouts of volatility surrounded economic data releases.

Investors should be careful what they wish for in hoping for an aggressive Fed rate cutting cycle, given stocks tend to do better when cuts are slow and steady.

A bright spot in Chinese investment could spell trouble for its financial institutions.

After a decade of consistent outperformance, Japanese small caps began underperforming their large cap peers in 2018, a trend that has accelerated since 2023.

In this edition, Harold Evensky explores the challenges facing sustainable and active funds, the implications of the new DOL Fiduciary Rule, and the value of long-term performance projections. With candid observations and critical analysis--read on to gain perspective on navigating the complex world of investing, the importance of risk management, and the role of fiduciary advisors in securing your financial future.

The case for infrastructure investment is rising, but so are its costs.

A soft landing for the U.S. economy still appears to be the most likely outcome.