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Home Price Update
The rise in home prices over the past decade has been spectacular, proving a boon to those already owning homes, but a hurdle for first...
Steve Coker, CFP
Jun 7, 20242 min read
Risk Realized
So far, April has not been good for the stock market, which is now down almost 6% from its high at the end of March. The most significant...
Steve Coker, CFP
Apr 19, 20242 min read
The Consumer Powerhouse
As anyone who has visited a mall or store recently can attest, Americans continue to shop. In fact, in large part, American consumers...
Steve Coker, CFP
Apr 5, 20241 min read
On Elephants and Donkeys
During my 20 years of professional investing experience, I have learned that political considerations rarely matter as much as the papers...
Steve Coker, CFP
Mar 8, 20242 min read
Inflation under 3%
This week the Federal Reserve’s preferred measure of inflation, the PCED or Personal Consumption Expenditures Deflator, fell below 3% for...
Steve Coker, CFP
Mar 1, 20241 min read
China’s “Lehman” Moment
China Evergrande Group, once China’s largest real estate developer, was ordered into liquidation by a Hong Kong judge this week, igniting...
Steve Coker, CFP
Feb 2, 20242 min read
A Presidential Election Year
It is a Presidential election year and once again we are fielding many questions about the impact elections will have on the market. If...
Steve Coker, CFP
Jan 27, 20242 min read
2024 Outlook
A new year has started but the same debate that dominated 2023 still rages. Will inflation reach the Federal Reserve’s 2% target without...
Steve Coker, CFP
Jan 13, 20241 min read
2023 A Year in Review
What a difference a year makes! As we began 2023 we featured some of the common doomsday predictions that we found in the media:...
Steve Coker, CFP
Jan 6, 20242 min read
Santa Claus Rally
It is only the middle of December, but the Santa Claus rally is topping off what has been a very good year in stock and bond markets. ...
Steve Coker, CFP
Dec 16, 20232 min read
Relief
War in Europe and the middle east, rising oil prices, inflation, rising interest rates, political polarization…there is plenty to worry...
Steve Coker, CFP
Nov 4, 20232 min read
Why Are Interest Rates Skyrocketing?
During the month of September interest rates not only continued their march upward, they skyrocketed higher, spooking the stock market...
Steve Coker, CFP
Oct 6, 20233 min read
The Fed Spooks the Market
I think that I’ve seen this movie before! Like part VII of a repetitive movie series (I’m looking at you Avengers), the Federal Reserve...
Steve Coker, CFP
Sep 22, 20232 min read
Downsizing your house in retirement
Downsizing your house in retirement can make a lot of sense, especially when you are looking for ways to make your retirement dollars go...
Steve Coker, CFP
Sep 15, 20234 min read
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
Aug 4, 20233 min read
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 21, 20233 min read
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
Jul 14, 20232 min read
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
Jun 16, 20232 min read
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
May 12, 20232 min read
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
Apr 15, 20233 min read
