The Clark Group at Morgan Stanley

Wishing everyone a Happy New Year and much success in 2024!

The era of ultra-low interest rates has passed, but elevated rates isn’t all bad. Morgan Stanley Wealth Management’s Chief Investment Officer, Lisa Shalett, argues higher interest rates open up new investing opportunities, provide income to savers and ration capital across the economy.

The Bright Side of Higher Interest Rates | Morgan Stanley The era of ultra-low interest rates has passed. But smart investors may find that is not such a bad thing.

In 2023, equity markets have show strong performance as they recovered from recession fears that fed into the October 2022 trough, proving more resilient than analysts expected. However, 2024 is likely to be a “tale of two halves,” with a cautious first half giving way to stronger performance in the second half of the year. Click below to read our 2024 Investment Outlook: Threading the Needle.

2024 Investment Outlook: Thread the Needle | Morgan Stanley Investors face tough choices but can look for opportunities in fixed income while remaining cautious on emerging markets and commodities.

Morgan Stanley clients with eligible brokerage accounts can earn up to 5.52% Annual Percentage Yield with a 3 to 11-month CD. Learn more and contact me to take advantage of this competitive CD offer: https://mgstn.ly/3tda3ZL

The Fed has been signaling its intentions to keep rates higher for longer and markets are finally starting to get the message. Check out our recent report to learn how that might impact your portfolio.

Have Markets Finally Adapted to Higher Rates? | Morgan Stanley The Fed has long warned of sticky inflation and a need to keep interest rates aloft. Now markets seem to be listening. Here’s what that could mean for your portfolio.

We all have a different vision for what we want our retirement to be like. No matter what that vision is, it's critical to plan ahead to ensure you're in position to make it become a reality. See our piece "What Kind of Retiree Do you Want to Be?" to learn about retirement spending habits, common lifestyles and strategies to make sure you are prepared. If you'd like to discuss your specific retirement vision, please get in touch!

What Kind of Retiree Do You Want to Be? | Morgan Stanley Everyone has a different idea of their dream retirement. Whatever you envision, it’s essential to plan ahead so that your nest egg will last.

As we flip the calendar to October we enter Cybersecurity Awareness Month.

Hearing about cyberattacks is alarming and, unfortunately, something we've been hearing about more often.

It's important to take the appropriate steps to protect yourself. In order to do that you need a basic understanding of cybersecurity terminology, so I wanted to share our list of common terms to help make it easier for you to comprehend the reports and articles you will likely come across this month and beyond.

The Top Cybersecurity Terms You Need to Know | Morgan Stanley When it comes to cybersecurity, knowledge is your first line of defense.

A U.S. government shutdown appears increasingly likely as lawmakers remain at odds over a host of issues. Check out our recent report where Morgan Stanley Wealth Management's Head of US Policy, Monica Guerra, answers three key questions investors should be asking.

Would a Government Shutdown Matter to Markets? | Morgan Stanley A U.S. government shutdown looks increasingly likely. Here are the answers to investors’ top three questions.

The average baby boomer will hold more than 12 jobs in their lifetime, according to a Bureau of Labor Statistics report. That can mean a lot of different retirement accounts scattered around over the years. If this sounds familiar, you may benefit from consolidating your retirement accounts into one central account.

Consolidating accounts can help you make sure your savings are invested appropriately for your overall goals, track the performance of your holdings and, in some cases, discover more investment choices and incur lower fees. Check out our report to learn more about the potential benefits and feel free to get in touch to discuss how to apply this to your retirement nest egg(s)!

Do You Know Where Your Retirement Savings Are | Morgan Stanley Maintaining multiple retirement accounts may incur avoidable fees and make it difficult to track performance. Consolidating your accounts may be the answer.

Improvements in medical care have upped the amount of time retirees have to enjoy these years. Current data suggests more than a third of 65-year-olds will live to age 90. This is great news! But it is important to ask if you've planned for your retirement savings to last that long.

Check out our recent report with five strategies to consider to reduce longevity risk in retirement savings and feel free to get in touch if you'd like to discuss the state of your nest egg.

How to Avoid Outliving Your Retirement Savings | Morgan Stanley If your retirement lasts longer than you expect, will you be ready? Here’s how to make your money last.

Having time on your side is a tremendous advantage. Participating in a retirement plan early in your career may be the single easiest way to retire with an impressive nest egg. Check out the Millennial and Gen Z retirement guide to learn more about how saving early can make a big difference long-term.

