Edward Jones - Financial Advisor: BJ Byers Sr.

04/26/2023

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04/24/2023

Amid a flurry of corporate earnings releases and somewhat lackluster market activity last week, an important milestone went largely unnoticed. It was about six months ago that the S&P 500 dipped below 3600 (down 25% from its high), core inflation accelerated to a 40-year high at 6.6% and 10-year yields spiked to 4.25%.

Since then, markets have been climbing the proverbial wall of worry. We use the six-month milestone as an opportunity to reflect on what continues to support the rebound, what does not and share our thoughts on what the path ahead might look like in our Weekly Market Wrap.

A summary of last week's market highlights and economic news.

04/17/2023

Markets have been intensely focused on inflation over the past year, with the central bank policy response serving as the primary influence on stock and bond performance. So last week's release of the March inflation data offered a much-anticipated look at the latest trend in consumer prices, with markets breathing a small sigh of relief as the data signaled inflation remains on its gradual downward path.

In our latest Weekly Market Wrap, we evaluate the most recent inflation and consumer spending trends and share our take on the implications for interest rates and the economy ahead.

A summary of last week's market highlights and economic news.

04/10/2023

As we head into the second quarter of 2023, the strength in the market this year so far has been notable. The S&P 500 is up about 6.0%, while the investment-grade bond market is up a healthy 4.5%. Keep in mind, though, that recent gains in stocks were largely driven by valuation expansion, as price-to-earnings ratios climbed higher.

Despite these healthy market gains, the path forward in the near term may be challenging, especially as the economy weakens and potentially enters a mild recession. Nonetheless, for long-term investors, there may be opportunities forming in the months ahead, particularly as markets start to look past the economic slowdown toward a recovery period. Read more in our Weekly Market Wrap.

A summary of last week's market highlights and economic news.

04/03/2023

Despite a spike in volatility and an almost 8% pullback from the year's high, equities ended the month of March and the first quarter higher. In our Weekly Market Wrap, we share thoughts on what's behind the market's resilience and discuss the key factors we'll be monitoring that have the potential to shape the narrative in the months ahead.

A summary of last week's market highlights and economic news.

03/29/2023

Women are at higher risk of needing long-term care (Society of Actuaries, 2018). Here are some questions you can ask yourself now to help ensure the future you want.

03/27/2023

In just over two weeks, the uncertainty in the U.S. regional and global banking system has notably altered the path of financial markets and potentially the path of the Federal Reserve. For the Fed, it now has a balancing act to navigate – supporting the banking system with liquidity on one hand and battling inflation with interest rate increases on the other. In our latest Weekly Market Wrap, we discuss how we see opportunities forming in both the equity and bond space in the months ahead, beyond the more recent defensive posturing, as markets start to look past the economic downturn and toward a recovery ahead.

A summary of last week's market highlights and economic news.

03/24/2023

People are living longer in retirement than ever. In fact, forty percent of women are likely to reach the age of 90. Here are three reasons why you could benefit from retiring later.

Postponing retirement for just a few years, or even months, can have a big impact on your savings.

03/22/2023

Retirement might seem a long way off, but it's never too early to start preparing – especially if you're a woman. Women can lose hundreds of thousands in retirement savings because studies show they have less saved than men. Here are some tips to close that gap, and be ready for retirement.

Investing, saving, and borrowing are the same for men and women, as well as the same rules for both. They may, however, be facing very different circumstances and making very different choices. Preparing for retirement is particularly challenging because of this divide.

03/21/2023

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03/20/2023

Pressures on the banking sector were front and center last week, with headlines taking markets on a roller coaster ride. Though anxieties could persist for a while, we don’t think they'll morph into a structural crisis. Nevertheless, the pressure on the sector serves as a reminder that restrictive policy tends to uncover vulnerabilities that are lurking in the financial system.

At the anniversary of the Fed's most aggressive rate-hiking campaign in four decades, the recent bank troubles could potentially mark a turning point in monetary policy. In our weekly market update, we offer some perspective on what last week's developments mean for interest rates, the economy and the markets.

A summary of last week's market highlights and economic news.

03/15/2023

Below is just one challenge women face in securing their financial future. Because women tend to earn less than men over their working years, their ability to prepare for retirement is hit on two fronts: it's harder to save, and those lower earnings translate to lower Social Security benefits. Let's discuss how to take this into account when saving for retirement.