Adam Reeder

We'll find out today how the Fed reacts to inflation and job markets.

I anticipate a continued pause to interest rate hikes, with the caution they could start again.

Stock Market to Fed: You Haven’t Done Enough Bullish stocks, low bond yields and a recovering housing market suggest interest rates aren’t that restrictive, frustrating the central bank’s efforts to cool inflation.

Organizing your estate planning documents can provide tax and cost savings, simplify planning, and create a roadmap for those who may have to help you in the future. Check out these tips.

Clean Out Your Estate Planning Attic Cleaning out your estate and related planning "attic" can simplify your planning, identify steps and improvements, save professional fees and taxes.

93% of new Bankers Life customers say their agent is easy to do business with. Find out why here: https://www.bankerslife.com/insights/understanding-insurance/top-benefits-of-working-with-an-insurance-agent/

Coping with a national tragedy can be hard. These five suggestions may help you process and cope in a constructive way.

How to Cope with National Tragedy: 5 Ways to Help Process It - Bankers Life Blog Just turn on the TV, radio or go online and you’ll likely be bombarded with difficult news stories whether it’s a major weather event or a national Unfortunate national events are challenging to cope with even if we’re not direct victims. These 5 tips may help you process what you’re encount...

Take five minutes to improve your financial literacy and learn about these six myths that could impact your retirement: https://www.bankerslife.com/insights/personal-finance/6-myths-that-could-impact-your-retirement-financial-planning/

Interesting Take

As someone who contracts with Medicare Supplement and Advantage Plans, I had no idea that fraud was so rampant.

If the government cut Medicare fraud, it wouldn’t have to cut Medicare If the federal government were better at preventing Medicare and Medicaid fraud, the programs could save perhaps $100 billion a year or more.

The Fed is squarely placed between a rock and a hard place.

Raise interest rates 0.5% - fight inflation

Don't raise interest rates - ease up on banks

**Raise interest rates 0.25% - attempt to do both**

Jerome Powell has an obvious problem with no easy solution: Morning Brief The Federal Reserve is facing and inflation problem and a banking crisis, two issues that call for two different solutions. And yet the central bank must choose.

Why is government negotiation with pharmaceutical companies so valuable?

The gov't paid between $15 - $26 per dose.

Without government purchases, the price will rise to $130.

Moderna to Price Its Covid-19 Vaccine at $130 a Dose The company is preparing for commercial distribution of the shots as the U.S. winds down its pandemic-emergency purchases.

Is XRP, or Ripple, a security according to the SEC?

We'll find out.

XRP cryptocurrency jumps as investors hope Ripple will win legal battle with the SEC XRP, a cryptocurrency closely associated with Ripple, surged over 11% on Wednesday as investors grew hopeful the firm would win its legal battle with the SEC.

Eager to take advantage of closely watched rate fluctuations, existing home sales jumped in February, and median prices slid to $363,000 down 0.2% from a year ago.

Existing home sales jump in February as mortgage rates fall Existing home sales rose in February as mortgage rates dropped.

25 Basis Point Rate Hike Likely

Jerome Powell is looking to walk, chew gum, and juggle at the same time.

-Fight Inflation
-Soothe Markets
-Prevent Bank Runs

The Fed is likely to hike rates by a quarter point but it must also reassure it can contain a banking crisis The Federal Reserve is expected to raise interest rates Wednesday by a quarter point, but it also must reassure markets it can stem a worse banking crisis.

If the Federal Government steps in to provide more protection for large depositors, how would you feel?

U.S. Could Move to Protect Deposits at Other Banks Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen is expected to tell a banking conference that the federal government could step in to protect depositors at additional banks if regulators see a risk of a run on the banking system.

Clever

As Silicon Valley Bank and Signature Bank have failed, the credit rating agency Moody's, threatened to downgrade their credit rating.

Why didn't they do it sooner?

Silicon Valley Bank’s Distress Wasn’t Reflected in Credit Ratings Ratings firms gave high marks to regional banks shortly before failures.

The Treasury and the Fed have continued to do three things:

1) Bail out high profile institutions
2) Say they won't do it again
3) Do it again

Treasury Secretary Yellen says not all uninsured deposits will be protected in future bank failures Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen sought to reassure markets and lawmakers that the government will protect U.S. bank deposits amid a rash of bank failures.

Stock down 25% before 11:00a EST.

Yikes

First Republic Stock Halted, Credit Suisse Slumps As Cracks Appear In Global Bank Rescue Investors appear unconvinced that plans to shore-up First Republic and Credit Suisse will stave-off contagion in the banking sector.

I've been saying this for months, now:

The European Central Bank and The Federal Reserve of the United States are not trying to soothe banks or investors.

