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Whether it’s ideas from the industry or emerging trends, you can read about it here.
Macro Overview-Global financial markets reacted to the conflict in the Middle East war with caution, concerned that the hostility could erupt into a broader situation engulfing other countries and territories...
Read MoreMacro Overview-A federal government shutdown was averted on September 30th, when Congress voted to fund government operations until mid-November. Volatility in the financial markets increased during September, as uncertainty surrounding...
Read MoreMacro Overview-Congress is spending the bulk of September deliberating over the Federal Budget for fiscal year 2024 as a looming deadline on September 30th approaches. Should an agreement not be reached, then a government shutdown could...
Read MoreMacro Overview-The rating on U.S. government debt was cut from AAA to AA+ by Fitch, one of the three major credit rating agencies. Standard & Poor’s, another primary rating agency, cut its rating on U.S. government debt to AA+ in 2011...
Read MoreMacro Overview-Equity markets reacted to uncertainty in June as major indices saw an increase in volatility. Earnings continue to be a critical focal point as companies struggle to maintain elevated prices while consumer confidence has...
Read MoreMacro Overview-Congress passed legislation during last-minute negotiations to avert a default on the nation’s debt. The suspension on the U.S. government’s $31.4 trillion debt ceiling is temporary until lawmakers finalize legislation...
Read MoreMacro Overview-Concern over additional bank failures has created ongoing uncertainty for equity and bond markets, as the collapse of First Republic Bank this past month has become the second-largest bank failure ever, with $229 billion...
Read MoreMacro Overview-The failure of two regional banks unsettled equity and fixed-income markets globally in March. Financial contagion risks were at the forefront of the financial markets as the closure of Silicon Valley Bank and Signature Bank.
Read MoreMacro Overview-Inflation worries persisted in February as government data revealed stubbornly elevated prices for food and energy. As a result, the Federal Reserve’s policy on additional rate increases continues to bombard the equity...
Read MoreMacro Overview-Inflation became less of a concern in January as the most recent data revealed six consecutive months of falling prices. The most recent inflationary data, as measured by the Consumer Price Index (CPI), fell...
Read MoreMacro Overview-Global equity and fixed-income markets navigated through a volatile environment as 2022 unfolded to be a challenging year. The Russian invasion of Ukraine, rising interest rates, inflationary pressures, and a slowing...
Read MoreMacro Overview-Markets reacted to indications that the Fed might slow its pace of rate increases heading into the new year. Such a change in monetary policy would be positively received by financial markets with the anticipation...
Read MoreMacro Overview-The Fed continued on its steepest rate increase since the early 1980s. Political pushback against the Federal Reserve has been building as criticism surrounding the rate hikes has become a focal issue. October saw...
Read MoreMacro Overview-Financial markets were distraught during the third quarter as rising rates, inflation, and slowing economic activity hindered major equity indices. Dramatic tax cuts implemented in the U.K. stirred global financial...
Read MoreMacro Overview-Recession fears pressed on markets as equities pulled back from a mid-summer rally that many analysts suspect was short-lived. U.S. equities began August in rebound mode but reversed course to end the month in negative...
Read MoreMacro Overview-Recession concerns are rising as company earnings, employment data, and economic growth estimates continue to demonstrate an expected slowdown in the economy. Second quarter Gross Domestic Product (GDP) released in July...
Read MoreMacro Overview-Attention has shifted from inflation to recession as housing, wages, interest rates, commodities, and consumer expenditures have all receded from their highs, an indication to economists that an economic slowdown or...
Read MoreMacro Overview-There’s a growing consensus among various economists and market analysts that inflation could force consumers to cut back on spending to the extent that a recession materializes...
Read MoreMacro Overview-The most recent inflation data released revealed an 8.5% annual increase, yet came in below what many analysts had expected. A consensus is forming, among economists and analysts, that inflation may be peaking...
Read MoreMacro Overview-The Russia-Ukraine war has intensified inflation expectations due to the threat of global supply chains which are expected to be impaired for an extended period of time. Supply chain issues were already wreaking havoc...
