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What’s on our mind? You can read about it in our blog. Whether it’s ideas from the industry or emerging trends, you can read about it here. And once in a while, we may throw in a surprise. So keep checking in. We’re glad to have you reading along.

Monday, March 27, 2023

THE 36-HOUR SVB COLLAPSE AND HIERARCHY OF BLAME A lot has changed in the past few weeks, both in terms of expectations for interest rates and lost confidence in the health of the banking system as a result of the sharp rise in interest...

Monday, March 20, 2023

WADING THROUGH FINANCIAL STABILITY RISKS: AN ACTION PLAN The Federal Reserve (Fed) has a history of raising short-term interest rates until something “breaks.” Considering the Fed has raised rates from a near-zero level to 4.75%...

Monday, March 13, 2023

LATEST EQUITY ASSET ALLOCATION VIEWS Last week did not play out how we anticipated. This commentary is focused on our asset allocation views, but no doubt the Silicon Valley Bank saga will require more attention from investors...

Monday, March 6, 2023

NO LANDING = NO SENSE Suggesting an economy makes “no landing” makes no sense. Analogies eventually break down, especially this one. Economic activity does not stop like an airplane eventually does, but rather the economy will settle into..

Monday, February 27, 2023

DEBT CEILING PRIMER While concerns about the debt ceiling have been increasing, markets, businesses, and the economy are likely to see only minimal impact until we are days, or maybe a few weeks, from the “x date,” the date on which the...

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Tuesday, February 21, 2023

WHAT’S CHANGED AND WHAT IT COULD MEAN Markets have adjusted to several changes this year. The pace at which inflation has cooled is slowing. The market has started to believe the Federal Reserve’s (Fed) “higher for longer” message.

Monday, February 13, 2023

Navigating the Markets February 13, 2023 TRYING TO STICK THE LANDING LPL Research discusses the potential for a soft landing, the possible role China might play in that, and whether markets are pricing in too much good news.

Monday, February 6, 2023

BRIGHTENING OUTLOOK FOR INTERNATIONAL EQUITIES Investors got more excited about international investing late last year. Some of that was chasing better returns, as developed international equities solidly beat the U.S. over the last...

Monday, January 30, 2023

WILL JANUARY HIT THE TRIFECTA? The script has been flipped in 2023. Last year’s underperformers have turned into outperformers this year, driving the S&P 500 Index up over 5% this month. The pace and composition of the rally have left...

Monday, January 23, 2023

A FEISTY BULL-BEAR DEBATE The latest episode of the debate between stock market bulls and bears has gotten more interesting. For every valid point from one side, there’s an equally compelling argument on the other side. Perhaps the best...

Tuesday, January 17, 2023

Q4 EARNINGS PREVIEW: PESSIMISM MAY BE OVERDONE Fourth quarter earnings season is underway and probably won’t bring much good news. Lackluster global growth, ongoing profit margin pressures from inflation, and negative currency impacts...

Monday, January 9, 2023

LESSONS LEARNED IN 2022 We believe accountability and modesty are among the keys to success in this business. In striving for those qualities, LPL Research has a tradition of starting off a new year with a lessons-learned commentary.

Tuesday, January 3, 2023

2023 MARKET OUTLOOK LPL 2022 was a dizzying year as markets and the global economy continued to find itself out of balance due to the still present aftereffects of the COVID-19 pandemic and the policy response to it.

Monday, December 12, 2022

DECEMBER DOWN BUT NOT OUT Despite the S&P 500 Index starting December with five consecutive days of losses, we think December is down but not out. December often starts slow but historically has been a strong month. There are also some...

Monday, December 5, 2022

RESILIENT CONSUMERS HAVE NOT SAVED RETAIL STOCKSJeffrey Roach, PhD, Chief Economist, LPL FinancialThomas Shipp, CFA, Quantitative Equity Analyst, LPL FinancialEconomic and corporate data support the initial strong reads on holiday...

Monday, November 21, 2022

PLAYBOOK FOR A FED PIVOT Recent inflation data has tempered expectations for future Federal Reserve tightening, including a potential peak in the terminal rate near 5.0% in May or June of 2023. While the market has welcomed this news...

Monday, November 14, 2022

HIGH INFLATION AND RISING RATES SUPPORTED VALUE IN 2022 The growth vs. value debate has been pretty one-sided in 2022, with value outperforming growth for a sustained period for the first time in almost 15 years. However, the debate is...

Monday, November 7, 2022

HOW MIDTERM ELECTIONS MAY MOVE MARKETS Midterm elections are upon us, with Election Day on Tuesday. Republicans are strongly favored to win the House, and the Senate is roughly a tossup. We believe either outcome would be market-friendly...

Monday, October 31, 2022

FEDERAL RESERVE PREVIEW: TRICK OR TREAT? With a series of important economic indicators suggesting the economy is declining and inflation is finally decelerating, albeit very slowly, markets are beginning to factor in that the Fed may...

Monday, October 24, 2022

THREE THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT RECESSIONS If the U.S. economy enters a recession, the causes and potential outcome will be hotly debated. At LPL Research, our starting point is always looking at history.

Monday, October 17, 2022

LOW BAR FOR EARNINGS SEASON Expectations are very low for this earnings season. The challenges are many, with intense cost pressures and slowing economic growth at the top of the list. The chorus of analysts and strategists calling for...

