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Heading into 2026, investors are grappling with a market environment that is as perplexing as any we’ve seen in recent history. Both risk assets (stocks) and traditional safe haven assets (bonds and gold) have performed well this past year. At the same time, we’re seeing divergences in both financial markets and the real economy that […]
Heading into 2026, investors are grappling with a market environment that is as perplexing as any we’ve seen in recent history. Both risk assets (stocks) and traditional safe haven assets (bonds and gold) have performed well this past year. At the same time, we’re seeing divergences in both financial markets and the real economy that […]
As we embark on a new year, we continue to advise clients to position portfolios more conservatively to match today’s market realities. That may be difficult given the temptation to ride a stock market that has been on a long winning streak. But it is when investor sentiment is strong and asset valuations are rich […]
Clifford Swan
We’ve written before about protecting yourself from financial fraud and encourage you to keep this threat in mind. As technological advances have improved our lives in many ways, an unfortunate side effect is technology’s role in helping cybercriminals construct more sophisticated financial scams. Recently, some of our clients have experienced more advanced phishing attempts that […]
Clifford Swan
After several years of low interest rates, bond yields have been attractive for the past few years. While a recent turning point in central bank policy has slightly lowered yields, today’s bond market offers a unique combination of capital preservation and income in an increasingly complex economic landscape. Our current fixed income investment strategy is […]
Murcy Huang, CFA
The U.S. economy and capital markets performed well in the third quarter of 2024. It’s hard to predict whether this strength will continue as we face a mixed bag of signals. No matter the environment, our focus on high-quality investments both provides protection during turmoil and participation in the market’s growth. The domestic economy is […]
Clifford Swan
Rising junior Dhruv Saraf and rising senior Luke Garlick participated in the firm’s ninth summer internship program. Through their six weeks with Clifford Swan, they touched every aspect of the business including fundamental securities research and trading, portfolio management software, inheritance planning, client service, operations, marketing, compliance, and IT. Dhruv majors in Economics and […]
Clifford Swan
As of early-August, US stocks, as measured by the S&P 500, are up about 12% in 2024. A first-half rally wasn’t supposed to happen for a number of reasons. Entering the year, the market traded at over 19x forward earnings – not particularly cheap. The Fed Funds rate had exceeded 5% since Summer 2023, putting […]
Daniel J. Mintz
Since the SECURE Act was passed in 2019, it has been clear that those who inherited IRAs after 2020 needed to draw them down within 10 years, what hadn’t been finalized was whether annual RMDs were required. On July 18, 2024, the IRS released final regulations confirming the requirement for Non-Designated Beneficiaries of IRAs to […]
George E. Hasbun, CFP®
As Investment Counselors, my colleagues and I are immersed in the world of financial rules and systems. Whether we are studying the investment markets and accessing trading platforms, dealing with our custodial partners, connecting with our clients’ banking providers, or strategizing with related professionals from the legal, accounting and insurance fields, we coordinate this complex […]
Kathleen Gilmore, CFP®
The U.S. economy keeps growing even in the face of high interest rates. Consumers are spending, businesses are investing, and the labor market is strong. Though these conditions have shown signs of slowing, they’ve supported a white-hot stock market: the S&P 500 was up over 40% in the eighteen months trailing June 30th. All eyes […]
Clifford Swan
“It is waiting that helps you as an investor, and a lot of people just can’t stand to wait.” – Charlie Munger In the investment field like many other undertakings in life, activity does not equal achievement. During periods of significant change, investors may be better served by stepping back, assessing risks and possible outcomes before changing […]
Kevin J. Cavanaugh
It’s 2:00 a.m., and you are sleeping soundly when your cell phone rings from an unknown number. You answer the phone to hear your grandson’s voice on the other side. He is in distress and explains he was in a car accident. It was his fault, and he needs some money to get out of […]
George E. Hasbun, CFP®
In April, the Internal Revenue Service waived penalties for beneficiaries of individual retirement accounts subject to required minimum distributions under the 10-year rule that do not take distributions in 2024. This extends the relief period for RMDs that would have had to been taken from 2020 through 2023 to include the 2024 tax year. The 10-year […]
Clifford Swan
The U.S. economy’s resilience to high interest rates continued in the first quarter of 2024. Despite widespread expectations for an economic downturn, 2023 ended on a high note, with 3.2% growth in the fourth quarter marking the sixth consecutive quarter of growth at or above market, which in turn is supporting strong consumer spending. However, […]
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