Read MoreMacro Overview-Geopolitical rifts emulating from the Russian invasion of Ukraine roiled financial and commodity markets globally as uncertainty arose surrounding the extent of the conflict. Ramifications from the conflict could take months.
Read MoreMacro Overview-Market dynamics are shifting as the Federal Reserve outlines its execution of ending monetary stimulus in order to squash inflationary pressures. Analysts and economists are expecting market volatility to continue...
Read MoreMacro Overview-A year after Covid-19 changed the course of travel, socialization, and financial markets, 2021 witnessed a much quicker rebound than had been anticipated. The equity market upswing caught many by surprise...
Read MoreMacro Overview The onset of the most recent Covid variant, known as Omicron, stands to stall a global economic resurgence which has been gradual and fragile. The World Health Organization (WHO) reported that the new variant may pose a...
Read MoreMacro Overview Severe labor shortages and supply chain disruptions continue to hamper industries throughout the country, elevating inflationary pressures for millions of Americans. Higher prices for gasoline and natural gas are...
Read MoreMacro Overview A Congressional standoff surrounding raising the debt limit led to increased market volatility as a political debate lingered. Impasses regarding the debt ceiling have occurred numerous times since the limit was...
Read MoreMacro Overview As the Delta variant has spread, many companies, schools and government agencies have begun imposing vaccine requirements for employees and students. The World Health Organization has identified 20 Covid variants...
Read MoreMacro Overview – August 2021 An increase in confirmed Delta variant cases globally reignited concerns about reimplementation of quarantines and social distancing restrictions. The rise in newly verified cases come as European...
Read MoreMacro Overview – July 2021 Financial markets are becoming more sensitive to the Delta variant mutation of Covid-19, as some countries in Europe reconsider easing restrictions on businesses and travel. Regardless, global equities...
Read MoreGlobal equities advanced for the month, due to a highly stimulative fiscal and monetary policy environment in the U.S. and a swiftly recovering global economy. Inflation concerns, which for now remain arguably transient in nature, also...
Read MoreGlobal equities continued their strong run in April as noticeable progress in combating the COVID-19 pandemic, coupled with strong corporate earnings, drove markets higher. A declining number of new cases coupled with speeding up...
Read MoreMacro Overview The prospect of resurgent inflation has developed into a growing concern for markets globally. Some believe that current inflationary pressures may be transitory and not lasting, while others contend that higher prices...
Read MoreMacro Overview Stimulus payments from the second pandemic relief package were received in January and February, stirring economic activity and increasing personal incomes and expenditures. Some economists, however, believe that the...
Read MoreMacro Overview Stimulus payments from the second pandemic relief package were received in January and February, stirring economic activity and increasing personal incomes and expenditures. Some economists, however, believe that the...
Read MoreMacro Overview Speculative trading among smaller retail investors raised concerns about how social media is influencing individual stock valuations. Recently popularized social news aggregation and discussion websites are driving...
Read MoreMacro Overview - January 2021 COVID-19 reshaped markets, trade, retail, and consumer behavior globally in 2020 with lingering effects heading into 2021. Markets shrugged off pandemic concerns throughout the year, with all major equity...
Read MoreMacro Overview – December 2020 Equity markets responded positively to news that the availability of vaccinations was imminently close. Major equity indices reached new highs in November as elements of uncertainty eased with...
Read MoreMacro Overview - November 2020 With the election over, a lingering uncertainty has been removed as expectations of how fiscal policy and stimulus programs funded by government debt may evolve. Some economists and market analysts...
Read MoreMacro Economic Overview – October 2020 Worries regarding a second wave of infections heading into the fall, election uncertainties, and wavering economic indicators contributed to a dubious September. Equities paused from their...
Read MoreSeptember 2020 Macro Overview U.S. equity indices rebounded in August to pre-pandemic levels that were last reached in early March of this year. The dramatic recovery in equity valuations came about very quickly and unexpected by...
