Edward Jones - Financial Advisor: Mitchell Mullen

Phase 2 of the new office is finally completed! After moving to the new office 2 years ago, a friend and I finally built the new counter in the lobby and replaced all the old furniture. Looking forward to serving our clients for years to come in our refreshed space.

As we look back on 2023, we are grateful for each other and the opportunity to serve our clients. We look forward to seeing you in 2024 and wish you a happy and prosperous new year!

There is still time to donate to Toys For Tots! You can drop off unwrapped toys through Wednesday December 13th at my office. 220 Third Court DeMotte. Thank you to everyone who has already donated!

4 ways to prepare your portfolio for 2023 2022 was a tough year for investors — but it also served as a reminder to focus on your financial goals.

Take a look at our weekly market update.

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

2022 was a challenging year for investors as multiple headwinds hit the economy and markets. As we look ahead, we think that inflation and central bank actions will remain in the driver's seat in 2023, but conditions could start to slowly shift in a more favorable way for the markets. With investors ready to turn the page on the calendar, we review some of the milestones that defined the markets over the past 12 months and offer some perspective on how these factors could evolve in the future.

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

Due to the weather conditions our office will be closed today. We are working remotely so you can still reach us by calling the office. Thank you!

Last week, markets digested three key pieces of data – a CPI inflation reading that came in better than expected, Fed commentary that indicate their job is not done yet, and U.S. retail sales showing a consumer under pressure. Overall, while the Fed (and global central banks) remain vigilant for now, as inflation moderates and the economy softens in the months ahead, the need for peak restrictive policy may wane. We discuss five key takeaways from a busy market week in our Weekly Wrap below.

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

There is still time to donate to Toys For Tots. You can drop off unwrapped toys through Wednesday December 14th at my office. 220 Third Court DeMotte. Thank you to everyone who has already donated!

The rally that began in mid-October stalled last week as markets have grown more anxious over the outlook for growth in in the year ahead. Nevertheless, it should not be lost that markets have staged an impressive run recently, with stocks and bonds logging solid gains over the past two months -- an important reminder for investors of the value of being opportunistic within a pessimistic market. In this installment of the Weekly Market Wrap, we take a look at a few noteworthy trends playing out underneath the market's surface that offer some potential signals about the mood of the market and possible implications for path ahead.

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

The rebound in financial markets has gained steam as we navigate the final stretch of the year. Global equities recorded their first back-to-back monthly gains in over a year and investment grade bonds posted the biggest monthly gain since 2008, a reminder of the importance of maintaining a disciplined investment approach even in times of uncertainty. We draw attention to some recent trends that defy this year's narrative and provide our take on Friday's employment data.

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

Check out our weekly market update.

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

Markets took a bit of a breather this week after a strong rally higher over the last month. The focus on inflation and the impact it's having on interest rates continues to be the primary influence on market moves. But with fixed income yields now at their highest levels in 15 years, equities now have some competition, raising questions for investors around where to put their investment dollars today. We think this underscores the importance of aligning portfolio decisions with goals instead of emotions, and in this week's Market Wrap, we look at the decisions investors are facing and the opportunities that we believe lay ahead.

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

The cooler-than-expected October inflation offers some relief to households, investors, and the Fed, potentially indicating that last month could be the start of a disinflationary trend. We provide our take on the recent data, along with implications for Fed policy and investment strategy.

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

This week the Federal Reserve raised rates by 0.75% to bring the fed funds rate close to 4.0%. Notably, while Fed Chair Jerome Powell indicated the pace of rate hikes may slow going forward, he also emphasized that a potential pause in this rate hiking cycle is still "very premature." Markets took the message at its face value, now pricing in a terminal fed funds rate of 5.0%-5.3%, or about 1.3% more in tightening to come.

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

A tug-of-war may be the most appropriate metaphor to describe last week's price action in the markets. Pulling at one end of the rope was disappointing earnings results from mega-cap tech names and more signs of economic activity softening. At the other end was growing hopes for a Fed slowdown and lower bond yields. We provide our interpretation and investment takeaways from last week's developments.

