Market Summary The first quarter of 2023 saw asset prices continue to rally off their October 2022 lows. U.S. equities led the way with a 7.24% gain, followed by international stocks returning 6.92%. Bonds were up a solid 2.96% for the first quarter, despite the Federal Reserve maintaining a policy of interest rate increases. It...

Market Summary: 2022 Year in Review Asset prices rallied higher in the fourth quarter of 2022, but it was too little too late to lift the major indices out of double digit losses for the year. The year-end optimism came about from improving inflation numbers and the prospect of less aggressive rate hikes from the...

Market Summary Inflation continued to be the persistent concern that drove nearly all asset prices lower in the third quarter of 2022. Broad U.S. and international stocks tried to pull together a rally in July and August, but lost all those gains and then some in a volatile September. Domestic fixed income prices fell as...

Market Summary After modest losses in the beginning of 2022, stocks entered a bear market in the second quarter with a pullback of more than 20% from the recent highs. Inflation persisted, with the Consumer Price Index hovering at 9.1% in June, even as the Federal Reserve raised the fed funds rate three times in...

Market Summary Nearly all asset prices stumbled in the first quarter of 2022 as investors contend with several major headwinds. Although COVID now seems to have little effect on the U.S. economy, it is having a larger impact on China’s population as the country imposes lockdowns of major cities. China’s zero tolerance approach to battling...

Market Summary Despite an incessant pandemic and rising inflation fears, U.S. households in general saw their net worth climb to an all- time-high in 2021 thanks to a hot stock market and soaring home prices. After an unimpressive Q3, U.S. stocks turned around with a strong fourth quarter gain of 9.14%. That helped the Dow...

Market Summary Investors were faced with several headwinds in the third quarter, leaving most asset prices little changed or slightly down. There were the same persistent issues like inflation and supply-chain constraints, but some new ones also began to appear. Congress played a risky game of holding out on raising the debt ceiling, ultimately agreeing...

Market Summary The second quarter of 2021 saw a continuation of the economic themes from the first quarter of the year. U.S. equities continued their dominance of major asset classes while bonds continue to be negative for the first half of 2021. Median home prices climbed to historic highs in June to $363,300, up 23.4%...

A New Beginning The first quarter of 2021 was eventful for myself as I opened my new firm, Key Focus Wealth. I’m pleased to say the transition of my practice to my firm went smoothly. Technology made it possible to onboard clients quickly and efficiently, while still practicing social-distancing. As vaccination rates increase and COVID...

2020: A Historical Year to Forget Fourth Quarter in SummaryThe end of 2020 was a welcomed relief for many, marking the finish of an eventful year. A divisive presidential election eventually yielded a winner, but did not seem to have a healing effect as we saw with the January 6th capitol riots. Highly effective COVID-19...