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Thursday, October 21, 2021

As more and more women assume leadership roles in businesses, it is changing the attitude and sometimes even the future of the workplace. Female bosses may teach business leaders a lot about engaging with employees, promoting their...

Tuesday, October 19, 2021

The U.S. Census Bureau reported overall retail sales grew 0.7% month over month in September vs. forecasts for a 0.2% decline, while retail sales excluding autos and gas also saw solid gains, rising 0.7% month over month vs. estimates...

Friday, October 15, 2021

If your medical records are scattered across a mishmash of different providers, cities, or even states, you may have trouble creating a comprehensive medical history when you need one. What steps can you take now to organize your...

Monday, October 11, 2021

We have used most of the superlatives we know to describe corporate America’s stunning performances over the past two earnings seasons. Despite lofty expectations, results exceeded estimates by huge margins. We expect solid...

Thursday, October 7, 2021

Hi All, One constant in life is change. During the past year and a half, we have experienced more change than any of us bargained for. Change is disruptive—but also brings opportunities. For investors right now, there is no...

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Monday, October 4, 2021

Index Performance View enlarged chart. U.S. and International Equities September has been the worst performing month over the past 10 and 20 years. Looking at the prior year, the S&P 500 pulled back over 9% from September 2nd to...

Monday, September 27, 2021

On Thursday, September 23, the Conference Board released its August 2021 report detailing the latest reading for the Leading Economic Index (LEI), a composite of ten data series that tend to lead changes in economic activity. Many...

Monday, September 20, 2021

Until recently, we expected the 10-year Treasury yield to end the year between 1.75% and 2.0%. Now, however, there are two key elements suggesting we are unlikely to see significantly higher interest rates by year end: The Delta...

Monday, September 13, 2021

According to LPL Research’s analysis of the Federal Reserve’s (Fed) recently released Beige Book, business sentiment on Main Street has declined in recent months as the economy navigates the latest wave of COVID-19, but...

Tuesday, September 7, 2021

The Covid-19 pandemic was an unprecedented shock to a large majority of global economies. But the economic damage was met with an extraordinary global monetary response with the Federal Reserve (Fed), European Central Bank (ECB), the...

Thursday, September 2, 2021

A Primer Although we all know that “time flies,” it seems to move particularly fast as we watch our children grow. Yet, in considering a college future for a newborn, it is understandable that parents might procrastinate,...

Thursday, September 2, 2021

September 22nd is American Business Women's Day, and it may be the perfect day to celebrate women who have surpassed the glass ceiling and gone on to be leaders and inspirations for businesswomen everywhere. In honor of American...

Thursday, September 2, 2021

Nine of every 10 U.S. families with children have at least one working parent.1 Though working parents make up one of the largest demographic groups in the country, they face many challenges—from the cost of childcare to...

Thursday, September 2, 2021

Tax planning can be more advantageous when done during the year and well in advance of year’s end.Opportunities may exist for you to minimize tax liability, which could leave more income for you and/or your family. Generally,...

Thursday, September 2, 2021

Hi All, The bull market continues, with the S&P 500 Index now up seven months in a row. Stocks have impressively gained 20% year-to-date, with the S&P 500 making 53 new all-time highs before the end of August—another new record....

Tuesday, August 31, 2021

How is the recent increase in COVID-19 cases in the United States linked to the spread of the Delta variant affecting the U.S. consumer’s behavior? We look at some consumer confidence focused high-frequency data for clues on how...

Tuesday, August 24, 2021

Since 1978, the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City has played host to central bankers, policymakers, academics and economists from around the world at its annual economic policy symposium in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, which is slated to...

Tuesday, August 24, 2021

Your financial professional can help ensure you leave your estate in the best possible way Families inherit money and sometimes make the right moves investing and spending. Inheritances can also ignite disruption, divorce and a host of...

Wednesday, August 18, 2021

As mentioned in the most recent Muni Market Monitor, high yield muni funds have accumulated $24 million of net inflows year to date, representing ~20% of total inflows to the total municipal category. With the prospects of higher...