Monday, October 10, 2022

POCKETS OF VULNERABILITIES As Federal Reserve (Fed) officials continue to emphasize the Fed’s commitment towards restoring price stability, the dollar marches ever higher. Markets are currently pricing in another 75-basis point rate hike...

Monday, October 3, 2022

MARKETS ON WATCH AS XI JINPING’S INFLUENCE TO BE TESTED IN OCTOBERQuincy Krosby, Ph.D., Chief Global Strategist, LPL FinancialOn October 16, China will begin its 20th National Congress of the Chinese Communist Party in Beijing....

Monday, September 26, 2022

TAKING ADVANTAGE OF HIGHER YIELDS The LPL Research Strategic and Tactical Asset Allocation Committee is increasing its recommended interest rate exposure in its tactical allocation from underweight to neutral. Now that interest rates...

Monday, September 19, 2022

HOW MUCH HIGHER CAN RATES GO? Inflationary dynamics continue to surprise to the upside, and markets now expect the Fed to pursue one of its most aggressive rate hiking campaign in years. U.S. Treasury yields continue to move higher as well.

Monday, September 12, 2022

GETTING JOBS MARKET BACK INTO BALANCE Federal Reserve Chairman Jay Powell reiterated his warning that getting inflation under control will require some pain. Powell is likely making these warnings based on the arcane, clunky relationship...

Tuesday, September 6, 2022

CALENDAR CRUELTY The difficult 2022 for stocks may not get much easier because as we now wait for better news on the inflation front, we have to contend with a seasonally weak month of September. While we got some welcome news...

Monday, August 29, 2022

EARNINGS RECAP: STILL HANGING IN THERE Earnings growth of 6-7% doesn’t sound very exciting, but given the challenges corporate America has faced, we consider the nearly-complete second-quarter earnings season a resounding success.

Monday, August 22, 2022

WHERE WILL HOUSING GO FROM HERE? Existing home sales fell 5.9% in July, the sixth consecutive month of declines as higher interest rates weigh on housing affordability and prospective buyers. As the housing market slowed, so did prices.

Monday, August 15, 2022

START OF A NEW BULL MARKET? Investors cheered the two better-than-expected inflation reports last week, pushing the S&P 500 to 16% above its June 16 low and only 11% below its all-time high. After this rebound, the key question investors...

Monday, August 8, 2022

CASE FOR RECESSION WEAKENS The market pundits remain intensely focused on the question of whether the U.S. economy is in or about to enter recession, so we thought a piece on what a recession might mean for the stock market...

Monday, August 1, 2022

What a Week That was quite a week. These days a Federal Reserve (Fed) policy meeting alone gets a lot of headlines and has market participants on the edge of their seats. Add to that the second straight quarter of negative gross domestic...

Monday, July 25, 2022

THREE FACTORS THAT COULD CHANGE THE COURSE OF INFLATIONJeffrey Roach, PhD, Chief Economist, LPL FinancialJeffrey Buchbinder, CFA, Equity Strategist, LPL FinancialLawrence Gillum, CFA, Fixed Income Strategist, LPL FinancialFor the past...

Monday, July 18, 2022

MANAGING VOLATILITY Markets rarely give us clear skies, and there are always threats to watch for on the horizon, but the right preparation, context, and support can help us navigate anything that may lie ahead. So far, this year hasn’t...

Friday, July 15, 2022

Markets rarely give us clear skies, and there are always threats to watch for on the horizon, but the right preparation, context, and support can help us navigate anything that may lie ahead.

Tuesday, July 5, 2022

CONSTRUCTIVE, NOT COMPLACENT: LOWERING S&P 500 TARGET Stocks have been unable to make up much ground since the June 16 lows, with a bear market rally amounting to only around a 4.3% gain in the S&P 500 Index since then (as of July 1).

Monday, June 27, 2022

RELIEF AT THE PUMP AND FOR PORTFOLIOS? Let’s start with the single price that matters to consumers most: gas prices. Even if you drive an electric car, it would be hard not to notice the huge increase in gas prices over the past year.

Tuesday, June 21, 2022

BEAR MARKET Q&A The bear market that started on June 13 has left the S&P 500 Index 23.5% below its January 3 high. After the initial positive reaction to the Federal Reserve’s...

Monday, June 13, 2022

IS THE 60/40 PORTFOLIO DEAD? This year has been tough for investors, not just because stocks have fallen but also because bonds have not helped mitigate those losses as they have historically done. Below we discuss the outlook...

Monday, June 6, 2022

ECONOMY SLOWING BUT NOT SHRINKING Many pundits are issuing recession warnings and saying the economy is heading for a hard landing. Amid the cacophony of voices, we think then economy is slowing just like central bankers want but not...

Tuesday, May 31, 2022

Looking Through the Clouds At the risk of sounding cliché, making the case for stocks to stage a second half rally back to the prior highs requires investors to see through some heavy cloud cover. If you prefer another market cliché...

Monday, May 23, 2022

DAWN OF A NEW ERA FOR BONDS Core bond investors have experienced the worst start to the year ever. However tough this year has been so far though (and it has been tough), the potential for future returns has improved meaningfully, in our

Monday, May 16, 2022

CORPORATE AMERICA DELIVERS, MARKET ATTENTION FOCUSED ELSEWHERE First quarter earnings season was solid by just about any measure, but based on recent market behavior it’s obvious that in general market participants paid little attention.

