Traditions Wealth Advisors is pleased to introduce Nichole Hejl as our new Director of Client Relations and Marketing. Nichole brings over 20 years of experience in business management, consulting, customer service and marketing. She joins us from an agricultural consulting firm, where she specialized in commodity risk management and oversaw futures and options hedge accounts for over thirteen years.

A proud Texas native, Nichole grew up in Santa Fe (Galveston County) and has called the College Station area home since 2005. She graduated from Texas A&M University - College of Agriculture and Life Sciences in 2010 with a double major in Horticulture and Entomology. During that time, she also completed an internship with the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service and worked part-time as a dental assistant.
Nichole’s husband, BJ, is a fourth-generation rancher, and together they live in Snook, TX on the Hejl family’s H&H Ranch. They raise Brangus cattle and were recently honored by the Texas Department of Agriculture’s Land Heritage Program, recognizing over 100 years of continuous agricultural operation.
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In her free time, Nichole enjoys hunting, fishing, gardening, canning, baking, and long-distance running. She is currently training for her eighth marathon, set to take place in New York City this November, and has set sights on completing all seven World Marathon Majors. Together with her husband, she is actively involved in the Burleson County Farmers’ Market and supports several organizations focused on benefiting youth across Burleson, Brazos, and Washington Counties, including Go Texan, SPJST, Snook EEA and Chilifest. Nichole’s passion for serving others drives her commitment to making a positive impact, and she is eager to bring her skills and dedication to the clients of Traditions Wealth Advisors.

This week, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) released its latest Consumer Price Index (CPI) report, offering an updated snapshot of inflation across the country. The CPI measures the average change over time in prices paid by urban consumers for a set basket of goods and services—everything from groceries and gas to rent and healthcare. It’s the most widely watched measure of inflation and a key factor in shaping interest rate policy, consumer sentiment, and investment strategy.

The CPI is compiled monthly by the BLS, which collects tens of thousands of prices from retailers, service providers, and landlords. The data is grouped into eight major spending categories: food and beverages, housing, apparel, transportation, medical care, recreation, education and communication, and other goods and services. Some CPI versions also strip out volatile food and energy prices to track “core inflation,” which gives a clearer view of longer-term price trends.

In July, headline CPI rose 2.7% year-over-year, holding steady from June. On a monthly basis, prices increased 0.2%. However, the core CPI (which excludes food and energy) rose 0.3% for the month—the largest monthly gain since January—and 3.1% over the past 12 months. This indicates that while energy prices have eased, underlying price pressures in the economy remain somewhat sticky.

Breaking down the numbers, prices continued to rise in service categories such as housing, airfare, and healthcare—particularly dental care. On the flip side, we saw relief in areas like gasoline (down nearly 10%) and groceries, where several staples including eggs and produce saw modest price drops. These shifts reflect a broader pattern: goods inflation has stabilized, while services inflation continues to drive overall price growth.

​Looking ahead, these inflation dynamics are central to how the Federal Reserve will approach interest rate policy. While the cooling in headline inflation supports the case for a rate cut later this year, rising core inflation could give the Fed pause. As always, we are closely monitoring these developments and adjusting our investment outlook accordingly.