Tuesday, August 17, 2021

Charitable giving is a way for affluent individuals spread their money around and to benefit causes that are near and dear to their hearts. Yet, for those who fall into the high net worth category, it is critical to structure...

Friday, August 13, 2021

Trying to stay healthy while traveling can be difficult to manage, especially when you don’t know where to start, and especially when you’re flying. Keep your mind and body in check with these traveling essentials....

Wednesday, August 11, 2021

The Chairperson of the Federal Reserve (Fed) is appointed by the President of the United States and serves a four-year term. The current Chairperson, Jerome Powell, has held that position since 2018 so his initial term is ending early...

Thursday, August 5, 2021

Hi All, Six months and counting. That is the current monthly winning streak for the S&P 500 Index. To take that a step further, this key equity benchmark has posted gains in 13 of the last 16 months—dating back to the March 2020...

Wednesday, August 4, 2021

Index Performance View enlarged chart. U.S. and international equities In July, the U.S. major market indexes finished higher while international equities, as represented by the developed international markets (MSCI EAFE), and the...

Friday, July 30, 2021

For many people, turning 65 provides one of the keys to retirement: access to affordable healthcare. Whether you're enrolling in the Medicare program for the first time or have been a Medicare enrollee for years, it's important to stay...

Wednesday, July 28, 2021

The Federal Reserve (Fed) meets this week to discuss its ongoing support for the U.S. economy. During its regularly scheduled two-day meeting, the nineteen-member committee is expected to discuss if and when the Fed should start to...

Thursday, July 22, 2021

At a time when your career is reaching a peak and you are looking ahead to your own retirement, you may find yourself in the position of having to help your children with college expenses while at the same time looking after the needs...

Wednesday, July 21, 2021

Top Story Earnings season off to a great start Beat rates have been outstanding so far with 85% and 90% of S&P 500 companies beating earnings and revenue targets. Second quarter earnings growth is tracking to a nearly 70%...

Wednesday, July 14, 2021

LPL Research is proud to announce the release of Midyear Outlook 2021: Picking Up Speed. While the speed can be exhilarating as economic growth accelerates, it can also be dangerous. Our updated outlook is designed to help you navigate...

Tuesday, July 13, 2021

LPL Research Midyear Outlook 2021: Picking Up Speed is designed to help you navigate the risks and opportunities over the rest of 2021 and beyond. While the speed can be exhilarating as economic growth accelerates, it can also be...

Tuesday, July 13, 2021

We all know men and women are different in some fundamental ways. But is this true when it comes to financial planning? In a word, yes. Everyone wants financial security. But women often face unique obstacles that can affect their...

Thursday, July 8, 2021

Hi All, In the first half of 2021, the U.S. economy powered forward faster than nearly anyone had expected. Speed can be exhilarating, but it can also be dangerous. In our view, the overall economic picture remains sound and will...

Tuesday, July 6, 2021

Top Story Streaking. Stocks have been extremely strong recently. Here are some eye-opening stats. The S&P 500 Index is up seven days in a row for the first time since August 2020. It hasn’t been up eight in a row since April 2019...

Tuesday, July 6, 2021

Members of the "Sandwich Generation"—or adults who have at least one parent over age 65 and at least one child who still requires financial support—often find themselves torn between their dual caregiving responsibilities.1...

Wednesday, June 30, 2021

While most of the focus lately has been on the volatility in the Treasury markets, the corporate credit markets continue to tell an encouraging story about the economic recovery. The traditional U.S. corporate credit bond market...

Tuesday, June 22, 2021

The “dot plots” are slowly becoming the new phrase of the year after the July 16 Federal Reserve (Fed) meeting. As a reminder, the dot plots represent the expected path of short-term interest rates by Fed members. Each dot...

Tuesday, June 22, 2021

If 2020 made you fantasize about a trip as soon as travel restrictions were lifted—and you’re still waiting—you aren’t alone. Although 2021 was poised to be a comeback year, it is shaping up to be another summer...