Monday, May 9, 2022

HAVE WE REALLY SEEN EXTREME PESSIMISM YET? It’s been a very tough start to the year with both stocks and bonds down sharply. Adding to the “wall of worry” for investors are the highest levels of U.S. inflation in decades, an aggressive...

Monday, May 2, 2022

“Sell in May and go away” is probably the most widely cited stock market cliché in history. Every year a barrage of Wall Street commentaries, media stories, and investor questions flood in about the popular stock market adage.

Monday, April 25, 2022

BUSINESSES AND CONSUMERS LIKELY PROTECTED FROM NEAR-TERM RECESSION Not all recessions are created equal. Previous downturns in the U.S. were prompted by various shocks, with the most recent recession started by health and government...

Monday, April 18, 2022

WHAT TO WATCH THIS EARNINGS SEASON We expect corporate America to again report earnings above consensus estimates in the first quarter. The consensus estimate is now calling for a 5% year-over-year increase in S&P 500 Index earnings per...

Monday, April 11, 2022

LPL Research reduced U.S. and global GDP forecasts due to Russian commodity disruptions, elevated inflation dynamics, and higher borrowing costs. Still, we expect the U.S. economy to grow 2.7-3.2% in 2022, supported by business investment..

Monday, April 4, 2022

OUR STOCK MARKET FINAL FOUR As the Final Four NCAA Basketball Tournament rolls on in New Orleans, we continue our tradition of picking a stock market final four. We have identified our four key factors for the stock market outlook...

Monday, March 28, 2022

TEMPERING OUR ENTHUSIASM As the stock market recovered from the 2020 pandemic lows, valuations reached levels not seen since the dotcom bubble more than 20 years ago. The reopening economy and massive fiscal stimulus helped fuel one of...

Monday, March 21, 2022

IN DEFENSE OF CORE BONDS Core bond investors have experienced one of the worst starts to the year ever, potentially calling into question the validity of bonds in a portfolio. Despite the poor start, we don’t think the value proposition...

Monday, March 14, 2022

READY, SET, HIKE The Federal Reserve (Fed) meets this week and in all likelihood will raise short-term interest rates for the first time since emergency levels of monetary accommodation were provided to markets after the COVID-19 shutdowns.

Monday, March 7, 2022

DOWNSHIFT IN U.S. GROWTH BUT STILL ABOVE TREND We currently expect the U.S. economy to grow 3.7% in 2022. The risks are to the downside since the Fed may err on tightening too fast, the recent commodity spike may trickle down to the U.S...

Monday, February 28, 2022

HOW SOON ARE RATE HIKES COMING? With inflationary pressures running higher than many central bankers are comfortable with, calls for interest rate hikes have become louder. A number of important central bank meetings are set to take...

Tuesday, February 22, 2022

STRONG EARNINGS MOMENTUM TO START 2022 Corporate America has capped off an outstanding 2021 with an excellent fourth quarter earnings season so far. Entering 2021, the consensus estimate for S&P 500 Index earnings per share (EPS) was less..

Monday, February 14, 2022

THE VALENTINE’S DAY INDEX High inflation continues to cloud the economic outlook while its impact on the potential path of rate hikes has left markets unsettled. Inflation is a serious topic, but occasionally it’s useful to revisit it...

Monday, February 7, 2022

WHICH REGION WILL GET THE GOLD IN 2022? The near-10% correction in the S&P 500 Index and even larger drawdown in the Nasdaq have gotten a lot of attention this year. What hasn’t gotten as much attention—and maybe surprising to some—is...

Monday, January 31, 2022

SUSTAINABLE INVESTING YEAR IN REVIEW Sustainable investing hit several milestones in 2021, but continued to attract its critics. Below we look at how sustainable investing fits within the broader concept of sustainability, its growth...

Monday, January 24, 2022

POTENTIAL CATALYSTS FOR A TURNAROUND After a tough start for stocks in 2022, investors are looking for reasons to expect a rebound. After more than doubling off the pandemic lows in March 2020, without anything more than a 5% pullback in

Tuesday, January 18, 2022

DON’T EXPECT THE FED TO END THIS BULL ANYTIME SOON The Federal Reserve (Fed) has engineered a massive hawkish shift, causing a bit more stock market volatility recently. But how worried should investors be? Here we take a look back at...

Monday, January 10, 2022

Monday, January 3, 2022

THREE 2021 MARKET LESSONS FOR 2022 In many ways, 2021 was a typical year for markets, but it also reinforced some basic market lessons that are hard to learn, even if they are not new. As we launch into the New Year, we’re highlighting...

Monday, December 20, 2021

STOCK MARKET OUTLOOK We expect solid economic and earnings growth in 2022 to help U.S. stocks deliver additional gains next year. If we are approaching—or are already in—the middle of an economic cycle with at least a few more years left...

Monday, December 13, 2021

ECONOMIC OUTLOOK 2022 We believe pent-up demand, gradual improvement in supply chain challenges, solid labor force growth, and productivity gains will all contribute to another year of above-trend economic growth in 2022.

