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Welcome to the CW360 Corner where we share our insights on markets, planning, and tax strategies for individuals, families, business owners, and executives. If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to reach out!

Monday, March 30, 2026

Equities and bonds were mixed for the first time in 4 weeks as Middle East tensions rage on. Short-term bonds inched higher last week, while longer-term bonds dropped for the 4th consecutive week.Small cap, mid-cap, and international...

Monday, March 2, 2026

Stocks fell last week amid concerns about artificial intelligence (AI) and a warmer-than-expected reading of wholesale inflation. The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index fell 0.44 percent, while the Nasdaq Composite Index declined 0.95 percent...

Monday, February 9, 2026

Stocks were mixed last week, with broad gains on Monday and Friday bookending midweek selling pressure as investors digested earnings results from more than 100 S&P 500 companies.The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index ended the week roughly...

Monday, February 2, 2026

Stocks were mixed last week as investors navigated Q4 corporate results, a widely expected Fed decision, and a handful of economic reports.The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index rose 0.34 percent, while the Nasdaq Composite Index edged down 0...

Monday, January 19, 2026

Stocks ended last week with modest losses after a volatile five days of market-moving economic data, geopolitics, and Fed drama.The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index slid 0.38 percent, while the Nasdaq Composite Index skidded 0.66 percent....

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Tuesday, January 6, 2026

When you see the word “forecast,” it should be closely followed by, “Forecasts are based on assumptions and are subject to revisions over time. Financial, economic, political, and regulatory issues may cause the actual results to...

Friday, December 5, 2025

In the year of our lord, 2025, investing hasn't always been easy or fun, but despite some of the volatility, equities are higher and on pace for third consecutive calendar year double-digit return. This week, we turn our attention to...

Monday, November 24, 2025

Heightened volatility was on Wall Street’s mind last week, as investors continued to focus on valuations of artificial intelligence (AI) stocks. The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index fell 1.95 percent, while the Nasdaq Composite Index...

Monday, November 17, 2025

Stocks ended mixed after a nail-biting week for investors, who grew anxious over megacap tech valuations and interest rates as the government shutdown came to an end. The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index edged up 0.08 percent, while the...

Monday, October 27, 2025

Stocks rose last week thanks to a full slate of upbeat third-quarter corporate results and mild inflation data, which helped soften concerns over trade tensions with China. The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index gained 1.92 percent, while...

Monday, October 20, 2025

Stocks pushed higher last week, buoyed by strong third-quarter results posted by several money center banks. The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index gained 1.70 percent, while the Nasdaq Composite Index rose 2.14 percent. The Dow Jones...

Monday, October 13, 2025

Stocks fell last week amid concerns about trade with China, following an unsteady rally to record highs over the first half of the week. The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index fell 2.43 percent, while the Nasdaq Composite Index declined 2.53...

Tuesday, September 30, 2025

Stocks fell last week, buffeted by concerns about stock price valuations and a possible government shutdown. The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index declined 0.31 percent, while the Nasdaq Composite Index lost 0.65 percent. The Dow Jones...

Monday, September 15, 2025

Stocks posted a solid gain last week, riding a rally in megacap tech stocks while overcoming interest rate anxiety, a downward revision to jobs data, and mixed inflation reports. The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index rose 1.59 percent,...

Monday, September 8, 2025

Stocks made gains last week, even as megacap tech gains outweighed economic concerns. The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index advanced 0.33 percent, while the Nasdaq Composite Index rose 1.14 percent. The Dow Jones Industrial Average...

Saturday, September 6, 2025

There’s something for everyone in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act of 2025. In fact, the Tax Foundation calculated that the new law avoided a tax hike on 62 percent of tax filers in 2026. In dollars and cents, that works out to almost...

Monday, August 4, 2025

Stocks fell last week as investors assessed progress on trade negotiations, new U.S. tariffs, and fresh data on the U.S. economy. The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index fell 2.36 percent, while the Nasdaq Composite Index declined 2.17...

Friday, July 25, 2025

Just before the July 4th holiday, Congress passed a domestic policy bill that extended the 2017 tax cuts that were set to expire this year while making some of the 2017 rules permanent. The bill also created several new tax laws for...

