Edward Jones-Financial Advisor: Paul Toole

Holiday cheer or drear? As we head into year-end and holiday shopping season, there are questions as to whether the consumer can continue to spend at the same robust pace in the months ahead.

In our latest Weekly Market Wrap, we look at three factors that suggest some slowing in consumption ahead, although perhaps not consumers completely shutting down their spending habit.

Weekly market wrap A summary of last week's market highlights and economic news.

Stocks have been under pressure for much of the last two months as rising rates have weighed on stock and bond market performance. Last week brought some welcome relief with stocks rallying amid a drop in bond yields.

We don't think it's smooth sailing from here, but we continue to hold the view that the recent market correction isn't the beginning of something more sinister or prolonged.

Read more in our latest Weekly Market Wrap.

Weekly market wrap A summary of last week's market highlights and economic news.

Stocks edged close to correction territory last week, down nearly 10% from their peak in late July. A renewed rise in government bond yields and mixed earnings reports from mega-cap tech were the sparks for the S&P 500 to hit its lowest point in five months.

Is the recent market turbulence part of an uncomfortable but normal correction, or the start of something bigger?

Weekly market wrap A summary of last week's market highlights and economic news.

This past week, markets remained on edge as Treasury bond yields continued their march higher. The 10-year yield is getting particular attention as it nears 5%, a level last seen in 2007.

How high can it go? Our latest Weekly Market Update analyzes the rapid rise.

Weekly market wrap A summary of last week's market highlights and economic news.

Home and auto insurance premiums are on the rise. Fortunately, there are steps you can take to potentially lower your premiums while maintaining coverage.

Are you paying too much for home and auto insurance? Here are some tips to review your home and auto policies.

With interest rates on the rise, the value of cash has been hitting the headlines, but is there such a thing as having too much cash? We break down the pros and cons of investing in cash and how it can contribute to your overall investment strategy.

The pros and cons of investing in cash With interest rates on the rise, the value of cash has been hitting the headlines — and with good reason.

While it may seem like a good problem to have, having too much of your savings sitting in cash can be an issue, especially when you’re investing for long-term goals such as retirement.

The pros and cons of investing in cash With interest rates on the rise, the value of cash has been hitting the headlines — and with good reason.

What happened to goldilocks? We share three hot takeaways from last week's cold market in our latest Weekly Market Wrap.

Weekly market wrap A summary of last week's market highlights and economic news.

Join us and meet Edward Jones to learn why our firm is the right place for your future.

Our premiere event for licensed financial advisors will be in New York on October 19-20, 2023.

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This week closed the books on a challenging third quarter for the markets. That said, we think there are a few notable conditions that could support the prospects for a fourth-quarter comeback.

In our latest Weekly Market Wrap, we look at the relationship between stocks and rates and what they might signal about 2023's homestretch for financial markets.

Weekly market wrap A summary of last week's market highlights and economic news.

The Federal Reserve held its September meeting this past week, and the message from Jerome Powell was clear: The Fed will continue to keep rates at elevated levels until inflation moves more convincingly towards 2.0%.

In our view, while Powell and team may continue to signal that they are not done raising rates, there may be a confluence of factors that keep them on the sidelines. Read more in our latest Weekly Market Wrap.

Weekly market wrap A summary of last week's market highlights and economic news.

For most of 2023 so far, investors have gotten the best of both worlds as it relates to the evolving macroeconomic backdrop – above trend economic growth supported by a resilient consumer, and still-high but steadily declining inflation. However more recently, there have been signs that this dynamic is gradually starting to change as the rally in energy prices is leaving a mark on consumer prices and spending.

In our latest weekly market wrap, we offer the following perspective on what last week's uptick in headline CPI and slowdown in retail sales may mean for the Fed and the markets.

Weekly market wrap A summary of last week's market highlights and economic news.

There's been plenty of motion to evaluate of late, but if we boil it down, there are two primary factors quarterbacking the financial markets: the labor market and inflation.

That said, in our latest Weekly Market Wrap, we highlight a few trends playing out that, while getting less fanfare at the moment, we believe offer additional signals about the state of the market.

Weekly market wrap A summary of last week's market highlights and economic news.

This past week investors digested key datapoints around the U.S. jobs market, all of which presented a unified message: There are early signs of softening in the labor market ahead. While one month does not make a trend, the consistency of the data recently points to a labor market that may be coming back to earth after an extended period of elevated tightness.

We share two important implications of a potentially cooling labor market and more key takeaways in our latest Weekly Market Wrap.

Weekly market wrap A summary of last week's market highlights and economic news.

In a short and pointed speech last year, Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell dashed hopes for a swift end to the Fed's rate hikes. This year, the message was still hawkish but more balanced, highlighting data dependency and keeping options open.

In our latest Weekly Market Wrap, we share three key takeaways from the widely anticipated speech, along with our perspective on how the economic and market backdrop has evolved.

Weekly market wrap A summary of last week's market highlights and economic news.

After a steady rally from March through July, the market's mood has shifted more recently, with stocks falling last week, continuing what has been a rather weak August so far. Enthusiasm around a resilient economy, moderating inflation and artificial intelligence is not gone, but it has been countered by global growth concerns and a leg higher in interest rates of late.