Monday, December 6, 2021

WILL OMICRON RUIN THE SANTA RALLY? Historically, December has been a great month for stocks, but now we have the Omicron variant causing major volatility and uncertainty. Still, we remain optimistic that the new worries will subside over..

Monday, November 22, 2021

THREE REASONS TO BE THANKFULRyan Detrick, CMT, Chief Market Strategist, LPL FinancialScott Brown, CMT, Senior Analyst, LPL Financial There are only six weeks to go in 2021 and it has been an incredible year for the stock market bulls....

Monday, November 15, 2021

A PEEK AT PEAK INFLATION: FIVE SIGNALS TO WATCH FOR After an updside inflation surprise in October, it’s clear that peak inflation may still be ahead, possibly even pushing into 2022. While the Federal Reserve (Fed) maintains its position

Monday, November 8, 2021

DEVELOPED INTERNATIONAL: IF NOT NOW, WHEN? Since we began our investing careers, we’ve had the concept of diversification drilled into our heads. Some refer to it as the only free lunch in investing. Well, when it comes to geography, that..

Monday, November 1, 2021

FIVE THINGS THAT MIGHT SPOOK MARKETS With Halloween over the weekend, what better to write about this week than what scares us? If our positive near-term market outlook proves to be overly optimistic, we believe one—or perhaps more than...

Monday, October 25, 2021

BULLISH SETUP INTO YEAR-END The S&P 500 Index has gained more than 20% so far this year, making more than 50 record highs along the way. Certainly nobody should be upset with that return if that was all 2021 brought us. However, we see...

Monday, October 18, 2021

Q3 EARNINGS PREVIEW: LESS UPSIDE We have used most of the superlatives we know to describe corporate America’s stunning performances over the past two earnings seasons. Despite lofty expectations, results exceeded estimates by the biggest..

Monday, October 11, 2021

ANSWERING THE TOP DEBT CEILING QUESTIONS Last week, Congress was able to push back a fast-approaching deadline for raising the debt ceiling to December. Markets applauded the move with a relief rally. Despite decreased uncertainty in the...

Monday, October 4, 2021

EARLY THOUGHTS ON 2022 With the fourth quarter underway—historically the best quarter for stocks, by the way—2022 is fast approaching. While a lot can still happen between now and the end of 2021, we don’t think it’s too early to start

Monday, September 27, 2021

September 27, 2021TO Z OR NOT TO Z: WHY THE SHAPE OF THE RECOVERY STILL MATTERS. Early in the recovery, there was a lot of debate about what “shape” it would take. There were letters, such as V, U, W, L, and K, and shapes, such as...

Monday, September 20, 2021

REVISITING OUR 10-YEAR TREASURY YIELD FORECAST Until recently, we expected the 10-year Treasury yield to end the year between 1.75% and 2.0%. Now, however, there are two key elements suggesting we are unlikely to see significantly higher...

Monday, September 13, 2021

Several policy-related risks loom in September and October that may lead to an increase in market volatility. The debt ceiling needs to be raised (likely by mid-October), the government needs to be funded to avoid a shutdown by the end of..

Monday, August 30, 2021

First and foremost, this week’s commentary should not be construed to suggest that we are saying stocks will go up forever. We are also not saying that stocks are immune from a pullback in the final four months of 2021. Corrections are a...

Monday, August 23, 2021

The term stagflation has been circulating increasingly in the financial media as inflation readings have risen sharply in recent months. The term is often associated with the 1970s, which saw runaway inflation—largely driven by sky-high

Monday, August 16, 2021

Corporate America did it again. Companies blew by estimates and made strategists and analysts look silly (though we humbly suggest that we may have looked less silly than most in our earnings preview on July 12). S&P 500 earnings growth did

Monday, August 9, 2021

The highly transmissible Delta variant of COVID-19 now makes up an overwhelming majority of the new cases in the U.S., bringing with it a rise in cases and hospitalizations. Widespread vaccine distribution and distancing measures have...

Monday, July 26, 2021

2021 has been a very strong year for both stocks and the economy, but that doesn’t mean there haven’t been some surprises. Below we take a look at some things that have happened so far in 2021 that have surprised the LPL Research team.

Monday, July 19, 2021

It is hard to believe we have passed the halfway point of 2021. After a 2020 that would never end, the first six months of 2021 flew by. With the second half underway, we have updated our views of the markets and economy in LPL Research’s

Monday, July 12, 2021

We ran out of superlatives to describe corporate America’s stunning performance during first-quarter earnings season. Despite lofty expections, results exceeded expectations by one of the biggest margins ever. So what will companies do for

Monday, June 28, 2021

Markets are off to a strong start this year, with the S&P 500 Index up about 14% so far. However, most of those gains came early in the year, and many stocks have stagnated over recent months. While we remain overweight on stocks...

Monday, June 21, 2021

Inflation has been on the rise. Investors are not as interested in what’s happening now as they are in what’s happening next. Meanwhile, the Federal Reserve (Fed) shared its views at the conclusion of its last policy meeting on Wednesday, J

Monday, June 14, 2021

On May 27, 2021, a couple of events in the energy sector occurred that demonstrated the continued mainstreaming of sustainable investing and underscored the risks and opportunities available to investors.