They have one main mandate at the moment, and that is to curb inflation. Increasing interest rates does that job.

Stock market news today: Stocks open lower after shock ECB decision Stocks opened Thursday's trading session lower after the ECB raised rates by more than expected amid financial stability concerns in Europe but inflation that remains "too high."

So you're telling me...

Bitcoin Bros, who are against the banks -
Put their fiat savings in a Silicon Valley Bank -
Then the government came and bailed them out -
And they think Bitcoin is more valuable because banks are unsafe?

oooookay

Bitcoin gains amid growing investor concern over global banking crisis The price of bitcoin advanced Thursday after a big rally in cryptocurrencies this week as the broader investment world assessed cracks in the banking system in the U.S. and Europe.

Inflation impacts different industries at different rates.

College tuition is among the highest inflationary costs that American's face over the past few decades.

It's no wonder that students (and parents) are turning toward alternative education / career paths.

More Students Are Turning Away From College and Toward Apprenticeships Some white-collar training programs have become as selective as Ivy League universities.

Bad News is still Good News

Bad News: More Americans are without a job.

Good News: The stock market reacts by going up.

Stocks Climb On Surprise Jump In Jobless Claims The price of Bitcoin declined 2% Thursday, as crypto bank Silvergate Capital crashed 50%.

General Motors is "strongly encouraging" white-collar salaried employees of 5+ years, and executives outside the U.S. of 2+ years, a "voluntary separation program."

The company states the plan is designed to cut costs and keep the company "nimble."

GM offers buyouts to 'majority' of U.S. salaried workers GM expects to take a pre-tax charge of up to $1.5 billion related to the buyouts, according to a public filing Thursday by the company.

I hate to disagree with economist Mohamed El-Erian, but for months I've been parroting the message from Jerome Powell, Chair of the Federal Reserve.

And although I saw room for ambiguity at times, the message has been clear for over about a year now: Interest Rate Hikes Will Continue

‘It really shouldn’t be this way’: Top economist Mohamed El-Erian blames the Fed for bad messaging and stock volatility Fed's Jerome Powell hinted in February that inflation hikes would slow because disinflation was underway. But on Tuesday, he seemed to backtrack.

Jes Staley sounds like a disgusting figure. If he's found guilty or liable for his actions as financier to Jeffrey Epstein, he should absolutely be held accountable.

But JPMorgan Chase is trying, after they profited off their relationship to Mr. Epstein, to create a distance that should have already existed.

If they profited off of his behavior, they should similarly be held accountable.

JPMorgan Sues Former Executive Jes Staley Over Jeffrey Epstein Ties JPMorgan identified Mr. Staley as the “powerful financial executive” accused of sexual assault in a lawsuit against the bank.

The Recession is always looming, here's why:

1- In reaction to Covid-19, the government showered Americans in cash and it's still moving around in our economy

2- Shortages of materials and workers have made rate-sensitive housing/auto markets more resilient to high interest rates

3- U.S. Consumers are spending more on services that require more workers (dining & travel)

Why the Recession Is Always Six Months Away Continued strong hiring and consumer spending are complicating Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell’s campaign to tame inflation.

Supply chain issues, which plagued most of retail for quite some time, put Dicks in a position to receive inventory only in time for it to be out-of-season.

Even with that, they posted strong 4th quarter numbers, and will not be facing the same inventory issues for the remainder of 2023.

Dick's Sporting Goods smashes same-store sales expectations for holiday quarter Dick's Sporting Goods same-store sales increased 5.3% in the fourth quarter, more than double analyst's estimates of 2.1%.

As Powell speaks, treasury yields will increase.

The value of you bonds will decrease.

Speak with your financial advisor as to how this impacts your retirement portfolio.

Stock market news today: Stock futures edge higher ahead of more Powell testimony U.S. stocks struggled for direction during the trading session on Wednesday, following two labor prints that showed the labor market remains tight amid sticky inflation. Wall Street awaits more testimony from Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell, this time before the House Financial Services Committe...

Ask me for a no-cost consultation if you're unsure of the growth potential and risk built in to your portfolio.

In 2018, General Electric was removed from the Dow Jones after it lost about 60% of its value in the preceding 10 years.

After a change in leadership, and changes to corporate structure, they may be poised for a comeback.

GE Stock At New High As Investor Event, Defining Moment Loom

For all the political bluster and posturing, both sides of the isle have indicated they have no plans to let the U.S. government default on its debts.

The US government hit its $31.4 trillion debt ceiling — triggering fears of a nasty fallout for Americans. Here are 3 harmful ways it could really impact you Are you prepared for “extraordinary measures”?