Tuesday, June 22, 2021

Summertime is great for walking and playing in the sunshine with your pet. Unfortunately, pets have a harder time keeping cool when the temperatures soar. Here are some tips to keep your pet safe, healthy, and happy under the fun sun....

Tuesday, June 22, 2021

The 4th of July is one of the most exciting holidays of the year, with picnics, fireworks, and plenty of delicious food. Though this beloved occasion is a blast for Americans, our pets might not find the loud noises associated with the...

Tuesday, June 15, 2021

As investors we fight against behavioral biases in every investment decision we make. Our Director of Research Marc Zabicki talked recently about some of these biases in this video. We become attached to our ideas and when we think...

Wednesday, June 9, 2021

While many of the taxable markets have generated negative returns this year, both the high quality and high yield municipal markets have generated positive returns (no guarantees that will continue, of course). State and local...

Tuesday, June 8, 2021

Women can experience more challenges saving for retirement than men, and unfortunately, COVID-19 has added even more challenges. According to Transamerica Center for Retirement Studies report Women and Retirement: Risks and Realities...

Tuesday, June 8, 2021

For many Americans, the home is the single biggest purchase made during their lifetime.[1] As a result, it's important to do everything possible to keep it in good condition. Even moderate or short-term neglect can be dangerous, as...

Tuesday, June 8, 2021

Retirement isn’t easy for most couples, and it’s even harder for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people. A modest amount of planning can go a long way to providing the financial support you need. Many LGBTQ seniors...

Thursday, June 3, 2021

Hi All, As we move into June, a path to normalcy is coming quickly with stadiums allowing full capacity, restaurants filling up, and summer vacations in full swing. Meanwhile, the U.S. economy continues to recover remarkably quickly...

Wednesday, June 2, 2021

Index Performance View enlarged chart. U.S. and international equities The month of May proved to be mixed for the U.S. major market indexes. Last month’s top performer, the Nasdaq composite, was May’s laggard....

Wednesday, May 26, 2021

Market Blog Tuesday, May 25, 2021 Mortgage rates are still around all-time lows but they may be headed higher. The 30-year national average mortgage rate hit an all-time low of 2.82% back in February, but with the U.S. economic...

Wednesday, May 26, 2021

Even with all of your savvy college shopping and research about financial aid, college costs may still be prohibitive. At these prices, you expect you'll need to make substantial financial sacrifices to send your child to college. Or...

Thursday, May 20, 2021

One extra curricular activity that every student should master before heading off to college is personal money management. Typically, a student’s day-to-day spending is done on an ad-lib basis, meaning that overspending is the...

Wednesday, May 19, 2021

Tuesday, May 18, 2021 After the April consumer price index (CPI) release that surprised to the upside, indicating consumer prices in some areas of the economy are increasing at a faster pace than many expected, the discussion has...

Wednesday, May 12, 2021

Inflation is one of the primary risks to bondholders. Rising consumer prices erodes the “real” value of principal and interest payments making them worth less. However, the Federal Reserve’s (Fed) reaction to...

Tuesday, May 11, 2021

At some point in a child's development, all parents wonder: how can I best teach my child the value of money? Parents who grew up in more modest circumstances than their own children can struggle to balance the desire to provide their...

Thursday, May 6, 2021

Hi All, As the calendar has turned to May, the popular “Sell in May and Go Away” stock market cliché is getting a lot of airtime. This is the idea that the stock market tends to be weakest between May and October...

Wednesday, May 5, 2021

Index Performance View enlarged chart. U.S. and International Equities This month provided another set of positive results for the U.S. major market indexes. The top performer was the Nasdaq, rebounding from last month’s lagging...

Wednesday, April 28, 2021

Losing one's significant other is one of the most stressful of all possible losses, even if you've had some time to emotionally prepare for it. And while it can be tough to do more than put one foot in front of the other, losing a...