Monday, June 7, 2021

June 7, 2021 POLICY SHIFTS MAY CHALLENGE MARKETS Barry Gilbert, PhD, CFA, Asset Allocation Strategist, LPL Financial Ryan Detrick, CMT, Chief Market Strategist, LPL Financial Fiscal stimulus, which was central to the market rebound...

Tuesday, June 1, 2021

June 1, 2021 PROCEED WITH CAUTION IN THE BOND MARKET Lawrence Gillum, CFA, Fixed Income Strategist, LPL FinancialRyan Detrick, CMT, Chief Market Strategist, LPL Financial After one of the worst starts to a year for fixed income,...

Monday, May 24, 2021

STOCK MARKET GAINS LIKELY TO SLOW After one of the best starts to a bull market in history, the rally has started to show signs of fatigue.A strong economic recovery lies ahead as the reopening continues, bolstering a very strong...

Monday, May 24, 2021

Where to Invest with Higher Inflation Wednesday, May 19, 2021 Inflation is all the rage after last week’s much hotter than expected inflation numbers. Our base case remains that this period of higher inflation will be transitory...

Monday, November 2, 2020

An Election Pattern You Might Not Know About Posted by lplresearch Economic Blog With Election Day a mere five days away, we at LPL Research thought we would add one last election forecaster to the mix of what we’ve presented...

Saturday, July 18, 2020

With tax rates at near historical lows and governments around the world spending trillions of dollars to protect their weakened economies from the devastating effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, it seems inevitable that tax rates could...

Sunday, June 14, 2020

If you and I got together 10 years from now, what would we be celebrating? Who would you be and what would you be doing? What can I look forward to with you? My friend Benjamin has a new book called Personality Isn't Permanent. Read...

Thursday, May 21, 2020

If you’re like most of us, you’ve probably been thinking about your health quite a bit lately — especially if you’re approaching retirement. Trust me, I understand. Anticipating your future medical costs can...

Tuesday, May 5, 2020

Are you or someone you know currently making federal student loan payments? In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, some welcome relief may be on the way.Thanks to the recent passage of the CARES Act, the U.S. Department of Education will...

Wednesday, April 29, 2020

As of Friday, April 24, the Internal Revenue Service said it had issued 88 million payments to individuals across the country. It plans to send out more than 150 million payments as part of the overall Economic Impact Payments program...

Monday, April 6, 2020

As I am sure you know, the $2 trillion Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act was recently signed into law. The CARES Act is designed to help those most impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, while also providing key...

Monday, February 10, 2020

According to The Holmes-Rahe Stress Inventory, the accidental death of a spouse is the most stressful life event a person can have. At 37 years-old, Christi Staib's life was turned upside down without warning when her husband drowned

Wednesday, January 29, 2020

The powerful benefits of thoughtful action When people are confronted with adversity, opportunity or both, they often react quickly—with the intention of dealing with the situation rapidly and moving forward. These reflexively...

Thursday, January 2, 2020

It seems, sometimes, as though financial professionals come in only two flavors. There are those who promise everything is going to be fine; And then there are the hand-wringers who just can't stop with the worrying - read more here....

Thursday, December 19, 2019

Americans, especially the affluent, are some of the most charitable people in the world. Chances are, you use some of your wealth to support favorite causes or organizations that are important to you.

Friday, November 29, 2019

Estate planning—the process for how you transfer your wealth to heirs and others—can be very important for anyone who wants to be certain that their loved ones are adequately provided for and taken care of. When done well,...

Wednesday, October 30, 2019

Significant wealth can reduce many of life’s trouble—but it can’t eliminate them entirely. Even the richest among us have fears. What’s more, they often share many of the same worries the rest of us have. But...

Monday, September 30, 2019

How Playing the Long Game Could Help Build Wealth and Success Many extremely wealthy people have a much better handle than others on a key concept of success: the long game. The long game means having a concrete vision of your ideal...

Wednesday, September 4, 2019

Four Ways the Super Rich Manage Their Wealth The self-made Super Rich—people with a net worth of at least $500 million that they built through their own hard work—often possess a treasure trove of knowledge, insights and...

Monday, July 29, 2019

Work Smarter—Not Harder! Reclaim your time and energy to live your best life Each of us has just 168 hours per week to accomplish our tasks and goals—at work, at home and out in the world. If you feel like you spend too...

Wednesday, July 17, 2019

LPL Research Outlook 2019: FUNDAMENTAL: How to Focus on What Really Matters in the Markets is filled with investment insights and market guidance for the year ahead. LPL Financial Research believes that even as investors face prospects...

Friday, June 28, 2019

Estate Planning: Don’t Forget Your Pet! If you are part of the 68 percent of U.S. households that own a pet[1], you probably think of it as a true member of the family—one you love and cherish. But what would happen to that...

Thursday, June 13, 2019

What recent graduates (and their parents) need to think about. Spring is here, summer weather has begun (in many places), and graduation time has arrived. Across the country, students are finishing their high school, college, and even...

Thursday, June 6, 2019

As time goes by, planning for a child’s college education is more challenging than ever before. The saving or investing method you choose will depend on your child’s age, as well as your financial resources. Other...

Wednesday, June 5, 2019

Life insurance can be an extremely important, even essential, part of your financial plan. One of its most attractive aspects for many individuals and families is the death benefit of the policy— the money that the insurance...

