2020 Review and 2021 Outlook
It was another strong year of returns for most major asset classes. In 2020, the S&P 500 Index returned 18.40%. This return was generated despite a global pandemic that caused U.S. second quarter real gross domestic product to decrease at an annual rate of 32.9%....
Treasury Inflation Protected Securities – An Attractive Option to Diversify Your Bond Portfolio
Fixed income securities play an important role in most client portfolios. They provide cash flow, diversification and reduced volatility. Federal Reserve policy designed to stimulate the economy has created a low interest rate environment and made fixed income...
Closed-end funds may be option for retirees searching for portfolio income
Many closed-end funds use leverage, subject to regulatory limits, to juice their returns. That is, they can borrow money to invest. However, leverage also means that losses can also be exacerbated. “That’s something we take into consideration,” said CFP Robert Finley....
2020 Third Quarter Review and Outlook
The third quarter was another strong quarter for the stock market. The S&P 500 Index returned 8.93% for the third quarter, although it ended the quarter on a sour note. The index was down in September, the first down month since March. In the fourth quarter, we...
This Bond Market Indicator Suggests Inflation Could Be Coming. Here’s How to Protect Your Investments
Finley says that for his clients at or near retirement, inflation is one of the largest risks — even if it doesn’t necessarily command the most attention. That’s because at retirement, they stop getting a paycheck, which in theory should include regular cost-of-living...
2020 First Half Review and Outlook
In a sign that the stock market is forward looking, the S&P 500 Index returned 20.54% in the second quarter. This large return happened despite an almost complete shutdown of the economy due to coronavirus and one of the sharpest declines in GDP since the Great...
Stocks Offer the Potential for Appreciation and a Good Source of Growth in Income for Long-Term Investors
Historically common stocks have provided excellent growth in income. Most investors understand that stocks provide the opportunity for long-term capital gains, but they ignore the potential for growth in dividends over time. For example, $1 million invested in the...
David A. Valenti Joins Virtue Asset Management as Fee-Only Financial Advisor
David A. Valenti, an attorney and certified financial planner with 37 years of wealth management experience, has joined Virtue Asset Management in Barrington as a fee-only financial advisor to high-net-worth clients. Valenti most recently was a Senior Vice President...
2020 First Quarter Review and Outlook
During the first quarter of 2020, the S&P 500 tumbled 35% from an all-time high. The February drop in the market was faster and deeper than the crashes of 1987 and 1929. The coronavirus has disrupted the global economy and people’s daily lives. The coronavirus has...
Market Update
In our year end letter, we cautioned that clients should be emotionally prepared for a decline of close to 20%. Due to a risk that was so unexpected that it wasn’t even considered a possibility the market has dropped over 20% for the year....
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