Post U.S. Election, stocks notched record one-month gains. The election news was quickly drowned out by encouraging vaccine developments, reminding us that dealing with the health and economic crises will continue to trump politics (pun intended).

The markets continue to reward those who commit to a good long-term strategy, even when it seems the world, at times, is falling apart. Global stocks fell over 31% at the low point in March. Now, global stocks are up over 12% YTD, including dividends. The incredible volatility this year reminds us that successful investing doesn’t depend on timing the markets but on finding a strategy that you can stick with.

As the year comes to an end, it’s a good idea to review year-end planning. We discuss waived rules on IRA distributions, Roth conversions, basic gifting, and estate planning.

Anxiety is high as Americans and the rest of the world await the results of tomorrow’s presidential election. Historically, elections and who wins doesn’t much matter for financial markets. Although this time feels different, we still believe it’s best to stick with your long-term plan and be prepared to withstand the short-term ups and downs.

October in election years usually brings surprises, both political and financial. This year is no different. Fortunately, investment success doesn’t rest on predicting the future.

Despite the shocks and uncertainty, stocks notched another strong quarter as the economy recovers. Bond returns stalled in the third quarter, after strong gains in the first half of the year.

Anxiety is high. Most of us are nervous – not just about the financial markets and the economy. We worry about our health and the health of our family and friends. Here, we discuss the potential challenges ahead and what we are doing to get through this unique time.

As the global health situation continues to evolve and financial markets respond, we offer an update on what we are doing in the midst of all the uncertainty.

Worries of trade wars and tariffs, Brexit, an inverted yield curve, and tightening monetary policy have given markets jitters in the last year. But now, the fear is the impending global health crisis will be the tipping point. Here, we discuss what we are doing amid the market turmoil.

The coronavirus and Middle East turmoil jolted the markets to start 2020, setting back many Wall Street strategists’ outlooks for the year. While the media is hyper-focused on the spreading coronavirus, we take stock of some the positives in the market and some of the risks. It’s a constant battle to combat the apocalyptic thinking that is embedded in our DNA. That makes coming up with a plan important.

2019 capped off a strong decade in financial markets, as the world continued to recover from the 2008-2009 recession. Advances in technology and the companies who brought us these changes were at the heart of a decade of strong financial gains. One implication is the S&P 500 is now less diversified. We believe it’s important more than ever to diversify beyond large US stocks. The future remains unknowable. It’s more productive to invest in preparation than in prediction.

Balanced portfolios have posted very strong results in 2019. Some pundits have called for the death of the 60/40 portfolio. We think these proclamations are wrong.

Investors remain skeptical of this year’s double digit gains in stocks, as typically defensive sectors of the market lead the way. Strong returns to bonds have driven much of the financial market’s gains this year, leading some to wonder if it is all real.

Many wonder if we will see a repeat of last year’s fourth quarter correction in stocks. While that is unlikely, investors in stocks should always be prepared for an unexpected ten percent drop at any moment.

With less than two months left in 2019, now is the time to think about changes in your life ahead of the calendar-year rollover.

Q3 was choppy for stocks while bonds added to their strong year-to-date gains.

We expect markets will remain volatile. The better you can plan your financial life, the better you can deal with the ups and downs of the financial markets.

August was a volatile month with stocks dipping over 6% from their highs. Bond yields fell sharply as the 30-Year Treasury yield fell below 2% for the first time on record. Taken on the whole, the markets have a dour outlook on the economy.