Wednesday, May 29, 2019

With the bull market 10 years old and the economic cycle about to reach 10 years, the big question is how much longer can it go? To answer this question we will take a closer look at our Five Forecasters for late-cycle warnings....

Wednesday, May 22, 2019

Global uncertainty has dominated the direction of long-term interest rates recently. Nominal Treasury yields have converged with breakeven rates, or market expectations for inflation (calculated from Treasury Inflation-Protected...

Wednesday, May 15, 2019

Trade fears drove stocks to their worst week of the year, down 2% after President Trump placed higher tariffs on $200 billion of Chinese goods and threatened fresh tariffs on an additional $325 billion in Chinese goods after the...

Wednesday, May 8, 2019

Dear Valued Investor: If it seems like the financial markets have been off to an unusually strong start to the year—you are correct. The S&P 500 Index has risen for four consecutive months, resulting in the strongest start to a...

Wednesday, May 8, 2019

Diversified investors were the big winners in the first four months of this year. As shown in the LPL Chart of the Day, both stocks and bonds have posted strong rallies through the first four months of this year, thanks to increased...

Wednesday, May 1, 2019

One of the most popular investment axioms is about to take over the airwaves: “Sell in May and Go Away.” That’s because the upcoming six months(from May until the end of October) have historically been the weakest...

Thursday, April 25, 2019

It’s been said that a man with health has a thousand dreams, while a man with no health has but one. Don’t you owe it to yourself, your family, your career and your community to have not only a thousand dreams, but also...

Thursday, April 25, 2019

Each month you settle down to pay bills. You pay your mortgage lender. You pay the electric company. You pay the trash collector. But do you pay yourself? One of the most basic tenets of sound investing involves the simple habit of...

Thursday, April 25, 2019

How much do you really know about your employer-sponsored retirement savings plan? If you're like many people, you have many ideas about how your plan works, which may or may not be entirely accurate. To gauge your knowledge, take...

Thursday, April 25, 2019

What would happen if you or your child caused a car accident that resulted in serious injuries or the deaths of others? How would you pay for the treatment and damages of someone who was hurt in your home and claimed negligence? What...

Wednesday, April 24, 2019

The wait is over. After more than seven months, the S&P 500 Index notched a fresh all-time closing high of 2,933.68 on April 23. To get here, investors have weathered back-and-forth in trade negotiations, a historic government...

Tuesday, April 23, 2019

Do you picture yourself owning a new home, starting a business, or retiring comfortably? These are a few of the financial goals that may be important to you, and each comes with a price tag attached. That's where financial planning...

Tuesday, April 23, 2019

The loss of a spouse can be a devastating, life-changing event. Due to longer life expectancies, women are more likely to face this situation. Becoming a widow at any age can be one of the most difficult challenges a woman must face....

Monday, April 22, 2019

Investing with an eye toward promoting social, political, or environmental concerns (or at least not supporting activities you feel are harmful) doesn't mean you have to forgo pursuing a return on your money. Socially responsible...

Thursday, April 18, 2019

If you have a refund check coming your way, consider using it to bolster your personal balance sheet. The average refund is usually around $3,000, and most people receive the money within three weeks of filing their returns. That's a...

Wednesday, April 17, 2019

After such a strong rally this year, you may be wondering what could drive stocks higher from here. With the S&P 500 Index near its all-time high, a lot of good news could be priced in to stocks. At the same time, disappointments...

Tuesday, April 16, 2019

Here’s why you need to knowAs a successful person with big goals, you require truly valuable financial advice that maximizes your ability to pursue your most important personal and professional financial objectives.That means you...

Friday, April 12, 2019

Do you have a yearly tradition of reviewing your financial plan? It is Masters time again. The 2019 Masters Tournament begins on April 11th, continuing an April tradition that started in 1934. Why is the Masters so special? Well, it...

Thursday, April 11, 2019

If you’ve amassed sizable wealth, or are on the right path and getting there, it may be time to consider how to pass on some of that money to children and grandchildren—without creating big problems that could harm their...

Wednesday, April 10, 2019

April brings showers, baseball, and historically, the best month of the year for the S&P 500 Index (for the last 20 years). On top of that, the S&P 500 had its best first quarter since 1998, and in March we celebrated the 10-year...

Friday, April 5, 2019

Women are increasingly taking responsibility for managing their own money. That includes those who in the past may have left investing to a spouse because they were busy raising a family or had no interest in the subject, but who have...

Friday, April 5, 2019

Stretching an IRA into FutureGenerations Imagine that you could wave a magic wand and turn your new grandchild into a millionaire for a head start in life. Believe it or not, even a relatively modest amount tucked away using a...

Wednesday, April 3, 2019

Seasonality could be on the bull’s side, especially after U.S. stocks’ best first quarter in 20 years. As shown in the LPL Chart of the Day, April has consistently been one of the strongest months for U.S. stocks. Over the...

Friday, March 29, 2019

According to the National Association of Women Business Owners, there are 11.6 million women-owned businesses, employing nearly 9 million people and generating $1.7 trillion in sales in 2017.1 Many of these businesses started small,...