Sunday, June 15, 2025

Stocks fell last week as an up-and-down mix of trade progress and anxiety, economic news, and geopolitical tensions netted out. The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index slid 0.39 percent, while the Nasdaq Composite Index slipped 0.63 percent....

Tuesday, June 10, 2025

Stocks rallied last week as investors responded to upbeat economic data and easing trade tensions. The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index added 1.50 percent, while the Nasdaq Composite Index rose 2.18 percent. The Dow Jones Industrial...

Tuesday, June 3, 2025

Stocks advanced over the short trading week, bolstered by a possible trade deal with the European Union (EU) and an upbeat corporate report from a mega-cap tech company that creates semiconductors used in the creation of artificial...

Monday, May 19, 2025

Stocks roared higher last week, powered by upbeat trade news and tame inflation reports. The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index rose 5.27 percent, while the Nasdaq Composite Index spiked 7.15 percent. The Dow Jones Industrial Average added 3...

Monday, April 21, 2025

U.S. stocks slipped over the shortened trading week as Q1 corporate reports started to roll in. The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index dropped 1.50 percent, while the Nasdaq Composite Index fell 2.62 percent. The Dow Jones Industrial Average...

Monday, April 14, 2025

Stocks ended the week with a strong gain as traders continued to focus on tariff talks while appearing to overlook upbeat news on inflation. The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index rose 5.70 percent, while the Nasdaq Composite Index gained 7...

Monday, March 24, 2025

Stocks notched a solid gain last week as upbeat comments from the Fed helped stocks snap their four-week losing streak. The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index rose 0.51 percent, while the Nasdaq Composite Index picked up 0.17 percent. The...

Friday, March 21, 2025

Tariffs have not only confused investors, but now the Fed seems to be puzzled. It's not like we have anything to go by from past experience - or do we? This week's musings is inspired by the 1984 hit song, "Dancing In The Dark."...

Monday, March 17, 2025

Investors endured another volatile, whipsaw week as ongoing trade talks and White House comments about the economy unsettled investors. The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index declined 2.27 percent, while the Nasdaq Composite Index dropped 2...

Monday, March 10, 2025

Stocks continued their slide through a volatile week. U.S. trade policy drove much of the market’s movement, broadening investors' concerns about economic growth and inflation. The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index declined 3.10 percent,...

Friday, March 7, 2025

Market Moves Erratic Of Late Whether it's news about tariffs or the latest economic release, markets seem to be jittery with each passing headline. Students of history realize that markets are adjusting to new policies in D.C. and...

Tuesday, March 4, 2025

Stocks were mixed last week as investor concerns over inflation and trade policy combined to produce another volatile trading week. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 0.95 percent, while the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index lost 0.98...

Monday, February 24, 2025

Stocks fell last week as concerns about sticky inflation and the pace of economic growth rattled investors. The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index declined 1.66 percent, while the Nasdaq Composite Index dropped 2.51 percent. The Dow Jones...

Friday, February 21, 2025

Why Phones Have Become a Leading Source of Cyberattacks Smartphones have emerged as a prevalent channel for cyberattacks due to their continuous internet connectivity, the vast troves of personal data they carry, and their frequent...

Friday, February 21, 2025

Expected, Or Unexpected Is recent market activity to be expected or unexpected? It probably depends upon your point of view. That theme is why we were inspired by the 1988 movie, "Rain Man." Unexpected dialogue and unexpected...

Tuesday, February 18, 2025

Stocks advanced last week despite some intra-week volatility as investors showed concern about the economy's strength. The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index gained 1.47 percent, while the Nasdaq Composite Index picked up 2.58 percent. The...

Friday, February 14, 2025

Investing Is A Marathon Sometimes, sage wisdom comes not in the form of new ideas, but the phrasing of existing ideas. A long-held belief in investing is that it involves risk. However, I heard someone this week say it in a different...

Monday, February 10, 2025

Stocks posted modest losses last week as tariff deals, January jobs data, and Q4 corporate reports injected volatility into markets. The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index slipped 0.24 percent, while the Nasdaq Composite Index lost 0.53...

Friday, February 7, 2025

Depending upon your point of view, markets have either disappointed you lately or performed as expected. Life is unpredictable and so are markets. That’s the theme for this week’s musings - you never know what to...

