Aquila Legacy Group, Inc.

Planning a summer getaway? 🏖️ Don't let scammers ruin your vacation! Protect yourself with these tips:

Secure Your Accounts: Update your passwords regularly and enable two-factor authentication.
Be Cautious Online: Don't click on suspicious links, even if they appear to be from your airline or hotel.
Beware of Social Media Scams: Double-check customer service contacts and be wary of anyone asking for personal information.
Watch Out for Common Travel Scams: Avoid interactions with "friendly" strangers offering bracelets or roses, and be cautious of unsolicited photographers.

By staying alert and informed, you can ensure a safe and enjoyable summer vacation. 🧳

Travel expert advises how to spot, avoid and prevent falling for travel scams this summer Katy Nastro details common scams from online hackers to in-person swindlers to help others stay safe this summer.

There’s no shortage of investment analysis for anyone interested. What’s important to understand?

Types of Stock Market Analysis Most stock market analysis falls into three broad groups: Fundamental, technical, and sentimental. Here’s a look at each.

Can you believe we're already halfway through the year? Now's the perfect time to review and reassess your finances to ensure you're on track to pursue your goals! 🎯

There’s certainly a lot to take into consideration…

What are your top concerns? 👇👇Rank your top 3 in the comments 💬

1️⃣ Having enough saved for the retirement you envision
2️⃣ Caring for aging parents
3️⃣ Considering all factors when positioning your investments
4️⃣ Managing healthcare costs
5️⃣ Legacy and estate strategies
6️⃣ Career goals or possible career transition

A mid-year financial review is an excellent opportunity to:

✅ Assess your progress toward your goals
✅ Stress test your investment strategy
✅ Check in on your insurance coverage
✅ Review your estate and revisit your beneficiaries
✅ Update your approach to reflect any new goals you now have

Take the time to review, reflect, and realign your strategy.

Happy Father's Day to all the dads out there!

Fathers wear many hats—they're our role models, protectors, biggest cheerleaders, and teachers. They've guided us through life's challenges with wisdom and experience and helped shape us into the individuals we are today.

From teaching us the value of hard work to instilling the principle of living within our means, our dads laid the foundation for our financial futures.

And most importantly, they've taught us that money, while important, isn't everything. The richness of life lies in relationships, experiences, and continuous learning.

To all the fantastic dads out there, Happy Father's Day! Your love, guidance, and unwavering support mean the world to us. Thank you for being our rock and our guiding light.

💍 It's wedding season! Can you guess what the average wedding costs?

According to The Knot Real Weddings Study of nearly 10,000 couples across the country, in 2023, the average cost of a wedding ceremony and reception was $35,000, an increase of $5,000 over 2022.

With inflation driving costs up across the board, paying for a child's or grandchild's wedding has never been more expensive.

It's never too early to start preparing and saving!

Some tips to save a bit:
✅ Hire a wedding planner
✅ Choose an off-season date
✅ Tap friends with relevant expertise (calligraphy, photography, table design, etc.)
✅ Destination weddings can also offer benefits due to the typically smaller guest list

And if you're attending a wedding this season, here are some common questions and answers according to wedding professionals at Vogue magazine:

◾ How much should you spend on a gift? Spend $50–$75 for coworkers or distant relatives, $75–$100 for friends or relatives, and $100–$150+ for close friends, family, or wedding party members.
◾ Should I send a gift if I am not attending? Send a gift if invited to the ceremony, even if you can't attend.
◾ Do I need to give a gift for a destination wedding? Your presence is a gift, but an additional gift is still appreciated.

Bottom line is that weddings can be a large expense, and it's always best to prepare, create a budget, and stay disciplined. 💒💕

What are your top tips for saving on wedding costs? Comment below! 👇

This message covers three important factors when it comes to your financial life: Diversification, Patience, and Consistency.

Diversification, Patience, and Consistency Three important factors when it comes to your financial life.

The U.S. trade deficit widened in April, reflecting changes in international trade dynamics.

Key points to consider:

🌐 The U.S. trade deficit expanded, driven by a surge in imports.
⭐ Exports increased but not enough to offset import growth.
💼 A wider trade deficit can impact economic growth and influence currency values.

Keeping abreast of trade trends can help you better navigate economic challenges and opportunities.

How do you think the widening trade deficit will affect the U.S. economy and global markets?

US trade deficit widens in April The U.S. trade deficit widened in April as a jump in imports outpaced a slight increase in exports.

College, kids and costs.

Getting a Head Start on College Savings A few strategies that may help you prepare for the cost of higher education.

Job openings are on the decline, signaling potential shifts in the economic landscape.