Wednesday, March 27, 2019

The Conference Board’s Leading Economic Index (LEI) is one of our favorite economic indicators. It is designed to predict future movements in the economy based on a composite of 10 economic indicators (like manufacturers’...

Wednesday, March 27, 2019

Divorce can be a lengthy process that may strain your finances and leave you feeling out of control. But with the right preparation, you can protect your interests, take charge of your future, and save yourself time and money. You...

Tuesday, March 26, 2019

Myth: Social Security will provide most of the income you need in retirement. Fact: It's likely that Social Security will provide a smaller portion of retirement income than you expect. There's no doubt about it — Social...

Friday, March 22, 2019

Being named the executor of a family member’s (or other loved one’s) estate is, in many ways, an honor. The decision shows that the person saw you as a highly trustworthy, capable person of integrity.But it’s also a...

Wednesday, March 20, 2019

After dropping nearly 20% late last year, the S&P 500 Index has officially bounced up more than 20% from the December 24 lows. As we noted at the time, most bear markets that take place in a non-recessionary environment tend to bottom...

Wednesday, March 13, 2019

The S&P 500 Index corrected nearly 20% from the September peak until December 24 before staging a furious rally of 19%. What could happen next? A well-deserved pullback would be perfectly normal, and in fact, is probably needed before...

Monday, March 11, 2019

The S&P 500 Index has staged an impressive rally after nearly entering a bear market December 24, with U.S. stocks notching their best start to a year since 1991. Stocks have climbed the “wall of worry” once again, but...

Wednesday, March 6, 2019

U.S. stocks’ recent momentum has been historically impressive by many measures, and the Nasdaq Composite Index notched another milestone last week. The Nasdaq has risen for the past 10 weeks, its longest winning streak in 19...

Friday, March 1, 2019

There’s a great quote by Jean-Paul Sartre: “We are our choices.” When it comes to our happiness and our overall success in life, that’s truer than you might have realized.Taking time to examine the choices you...

Wednesday, February 27, 2019

After gaining 7.8% in January, the S&P 500 Index has added another 3.3% so far in February for a grand total year-to-date return of 11.4%. With two days to go, currently this is the best first two months of the year since 1987. As we...

Monday, February 25, 2019

If you're a decade or so away from retirement, you've probably spent at least some time thinking about this major life change. How will you manage the transition? Will you travel, take up a new sport or hobby, or spend more time with...

Friday, February 22, 2019

Planning for marriage should involve more than just picking out invitations and deciding whether you should serve chicken or fish at the reception. More importantly, you'll want to take a look at how marriage will impact your...

Wednesday, February 20, 2019

Economic data have consistently missed expectations recently as investors and Wall Street have struggled to quantify the impact of global trade and political risks. As shown in the LPL Chart of the Day, the Bloomberg U.S. Economic...

Friday, February 15, 2019

It's a fact: People today are living longer. Although that's good news, the odds of requiring some sort of long-term care increase as you get older. And as the costs of home care, nursing homes, and assisted living escalate, you...

Wednesday, February 13, 2019

“Bulls make money, bears make money, and pigs get slaughtered.” Old Wall Street saying. The Chinese New Year (often called the Lunar New Year) kicked off Tuesday, February 5, and with it came the Year of the Pig. Although...

Friday, February 8, 2019

Ever since a legal secretary named Ida May Fuller received the first retirement benefit check in 1940, women have been counting on Social Security to provide much-needed retirement income. Social Security provides other important...

Wednesday, February 6, 2019

Diversified investors just capped one of their best months of the current economic cycle. In January, the S&P 500 Index posted its biggest monthly gain since October 2015. At the same time, the Bloomberg Barclays Aggregate Bond Index...

Wednesday, January 30, 2019

The Super Bowl indicator suggests that stocks rise for the full year when the Super Bowl winner comes from the original National Football League (now the NFC), but when an original American Football League (now the AFC) team wins,...

Tuesday, January 29, 2019

Why do most avoid this important investment? Why do so many of us not use our vacation days? Salespeople talk about “leaving money on the table.” Well, employees leave vacation on the table. And the cost to us is...

Wednesday, January 23, 2019

The big bounce off the December 24 lows continued last week, as the S&P 500 Index added 2.9% for the week. In fact, it has gained 2.9%, 1.9%, 2.5%, and 2.9% over the past four weeks for a total gain of 10.5%. Of course, the S&P 500...

Wednesday, January 23, 2019

The foundations of your estate planFor so many of us, family is paramount. You probably expect to use your wealth to take care of your family in the here and now—health care, travel, college tuition and the like. But chances are...

Wednesday, January 16, 2019

Yesterday’s U.K. Parliament vote was another bump in the road for Brexit. As shown in the LPL Chart of the Day, the British pound and the euro have steadily declined over the past few months, weighed down in large part by...

Thursday, January 10, 2019

The Super Rich (those with a net worth of $500 million or more) who have family offices typically engage a sizable lineup of professional advisors to help them create and implement financial plans. To help ensure those plans are both...

Wednesday, January 9, 2019

Stocks have rebounded strongly off the December lows, with the S&P 500 Index adding 2% in January to its 7% gain over the last week of 2018. We see potential for further gains ahead given the fundamentals supporting economic growth...