My wife, Kathy, and I recently returned from a 46th wedding anniversary trip to Europe. We went with three of Kathy’s siblings and their spouses. While we all had a lot of fun, I also asked many questions about the economy of each country we visited. We flew into the airport in Frankfurt, Germany on our way to Prague, the Czech Republic. The Frankfurt airport was busy but also old and in need of updating and remodeling. The Airbus 300 jet we boarded for a hop over to Prague was also old and in need of updating. The Prague airport was quite small and almost vacant. It was clean and well organized, unlike Frankfurt’s airport. The Hilton hotel where we stayed in Prague was beautiful and modern. It also was very well kept and organized. The Czech economy seemed to be vibrant and healthy. In 1989, Czechoslovakia (the Czech Republic + Slovakia) had the “Velvet Revolution” in which they broke away from the Soviet Union and Russia. They had to completely shift their economy from communism to European socialism. After a couple of days touring Prague, we boarded a Viking long boat in Passau, Germany. We sailed to Vienna, Austria. Vienna was very upscale and beautiful. Austria is a rich country especially compared to our next port of call Budapest, Hungary. My grandfather’s last name was “Kovacs” (Czech) or “Kovach” (Hungarian), both meaning Blacksmith in their respective languages. When he immigrated to the US, his last name was Americanized to ‘Smith’. My father claimed to be Hungarian before he died, but I am not sure as the country boundaries moved many times between the Czech Republic and Hungary. Regardless, I was not impressed with the Hungarian economy and politics. Hungary has had the same Prime Minister, Viktor Orban, for 15 years even though there might have been term limits in the past. Also, Orban has sided with Russia in its war against Ukraine, and Orban has not diversified Hungary’s energy sources. A majority of their energy resources come from natural gas from Russia. When I asked a tourist guide about why Russia has natural gas, the reply was “we have no choice.” However, France and other European countries have diversified into nuclear energy. Further, Hungary, like other European countries, has socialized healthcare. If you have a heart attack, according to a local, it may take days before you are attended to. If you need a knee or hip replacement, the same local said it will take months. I would not invest in Hungary, as government corruption is also a concern. However, other countries below would be good to invest in:

Best International Markets for American Investors:
India

• Why it’s attractive: High GDP growth(~6.5%+), stable political leadership, strong consumer demand, and a thriving tech/manufacturing sector.
• Currency note: The rupee has remained relatively stable vs. the USD; potential upside as India gains more weight in global indices.
• Geopolitics: Strong U.S.-India ties, less exposure to global conflict zones, and active courtship of foreign direct investment

Mexico

• Why it’s attractive: Nearshoring boom (especially from U.S. firms shifting from China), competitive labor costs, and improved trade efficiency under USMCA.
• Currency note: The peso has strengthened modestly against the dollar; volatility remains low due to rate stability and growing foreign reserves.
• Geopolitics: Benefiting from U.S.-China tensions; proximity and policy coordination with the U.S. add resilience.

Brazil

• Why it’s attractive: Commodity rebound (especially agriculture and minerals), improving inflation picture, and a dovish central bank spurring growth.
• Currency note: The real has been volatile but is appreciating gradually with stronger capital inflows.
• Geopolitics: Relatively insulated from global conflicts, and currently a safe haven for emerging market investors seeking high yields.

Vietnam

• Why it’s attractive: Manufacturing hub increasingly replacing China, youthful labor force, and strong FDI(Foreign Direct Investment) flows.
• Currency note: The dong (VND) is relatively stable against the dollar; managed float system limits wild swings.
• Geopolitics: Politically stable and quietly benefitting from U.S.-China decoupling.

​Riskier International Markets
China

• Why it’s risky: Slowdown in consumer demand, high youth unemployment, opaque real estate sector issues, and regulatory unpredictability.
• Currency note: Yuan remains weak against the dollar; PBOC intervention limits market clarity.
• Geopolitics: Heightened U.S.-China tensions, Taiwan strait risk, and trade barriers dampen U.S. investor enthusiasm.

Russia

• Why it’s risky: Ongoing geopolitical isolation, sanctions, war-related volatility, and weak institutional transparency.
• Currency note: The ruble is deeply unstable and largely inaccessible through U.S. financial channels.
• Geopolitics: Ongoing conflict in Ukraine and sanctions continue to choke investment routes.

Turkey

• Why it’s risky: Persistent inflation (~40%+), unconventional monetary policy, and political volatility.
• Currency note: The lira has depreciated sharply; extreme currency risk unless fully hedged.
• Geopolitics: Regional instability and strained NATO/EU relations add uncertainty.

Argentina

• Why it’s risky: Capital controls, high inflation(>100%), and IMF(International Monetary Fund) dependency.
• Currency note: Peso is in free fall; parallel markets complicate foreign exchange.