U.S. Dollar Rebound: The Impact of Rising Rates and Government Debt
As interest rates have risen to multi-decade highs, one of the implications that has received less attention is the strengthening U.S. dollar. The dollar affects all aspects of financial markets, the economy, and everyday life. Its value impacts the cost of imported goods, foreign travel, the revenues of U.S. businesses that operate around the world, […]
Quarterly Market Outlook for Q4 2026: Rising Rates, New Market Highs, and Fed Hikes
The third quarter was mixed for investors with two major drivers impacting portfolios. On the one hand, interest rates rose to 20-year highs, while on the other hand, exceptional corporate earnings continued to support stocks. Amid these major trends, oil prices climbed back above $100 per barrel, the Fed raised rates for the first time […]
What 7% Mortgages Mean for Housing and the Economy
The housing market is important both on a personal level as well as for the broader economy and financial system. For many households, owning a home is an accomplishment that requires years of planning and saving, representing their largest asset, most significant monthly expense, and main source of debt. The housing market is also a […]
Beyond the Headlines: Fed Rate Hikes and Long-Term Portfolios
Janet Yellen, the former Federal Reserve Chair, often said that “monetary policy is not a panacea.”1 Just as there is no cure for the common cold, except to let it run its course and address the symptoms, the Fed’s tools often cannot fix the underlying issues in the economy. In theory, monetary policy is meant […]
A Closer Look at the Stock Market: Style, Size, and Regions
Investors often use major indices like the S&P 500, Nasdaq Composite, and Dow Jones Industrial Average as a way to understand how financial markets are performing. While this is a helpful place to start, the reality is that the stock market is made up of many thousands of companies, each affected by economic and market […]
How to Tell if You’re Ready to Own Your Own Financial Services Firm
In our most recent blog post, we talked about the pros and cons of working for a large financial services firm, rather than risking the chance you’ll fall flat on your face if you break out on your own. Considering the pros and cons of being an employee, rather than an employer, is a good […]
The Fed’s AI Dilemma: Long-Term Perspectives
The Nobel Prize-winning economist Paul Romer once wrote that “economic growth springs from better recipes, not just from more cooking.”1 This key idea in economics is that raising our standard of living is not just about adding more workers or more equipment, but about enabling each worker to produce not only more goods and services, but […]
What’s Driving Portfolios: The Impact of High Oil and Copper Prices
The 19th century geologist Charles Lyell popularized the concept of “uniformitarianism,” a long word that reflects the simple idea that the natural forces shaping the earth today are the same ones that have consistently affected it across history. A similar principle applies to commodities we extract from the ground like oil and copper. While there […]
Monthly Market Update for August 2026: Rising Yields, Strong Earnings, and Trade Uncertainty
August was another example of the idea that strong markets do not require a picture-perfect backdrop. While there continues to be uncertainty around oil prices, the Fed, new tariffs affecting global trade, and interest rates that are at their highest in decades, many positive factors drove broad market indices higher. For investors, the key takeaway […]
Tariff Refunds and the National Debt: What They Mean for Investors
Since new tariffs were announced last year, global trade has been a source of uncertainty for financial markets and the economy. In February, the Supreme Court ruled that the original “Liberation Day” tariffs were illegal, resulting in a wave of refunds to businesses that are now well underway.1 New tariffs have been implemented since then under […]