Key insights to consider:
⭐ A decrease in job openings could indicate cooling labor market conditions.
📊 This trend may influence unemployment rates and overall economic stability.
💡 Understanding the interplay between job openings, inflation, and interest rates can help keep you more informed about the state of the economy.

Staying updated on employment trends can be useful for making informed decisions.

What are your thoughts on the impact of declining job openings on the economy and labor market?

US job openings fall to 8.1 million, lowest since 2021, but remain at historically high levels U.S. job openings fell in April to the lowest level since 2021. But they remained at historically strong levels despite high interest rates and signs the economy is slowing.

June is National Cancer Survivors Month, and our hearts are with all who have dealt with the battle against cancer.

Cancer is one of life's cruelest trials, but survivors emerge as beacons of resilience.

To the survivors, your perseverance is heroic beyond measure.

To caregivers, families, and friends, you deserve recognition for shouldering heartbreak yet carrying your loved ones through with endless love and devotion.

Cancer creates an unbreakable bond of compassion between all who understand its harsh realities.

We all know too many people who have been victims of this awful disease. Let's celebrate survival while honoring every brave story.

We also reaffirm our commitment to supporting medical pioneers and organizations working tirelessly to research treatments and find cures to eliminate this awful disease.

🎓📆 Attention anyone with college-bound students!

The FAFSA deadline is approaching, and you don't want to miss out on your chance to apply for financial aid for the upcoming academic year.

Here are some tips to keep in mind:

➡️ The deadline is June 30, 2024, but many states and colleges have earlier deadlines. Check with your state and the schools you're interested in. ⏰

➡️ Before starting, collect all the necessary information, such as your most recent bank statements. This may help make the process smoother. 📑

➡️ Some financial aid is awarded on a first-come, first-served basis, so submitting your FAFSA as soon as possible can increase your chances. 🏃‍♂️

➡️ You might qualify! If you think your family's income is too high, fill out the FAFSA anyway. You may be surprised to find out you're eligible for some form of financial aid. 🙌

If you have questions or need assistance completing your FAFSA, contact your school's financial aid office, attend a FAFSA workshop, or visit the official FAFSA website for resources and support.

And feel free to reach out to us if you have any other general questions about college funding!

Anyone have a daughter or son who is starting a summer job?

💡 Idea – Have you opened a Roth IRA for them?

As many know, Roth IRA contributions are made with after-tax dollars, so your child will only pay taxes (and perhaps penalties) once they make withdrawals.

What you may not realize is how flexible they are:

✅ Your child can withdraw up to the amount of their total contributions at any time, for any reason, without paying taxes or penalties. However, you may have to pay taxes and penalties on any earnings.

✅ They can also withdraw contributions before 59½ and before the account is five years old for the following (keep in mind that you may be able to avoid penalties but not taxes):
- Funds can be used for qualified higher education expenses. 🎓
- First-time home purchase (up to a $10,000 lifetime limit.)
- If your child becomes disabled. ♿
- For certain emergency expenses. 🏥
- If your child is unemployed, they can use a withdrawal to help pay for health insurance premiums. 🩺

✅ Things to know:
- Your child must have earned income to contribute to a Roth IRA.
- You can open a Roth IRA for your child and manage it until they reach the age of majority in your state.
- The maximum contribution for 2024 is $7,000 or the total of their earned income, whichever is less.

Opening a Roth IRA for your child's summer earnings is a powerful way to teach them about saving, investing, and building long-term wealth. It's never too early to start! 🌟

📣 Oh, and don't forget, they may need help filling out their Form W-4

If your child earns less than $14,600 in 2024, they may want to claim an exemption from withholding on their Form W-4 by writing "Exempt" on line 4(c) of the form.

With a Roth IRA, remember that to qualify for the tax-free and penalty-free withdrawal of earnings, Roth IRA distributions must meet a five-year holding requirement and occur after age 59½. Tax-free and penalty-free withdrawals can also be taken under certain other circumstances, such as the examples in the post. The original Roth IRA owner is not required to take minimum annual withdrawals.

This post is for informational purposes only and is not a replacement for real-life advice. Consider consulting your tax, legal, and accounting professionals if you have questions about completing the Form W-4.

Hope these summer financial tips are helpful! Let us know if you have any questions! 💬

Check out this informative video on bull and bear markets to better understand how the stock market works!

Bull and Bear Go To Market Learn about the difference between bulls and bears—markets, that is!

U.S. home prices are set to rise by 5% this year, with a more modest increase expected next year.

Key takeaways for the real estate market:
🏡 Home prices are projected to climb 5% in 2024, reflecting ongoing demand.
The pace of price increases is expected to slow down next year, providing some relief for buyers.
💼 Investors and market watchers should stay informed about these trends to make strategic decisions.

While the overall housing market continues to be challenging, there could be relief in the future, with housing prices possibly cooling off as rates ease.

