[Cup of Joe] Diversification in a Deteriorating Market
State of the Markets: Top 5 Questions – Webcast on Thursday, 3/27 at 11:00 AM EST. With guest commentator from JP Morgan.
Market Turbulence
US stock indexes are experiencing considerable volatility driven by the uncertainty from policy shake ups, primarily with tariffs. The US market started the year at already-expensive levels. And price declines of 5% to 10% are common occurrences. The market may be waiting for uncertainty to diminish before it switches back into growth mode.
[Cup of Joe] Tariffs, explained & Protecting against Scams
Insights on Tariffs
Tariffs are, by nature, inflationary. But don’t expect a sharp rise to levels we experienced in 2022.
Good reason to believe these will be short-term.
Realistic expectation of some level of universal tariff to remain in place.
Expect volatility while the Tariff Game is being played and surf through it.
The American population has a profound ability to adapt and thrive, like they do when Congress changes tax rates.
[Cup of Joe] Mixed Emotions from a Good 2024
Mixed emotions of a good year.
– S&P 500 returned 25% which makes it two years in a row the index was up that much. US midcaps & Small caps returned low double digits. And International and Emerging Market stocks contributed modestly gaining 4.4% and 8% respectively.
– The Aggregate Bond Index was positive 1.3% while dealing with a swirling interest rate climate throughout the year.
– The Top Dogs were the areas that have dominated performance for 2 years. In fact, Mag7 accounted for 55% of the S&P 500’s price return in 2024.
– Fight the urge to chase performance. Chasing returns is an endless game of comparing one asset to another… A grass-is-always-greener situation.