In investing, the terms value and growth both refer to two different categories of stocks, as well as the two investing styles built on their divergence. While value investors look for stocks they believe are undervalued by the market, growth investors seek stocks that they think will deliver better-than-average returns. Value and growth are sometimes seen as an either/or Read more
My Child Turned 18—Now What?
When your child turns 18, the experience can be emotional. Your baby’s passage into adulthood suddenly becomes real, and even if you think you’re ready, it happens a lot sooner than you were likely anticipating, especially if your child is still a dependent. A lot of changes occur with an 18-year-old, and not just those Read more
Climbing Back: Is the Economy on the Rebound?
The plunge the U.S. economy took during the pandemic in spring 2020 was precipitous, with economic charts that resembled steep cliffs. In April 2020, industrial output fell 12.7%, the worst drop seen in a century of record-keeping. Entire industries shut down virtually overnight. In two months (March and April), employers cut 22 million jobs, more Read more
Inflation Worries: Will the Tide Rise Higher?
In April 2021, consumer prices rose sharply, driving the rate of inflation to the highest level since 2008, which sparked concern among investors though the Federal Reserve says the rise is temporary and will soon ebb. In contrast, the current rate of inflation has jumped to 4.2% in April. Despite the fact that at this Read more
Growing Green: A Look at ESG Investing
Driven by demographics and investors’ desires to get ahead of both the effects of social change and an expected wave of regulation, we are seeing a boom in sustainable and socially conscious investments, popularly known by the shorthand acronym ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance). This kind of socially responsible investing, also known as sustainable, green, or ethical Read more
Heading for Home: The Housing Market Soars
In a mostly dreary 2020, one bright spot was the residential real estate market. After briefly retrenching at the beginning of the pandemic, home sales exploded, even as a dearth of homes on the market and low mortgage rates caused prices to skyrocket. Those rising prices lifted home values, creating more wealth for homeowners. Now, Read more