Wednesday, April 28, 2021

End of recession call may come soon Incredibly, the COVID-19 recession may have ended a year ago, but we still don’t have an end-of-recession call from the National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER). But we may be a step closer...

Tuesday, April 20, 2021

“Price is what you pay; value is what you get.” – Legendary value investor Ben Graham. Valuations matter—at least in the long run. We believe it to be true in the equity markets and in the fixed income markets...

Wednesday, April 14, 2021

Index Performance View enlarged chart. U.S. and International Equities This quarter provided positive results for all major market indexes. The top performer and standout was the US small cap Russell 2000, returning over 12% for the...

Tuesday, April 13, 2021

Divorce can deal both divorcing spouses one of the biggest financial blows of their lifetimes. In fact, experts estimate each spouse will need to increase their individual income by about 30 percent to maintain the same standard of...

Tuesday, April 6, 2021

Coming into this year, we expected longer-maturity U.S. Treasury yields to rise, consistent with improving economic growth dynamics. That is indeed what we have seen, with the yield on the 10-year Treasury higher by 80 basis points (0...

Monday, April 5, 2021

You exercise to benefit from your sweat equity in the future, right? Waking up early in the dark mornings of winter to exercise comes hard. Once your workout ends, though, you often begin the day with the payoff of a tremendous energy...

Thursday, April 1, 2021

“The real key to making money in stocks is not to get scared out of them.” Peter LynchThey say April showers bring May flowers. Well, after a lot of showers and storms over the past year, flowers are starting to bloom and things are...

Wednesday, March 31, 2021

As we continue LPL Research’s Inflation Week, today we will examine how stocks have historically done at different inflation levels. For more color on our views on inflation, please read here and here, and look out for...

Wednesday, March 24, 2021

While most market participants have been (rightly) focusing on the sell-off in the Treasury markets this year, U.S. corporate credit markets have sold off as well. Corporate credit markets, as defined by the Bloomberg Barclays U.S....

Monday, March 22, 2021

Despite all of the other advances made in our society in recent generations, women continue to face unique challenges when it comes to preparing for their financial futures. Recognizing the Shortfalls For starters, women on average...

Tuesday, March 16, 2021

Women play a central role in establishing and preserving family wealth -- whether nurturing the values of children, fulfilling charitable goals, or making investment decisions that affect the financial security of themselves or their...

Tuesday, March 16, 2021

March Madness: Stock Market Edition LPL Research share their “Final Four Factors” for the stock market in 2021 in this week’s Weekly Market Commentary, available at 1 p.m. ET. Daily Insights U.S. stocks open little...

Wednesday, March 10, 2021

Today is the one-year anniversary of the low in the 10-year Treasury yield. While we’ve discussed the sharp rise in U.S. Treasury yields that have occurred this year, rising rates have been a global phenomenon. Similar to the...

Monday, March 8, 2021

While millennial women are breaking cultural norms and diving into entrepreneurship headfirst, baby boomers are often more reluctant to take the risks of their younger colleagues. In fact, on a whole, women invest 40 percent less[1]...

Thursday, March 4, 2021

It’s now been over a year since COVID-19 first hit American shores. While the pandemic has affected everyone to varying degrees, we can all agree that everyone’s life is different today than it was a year ago. It’s...

Wednesday, March 3, 2021

Index Performance View enlarged chart. US and International Equities This month provided positive results for the major market indexes. The top performer was the Russell 2000 small cap index, returning over 6% for the month. Small caps...

Wednesday, February 24, 2021

Treasury yields started moving sharply higher this past month (remember that as yields go up, prices go down). And while the upward march began in earnest last August when the 10-Year Treasury yield bottomed at an all-time low rate of...

Tuesday, February 23, 2021

Despite all of the other advances made in our society in recent generations, women continue to face unique challenges when it comes to preparing for their financial futures. Recognizing the Shortfalls For starters, women on average...

