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Return to Normal, or the New Normal?
Excerpt from Westview article from January 2025:
The Federal Reserve (or the Fed), the central bank of the United States, plays a pivotal role in shaping the nation’s economy. These rates influence everything from consumer loans and mortgages to business investments and the health of the overall economy.
Before the creation of the Fed in 1913, the U.S. economy was marked by frequent financial panics and a lack of central authority to stabilize the monetary system.
What Is Your Benchmark?
Every weekday evening you are likely to hear on the radio or TV about how the Dow Jones Industrial Average (The Dow), and the S&P 500 did that day in the markets. The S&P 500 and the Dow Jones Industrial Average are two widely recognized benchmarks used to gauge the performance of the stock market in the United States. While both indexes provide insights into the overall health of the market, there are some key differences between them.
Should You Care About Dividends?
This article is an attempt to discuss the topic of dividends from the perspective of the individual investor and his or her financial advisor. Its four sections are not meant to be comprehensive. Rather, it aims to be educational and to discuss the merits (and demerits) of owning dividend paying stocks relative to what is often cited as their alternative – bonds and “growth stocks.”
Gardening By Another Name
Berkshire Hathaway Chairman and CEO Warren Buffet famously writes an Annual Shareholder letter each year. In this article we’ll explore one of Buffet’s recent musings on investment management as gardening. What can we learn from his investment management as gardening metaphor? In the paragraphs that follow we attempt to answer this question. Our answer is not exhaustive, but we hope it sheds light on the investment process at Westview.
Fair & Balanced Disclosure: The content of this page should not be regarded as a complete analysis of the subjects discussed. All expressions of opinion reflect the judgment of writer as of the date of publication and are subject to change. This content herein does not constitute personalized advice from Westview or its investment professionals, or a solicitation to execute specific securities transactions. Westview is not a law or accounting firm and does not intend for any content to be construed as legal, accounting, or tax advice. Readers should not use any of this content as the sole basis for any investment, financial planning, tax, legal, or other decisions. Rather, visitors should consult their other professional advisers (including their lawyers and accountants) and consider independent due diligence before implementing any of the options directly or indirectly referenced. Past performance does not guarantee future results. All investment strategies have the potential for profit or loss, and different investments and types of investments involve varying degrees of risk. There can be no assurance that the future performance of any specific investment or investment strategy, including those undertaken or recommended by Westview, will be profitable or equal any historical performance level.
Posted in May 2023, this article guides you through SECURE Act 2.0 and how it stands to impact retirement.