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Steve Coker, CFP
- Aug 4, 2023
- 3 min
What could possibly go wrong?
Let’s face it – the stock market is having a great year. Despite considerable doom and gloom as we began 2023, the S&P 500 is up more...
Steve Coker, CFP
- Jul 21, 2023
- 3 min
FedNow: what it is and what it is not.
The Federal Reserve launched its new FedNow service on July 20th, a surprise early launch to this new program which allows individuals...
Steve Coker, CFP
- Jul 14, 2023
- 2 min
Inflation Good News
Admittedly, it is difficult to write both “inflation” and “good news” in the same sentence. Inflation is not a good thing, but falling...
Steve Coker, CFP
- Jun 16, 2023
- 2 min
Fed takes a pause but threatens more hikes
The Federal Reserve Open Market Committee voted this week to hold the Fed Funds rate unchanged at the current 5.0%-5.25% range. The...
Steve Coker, CFP
- May 12, 2023
- 2 min
The U.S. Government ‘X’ Date
The U.S. reached its debt limit in January and Congress and President Biden remain at an impasse over raising it. Without the ability to...
Steve Coker, CFP
- Apr 16, 2023
- 3 min
Is Social Security Insolvent?
The Social Security Board of Trustees issued their annual report last month, announcing that in 2033 the Social Security system will be...
Steve Coker, CFP
- Mar 18, 2023
- 3 min
Cracks in the Banking System
There is a crisis brewing in the US banking system, but this new crisis is very different from 2008. Historically, banks struggled or...
Steve Coker, CFP
- Feb 24, 2023
- 3 min
Housing Prices: An Update
During 2022 the sale of single-family homes plummeted as mortgage rates rose above 7%. The rapid spike in interest rates, on the heels of...
Steve Coker, CFP
- Feb 17, 2023
- 2 min
The Economy Is Still Too Strong
Stocks stalled this week after several economic indicators showed a strong economy. Payrolls increased, the average workweek rose, and...
Steve Coker, CFP
- Jan 6, 2023
- 3 min
2023 Outlook
I admit that I read very little mainline news, including business news. I decided long ago that most business news (Bloomberg, Forbes,...
Steve Coker, CFP
- Dec 30, 2022
- 2 min
2022 A Year in Review
Many investors are happy to see 2022 end! After a roaring 2021 driven by easy money and high levels of stimulus, the proverbial chickens...
Steve Coker, CFP
- Dec 9, 2022
- 2 min
Too Hot or Too Cold?
The stock market had a tough week as investors vacillated between worries that the economy is too hot, which would lead to more...
Steve Coker, CFP
- Nov 12, 2022
- 1 min
Inflation Relief
Stocks and bonds both rallied this week after Thursday’s release of the October Consumer Price Index, which was better than expected at...
Steve Coker, CFP
- Nov 4, 2022
- 2 min
The Almighty Dollar
It seems a constant barrage, “the US Dollar is in decline”, “the dollar’s days are numbered” and a host of similar headlines predicting...
Steve Coker, CFP
- Oct 21, 2022
- 2 min
The Housing Recession Deepens
Mortgage rates are still rising, reaching 7% this month from around 3% less than 12 months ago. As a result, mortgage applications for...
Steve Coker, CFP
- Oct 14, 2022
- 2 min
How High Will Interest Rates Go?
Both the PPI (Producer Price Index) and the CPI (Consumer Price Index) were higher than expected this week, showing that inflation is...
Steve Coker, CFP
- Oct 7, 2022
- 1 min
Bad is Good and Good is Bad
The S&P 500 gained a modest 1.5% this week, giving back by Friday almost all of the 6% two-day gain from Monday and Tuesday. The market...
Steve Coker, CFP
- Oct 2, 2022
- 2 min
Troubles in the UK and China
Markets were spooked this week by troubles in both the UK and China. The UK launched a program to boost the economy through a...
Steve Coker, CFP
- Sep 23, 2022
- 1 min
The Tightening Continues
As expected, the Federal Reserve Raised rates by 0.75% this week to a target range of 3% - 3.25%, ratcheting interest rates higher in an...
Steve Coker, CFP
- Aug 26, 2022
- 2 min
Powell Keeps the Market on Edge
Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell spoke at the Fed’s annual Jackson Hole conference on Friday. His speech was relatively short, and...