Read MoreMacro Overview A second wave of mandatory business closures that transpired throughout the country is expected to have more challenging ramifications for many employers than the first wave of shutdowns. The amount of stimulus funds and...
Read MoreMacro Overview / July 2020 Concern has elevated regarding the possibility of a second wave of COVID-19 infections following a surge in cases across the country. Markets, however, continued to shrug off dismal economic data amid...
Read MoreMacro Overview – June 2020 A resurgence of sporadic economic activity emerged in May as stay at home bans were eased and some businesses slowly reopened. Virus resurgence fears are still a concern as uncertainty surrounding the...
Read MoreMacro Overview – May 2020 Markets were encouraged with the announcement of reopening plans by various states and the probability of reigniting economic activity. Individual states started to ease restrictions and allow certain...
Read MoreMacro Overview – April 2020 With the coronavirus continuing to wreak havoc on markets and economies worldwide, governments and businesses are confronting an unprecedented environment. In response, massive fiscal and monetary...
Read MoreMacro Overview – March 2020 Fear has been permeating capital markets worldwide as the impact of the (COVID-19) coronavirus continues to evolve. Global economic forecasts have been revised downward by the International Monetary...
Read MoreMacro Overview - February 2020Amid uncertainty surrounding the spread of the coronavirus throughout China and internationally, global equity and bond markets reacted to supply chain disruptions and factory closures. China’s vast...
Read MoreMacro Overview - January 2020 Financial markets experienced a bountiful decade for stocks and bonds, as a low rate environment fostered by the Federal Reserve and technological advances driven by innovation, catapulted values higher....
Read MoreMacro Overview Markets have been undermined for weeks by the uncertainty of a phase-one trade deal outlined by U.S. and Chinese trade delegates. Optimism for a probable U.S.-China trade deal stemmed from the progression toward a...
Read MoreMacro Overview Equity markets defied the historically negative month of October with equity indices moving higher despite ongoing trade dispute uncertainty and growing concerns of global economic headwinds. Major domestic and...
Read MoreMacro OverviewA proposed tariff increase on goods imported from China was delayed from October 1st to October 15th. Tariffs on a number of Chinese goods are scheduled to increase to 30 percent from 25 percent effective on the 15th.U.S....
Read MoreMacro Overview A 15% tariff was imposed on roughly 40% of consumer products imported from China effective September 1st, affecting over $100 billion worth of annual imports. An additional slew of products from China is scheduled to be...
Read MoreMacro Overview Trade tensions escalated as the U.S. announced a 10% tariff commencing September 1st on $300 billion of Chinese imports that haven’t yet been subject to any tariffs. The additional tariffs would essentially apply...
Read MoreJuly 2019Macro OverviewxStocks and bonds rose in June as lower rates drove equities higher and international diplomatic tensions elevated bond prices. Indications by the Fed that there may be a rate cut later in the year helped...
Read MoreMacro Overview The ongoing trade dispute between the U.S. and China escalated in May as the U.S. signaled that it had not finalized a deal yet with China. The lack of a deal led to the U.S. announcing an increase in tariffs from 10...
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Wednesday, May 29, 2019
SDW is excited to welcome Eric Dayton & Gary Eichten to our speaker series, The Invested, on Thursday, June 27th at 9:00 a.m. at our location at 50 South Sixth Street in downtown Minneapolis. Gary will be interviewing Eric about the...
Read MoreMacro Overview A change in the Federal Reserve’s stance on the direction of interest rates helped buoy equity and bond prices higher in March, allowing U.S. equity indices to post the strongest first quarter in nearly ten years....
Read MoreMacro Overview A change in the Federal Reserve’s stance on the direction of interest rates helped buoy equity and bond prices higher in March, allowing U.S. equity indices to post the strongest first quarter in nearly ten years....
Read MoreMacro Overview - March 2019 U.S. equities continued to defy negative sentiment and sanguine market readings as tepid economic data advanced stocks higher in February. Equities posted their best first two months of the year since 1991,...
