The Smith/Syler Wealth Management Team - Stifel

Wishing you a fun and safe Independence Day!

0.005 seconds: American sprinter Noah Lyles's margin of victory in the men's 100-meter race, winning a gold medal. For more information on this and to read the full piece, click below.

Stifel Bits - August 14, 2024 stifel.com

Holding rates steady in July, the Federal Reserve opened the door to a potential rate reduction in September if incoming data gives policy makers confidence that a sustainable disinflationary trend has taken hold. Despite stopping short of a commitment to a rate reduction in the coming weeks, investors nevertheless are pricing in as many as four potential 25 bps cuts by year-end, with some calling for a larger 50 bps reduction to start, or even an emergency reduction ahead of next month's FOMC decision.

The Health of the Labor Market: Stabilization versus Weakness - August 12, 2024 amazonaws.com

86: The number of medals that the United States has won as of this writing, leading the overall medal count. The U.S. has the most gold medals at 24. For more information on this and to read the full piece, click below.

Stifel Bits - August 7, 2024 stifel.com

The July FOMC statement offered no guarantee of a September rate cut, disappointing investors' expectations for a commitment to policy easing in the next six and a half weeks. While a September rate cut is still a possibility and very much "on the table," the statement suggests the Fed remains data dependent and that policy makers are not yet convinced price pressures will continue to moderate or that labor market conditions have cooled enough.

Will They or Won't They? July Federal Open Market Committee Statement Falls Short of Committing to September Rate Cut - August 5, 2024 amazonaws.com

Click below to view this month's Market Perspectives from Stifel's Investment Strategy team. We review the prior month's capital market returns and economic developments in the context of our outlook and asset allocation themes.

Monthly Market Perspectives | August 2024 amazonaws.com

10,000+: The number of people that have carried the Olympic torch from Greece to France to celebrate the arrival of the 2024 Games in Paris. For more information on this and to read the full piece, click below.

Stifel Bits - July 31, 2024 stifel.com

In the aftermath of a cooler-than-expected June Consumer Price Index (CPI)
report and some cooler labor data in the second quarter, market expectations for a near-term rate reduction surged. In fact, even some of the most steadfast members of the "higher for longer" camp have wavered as the pace of disinflation has improved – albeit modestly.

Jumping Ship: A Once Again Lonely Boat of Higher For Longer - July 29, 2024 amazonaws.com

Our July/August Investment Strategy Brief discusses Embracing Change happening in the second half of 2024, like an anticipated economic slowdown after a strong first half, the upcoming U.S. elections, and the market rotation that began in July: https://stifel.info/ISB0072924

Investment Strategy Brief | July/August 2024 youtube.com

8.5 million: The amount of Windows devices that were affected from CrowdStrike's botched software update. For more information on this and to read the full piece, click below.

Stifel Bits - July 24, 2024 stifel.com

The latest read on June consumer inflation was notably cooler than expected, buoying expectations for a potential near-term adjustment in Federal Reserve (Fed) policy. The latest read on other measures of prices, however, including the PPI and alternative calculations provided by regional Federal Reserve banks, came in hotter than expected, muddying the outlook for the future trajectory of rates.

Not All Inflation Indicators Are Pointing in the Same Direction, Complicating the Fed's Policy Plans - July 24, 2024 amazonaws.com

7.5%: The percentage decrease in blood flow to the brain when wearing a tie according to a new study. For more information on this and to read the full piece, click below.

Stifel Bits - July 17, 2024 stifel.com

Rest assured, I support you with the backing of a firm recognized two years in a row as the #1 Wealth Management Firm for Employee Advisor Satisfaction! This means I have the tools and resources to support my clients for all their financial needs.

Click below to view a replay of this quarter's Economic Insight Live Webinar hosted by Stifel's Chief Economist, Dr. Lindsey Piegza, Ph.D.

Economic Insight LIVE Replay stifel.com

Click below to view this quarter's Market Perspectives from our CIO Office. We review the prior quarter's capital market returns and economic developments in the context of our outlook and asset allocation themes.