Thursday, February 18, 2021

With more and more seniors aging in place, the rise in caregivers who are not health professionals has begun to increase as well. Informal caregivers may find that their work is rewarding, since they ensure that their loved one is...

Wednesday, February 17, 2021

In LPL Research’s Weekly Market Commentary this week, we looked at some stock and bond options that may be attractive income-producing ideas for suitable income-oriented investors. On the bond side, many income-oriented investors...

Tuesday, February 9, 2021

The 10-year breakeven inflation rate, a market-based measure of inflation expectations, hit its highest level last Friday, February 5, since 2014. Still, at 2.21% expected annual inflation over the next 10 years, it remains a...

Monday, February 8, 2021

Men and women may not be on equal footing when it comes to investing for the future. On average, women work fewer years and earn less than men, but they also tend to live longer.1 Therefore, women must focus on the concerns that are...

Thursday, February 4, 2021

“In the short-term, the market is a popularity contest. In the long-term, the market is a weighing machine.” Warren Buffett 2021 is under way, as our nation and the rest of the world look to begin to put the global pandemic...

Tuesday, February 2, 2021

Stocks got off to a nice start in 2021, until the late January selloff, as everyone got GameStop fever. Should bulls worry about what a down January might mean for the rest of 2021? There’s an old adage on Wall Street that...

Wednesday, January 27, 2021

In LPL Research Outlook 2021: Powering Forward, we noted that large interest rate declines historically have been followed by reversals. With the 10-year Treasury yield continuing to climb, now’s a good time for an update. As...

Tuesday, January 26, 2021

In an increasingly paper-free society, organizing your financial documents can still be a challenge. No matter how simple or complex your financial picture might be, it takes some thought-out organization to keep your tax documents,...

Tuesday, January 19, 2021

Investment-grade credit spreads, the extra yield you get from investment-grade corporate bonds compared to similarly dated US Treasuries, have already tightened to a level you usually only see during the middle of the economic...

Tuesday, January 19, 2021

Financial wellness, like physical wellness, isn’t something you should ignore. Instead, it's a critical concept for anyone who wants to be knowledgeable and confident about their finances, and in fact, financial wellness is so...

Wednesday, January 13, 2021

Economic Blog 1/12/2021 Treasury yields hit two key levels the first week of 2021. As shown in the LPL Chart of the Day, the 10-year Treasury yield moved above 1% for the first time since March 2020, and the 10-year breakeven inflation...

Monday, January 11, 2021

A key goal of investing for retirement is making sure you save enough to make your money last throughout your lifetime. On this score, women may need to save more than men. The current life expectancy of a female at birth is roughly 81...

Thursday, January 7, 2021

Happy New Year! A new year offers a welcomed turn of the calendar and a fresh start. However, it’s difficult to put 2020 completely behind us just yet because the COVID-19 pandemic still presents a significant threat. Healthcare...

Tuesday, January 5, 2021

Market Blog View enlarged table. US and International Equities The S&P 500 Index, Dow Jones Industrial, and Nasdaq Composite indexes, continued their November run in December. As noted last month, November was a record-breaking month...

Wednesday, December 30, 2020

2020 was an extraordinary year for the Federal Reserve (Fed). The Fed responded swiftly and decisively to the rapidly accelerating financial and economic uncertainty brought on by efforts to contain the COVID-19 pandemic. The current...

Tuesday, December 22, 2020

Brexit, the United Kingdom’s (UK) withdrawal from the European Union (EU), is making news again as it stumbles toward its apparent conclusion on December 31, 2020. The major sticking point now: fish. The UK officially left the EU...

Friday, December 18, 2020

Diet books. Fitness apps. Live-streamed exercise classes. They all tell you the same thing: Maintaining good physical health requires discipline and adherence to a few simple habits, such as eating wisely, getting enough sleep, and...

Thursday, December 17, 2020

As the holidays approach, many children start to make wish lists, but unfortunately, not all children have someone to give them gifts. Luckily, there are many charities that help get holiday gifts and joy to children. If you're...