Market Commentary

Market Commentary: New Support Package to Provide Assistance to Individuals, Businesses and More

The economic slowdown continues. Initial jobless claims climbed 885,000 last week. In the face of additional restrictions and heightened health risks, consumers have scaled back activity. Retail and food service sales dipped 1.1% last month (Figure 1).

Market Commentary

Market Commentary: First Vaccines Roll Out as Unemployment Claims Remain High

Initial jobless claims reached an 11-week high based on data reported last week. More than 850,000 workers filed initial unemployment claims (Figure 1). While processing delays around the Thanksgiving holiday affected the data, even after adjusting for the break it appears the economic lull continues.

Blog

Estate Planning for the Family Farm and Your Legacy

As a financial advisor who’s spent her career in the midwest, I’ve worked with more farm families than I can count. From buying new expensive equipment to riding out the drought years, there can be millions in play even on small family operations. Estate planning – splitting up the land between the kids – can be one of the most complex parts of the journey.

Videos

Year-End Tax Planning in 2020

Join Jamie Hopkins, Director of Retirement Research at Carson, as he offers insight into how this year’s events might affect your financial strategy or estate plan. Click Here to Watch the Webinar

Market Commentary

Market Commentary: S&P 500 Gains Nearly 11% Last Month After Promising Vaccine News

November turned out to be a month full of news. A surge of COVID-19 cases, the presidential election, vaccine announcements, and slowing economic growth all moved markets. The November employment report provided additional evidence economic growth is decelerating. The economy generated 245,000 new jobs, missing expectations of 463,000 (Figure 1). Unemployment inched lower to 6.7% supported by the slow job growth and more people leaving the labor force.

Monthly Newsletters

Giving to Charity for the Holidays, Even Though It’s 2020

Chances are, between basting the turkey and watching the football during the holidays, you’ll find yourself giving to the causes and organizations you believe in. In the U.S., 30% of the year’s charitable giving is done in December, and 10% of the annual giving is just in those last three days of the year!

Market Commentary

Market Commentary: Dow and S&P Set Records, but Unemployment Still Rising

The economy seems poised to decelerate in coming weeks as data showed slowing economic improvement or outright reversals of the recovery. Income data was mixed. Disposable income fell 0.8% in October as government programs expired. Gains in employment pushed employee compensation up 0.7% as more people returned to work.

Market Commentary

Market Commentary: Rise in COVID-19 Cases Leads to Market Dip Before Holiday Shopping Season

Retail data were mixed last week. U.S. retail sales rose 0.3% in October and are now 5.7% higher than one year ago. But as Figure 1 shows, the increase was the smallest since the recovery began. Increased coronavirus cases in October likely pressured purchases lower and moved consumers online. Non-store retailers reported a 3.1% increase in sales.

Market Commentary

Market Commentary: Markets Respond Favorably to News of Second Vaccine’s Positive Results

Special Update A second COVID-19 vaccine announced very positive results in its initial trial. A biotechnology company announced Monday their COVID-19 vaccine was more than 94.5% effective. The study also showed there were few side effects observed in the vaccine trial. The effectiveness is very high and will likely give the world two vaccines to start protecting people in coming months.

Videos

How the Election Results Could Impact Your Financial Plan

Join Jamie Hopkins, Director of Retirement Research at Carson, as he offers insight into Biden’s tax and retirement platforms. Click Here to Watch the Webinar

Insights