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INVESTMENTS LEARNING CENTER

Helping You Make Sense of Investing

MONTHLY INVESTMENT OUTLOOK | Latest Economic Updates

Each month our investment team develops an outlook based on changes in the markets and economic environment, as well as the events that have taken place the prior month. To stay up-to-date on the current state of the market and investment information, download our latest Monthly Investment Outlook by clicking the link below.

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MARKET SNAPSHOT | A Quick Look at Last Week’s Market Activity

ESG PORTFOLIOS | Investing in the Future

Environmental, social, and governance (ESG) portfolios align with your social views without sacrificing returns. In the modern world, well-run companies that manage ESG risks have a better chance at securing financing to fund future growth.

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RECENT INVESTMENT INSIGHTS | Our Thoughts on the Markets and Portfolio Implications

When Order Matters
Effective investment strategies tailored to various life stages help ensure you mitigate the impact of sequence-of-returns risk. Safeguard your portfolio and financial well-being effectively during the transition from wealth accumulation to retirement.
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Market Memo | March 2024
For the month of February, Cupid’s arrow certainly wasn’t needed to help investors fall in love with the stock market. There are a variety of factors pushing the US stock market higher, including growing GDP, low employment, and an uptick in manufacturing to name a few.
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Market Memo | February 2024
With the geopolitical tensions in the world and an upcoming election, the market continues to be influenced by rate cut expectations more than anything else.
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How the Oil Market Affects Us Every Day
Oil makes the world go around, or at least helps vehicles that go around the world. The oil market has always been as volatile as it has been important to economies across the globe.
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Artificial Intelligence Revolutionizing the Landscape of Investing
Explore the transformative impact of Artificial Intelligence (AI) on investing and how it can be a valuable tool for informed decision-making.
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Market Memo | November 2023
November gave investors reasons to give thanks. Now they are left wondering if Santa came early this year, or if there are gifts still to be delivered.
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Market Memo | October 2023
October provided mostly tricks, with a hint of treats toward the close of the month. Twice during the month, the 10-year Treasury bond reached or exceeded 5%, a rate that has not been seen since 2007.
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Artificial Intelligence: Transforming the Economy for Better or Worse
AI has become a disruptive force in the economy, raising questions about its impact on society. While AI has shown great promise in boosting stock returns, it also poses challenges concerning job losses, disinformation, and ethical considerations.
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Market Memo | September 2023
Fall is in the air, and the US stock market has taken its cue, with the S&P 500 index posting the worst month this year, falling 4.77%. Bonds were not much better, falling 2.54% for the month.
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Market Memo | August 2023
In the heat of summer, returns across both stocks and bonds were decidedly cold. The main driver of underperformance for the month was expectations of the future path of interest rates.
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Income Generating Methods for Portfolios
Generate income for your portfolio by utilizing effective portfolio income methods like Tax-Loss Harvesting and Covered Call Writing. Learn how these methods work and how to implement them to optimize your earning potential.
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Emotional Biases During Market Volatility
While it is perfectly natural to have a range of feelings during volatile market conditions, it is important that you don’t let fear of the market lead you to the biggest risk of all – not reaching your long-term financial goals.
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Market Memo | July 2023
June continued a run of surprising stock market returns for 2023. One month does not make a trend, but it's comforting to see stocks perform positively.
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When Depressed Asset Values Create Planning Opportunities
Depressed asset values are often a source of frustration and worry for investors. However, with those concerns often come opportunities to achieve long-term planning objectives.
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Are We Heading into a Recession, or Not?
Are we there yet? Oh, the familiar refrain that many parents endure this time of year while traveling. It is by now the familiar refrain that economists and investors are enduring daily.
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The Central View Q2 2022
Each quarter, our investment team provides details on the market and economy, bringing you the latest insights in an easy to follow video.
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Cryptocurrency: Fad or Future?
There has been a lot of discussion over the past several years regarding cryptocurrency. If you feel like the whole idea of cryptocurrency is hard to understand, you are not alone.
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The Impact of Inflation on Your Cash and Investments
Many of us understand and recognize inflation. What we don’t know is how high it will go or how long it will last.
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Risk Tolerance: Choosing Between “Eating Well” or “Sleeping Well”
Investing is, and will always be, a balancing act between “eating well" and "sleeping well”.
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Central View Q3 2021
The Central View Q3 2021

by Greg Berg, CFA, CAIA, MBA, Senior Vice President & Senior Portfolio Manager INVESTMENT OUTLOOK Global…

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The Central View Q1 2021
Join our investment team for a look at our insights into the markets and the economy for the first quarter of 2021.
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Do You Need A Financial Plan
Do You Need a Second Opinion?
Navigating the financial industry can be daunting. More so for someone that may not have experience in the industry or be aware of the multiple service delivery models that are available.
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Variable Annuities: How Do They Work and What Do They Cost?
Variable annuities can be difficult for clients, and even some financial professionals, to fully understand.
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Questions to Ask Your Advisor
With so many changes in the financial markets, it’s a good time to evaluate your investments.
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The Central View Q3 2020
In the latest edition of The Central View, our investment team dives into their thoughts on the economy, valuations, the upcoming election and our portfolio positioning as we navigate through Q3 2020.
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The Central View Q2 2020
Join our investment team for look at this quarter's insights into the markets and the economy.
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The Central View Q1 2020
Join our investment team for a look at this quarter's insights into the markets and the economy.
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Managing Newly Acquired Wealth
While your chance of winning the lottery is extremely small, the challenges associated with managing a large influx of money are actually quite common.
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The Central View Q4 2019
Join our investment team for a look at this quarter's insights into the markets and the economy.
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Investing in the Modern World
Wealth will soon be passed on to the next generation. With wealth and the management of that wealth in transition, so are the drivers behind investment decisions.
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The Implication of “Lower for Longer” Interest Rates
The Federal Reserve has reduced interest rates three times this year. So, what are the implications for low and even negative interest rates, globally and domestically?
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Are You An Emotional Investor
Are You An Emotional Investor?
Market volatility can lead some investors to make quick decisions that can ultimately harm their long-term investing goals. It's important to know if you are investing with your emotions or remaining objective.
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The Central View Q3 2019
The Central View Q3 2019
Join our investment team for a look at this quarter's insights into the markets and the economy.
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The Central View Q2 2019
Join us for a look at this quarter's insights into the markets and the economy.
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Building Tax-Free Wealth
Building Tax-Free Wealth With Tax Reform and Down Markets
Long-term investors could benefit from the stock market pullback and changes to the tax code to build significant tax-free wealth.
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An Update To The Current State Of The Market
An Update on the Current State of the Market

By Greg Berg, CFA, CAIA - Senior Vice President & Senior Portfolio Manager After an…

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