How do you think these price trends will impact your real estate plans?

US home prices to rise 5% this year, more modestly next U.S. home prices will rise a bit faster this year than previously expected due to limited available supply, according to analysts polled by Reuters, who saw affordable properties coming to market remaining below levels of demand in coming years.

🎓🎉 June is the month of graduations!

Whether it's from kindergarten, middle school, high school, college, or grad school, we celebrate the accomplishments of these students and wish them well in their next chapters!

Now is the perfect time to establish healthy financial habits for those heading off to college or stepping into their first job.

Here are a few tips to share with the graduates in your life:

1) Create a budget and stick to it. Track your income and expenses to understand where your money is going.

2) Look into starting an emergency fund. Aim to save at least 3–6 months' worth of living expenses.

3) Consider opening a retirement account, even if it's a small amount. The power of compound interest can work wonders over time.

4) Learn about investing, consult with professionals, and consider starting early.

Congratulations to all the graduates! 🎉🎓 Here's to your future and your success!

As you can see from this chart (courtesy of YCharts), the correlation between the Standard & Poor’s 500 stock index and the Bloomberg US Aggregate 1-year total return is quite high. In other words, stocks and bonds are moving in the same direction.

The traditional diversification benefit of these asset classes moving in opposite directions has been more limited in recent years. But there's more to diversification than just correlation. Remember, diversification is an approach to help manage, but not eliminate, investment risk.

As markets shift, our diversification approaches must also evolve. Exploring asset class differentiation strategies alongside active management may be key. In today’s environment, looking beyond broad asset classes to differentiated segments might enhance diversification.

Financial professionals who understand the nuances of modern diversification strategies are invaluable guides in crafting a well-diversified portfolio that aligns with your unique goals and risk tolerance.

The S&P 500 is an unmanaged index considered to represent the U.S. stock market. The Bloomberg US Aggregate 1-year total return is also an unmanaged index. Individuals cannot invest directly in an index.

Even the most seasoned investors are prone to biases affecting their financial choices. Learn more in this message.

Do Our Biases Affect Our Financial Choices? Even the most seasoned investors have biases affecting their financial choices.

AI-powered cancer screening is revolutionizing early detection, but most of these services aren't covered by insurance yet.

Important points to consider:

🤖 AI technology is making significant strides in improving cancer screening accuracy and early detection.

Despite its potential, many AI cancer screening methods are not yet covered by insurance, posing financial challenges for patients.

🏥 The healthcare industry is at a crossroads, balancing innovation with accessibility and affordability.

Staying informed about these developments can help you advocate for better healthcare solutions.

What are your thoughts on the future of AI in cancer screening and its accessibility? Share your insights!

www.cnbc.com

Rebalancing = restoring a portfolio to its original risk profile. Are you feeling a little off balance?

Rebalancing Your Portfolio Over time, different investments' performances can shift a portfolio’s intent and risk profile. Rebalancing may be critical.

Hiring for new grads is expected to drop by 6% from last year. This could lead to reduced consumer spending among young professionals, potentially slowing economic growth.

🔍 Where the Jobs Are:

Industries like legal, nonprofits, arts and entertainment, healthcare, and construction are leading in hiring new grads. Focusing on these sectors can provide more job stability and support these parts of the economy.

🤖 Demand for AI Skills:
Graduates with AI skills are in high demand as businesses look to integrate this technology. This trend could spur growth in tech sectors and open new job opportunities for tech-savvy grads.

Understanding these trends can help new grads make informed career choices and navigate the job market effectively. What are your thoughts on how these changes will shape the economy and the future workforce?

New college grads face a cooling job market. Here's where the jobs are. Forecasts show that employers are likely to hire fewer newly minted college grads this year. But there are pockets of job growth.

The housing market saw an uptick in activity last week as mortgage rates fell to a 7-week low. Here are the key points investors should note:
⬇️ The average 30-year fixed mortgage rate decreased to 7.01% from 7.08% the previous week.
🔄 This rate dip revived refinance demand, with applications up 7% week-over-week and 21% higher than a year ago.
🏡 However, purchase applications for new homes fell 1% as buyers continue grappling with low inventory and affordability issues.

While most existing homeowners still have lower rates locked in, even modest decreases can motivate some to refinance and take advantage of savings.

This temporary refinance revival could indicate a turning point for real estate investors if rates continue trending down and ease homebuyer gridlock.

What's your take on this mortgage refinance revival? Do you see it as a potential leading indicator of broader housing market shifts?

www.cnbc.com

Considering alternative investments? It’s critical to sort through the complexity.

Alternative Investments - Going Mainstream Alternative investments are going mainstream for accredited investors. It’s critical to sort through the complexity.

