Volatile Markets and the Ongoing Spread of the Virus are Causing Economic Uncertainty
By Jay Pluimer, AIF® CIMA®
Tuesday, 03 March 2020
Last week saw the worst week on Wall Street since 2008, as the Dow fell into correction likely due to the outbreak and spread of COVID-19, commonly called novel coronavirus. A market correction is a nerve-wracking event for investors, but the current uneasiness in the markets is no cause for panic.
Market Impact
While the spread of COVID-19 is atypical, market correction is not. In fact, it’s an entirely normal process, and not altogether unexpected after experiencing the longest-running bull market on record. There have been 22 market corrections since 1974, and they are aptly named because the market usually “corrects” itself and returns prices to their longer-term trends. While the coronavirus is likely to cause economic impact into at least the second quarter of 2020, historically, Wall Street’s reaction to these types of epidemics has been short-lived, including in the recent past.
By Jay Pluimer, AIF® CIMA®
Wednesday, 19 February 2020
We’ve had an interesting start to the new decade as a variety of key economic, political, and investment questions are working together to create market volatility and investor uncertainty. There are a few questions that come up frequently during client conversations and hopefully we can share the research we’ve conducted to find answers. As evidence-based investors we like to look at historical market information so we can inform our views of the present based on what has happened in the past. History may not necessarily repeat itself, but historical data can provide a helpful perspective.
Learn More About the Sweeping Legislation Designed to Fight America’s Retirement Savings Crisis
By Kathy Longo, CFP®, CAP®, CDFA
Monday, 20 January 2020
In May 2019, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement Act, commonly called the SECURE Act. Designed to help tackle our country’s growing retirement savings crisis, the far-reaching legislation spent months tied up in the Senate. On December 19, 2019, it passed the Senate with a 71 to 23 majority.
Let’s take a look at a few standout provisions of the legislation and discuss what they could mean for you.
By Kathy Longo, CFP®, CAP®, CDFA
Saturday, 18 January 2020
News from Flourish
Happy New Year! I hope this email finds you rested and recuperated from the holiday season and ready for a year filled with growth, forward momentum, and achieving your goals.
Over the holidays, my family and I enjoyed some R and R in Palm Springs, CA. It was so nice to step away from Minnesota for a few days and enjoy each other’s company. Jay, Maddy, Fernando, Grace and I enjoyed the weather, great restaurants, and opportunities to connect about all the events from the past year. The experience was refreshing and made me think of all the holiday memories we’ve made at home over the year and the benefits of occasionally having a change of scenery to deepen connections.
By Jay Pluimer, AIF® CIMA®
Wednesday, 15 January 2020
Investors of all varieties received a generous Holiday gift from the markets in 2019 as almost all markets generated positive returns. US Stocks led the pack once again as the S&P 500 Index earned 31.5%. It was an interesting year where Bonds also performed well, which isn’t always the case. Key drivers of performance in 2019 included support from the Federal Reserve which reversed course by cutting interest rates to support growth in the US along with moderate earnings growth and easing Trade War tensions. The Trade War between the US and China is on a path to resolution, calming a significant theme of uncertainty. International Stocks also performed well, up 21.5%, with optimism that a calmer foreign trade environment should be helpful for foreign companies plus what appears to be a Brexit resolution. Finally, the positive economic and investment landscape led to the first US decade without a recession as we turn the clock forward into the 2020s.