Monday, February 3, 2025

Stocks were mixed last week as investors parsed market-moving news nearly every trading day—from an unsettling AI update to White House news to Q4 corporate reports. The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index fell 1.00 percent while the Nasdaq...

Friday, January 31, 2025

Disruptions Among High Valuations Once in a while, a disruptor comes along and changes the way people think or the way things are normally done. That is the theme this week with the emergence of DeepSeek and how it may have changed...

Friday, January 24, 2025

Valuations Have Consequences - Amazingly, valuations and concentrations continue to grow. While investors are benefitting today, there are always consequences down the road. That serves as the inspiration for this week's musings, the...

Tuesday, January 21, 2025

Stocks roared back last week, fueled by upbeat Q4 corporate reports and economic news that stalled inflationary fears. The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index rose 2.91 percent, while the Nasdaq Composite Index advanced 2.45 percent. The Dow...

Friday, January 17, 2025

Fundamentals Or Emotion? Sometimes in life you just have to laugh. Fed speakers waffle, markets turn on a dime, and investors ignore fundamentals. Life is crazy sometimes - hence, the inspiration for this week's musings, the 1981 film...

Wednesday, January 15, 2025

Inflation is a very personal experience. How it affects you largely depends on the products and services you consistently buy. Over the years, some of you have developed different ways to measure how inflation impacts your daily lives...

Monday, January 13, 2025

Stocks fell for the second consecutive week as a round of fresh economic data stoked inflationary fears among investors. The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index declined 1.94 percent, while the Nasdaq Composite Index dropped 2.34 percent. The...

Friday, January 10, 2025

Markets are providing conflicting information and investors are unsure of what moves to make next. Can investors have the best of both worlds - risk-on and risk-off? That's the...

Monday, December 23, 2024

Stocks were under pressure last week as the Fed Chair's hawkish comments unsettled investors ahead of the holiday season. The Dow Jones Industrial Average received the hardest hit, falling 2.25 percent. The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index...

Saturday, December 21, 2024

With 2024 coming to a close, I want to share my thoughts on America's current fiscal policy, geopolitical elements, and other factors that may help shape 2025's financial landscape. This transition period offers both challenges and...

Friday, December 20, 2024

After Fed Unfortunately, the Fed continues to play word games and to pull the rug out from under investors. The institutional investor doesn't feel much of the pain, but small investors often end up getting the...

Monday, December 16, 2024

Stocks finished the week mixed, bookending losses around midweek gains as investors digested fresh inflation data. The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index slipped 0.64 percent, while the Nasdaq Composite Index ticked up 0.34 percent. The Dow...

Friday, December 13, 2024

Last Holiday For Stocks? Is this one of the last holidays for stocks, or can the FOMO trade continue? This is the fundamental question moving forward. Retail investors have pushed equities higher in the 2nd half of 2024, all other...

Monday, December 9, 2024

Stocks were mixed during the first trading week of December. Technology stocks led, while the widely followed Dow Jones Industrial Average struggled. The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite Index picked up 3.34 percent while the Dow...

Friday, December 6, 2024

Typically, this time of year, the musings is focused on a Christmas or Holiday theme. Instead of our usual movie or song relating to both the holidays and the markets, I'm going to weave a tangled web of characters...

Wednesday, November 27, 2024

Thankful For Opportunities This week we'll take a break from our typical pop culture theme to weave some thankfulness into our abbreviated musings. As we prepare to hit the road to greet or receive loved ones and friends for a...

Friday, November 22, 2024

All Things Are Not Equal Valuations, indicators, and history would suggest that all things are not equal in the market and in the economy. That's the impetus for this week's musings, which just happens to be one of my favorite movies...

Sunday, November 17, 2024

Stocks fell last week as the postelection rally lost momentum amid an inflation uptick and cautious comments from Fed officials. The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index fell 2.08 percent, while the Nasdaq Composite Index declined 3.15 percent...

Friday, November 15, 2024

Never Say Never They say it only takes one generation to pass before history is forgotten...or, something like that. The reality is that investors should be students of history before they are students of charts. As I write this...