Read MoreMacro Overview – February 2019 A resilient U.S. economy drove equity markets to the best January in 30 years, propelling stock indices to new year gains which had not been seen since January 1989.Job and wage growth skirted the...
Read MoreMacro Overview Weariness among investors escalated towards the end of 2018 as uncertainty surrounding trade, the Federal Reserve, a government shutdown, and global economic growth lingered into the new year. Even during the turbulent...
Read MoreMacro Overview – December 2018 The Group of Twenty (G20) summit in Argentina produced two significant trade deals for the United States, a revised trade agreement with Canada and Mexico as well as a trade tariff truce with China....
Read MoreHistorically Volatile October Did It Again - Domestic Equity Markets UpdateStocks in all categories suffered in October as the month saw declines across all major indices. The initial imposition of tariffs hit U.S. company earnings in...
Read MoreMacro Overview / October 2018The Fed raised rates for the third time this year, signaling it was on track for further hikes over the next few months. Rates moved higher across the fixed income spectrum, with the 10-year Treasury bond...
Read MoreMacro Overview – Sept 2018Trade and tariffs continued at the forefront of discussions among the U.S. and international trading partners. Topics at hand included the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), the World Trade...
Read MoreMacro Overview – August 2018 Equities rebounded in July and remained resilient to tariff and trade tensions. Markets are realizing that the U.S. has been somewhat insulated thus far from lingering trade disputes. Various analysts...
Read MoreMacro Overview – July 2018Trade and tariffs disrupted markets in June as the U.S. Commerce Department announced tariffs on $250 billion worth of Chinese imports. The 25% tariffs will be imposed on 1,300 items encompassing a...
Read MoreMacro Overview - June 2018 Renewed fears of tariff influenced trade disputes and uncertainty with the euro was buffered by an unemployment rate decline to 3.8% and a rising dollar driven by optimism surrounding the U.S. economy...
Read MoreMacro Overview - May 2018 Markets continued on a volatile course in April following announcements regarding tariffs, rising rates, and geopolitical tensions, yet some economists and analysts expect that a tax cut driven rebound is...
Read MoreMacro Overview – April 2018 Markets were rattled in March as a looming trade war between China and the U.S. enhanced market volatility. The administration announced $60 billion in tariffs for Chinese imports, with a detailed list...
Read MoreMacro Overview – March 2018 Volatility was rampant throughout the markets as fear of inflation and rising interest rates pilfered gains that had accumulated from the beginning of the year. Some see a fundamental trend is in place...
Read MoreMacro Overview – February 2018 Rising interest rates weighed on equity momentum as the expectation of increased borrowing costs and inflation accelerated market volatility. Markets retreated from gains established e arlier in the...
Read MoreMacro Overview The rally in stocks that began following the election in 2016 propelled through 2017 as optimism and expectations that growth oriented policies and tax cuts would materialize. Political turmoil was not a deterrent for...
Read MoreMacro Overview November 2017 An improving economic environment and earnings optimism propelled markets higher, along with prospects that there might be some agreement on tax reform in Washington. The House of Representatives released a...
Read MoreMacro Overview November 2017 An improving economic environment and earnings optimism propelled markets higher, along with prospects that there might be some agreement on tax reform in Washington. The House of Representatives released a...
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Sunday, October 15, 2017
Last month it was reported that an estimated 145.5 million people had been impacted by a data breach at the consumer reporting company Equifax. Given the size of the breach and impact, I thought it could be helpful to provide a short...
Read MoreMacro Overview The aftermath of Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and Maria are expected to have uncertain affects on government data and continued ambiguity on economic activity. The hurricanes will distort economic reports quite possibly for...
Read MoreMacro Overview Hurricane Harvey prompted an agreement between the President and congressional leaders to increase the politically charged debt ceiling in order to help fund repair efforts in Texas. The agreement will avert a government...
Read MoreMacro Overview Markets seemed undeterred by political indecisiveness in Washington surrounding healthcare reform, which could affect upcoming tax reform in the fall that is hinged on the ability of passage by Congress. Even though...
