By Chad Roope, CFA®, Chief Investment Officer We recognize that the market is currently experiencing turbulence and volatility not seen in several years. Given the strong returns we experienced in 2023 and 2024, the instability of the last week feels particularly unsettling for most of us. Given this volatility, we’ve made recent trades and rebalanced our clients’ portfolios. Despite the current uncertainty, we anticipate that 2025 will be a reasonably good year for stocks. Our belief is that we will finish the year with returns in the mid- to upper-single digits. Over the course of the year, however, we expect the markets to be much more volatile than what we have experienced over the past few years. Our belief that the economy is still fundamentally strong has three supporting points. The first is earnings, which are growing at a strong rate. In addition to good earnings, we're beginning to see the market broaden beyond just a few top tech stocks. Many other stocks are also trending higher as we enter 2025. Finally, while there’s a great deal of uncertainty in terms of policy, tariffs, trade deals, and other changes in Washington, we also think that these changes – and the volatility that comes with them – are creating opportunity. Within our clients’ investment accounts, we've recently rebalanced our strategies. Some of the things that did so well last year were slightly above our target weights, leadi
As you near retirement, you're probably thinking a lot about your finances and wondering if your savings will be enough for your retirement years. While it's important to pay attention to your 401(k), IRAs, and Social Security benefits, you might not have considered one of the most important aspects of retirement: the psychological phases you'll go through during retirement. Understanding the emotional and mental changes that come with retirement can make the experience easier. It can help you not only financially but also enjoy a fulfilling retirement with a sense of purpose and well-being. In an article on Yahoo Finance, Dr. Riley Moynes, the author of “The Four Phases of Retirement: What to Expect When You’re Retiring,” explains how he interviewed 150 retirees about their experience and outlined key phases that can occur. Click here to read more about his insights and explore the four phases of
Savvy Social Security Planning: What Baby Boomers Need to Know to Maximize Retirement Income What you need to know before you apply for Social Security benefits. When should someone start collecting Social Security benefits? The answer is that there is no one "best age" for everyone and, ultimately, it is your choice. You should make an informed decision about when to apply for benefits based on your individual and family circumstances. We don’t know what the future holds, but Social Security is likely to continue as a source of some retirement income for baby boomers. From a planning perspective, any assumptions made about the impact of Social Security on retirement should be conservative. An individual’s full retirement age (FRA) is the age when he or she qualifies to receive the entire or "full" Social Security retirement benefit based on his or her earnings history. This age varies based on when he or she was born Everyone who is qualified to receive Social Security retirement benefits can begin taking them as early as age 62 or delay up to age 70. Your monthly benefit amount can differ substantially based on the age when you start receiving benefits. If you decide to start benefits before your full retirement age, your benefit will be smaller but you will receive it for a longer period of time. At age 62, your monthly benefit is 25% lower than the benefit at full retirement age. (FRA) If you decide to wait until your full ret