Monday, November 11, 2024

Stocks surged higher last week, fueled by the Fed’s rate cut decision and post-election enthusiasm as investors looked to future policy impacts of a Republican-controlled Senate and executive branch. (The House of Representatives...

Friday, November 8, 2024

Sometimes things seem different, and yet they are still the same. Regardless of who was going to emerge victorious on election day, the same issues would face either candidate post-election - stretched valuations...

Monday, November 4, 2024

Stocks slid last week as mixed economic data and strong-but-not-spectacular Q3 corporate reports failed to inspire investors. The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index fell 1.36 percent, while the Nasdaq Composite Index declined 1.50 percent....

Wednesday, October 30, 2024

The Internal Revenue Service released the updated income tax brackets, standard deduction, and retirement contribution limits for the 2025 tax year. While these changes won’t impact you for some time, it may benefit you to start...

Monday, October 28, 2024

Stocks were mixed last week as fresh economic data points and election-related uncertainty slowed market momentum. The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index fell 0.96 percent, while the Nasdaq Composite Index rose 0.16 percent. The Dow Jones...

Friday, October 25, 2024

The last several weeks we've explored some of the signs that markets are shifting. From valuations to labor weakness to economic softening, it's clear the times they are a changing.

Monday, October 21, 2024

Stocks posted modest gains last week, with quarterly earnings season in full swing and the election on the horizon. The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index increased 0.85 percent, while the Nasdaq Composite Index rose 0.80 percent. The Dow...

Sunday, October 20, 2024

In the playground, when all the kids jumped on one side of the teeter-totter, it rarely ended well. In investing, when all the investors move to one side of a trade, it can suggest that an uptick in market volatility is on the horizon...

Friday, October 18, 2024

Time After Time There are positives to take away from some of the economic data and there are some negatives. Technical data is also a little misleading these days. But, like may things in life, there's a pattern or rhythm to things...

Monday, October 14, 2024

Stocks advanced last week despite mixed inflation data, lurching oil prices, and lingering anxiety about the Middle East. The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index gained 1.11 percent, while the Nasdaq Composite rose 1.13 percent. The Dow Jones...

Friday, October 11, 2024

Twice As Hard Over the past 12 months, investing has been easy if you just bought AI-related stocks. Moving forward, companies may find profits harder to generate and consumers may find earnings harder to come by. That doesn't mean...

Monday, October 7, 2024

Stocks were essentially unchanged last week as geopolitical tensions added some volatility to an otherwise quiet trading week. The Dow Jones Industrial Average was flat (+0.09 percent), while the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index ticked up...

Friday, October 4, 2024

Whatever It Is...It's Going To Be Big There's a lot going in the world and many external factors that could affect markets going forward. Who knows how things will turn out, but one thing's for sure - whatever is about to happen is...

Saturday, September 28, 2024

Stocks moved higher last week, continuing to build on the momentum generated after the Federal Reserve decided to cut short-term rates by 0.50 percent. The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index gained 0.59 percent, while the Nasdaq Composite...

Friday, September 27, 2024

Market Leadership Change Has the market moved on from AI? Probably not entirely, but there's definitely a new sheriff in town as other asset classes rise to the top. This week's musings are inspired by the 1987 movie, "RoboCop"....

Tuesday, September 24, 2024

More than 71 million Social Security beneficiaries can expect a 2.5% cost of living adjustment (COLA) increase in 2025, based on the Q3 inflation data so far. In other words, the COLA will raise the average benefit by $48 to $1,968 a...

Monday, September 23, 2024

Stocks moved higher last week after the Federal Reserve’s half-point rate cut, bolstered by multiple data points supporting a cooling but still strong economy and decelerating inflation. The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index gained 1.36%.

Saturday, September 14, 2024

Stocks rallied last week as investors received better-than-expected consumer and producer inflation data. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 2.60 percent, while the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index gained 4.02 percent. The Nasdaq...

Monday, September 9, 2024

Stocks fell last week as soft economic data rattled investors focused on the Fed’s next move with interest rates. The Dow Jones Industrial Average lost 2.93 percent, while the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index dropped 4.25 percent. The...

Friday, September 6, 2024

Some indicators have triggered for a potential recession in the future. The conditions for a recession take some time to materialize, but are we living on borrowed time? That's the theme for this week's market musings.