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

Although markets were attempting to stage a comeback last week with a nearly 4% rebound in the first two days, higher bond yields once again seemed to stifle the budding rally. For markets to mount a sustainable rebound, we would likely need to see certain conditions in place, including moderating inflation and Treasury yields peaking, neither of which are fully confirmed yet – but we may be getting closer.

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

Markets continue to be guided by the outlook for upcoming Fed rate hikes, so with the latest consumer price index report indicating that inflation is not declining as fast as hoped, stocks fluctuated widely last week. More broadly, we continue to hold the view that inflation is on a downward path, eventually allowing the Fed to ease back on restrictive policy, which we believe will be the catalyst for a more enduring market rebound. This week's Market Wrap looks at the characteristics of market downturns and the longer-term performance that follows.

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

September left a bitter taste for investors as major indexes ended at a new low for the year. However, markets kicked off the new quarter on a more upbeat note, with the S&P 500 logging its biggest two-day rise since April 2020 before giving back some of those gains later in the week. Could this rebound from the lows have legs, or will it prove to be another bear market rally? We examine what the underlying conditions suggest and provide our take on the September jobs report.

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

Market volatility returned this week, as the S&P 500 once again slipped into bear market territory. What factors could signal a potential bottoming process in markets? While each cycle is unique, we highlight three metrics to watch in the weeks ahead: inflation, bond yields, and the U.S. dollar.

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

The Fed was in focus this week with the stock market recoiling and interest rates moving higher as investors digested the prospects of more aggressive rate hikes ahead as part of the Fed's mission to bring down elevated inflation. While renewed market volatility has been challenging, our latest Weekly Market Wrap highlights the latest developments and reasons investors can be optimistic about what comes next.

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

Inflation remains the kryptonite for the markets as the hotter-than-expected August CPI triggered the biggest daily decline in the S&P 500 in over two years. The broad price pressures challenge the Fed to keep going and suggest that the road to the 2% target will likely be long. But there are glimmers of hope that the underlying inflation trend will likely be down in the months ahead.

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

Markets are often unpredictable and there have been plenty of surprises in 2022. In this week’s Market Wrap, we take a look at expectations versus reality, evaluating the trends that have played out this year and what they might signal about the path ahead.

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

This past week, we saw equity markets fall, bond yields rise, and commodities sell-off as concerns around global demand heightened once more. Markets are now forecasting a 75 basis-point (0.75%) rate hike at the September FOMC meeting and a terminal fed funds rate of close to 4.0%, with any rate cut expectations removed from mid-2023 forecasts. However, while the near-term may be volatile, we see a case for markets to stabilize heading into year-end, driven by two key factors: midterm elections and a potential Fed pause by year-end.

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

Stocks have made a less-than-pleasant round trip this summer. Major indexes entered a bear market in June, rebounded sharply in July, and are on track to finish flat in August, returning to where they were three months ago. Because some of the worst-case-scenario risks have recently diminished, we think the direction of travel since the midsummer lows is justified. But strong headwinds to growth will remain, which is why we continue to expect a more bumpy and prolonged market recovery to the prior highs. With the Fed's Jackson Hole meeting marking the last major market event before the summer ends, we take a look at what's changed, what hasn't, and what the evolving conditions may mean for the road ahead.

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

High inflation and rising interest rates have prompted recession worries, yet a healthy labor market and recent declines in prices at the pump have helped ease fears and lift the stock market recently. This week we take a look at the state of the consumer and the outlook for household spending, which will play a key role in the path ahead for the economy and markets.

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

Last week we saw both CPI and PPI inflation move lower. However, inflation remains elevated compared to almost any period in history, and we would expect the Federal Reserve to continue to push rates higher in this backdrop. Nonetheless, investors cheered this first step in the right direction, and if inflation continues to moderate consistently, markets could be poised for a more sustained rally towards the back half of this year or early 2023.

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

Equity markets have staged an impressive rally since the mid-June lows aided by weaker commodity prices, easing inflation expectations, and lower bond yields. With last week's impressive job gains suggesting that the Fed has to stay aggressive in its fight against inflation, further gains might be more difficult to achieve, and markets could be entering a choppy phase in the months ahead. Yet, the worst of the valuation declines might be behind us. We see three potential future paths for the U.S. economy and financial markets and offer our take on the blockbuster July jobs report.

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