Elisa Verna Caspare

How do you feel about your listening skills?

Active Listening Life doesn’t make it easy for us to tune things out and focus on what’s right in front of us.

Weekly Market Performance - March 15, 2024 LPL's Weekly Market Performance for the week of March 11, 2024, highlights a new S&P 500 record close, earnings growth, and the energy sector outperforming.

IS TOO MUCH OPTIMISM PRICED IN?

IS TOO MUCH OPTIMISM PRICED IN? | Weekly Market Commentary | January 29, 2024 With the S&P 500 having recently ascended to a fresh record high after such a strong 2023, it’s natural for investors to worry that valuations have become over-extended. On traditional valuation measures, valuations do appear high and it does seem reasonable to expect more moderate stock market re...

Establishing a Budget Before you create a budget, take the time to define both your short-term and long-term goals, and then decide how important it is for you to achieve those goals. You'll also want to add up your income from every source, and all of your expenses, too. To get ahead, you'll have to spend less than you....

The Benefits of Tax-Advantaged Savings Vehicles It's helpful to look for tax-advantaged strategies when building a portfolio.

Now would be a good time to review your beneficiaries.

SECURE Act Changed IRA and Retirement Plan Inheritance Rules The SECURE Act of 2019 had significant impacts on inherited IRAs.

It had been a strong recent run for stocks, as measured by the S&P 500 Index

Five Week Positive Streak for the S&P 500 Ends -Now What? Monday, June 26, 2023

Given the experience from 2011, we think it would be prudent for Congress to raise the debt ceiling.

DEBT CEILING PRIMER | Weekly Market Commentary | February 27, 2023 While concerns about the debt ceiling have been increasing, markets, businesses, and the economy are likely to see only minimal impact until we are days, or maybe a few weeks, from the “x date,” the date on which the federal government will no longer be able to meet all its obligations, likely i...

LPL update.

WILL JANUARY HIT THE TRIFECTA? | Weekly Market Commentary | January 30, 2023 The script has been flipped in 2023. Last year’s underperformers have turned into outperformers this year, driving the S&P 500 Index up over 5% this month. The pace and composition of the rally have left many investors skeptical over its sustainability, especially amid a lackluster earnings season...

Can Gold Continue to Shine?

Can Gold Continue to Shine? Tuesday, January 24, 2023 Gold has climbed to a nine-month high after breaking out from a bottom formation last fall. The yellow metal is now up nearly 20% off the September lows, including over a 5% year-to-date gain as of Monday, January 23.

Pessimism may be overdone and investors may be surprised at how well stocks hold up on the news, look for earnings throughout the next year

Q4 EARNINGS PREVIEW: PESSIMISM MAY BE OVERDONE | Weekly Market Commentary | January 17, 2023 Fourth quarter earnings season is underway and probably won’t bring much good news. Lackluster global growth, ongoing profit margin pressures from inflation, and negative currency impacts are likely to translate into a year-over-year decline in S&P 500 Index earnings for the quarter. As always, gu...

Market Week: August 22, 2022 The four-week rally for stocks came to an end last week.

WHERE WILL HOUSING GO FROM HERE? | Weekly Market Commentary | August 22, 2022 Existing home sales fell 5.9% in July, the sixth consecutive month of declines as higher interest rates weigh on housing affordability and prospective buyers. As the housing market slowed, so did prices. The median price for a single family home was $410,600, a decline of roughly $10,000 from June.....

The S

Market Week: August 8, 2022 Stocks closed last week generally higher.

Positive economic news and corporate earnings data helped drive stocks higher last week

Market Week: August 1, 2022 Positive economic news and favorable corporate earnings sent stocks higher last week.

We believe the domestic economy will continue to grow this year.

ECONOMY SLOWING BUT NOT SHRINKING | Weekly Market Commentary | June 6, 2022 Many pundits are issuing recession warnings and saying the economy is heading for a hard landing. Amid the cacophony of voices, we think the economy is slowing just like central bankers want but not shrinking. Further, we argue that a slowing economy is very different than a shrinking one.

If I leave my company, can I take my life insurance policy with me? If you leave your company, you can often continue your life insurance coverage with the same insurance company...

Have you started to think about this?

Social Security: What Should You Do at Age 62? There's a lot to think about before collecting Social Security benefits early.

Democrats and Republicans struck a deal last week to raise the debt ceiling, prompting a relief rally in equity markets!

ANSWERING THE TOP DEBT CEILING QUESTIONS | Weekly Market Commentary | October 11, 2021 Last week, Congress was able to push back a fast-approaching deadline for raising the debt ceiling to December. Markets applauded the move with a relief rally. Despite decreased uncertainty in the near term, we may be confronted with the same problem again in a couple of months. This week we look mo...

Many employers are offering their employees early retirement packages, how do you know if it is the right choice?

Evaluating an Early Retirement Offer How do you know if your early-retirement offer is a good one?

The value of objective financial guidance cannot be overestimated!

Working with a Financial Professional: Your Interests Come First In these uncertain times, the value of objective financial guidance cannot be overestimated, and the impor...

Knowing your vesting schedule before making a job change is important and there may be a pension feature you may have overlooked as well.

Changing Jobs? Know Your 401(k) Options Be sure you understand the options for your 401(k) plan when leaving your job.

If you are confused, concerned, intrigued here are answers to some questions you may have about the recent market volatility

GameStop, Reddit, and Market Mania: What You Need to Know Here's what you need to know about recent market volatility triggered by

Often a third-party perspective can help alleviate any worries you may still hold.

Coronavirus Concerns? Consider Past Health Crises Putting current market volatility into historical perspective helps you stay the course during turbulent times.

While the general consensus suggests that the duration of the actual recession may be brief, it is much too early to know the true shape.

The Shape of Economic Recovery Learn about key factors that may affect the shape of economic recovery.

Now that you may have taxes on your mind may be the best time to review your withholding. Perhaps increasing 401k may also be the solution!

Am I Having Enough Withheld? If you fail to estimate your federal income tax withholding properly, it may cost you in a variety of ways.

There is help down the road! Education expenses are so high and student loans can pose a financial burden.

Financial Aid Changes on the Horizon Financial aid changes are on the horizon thanks to the second pandemic relief bill.

Coping with Market Volatility: Understand How Your Biases Can Affect Investment Decisions Understanding your biases may help you avoid questionable calls in the heat of the financial moment.