Monday, September 2, 2024

There were mixed results for stocks last week as upbeat economic data and a critical Q2 corporate report shaped the week. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 0.94 percent, while the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index increased 0.24 percent...

Tuesday, August 27, 2024

Stocks notched a solid gain as dovish comments from Federal Reserve officials boosted the market’s recovery from early August lows. The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index rose 1.45 percent, while the Nasdaq Composite added 1.40 percent.

Tuesday, August 27, 2024

Now the only question is, “How much will short-term interest rates drop in September?” At his annual speech to global central bankers in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, Fed Chair Powell laid out a strategy to cut short-term interest rates, but...

Monday, August 19, 2024

Stocks posted solid gains last week, buoyed by robust economic data and constructive comments from Fed officials. The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index rose 3.93 percent, while the Nasdaq Composite gained 5.29 percent. The Dow Jones...

Saturday, August 17, 2024

Summer is almost over, and August is nationally recognized as Make a Will Month. Although discussing wills may feel uncomfortable or seem far-off, it presents an important opportunity to reflect on our lives, our values, and the...

Monday, August 12, 2024

Stocks ended last week with modest losses, masking a volatile five-day trading period that saw investors embrace recession concerns and then dismiss the slow-down talk as speculation as the week progressed. The Dow Jones Industrial...

Monday, August 5, 2024

Stocks fell broadly last week as investors looked past upbeat Fed comments and focused on disappointing corporate reports and weaker-than-expected economic data. The Dow Jones Industrial Average lost 2.20 percent, while the Standard &...

Monday, July 29, 2024

Stocks had a mixed, see-saw week as disappointing corporate reports unsettled investors who appeared to rotate away from some leading groups in favor of other names. The Dow Jones Industrial Average picked up 0.75 percent. Meanwhile,...

Sunday, July 28, 2024

My office was busy on Friday. Many of you were concerned about the computer outage that affected everything from travel to doctor’s offices to bank and investment accounts and reached out to share your concerns. It was a bit of a...

Monday, July 22, 2024

Stocks were under pressure last week as investors appeared to rotate out of mega-cap tech stocks and into areas that may benefit from lower interest rates. The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index fell 1.97 percent.

Thursday, July 18, 2024

Fidelity Investments just announced that 440,000 retirement savers reached an incredible milestone in 2023: $1 million in their 401(k). Recently released data reveals that the average 401(k) balance rose 14 percent from 2022 to 2023.

Monday, July 15, 2024

Stocks advanced last week as market leadership shifted amid fresh inflation data and quarterly corporate reports starting to roll in. The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index advanced 0.87 percent, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average picked up.

Thursday, July 11, 2024

The Standard & Poor’s 500 companies will start reporting on business conditions in Q2 in just a few days. Companies that are comfortable may also give a glimpse into their outlook for Q3 and beyond.1,2 Investors will hear from money...

Monday, July 8, 2024

Stocks steadily advanced over the holiday week thanks to strength in mega-cap tech issues and encouraging jobs data. The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index rose 1.95 percent, while the Nasdaq Composite Index added 3.50 percent. The Dow Jones...

Monday, July 1, 2024

Stocks finished the last week of June and Q2 mixed as investors digested a fresh round of economic data. The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index slipped 0.08%, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average also dipped 0.08 percent. The tech-heavy...

Wednesday, June 26, 2024

The challenge with managing inflation is that there are no brakes. Nothing can make inflation “stop on a dime” and then resume at a nice, predictable two-percent annual rate. Policymakers can only guide inflation to pursue a desired...

Monday, June 24, 2024

Stocks edged higher over the four trading days last week, with the three major averages taking turns leading based on various economic and artificial intelligence (AI) news. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 1.45 percent–its best...

Friday, June 21, 2024

We get regular updates on the Social Security trust fund. In early May, the Social Security Board of Trustees announced that the trust funds had revenue to pay full benefits until 2035. Generally speaking, the headline’s tone is very...

Monday, June 17, 2024

“It ain’t over ‘til it’s over.” Words of wisdom from baseball legend Yogi Berra. And words that Fed Chair Jerome Powell has taken to heart. “Inflation has eased over the past year but remains elevated,” Powell said following the Fed’s...