Quarterly Market Perspectives | Q3 2024 amazonaws.com

16: The age of Quincy Williams, who became the youngest U.S. male track athlete to qualify for the Olympics. For more information on this and to read the full piece, click below.

Stifel Bits - July 10, 2024 stifel.com

66%: The percent of Americans that will attend a July 4 picnic. For more information on this and to read the full piece, click below.

Stifel Bits - July 3, 2024 stifel.com

While arguably rebalancing at a gradual pace in the aftermath of the fastest backup in rates in four decades, the expected slowdown in demand and overall impact on the U.S. labor market remains muted. Momentum is slowing in many key categories of economic activity, however, the readjustment remains less than anticipated.

Gauging Appropriate Policy Amid Potential Upside Risks to Inflation and a Higher Neutral Rate - July 1, 2024 amazonaws.com

Click below to view this month's Market Perspectives from our Investment Strategy team. We review the prior month's capital market returns and economic developments in the context of our outlook and asset allocation themes.

Monthly Market Perspectives | July 2024 amazonaws.com

23: The number of sets of twins who graduated from a single Massachusetts middle school this month. For more information on this and to read the full piece, click below.

Stifel Bits - June 26, 2024 www.stifel.com

A cooler-than-expected May inflation report following minimal improvement in April has reinforced the Federal Reserve (Fed)'s position on the sidelines, now for the seventh consecutive meeting, with the Committee noting "modest" progress towards the Fed's 2% target. Although on a relative basis with the annual pace of inflation still above January levels, (3.3 vs. 3.1% for CPI and 2.2% vs. 1.0% for PPI) and nominally, the growth rate exceeding the 2% target, it's clear the Committee has more work to do before the goal of price stability is achieved, let alone gain the needed confidence to justify a reduction in policy firming.

State of the Economy: Leading, Lagging, and Coincident Indicators | June 2024 grapevinesix.s3.amazonaws.com

Our June Investment Strategy Brief discusses what's in focus for the second half of 2024, including elections, inflation, Federal Reserve policy, a potential economic slowdown, and what these forces might mean for market performance going forward: https://stifel.info/ISB062024

Investment Strategy Brief | June 2024 www.youtube.com

26%: The increase in homeownership costs in the U.S. since 2020. For more information on this and to read the full piece, click below.

Stifel Bits - June 20, 2024 www.stifel.com

Tune in Thursday, July 11 at 12 p.m. CT for this quarter's Economic Insight LIVE Webinar, hosted by Stifel's Chief Economist, Dr. Lindsey Piegza. To register, click below.

Economic Insight LIVE Webinar www.stifel.com

As expected, the Federal Reserve (Fed) opted to keep rates unchanged in a range of 5.25% to 5.50% for the seventh consecutive meeting since September 2023. But while the policy announcement itself was uneventful, there were several key takeaways for investors desperately trying to gauge the outlook and expected timeline for any adjustment in policy.

Key Takeaways from the June Federal Open Market Committee Meeting: A Message of Patience for grapevinesix.s3.amazonaws.com

Happy Father's Day!

Happy Father's Day! www.stifel.com

59%: The reduction in Coldplay's touring carbon footprint compared to their previous world tour thanks to measures such as using solar panels, kinetic flooring, and exercise bikes to help power venues. For more information on this and to read the full piece, click below.

Stifel Bits - June 12, 2024 www.stifel.com

While the economy appears to be running at a slower-than-expected pace, consumers continue to spend and businesses continue to invest. This underscores the thesis of a still-solid economy and highlights the potential for a soft(ish) landing. While an earlier 525-basis point increase in the federal funds rate has clearly cooled or tamped down consumer spending relative to more robust post-COVID-19 levels, the lack of outright weakness compounds future uncertainty in terms of directional momentum in spending.

Tight Labor Market Conditions Overshadow Cooler Start to the Year - June 11, 2024 grapevinesix.s3.amazonaws.com

7 million: The number of hot dogs Americans are expected to eat between Memorial Day and Labor Day. For more information this and to read the full piece, click below.

Stifel Bits - June 5, 2024 www.stifel.com