Yes, the title and image are a corny reference to Lord of the Rings. So, despite the majority (about two-thirds) of the companies in the S&P 500 producing negative returns in 2020, the index overall has a positive year-to-date return. This is due, in part, to its top five holdings: Apple, Microsoft, Amazon, Alphabet, and Facebook. Continue reading
Earlier this summer, the IRS made the announcement that they are waiving Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs) for retirement accounts in 2020. IRS Notice 2020-51 outlines the relief granted to retirement account owners, as part of an extension to the CARES Act. Continue reading
The Houston Business Journal has ranked Financial Synergies Wealth Advisors as a top wealth management firm in Houston for 2020. This is our fifth time being selected for this elite list of wealth managers in Houston. Continue reading
The loss of jobs is the main challenge of any economic downturn and the current recession is no exception. Even once businesses re-open, the economic recovery will struggle if workers aren’t called back to factories and stores. Without steady paychecks, consumers will be hesitant to spend which further harms business profitability and hiring. Continue reading
It was a strong week for stocks, as the S&P 500 closed higher in every session for a 2.5% weekly gain. The Russell 2000 rose 6.0%, the Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 3.8%, and the Nasdaq Composite rose 2.5%. Continue reading
As August begins, the economic recovery is sending mixed signals. This is primarily due to the accelerating number of COVID-19 cases in many parts of the country which has sparked increased restrictions by governments and businesses. This means that many of the economic numbers will vary from region to region, following the overall trends of the disease. Continue reading
August 2, 2020 – Financial Synergies Wealth Advisors is pleased to announce we have been named to the 2020 edition of the Financial Times 300 Top Registered Investment Advisers! The list recognizes top independent RIA firms from across the U.S. This is our 5th time being selected for this elite list. Continue reading
With all of the market-moving events of the past few years – from the global pandemic to trade wars and more – it’s understandable that some investors may prefer the safety of cash. After all, a great deal of investing is behavioral and requires being comfortable with a certain level of risk. Portfolios returns are important but so is being able to sleep well at night. Continue reading
The week started with a mega-cap rally that powered the Nasdaq Composite to new heights, but the rest of the week saw money flow out of these mega-cap stocks following earnings. The Nasdaq ended the week down 1.3% for its second straight weekly decline, followed by modest losses in the Dow Jones Industrial Average (-0.8%), S&P 500 (-0.3%), and Russell 2000 (-0.4%). Continue reading
Once again, the stock market is back to where it started the year. At the moment, the S&P 500 is flat year-to-date and less than 5% below its all-time high in February. However, the strong performance of the overall market hides major differences between investment styles and sectors. I touched on this in my recent article, Is Value Investing Dead, Again? But I thought it was worth elaborating on the subject with some interesting charts. Continue reading