Traditions
Wealth Insights

If you are currently enrolled in Medicare, October 15 through December 7 is a good time to take another look at your coverage for the coming year. Changes made during Open Enrollment generally take effect January 1. It can be easy to stick with the same plan year after year, especially if everything has been working well. But Medicare plans can change, and your healthcare needs may change, too. Taking a little time to review your coverage can help you avoid unexpected costs o

Inflation Is Not Getting Better The Fed's target is 2%. Warsh said inflation is running at 3.7% over the past twelve months, and 4.1% over the past six. That ordering matters. When the recent six-month number is higher than the full-year number, prices have been speeding up lately, not cooling off. It is the opposite of what the market wanted to hear. He also dismissed the good inflation reports from June and July. Those reports had convinced many investors the Fed was finish

What Is It? The Jackson Hole Economic Policy Symposium is a three-day academic conference hosted by the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City at a lodge in Wyoming. It is not an FOMC (Federal Open Market Committee – which are the meetings that set interest rates). No policy is formally set there. This year’s dates are August 27-29. Each year the KC Fed picks a theme and commissions academic papers on relevant topics. This year’s theme is, “Financial Innovation: Implications for

Current Treasury Yield Environment Long-term U.S. Treasury yields have been rising because investors are concerned about persistent inflation, the middle east conflict, large federal budget deficits, and the growing supply of government debt which recently crossed $40 trillion. The bond market is not fully convinced that the Federal Reserve will bring inflation back to its 2% goal without keeping interest rates high for longer or raising them further. When investors expect in

U.S. stocks had a strong week, with the Nasdaq leading gains and several major indexes reaching record highs. Strong earnings, renewed enthusiasm for AI stocks, and hopes of progress in the Strait of Hormuz all supported investor confidence. Oil prices fell early in the week on hopes that the Strait of Hormuz could reopen, which eased inflation concerns and helped Treasury yields move lower. The U.S. labor market showed signs of slowing. Employers cut 23,000 jobs in July, pri

This afternoon, the Federal Reserve held its policy rate steady, keeping the federal-funds target range at 3.50% to 3.75% for the fifth consecutive meeting. Markets expected the hold, but not comfortably: futures had priced roughly a one-in-three chance of a surprise hike going in. The statement passed by a 9-3 vote, and all three dissenters wanted to raise rates by a quarter point immediately. That is the first time since September 2016 that three policymakers have broken fr

Imagine standing atop the Incan citadel of Machu Picchu, exploring the ancient ruins of Greece, or gazing on the northern lights from a cozy Icelandic cabin. No matter the destination, nearly everyone has a once-in-a-lifetime dream vacation close in their imagination. With the right strategies and mindset, it doesn't have to be just a dream. And you may be closer to achieving it than you think. How much should I budget for a vacation? Everyone's financial situation is unique.

In the summer of 1944, the United States gathered 44 nations at Bretton Woods, New Hampshire, and wrote the rules of the post-war world. The dollar would be the reserve currency.

Inflation is back above 4% and the Federal Reserve faces its first major test under Kevin Warsh. The May Consumer Price Index came in at 4.2% year over year, the highest reading since April 2023.

The headline inflation rate came in at 3.8% for April, the highest reading in nearly three years, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. That number is being driven largely by energy costs tied to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, with gasoline up over 28% from a year ago and fuel oil up more than 54%. Producer Price Index, meaning what businesses pay before they pass costs on to you at the register, jumped 6.0% annually, the largest surge since December 2022. Th

Why the Power Vacuum Hasn't Hit Home There’s an unusual situation unfolding in the Middle East right now. Even if the United States gains the upper hand, there may not be a clear path to resolution because there isn’t a stable counterpart to negotiate with. President Donald Trump had reportedly hoped to hold talks this week, but those plans fell through as Iran remains internally divided. That fragmentation, worsened by recent leadership disruptions, helps explain why the cur

Despite the onset of war earlier this year, U.S. equity markets have shown remarkable resilience. The S&P 500 is down roughly five percent from its record high on January 27 and has held the 200-day moving average. Analysts are increasingly debating whether the market is discounting a short conflict or a longer drawn-out scenario. Early projections suggested a possible ten to fifteen percent correction, but recent market behavior indicates a more measured response from invest

Tariffs Ruled Unconstitutional The Supreme Court (6–3) struck down broad tariffs enacted under IEEPA. This eliminates many of the sweeping tariffs tied to trade deficits and fentanyl concerns. Hundreds of billions in collected tariffs may need refunds. The White House could try alternative legal pathways, but likely with more limits. GDP Slowed in Q4 2025 GDP grew at 1.4%, below expectations (2.8%) and down from 4.4% in Q3. The slowdown was largely due to: Government spending

The Producer Price Index (PPI) is an economic measure published by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) that tracks changes in prices received by domestic producers of goods and services over time. Unlike the Consumer Price Index (CPI), which focuses on prices consumers pay, the PPI measures inflation earlier in the production process, providing insight into cost pressures facing businesses. The PPI data are widely used by analysts and policymakers as part of broader inf

Part 1: Balancing Risk in Retirement Research from Capital Group shows a key insight: once clients enter the distribution phase of life, the emotional need for security often outweighs the pursuit of maximum returns. For many retirees, the fear of seeing a portfolio drop during a market correction can be more stressful than the risk of outliving savings. This heightened risk aversion shapes how retirement strategies should be structured. The Case for a More Conservative Appr

This afternoon, the Federal Reserve delivered its third consecutive 25-basis-point rate cut, bringing the federal-funds target range down to 3.50%–3.75%. While markets widely anticipated the move, the tone of today’s announcement was anything but routine. For only the second time in more than a decade, the decision came with a rare three-member dissent. This unusually large split inside the central bank is a clear sign of how complex the economic landscape has become. Accordi

As we move into November, the economic backdrop in the U.S. is showing resilience, but with clear headwinds. Inflation appears to have stabilized and growth remains positive, though decelerating. At the same time, consumer sentiment has dropped significantly, and business-survey data suggest caution. The prolonged federal government shutdown has added a layer of uncertainty: key data collections at agencies such as the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) and the Bureau of Econom

Year-End Tax Planning: 5 Key Moves to Consider Before December 31 ​ As the year draws to a close, now is an ideal time to review your financial picture and take advantage of tax-saving opportunities. Several important deadlines fall on December 31, and proactive planning can help reduce your tax bill and strengthen your long‑term financial position. Below are five key strategies to consider as you prepare for year-end. 1. Maximize Contributions and Meet Year-End Deadlines Ma

Economic costs of shutdowns According to the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget, government shutdowns typically cost more money than they save, contrary to some public perceptions.[9] Evidence shows that implementing contingency plans, lost user fees, contractor premiums for uncertainty, and guaranteed back pay to furloughed employees negate potential savings. The Congressional Budget Office estimated that the 2018-2019 shutdown reduced GDP by $11 billion total, inclu

Over the past several months, economic headlines have begun to raise the possibility of stagflation in the U.S. economy. This term describes the rare and troubling combination of sluggish economic growth, persistent inflation, and elevated unemployment. Each condition alone can be challenging, but when they occur together, the policy tools normally used to fix one problem can worsen the others. What Is Stagflation? Stagflation is an unusual economic environment where the econ