This blog offers our weekly perspectives from the investment world and a variety of concepts from the financial industry. We also follow the news and expound upon events that have the potential to impact investors. We’re glad to have you reading along!
Wednesday, April 1, 2020
What to know about the COVID-19 stimulus bill As I’m sure you know, the $2 trillion “Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security” (“CARES”) Act was recently signed into law. The CARES Act is designed to...
Read More
Wednesday, March 11, 2020
Do you have an extra $33,000 to $100,000 to spare this year? How about next year, and the year after that? Your answer to these questions is probably "no." What could cost so much? According to the AARP Public Policy Institute, a year...
Read More
Wednesday, February 26, 2020
Much is out there about the classic financial mistakes that plague startups, family businesses, corporations, and charities. Aside from these blunders, some classic financial missteps plague retirees. Calling them...
Read More
Thursday, February 13, 2020
For most, creating an estate strategy is important to make sure your loved ones are taken care of after you’re gone. But it may be just as important to have an estate strategy for your business. Whether you’re a sole...
Read More
Tuesday, January 21, 2020
A good credit score can result in a lower home mortgage rate or a car buying rate. We all try to maintain one. Sometimes, though, life throws us a financial curveball and that score declines. What steps can we take to repair it?...
Read More
Tuesday, December 3, 2019
One of the most well-known investors of the 20th Century, Benjamin Graham, said, "the investor's chief problem - and even his worst enemy - is likely to be himself." What Graham understood - and modern research is catching up to - is...
Read More
Wednesday, November 20, 2019
Financial generalizations are as old as time. Some have been around for decades, while others have only recently joined their ranks. Let’s examine a few. Retirement means I can stop investing. In the past, retirement was viewed...
Read More
Monday, July 8, 2019
The Week on Wall Street U.S. stock benchmarks opened a new quarter positively. The S&P 500 gained 1.65% in the opening week of July; the Dow Jones Industrial Average, 1.21%; the Nasdaq Composite, 1.94%. Overseas, stocks in developed...
Read More
Monday, July 1, 2019
The Week on Wall Street A month of gains for stocks ended with a weekly retreat. The S&P 500 lost 0.30%; the Nasdaq Composite, 0.32%; the Dow Jones Industrial Average, 0.45%. In contrast, overseas shares, tracked by the MSCI EAFE index...
Read More
Monday, June 17, 2019
The Week on Wall Street Stocks advanced for a second straight week. The S&P 500 benchmark rose 0.47%; the Nasdaq Composite, 0.70%; the Dow Jones Industrial Average, 0.41%. Overseas shares, as tracked by the MSCI EAFE developed markets...
Read More
Monday, May 6, 2019
The Week on Wall Street Stocks were up and down last week, and the three major benchmarks ended up little changed after five trading days. The S&P 500 rose 0.20% for the week; the Nasdaq Composite, 0.22%. The Dow Jones Industrial...
Read More
Monday, April 15, 2019
The Week on Wall Street Stocks broke out of a narrow range on Friday following news that two major banks grew their bottom line in the first quarter. For the week, the S&P 500 rose 0.79%; the Nasdaq Composite, 0.91%. The Dow Jones...
Read More
Monday, March 11, 2019
The Week on Wall Street As in February, investors spent most of the first full trading week of March hoping for new details in U.S.-China trade negotiations. While they waited, stock benchmarks drifted downward. From Monday’s...
Read More
Monday, March 4, 2019
The Week on Wall Street Stocks lost a little ground as February gave way to March. While domestic and overseas political developments made headlines, the market stayed relatively calm: from Monday’s open through Friday’s...
Read More
Monday, February 11, 2019
The Week on Wall Street Major U.S. stock benchmarks eked out slight gains last week, with corporate profit reports and news about U.S.-China trade negotiations vying for investor attention over five trading sessions. The big three...
Read More
Monday, January 28, 2019
For the first time in months, U.S. markets experienced little movement last week.[1] The Dow and NASDAQ did have their 5th week of gains in a row, but their increases were small: 0.12% and 0.11%, respectively. Meanwhile, the S&P 500...
Read More
Monday, January 7, 2019
U.S. markets experienced more wild sessions last week before ending in positive territory as the recent turbulence continued. In fact, we are currently in the middle of some of the most volatile market performance in more than eight...
Read More
Monday, December 10, 2018
Markets went for another wild ride last week, as major domestic indexes swung back and forth. By Friday, December 7, markets had posted their worst weekly performance since March—and the S&P 500 and Dow both moved into negative...
Read More
Monday, December 3, 2018
U.S. markets ended a volatile month on a high note Friday. All three major indices posted impressive increases for the week, buoyed by news from the Fed Reserve and international trade.[1] The S&P 500 jumped 4.85%, and the NASDAQ...
Read More
Tuesday, November 20, 2018
Markets experienced more volatility last week, as perspectives on trade, tech, and retail pulled investor sentiment back and forth. Although domestic indexes were up on Friday, November 16, they still posted losses for the week.[i] In...
Read More
Monday, October 29, 2018
Last week did nothing to dispel October’s reputation as a tough month for the markets. The S&P 500 lost 3.94%, the Dow declined 2.97%, and the NASDAQ dropped 3.78% during what was one of 2018’s most volatile weeks so far....
Read More
Monday, October 15, 2018
Volatility was back in full force last week. The three major domestic indexes posted several days of losses before experiencing wide swings on Friday. By week’s end, the Cboe Volatility Index (VIX), which investors use to help...
Read More
Monday, October 8, 2018
Although new data continued to show strength in the U.S. economy, markets stumbled across the globe last week.[1] The S&P 500 lost 0.98%, the Dow dropped 0.04%, and the NASDAQ declined 3.21%.[2] International stocks in the MSCI EAFE...
Read More
Monday, October 1, 2018
Friday, September 28, was the last trading day in 2018’s 3rd quarter, and the S&P 500 posted its strongest quarterly return in nearly 5 years.[i] The Dow also showed impressive returns by beating expectations for the quarter,...
Read More
Monday, September 24, 2018
Last week brought new tariffs and data, and another look at changes coming to equity classifications. Overall, the S&P 500 gained 0.85% and the Dow was up 2.25%, while the NASDAQ dropped 0.29%.[1] International stocks in the MSCI EAFE...
Read More
Wednesday, September 19, 2018
Last week, the East Coast prepared for Hurricane Florence, which roared through the Carolinas and Georgia. As investors kept their eyes on the weather and its potential for destruction, estimates emerged of up to $27 billion in...
Read More
Monday, September 10, 2018
Domestic markets fell last week due to negative trade news and declining tech stocks, with the S&P 500 and Dow both breaking their multi-week winning streaks. Meanwhile, the NASDAQ posted losses for 4 days in a row for the first time...
Read More
Tuesday, September 4, 2018
Trade continued to dominate the news last week and cause market volatility as investors monitored discussions of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) and tension with China. While Mexico and the U.S. reached a new trade...
Read More
Monday, August 20, 2018
Challenges in emerging markets affected both U.S. and global stock performance last week, with the S&P 500 experiencing several down days.[1] By market close on Friday, however, two of the three major domestics posted gains for the...
Read More
Click here to download a copy of Spartan Wealth Management's 2016 Tax Planning Guide. This guide will help you get started for next year. Call us any time to discuss your plans or to schedule an appointment with us.
Read More16 Financial Resolutions for 2016 As the end of 2015 approaches, it’s time to start thinking about how to make 2016 a success for you and your loved ones. Though there’s little consensus about their origins, we know that Americans have...
Read More