Wednesday, January 2, 2019

Recent Federal Reserve (Fed) rhetoric has spooked financial markets, especially as uncertainty has clouded investors’ horizons. But we still believe the fundamental U.S. economic landscape is compelling, and despite market...

Tuesday, January 1, 2019

Whether retirement is around the corner or decades away, there are more options than ever to help you plan for it. Let’s look at Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs) and 401(k) plans, which offer tax benefits that can help you...

Friday, December 28, 2018

On Monday, the S&P 500 Index came about as close as possible to the technical definition of a bear market without officially registering one (defined as a 20% or larger decline based on closing prices). Enduring these sharp declines...

Wednesday, December 26, 2018

However much you make or save now doesn’t promise you a bright financial future. Life is unpredictable. Follow these 10 tips to prevent you and your family from money troubles. See a lawyer and make a will. If you have a will,...

Wednesday, December 26, 2018

S&P 500 Index Reaches Bear Market on an Intra-Day Basis. While the S&P 500 Index is technically not in a bear market by the most widely used definition (20% or more decline based on closing prices), it is important to recognize that...

Wednesday, December 19, 2018

So far it’s been rough for stocks in December, a month that has historically been bullish. How bad has it been? After 10 trading days, we’re off to the worst start to December since 1980! In fact, the S&P 500 Index is...

Monday, December 17, 2018

We are pleased to announce the release of the LPL Research Outlook 2019: FUNDAMENTAL: How to Focus on What Really Matters in the Markets, filled with investment insights and market guidance for the year ahead. After nearly 10 years of...

Friday, December 14, 2018

As the end of the year approaches, it's time to consider strategies that could help you reduce your tax bill. But most tax tips, suggestions, and strategies are of little practical help without a good understanding of your current tax...

Wednesday, November 7, 2018

The potential outcomes of the midterm elections have been dominating the news cycle lately, and we know from history that the markets typically do not like uncertainty. With the Democrats taking control of the House of Representatives,...

Wednesday, October 31, 2018

This modern twist on the Ben Franklin maxim reflects the multiplicity of taxes to which earnings are subject in today’s world.¹ Finding ways to manage expenses is one of the cornerstones of a sound financial strategy. Here...

Thursday, October 25, 2018

October has been a rough month for equities, but then again it’s historically been one of the most volatile periods of the year. “October is known for volatility, and we’ve sure seen it so far,” explained...

Monday, October 22, 2018

There’s a great quote by Jean-Paul Sartre: “We are our choices.” When it comes to our happiness and our overall success in life, that’s truer than you might have realized. Taking time to examine the choices you...

Wednesday, October 17, 2018

After more than three months without a single 1% change (up or down) for the S&P 500 Index, volatility came back—and in a big way—this past week. This brings up an interesting question: What would happen if you could avoid...

Monday, October 15, 2018

Do you have a will? A will enables you to specify who you want to inherit your property and other assets. A will also enables you to name a guardian for your minor children. Do you have healthcare documents in place? Healthcare...

Thursday, October 11, 2018

Stocks just had their worst one-day drop since February, as a combination of higher bond yields, U.S./China tensions, nervousness over the upcoming midterm elections, six straight months of gains, and worries about peak margins this...

Wednesday, October 10, 2018

Women must be ready to spend, on average, more years in retirement than men.

Monday, October 1, 2018

Many parents teach their children the ABCs at a very young age, but do they teach them the ABCs of good credit? At certain points in life, everyone must deal with banks, loans, credit, and finances. You may have learned your lessons...

Tuesday, September 18, 2018

A successful investor maximizes gain and minimizes loss. Though there can be no guarantee that any investment strategy will be successful and all investing involves risk, including the possible loss of principal, here are six basic...

Tuesday, August 21, 2018

Similar to taking care of your personal health by proactively incorporating healthy habits and annual checkups, you can also take control of your financial health when you are proactive and engaged in managing your finances. And also...

Monday, August 6, 2018

It’s not simply a matter of working harder; it’s much more about using your non-financial skills and talents in new ways to bring you prosperity and a greater sense of personal satisfaction. Here are five tips to follow...

Tuesday, July 24, 2018

College marks a great milestone in a child's life. It may be the first time he or she will live away from home. Dropping off your child at college may be an experience loaded with emotions, so here are a few tips for a smoother...

Tuesday, July 24, 2018

College won’t pay for itself. How will you pay for it? You may have more choices than you think. Is creating a college fund on your to-do list? Consider these options. 529 plans. Anyone can contribute to these savings vehicles....

Friday, July 20, 2018

Smart Ways to Take Control of a Trust Many successful families use trusts to minimize taxes, transfer wealth and protect assets from creditors and others. You may have already set up a trust, or you may hold an inheritance you received...

Wednesday, July 11, 2018

The recently released LPL Research Midyear Outlook 2018: The Plot Thickens is filled with investment insights and market guidance to take us through the rest of the year. So far this year, the return of the business cycle has brought...

Monday, June 18, 2018

The summer months are almost underway, which means that both vacations and midyear check-ins are ahead. As we approach the midpoint of 2018, many of us will take this opportunity to reflect on what we’ve seen so far and what may...

Monday, February 5, 2018

The enactment of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act represents “the most sweeping overhaul of the U.S. tax code in more than 30 years.”1 For millions of Americans and businesses it means an altered financial and investment landscape...