Memorial Day isn't just a long weekend or the unofficial start of summer. It's a day of remembrance—a day to honor the courage and selflessness of the men and women who stepped forward when their country called.

On this , let us never forget the sacrifices made by our fallen heroes. May their memories live on forever.

Let's hold them in our hearts today and always—for their sacrifice has granted us the freedoms we enjoy.❤️🤍💙

👥

💼 A few years ago, there were ads from financial services companies asking, "What's your number?" #️⃣

The "number" represents the amount of money you need to retire comfortably.

While this question may have been an effective way to spark conversations about retirement, we believe that it doesn't paint the complete picture.

One of the most important parts of orchestrating your retirement income strategy is determining which assets to take and in which order.

There is no one formula; every situation is unique, but there are some general guidelines that can help when creating a withdrawal strategy.

For example, one approach to consider is withdrawing money from taxable accounts first, then tax-deferred, then tax-exempt. By using taxable money first, you can avoid paying taxes as long as possible with tax-deferred investments—and your tax-exempt accounts remain tax-exempt for a longer period. Ultimately, your decision will be influenced by a wide range of other considerations, including withdrawal fees, surrender charges, and other costs that may be associated with each specific account. However, when possible, consider using the power of tax deferral and tax exemption to your advantage.

There's a lot to consider, but you don't need to figure this out on your own. With this post, we are pointing out some high-level concepts. It's not a replacement for real-life advice. Your tax, legal, and accounting professionals may also have some additional insights into the tax implications of certain withdrawal decisions.

If you would like to review your current plans to make sure you’re on track, please send us a message. 🤝💼

The latest energy report brought a mixed bag for oil markets.

Here are the key points:
🛢️ Global oil demand growth forecast was revised lower by 140,000 barrels per day, signaling softening in developed economies.
🛢️ However, U.S. crude inventories fell by 2.5 million barrels last week, more than expected.
🌊 Oil stockpiles surged in March as trade disruptions caused a spike in oil shipments at sea.
👀 OPEC+ will closely watch inventory levels before their June meeting to assess the supply/demand balance.

Stay tuned for more updates on the ever-evolving oil landscape!

www.cnbc.com

Without your knowing, your investment portfolio could be off-kilter. What to look for in this message.

Why Regular Rebalancing Makes Sense Without your knowing, your investment portfolio could be off-kilter.

“Sell in May and go away.” Or so goes the Wall Street adage. But so far this year, that “old saw” is being tested. In fact, “Buy in May and go away” could be a better approach in 2024! Why has May started so well? It’s all about the...

What Happened to ‘Sell in May & Go Away’?

Your investment strategies and personal beliefs don’t have to be mutually exclusive. Learn more about impact investing here:

Investing for Impact Learn how to build a socially conscious investment portfolio and invest in your beliefs.

A geologist claims to have solved one of art's greatest mysteries: the true landscape behind the Mona Lisa's enigmatic smile. Here are the fascinating details:
🔍 Ann Pizzorusso, an Italian Renaissance expert, believes the backdrop is Lecco, a town near Lake Como in northern Italy.
🌉 The iconic arched bridge matches the 14th-century Ponte Azzone Visconti in Lecco, unlike previous theories pinpointing other locations.
🪨 Pizzorusso's geological expertise identified the rock formations as limestone, consistent with the painting's landscape.
🏞️ She points to the depiction of the Adda River, a lake, and sawtooth mountains that perfectly align with Lecco's scenery.
Leonardo da Vinci's meticulous observation of nature and his scientific curiosity may have captured this breathtaking vista over 500 years ago. Art meets science in this intriguing revelation about one of the world's most famous masterpieces! 🖼️

Mona Lisa's mysterious background decrypted by art-loving geologist Over 500 years after Leonardo da Vinci painted the Mona Lisa, an academic believes she has unravelled the mystery about the backdrop to one of the world's most famous works of art.

💼 Wall Street has its own language and adages…

One of my favorites is "Sell in May and Go Away," suggesting that the market’s performance is typically weaker from May through October. Although there is some loose historical basis, market timing has well-documented limitations.

While these sayings may sometimes hold a kernel of wisdom, more often, they are just something that catches our attention and makes for an interesting table topic.

Here are a few others that come up in conversations on occasion…

1️⃣ "Markets Climb a Wall of Worry": This phrase means that the stock market often rises, even amid negative news or uncertainties.

2️⃣ "Stocks Take the Stairs Up and the Elevator Down": This maxim reflects the fact that stocks often rise gradually over time but can drop rapidly in a market downturn.

3️⃣ "Everyone Looks Like a Genius in a Bull Market": Soaring stocks make everyone seem like financial wizards in a bull market. Success isn't always a reflection of expertise.

Have you heard of any of these before? What do you think of these sayings?