In our latest Weekly Market Wrap, we look at three key trends that have taken shape in August and what they may signal about the market's path over the remainder of the year.

Weekly market wrap A summary of last week's market highlights and economic news.

After a remarkably strong rally to start the year, markets have given back a bit in August thus far, with the S&P 500 down around 3% since its recent high on July 31. Underneath the surface, however, we see the Nasdaq is down over 4.0% during this period, and the "Magnificent 7" large-cap stocks are down over 5.0%.

The parts of the market that have led the way higher are now perhaps taking a breather, which we view as a healthy development as investors digest outsized gains. Take a closer look at the rest of our key takeaways in our latest Weekly Market Wrap.

Weekly market wrap A summary of last week's market highlights and economic news.

August started with a bang as the market's summer calm was disrupted by news that Fitch downgraded the U.S. debt rating from AAA to AA+. U.S. political brinkmanship and debt concerns are not new, but the Fitch downgrade shines the spotlight on the worsening fiscal outlook. In this week's market update, we examine whether this development alters the outlook for markets and provide our take on the jump in government bond yields and the latest jobs report.

Weekly market wrap A summary of last week's market highlights and economic news.

While the move higher in markets was sparked earlier by the enthusiasm around artificial intelligence, the markets more recently seem to be looking at a trifecta of better macro trends. The Fed and other global central banks may be nearing an end to rate hikes, inflation continues to gradually moderate and growth remains resilient.

After a nice move higher in markets, some bouts of volatility remain likely. However, we believe there are compelling opportunities still ahead of us, in both the equity and bond markets. Read more in our latest Weekly Market Wrap.

Weekly market wrap A summary of last week's market highlights and economic news.

Stocks continued their march higher last week, adding to 2023's impressive gain that now has the S&P 500 within 6% of the all-time high. The run in the markets since May has largely been powered by rising optimism around the potential for a goldilocks scenario, in which economic conditions are neither too hot to prevent inflation from falling further, nor too cold to descend into recession.

In our latest Weekly Market Wrap, we look at how recent trends in a variety of indicators stack up to prior periods leading up to and following the onset of a recession and share our take on what they might be signaling about the road ahead.

Weekly market wrap A summary of last week's market highlights and economic news.

Stocks and bonds jumped last week as investors cheered the sharp deceleration in inflation. Exactly one year from the inflation peak, headline CPI has been cut by more than two thirds, solidifying disinflation as the key theme for the economy and the markets this year. But with the S&P 500 already up 17% halfway through the year, is all the good news discounted? In our latest Weekly Market Wrap, we discuss how the inflation path might look like ahead and where we see opportunities in today's market.

Weekly market wrap A summary of last week's market highlights and economic news.

After a strong first two quarters of 2023, markets stumbled a bit as we entered the first week of the third quarter. Nonetheless, in our view, the resilience in the labor market and services sectors makes the case for a recession or downturn in the near-term unlikely. The key for markets will likely be the direction of inflation, which we believe can continue to moderate further. Learn more in our Weekly Market Wrap.

Weekly market wrap A summary of last week's market highlights and economic news.

Last week closed the books on the first half of 2023. Markets logged a strong performance year-to-date, though gains so far may have flown somewhat under the radar for some investors given the lingering scars of 2022. In our latest Weekly Market Wrap, we share perspectives on first half moves and what they signal for what may lay ahead in the second half.

Weekly market wrap A summary of last week's market highlights and economic news.

Retiring at 65 may not be the right or desired age for you. Here are 5 questions to help you decide if you’re emotionally ready to retire.

Are you emotionally ready to retire? Read more here

Economic diversification is the process of putting your finances toward multiple sources in an effort to achieve economic growth. Having a diverse investment portfolio can help keep your finances in check.

Understanding diversification and where to invest is the first step. Are you ready to determine your bond mix?

Why is diversification important? Keep a diverse portfolio

I start by asking what's important to you - and then I listen.

5 steps to help reach your financial goals Make a plan for your future

When you pull together the documents necessary for tax season, what will you find? A lot of unnecessary paper and emails, probably. Now's a perfect time to tidy up your financial life—and potentially discover accounts you may have lost in the clutter. Start here.

Tidying Up Financial Clutter Spark joy and part with all those old statements, tax returns, and utility bills.

How well do you know your financial situation? Take this quiz, then let’s talk through your answers to make sure your financial strategies align with your life goals.

Build a budget that works for you If you’re ready to start budgeting your way to your financial goals, I can help.

As we approach the mid-year point for 2023, there are a few notable trends to highlight. The markets overall continue to remain remarkably resilient, the Federal Reserve (and central banks globally) do not seem done yet with their rate-hiking cycles and the U.S. economy continues to defy calls for recession.

So, how may the economy, Fed and markets fare as we head to the back half of 2023? We highlight three key trends in our latest Weekly Market Wrap.

Weekly market wrap A summary of last week's market highlights and economic news.

Financial setbacks aren’t fun, and they can happen to anybody. Let’s talk about the steps you could take if one happens to you.

Preparing for financial setbacks 3 steps to follow