Read MoreMacro Overview - July 2017 International markets reacted in June as central banks throughout Europe and Asia signaled that monetary stimulus efforts were slowly being dispatched. The news propped up European currencies including the...
Read MoreMacro Overview - June 2017 Political turmoil was not able to derail market momentum in May as the three major market indices continued on their upward trajectory. Delayed passage of stimulus driven legislation is reducing inflation...
Read MoreMacro Overview – May 2017 Fiscal policy has taken center stage as President Trump’s tax proposals will begin a drawn out process for legislative approval. Individuals, small businesses, and large corporations are expected...
Read MoreFriend or Foe There are a lot of Facebook hackers out there right now and the most common one going around is by friend request. What is happening is the hackers are getting into your friend list and creating new profiles with your...
Read MoreMacro Overview – April 2017 Equity markets advanced during the first quarter as improving economic data supported gradually rising earnings. A steady and predictable path of anticipated rate increases this year by the Federal...
Read MoreMacro Overview Equity indices had their longest streak of record closes since January 1987, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average reaching 21,000, its second milestone in less than 30 days after reaching 20,000. It took the Dow only 24...
Read MoreMacro Overview – February 2017 A change in sentiment was prevalent throughout the markets as new rules and regulatory reversals began to take effect. Volatility rose as markets tried to discern President Trump’s policies....
Read MoreMacro Overview / Year In Review A year-end equity rally induced by a Trump victory lost momentum towards the end of December as doubts surfaced regarding Trump’s success in garnering support for his proposals from both...
Read MoreMacro Overview A monumental shift occurred in November as consumer sentiment, interest rates, and equity markets all increased with growth expectations settling in. Infrastructure spending, manufacturing, a friendlier regulatory...
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Wednesday, November 30, 2016
As the year ends, financial conversations start focusing a bit more on tax strategies than other financial planning and portfolio topics, sometimes to the detriment of long term objectives. Tax Loss Harvesting is the classic year-end...
Read MoreMacro Overview Pre-election jitters led to market stagnation as equities struggled through October. With this extraordinary political year coming to a close, the results of the election will carry over to 2017 as markets digest new...
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Friday, October 21, 2016
I’m going to retire in the next few years, what should I be doing now to make sure I’m ready?
Read MoreA tightening of presidential polls added to market ambivalence as uncertainty regarding what fiscal and regulatory policy changes might affect the economy and markets. The outcome of the U.S. elections is considered by...
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Wednesday, September 7, 2016
Limited Investment Options – Annuities, by-and-large, have very few investment options. Most annuities have between 25-50 different investment options and are often proprietary to the company selling you the annuity. Still, it...
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Monday, August 22, 2016
MNvest! It's here! The legislation creating equity crowdsourcing has arrived, Minnesota, and the concept sounds appealing: “The democratization of investment". It’s about time!
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Wednesday, August 3, 2016
Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards Inc.owns the certification marks CFP®, CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER ™, and CFP® in the U.S., which it awards to individuals who successfully complete CFP Board's initial and...
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Tuesday, July 26, 2016
You meet with an advisor that states they are Fee-Based, another says they are Fee-Only. Is there a difference? While the terms are similar, the key difference is in how your advisor is compensated and how that impacts the...
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Tuesday, June 28, 2016
Fidelity's Director of Global Macro, Jurrian Timmer, has published a great article outlining how the recent Brexit vote may affect investor portfolios. Brexit: Investing Implications
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Sunday, June 26, 2016
Everyone is engaged in discussions about how Brexit will affect everything from the global economy, to the U.S. presidential elections, to their investments. But what is Brexit anyway? The New York Times has your answer. Brexit,...
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Tuesday, May 10, 2016
The SEC has issued an Investor Alert regarding Identity Theft and Data Breaches. It's good to review these tips frequently to remember how to keep your electronic identity safe. Investor Alert: Identity Theft, Data Breaches and Your...
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