The Millennial and Gen Z Guide to a Sweet Retirement | Morgan Stanley How the power of time can help savvy young investors grow an impressive portfolio.

Rapid developments in reshoring, energy transformation and data generation could make this a watershed moment for infrastructure investing. Find out more in On the Markets.

image.msmail.morganstanley.com

U.S. stock market performance has increasingly been driven by just a few companies that all share similar market cap, sector exposure and valuations. Diversification may be more important than ever and may require an active approach to portfolio management.

Check out our full report on why investing in the S&P 500 isn't true diversification and get in touch if you'd like to discuss how your portfolio is positioned.

Why Investing in the S&P 500 Isn’t True Diversification | Morgan Stanley With a handful of mega-cap stocks now dominating the S&P 500, investors should actively work to diversify their portfolios.

Morgan Stanley clients with eligible brokerage accounts can earn up to 5.42% Annual Percentage Yield with a 3 to 11-month CD. Learn more and contact me to take advantage of this competitive CD offer: https://mgstn.ly/43HkW2O

With generative artificial intelligence likely to drive rapid change and potential opportunities, investors are looking to history as a guide. Find out more in On the Markets.

image.msmail.morganstanley.com

With earnings season underway, our Chief Investment Officer Mike Wilson explains why he isn't expecting any fireworks from reports this quarter. With expectations for growth much higher now than six months ago, he suspects it will be a 'sell the news' event for many stocks no matter what the companies post as the market begins to look ahead to what is likely going to disappoint lofty expectations.

Check out the Thoughts on the Market Podcast for more on what he expects this earnings season:

‎Thoughts on the Market: Mike Wilson: All Eyes on Earnings on Apple Podcasts ‎Show Thoughts on the Market, Ep Mike Wilson: All Eyes on Earnings - Jul 10, 2023

Has recent market performance left you wondering where your financial goals stand? Check out our mid-year financial planning checklist for five important items to help you stay on track.

Your Mid-Year Financial Planning Checklist | Morgan Stanley Changes in the market or shifts in your personal circumstances may require adjustments to your financial plan. Here’s a mid-year checklist to help get you started.

Morgan Stanley clients with eligible brokerage accounts can earn up to 5.32% Annual Percentage Yield with a 3 to 11-month CD. Learn more and contact me to take advantage of this competitive CD offer: https://mgstn.ly/44frJS3

Despite upcoming risks to economic growth, opportunities in a variety of areas persist, including among developed market bonds and Japanese and emerging market equities. Find out more in On the Markets midyear outlook edition.

image.msmail.morganstanley.com

Morgan Stanley Research's 2023 Mid-Year Outlook is out! Our strategists think the global economy should slow and become more divergent in the second half of 2023, thanks to persistent inflation and tight monetary policy by central banks.

Check out our summary of the report and get in touch if you'd like to discuss your positioning as we head to the second half of the year.

Soft Landing, Hard Choices | Morgan Stanley With slowing global growth, investors should consider long-duration bonds, agency mortgage-backed securities and emerging markets.

Amid elevated economic, fiscal and geopolitical risks, gold's role as a safe haven and diversifier is as important as ever. Find out more in our latest On the Markets.

image.msmail.morganstanley.com

Morgan Stanley clients with eligible brokerage accounts can earn up to 5.27% Annual Percentage Yield with a 3 to 11-month CD. Learn more and contact me to take advantage of this competitive CD offer: https://mgstn.ly/3MuP0bk

May 29th is National 529 Day and a great time to consider how you plan to help loved ones in your life pay for future education expenses. Beginning this process early can help limit how much your student will have to borrow. Check out the education planning material on our website within the Resources tab and don't hesitate to get in touch if you'd like to discuss further!

Learn More: https://advisor.morganstanley.com/clark-group

The clock is ticking on negotiations to raise the debt ceiling with logistical hurdles that still need to be cleared. Check out our report to learn more about the role of the debt ceiling, how periods of tension could impact the US Treasury market and how equity markets have responded to prior debt ceiling standoffs.

Read Report: https://mgstn.ly/3OoLUbv

Recent volatility has made it important to check your current retirement plan to confirm that you’re on track toward meeting your investment goals. Check out our six-step retirement checkup and don't hesitate to get in touch if you'd like a more in depth review.

A Six-Step Retirement Checkup | Morgan Stanley Given recent market volatility, checking in on your retirement plan may make a lot of sense.

Health care offers the right combination of offense and defense to navigate a challenging economic outlook. Find out more in On the Markets.

www.morganstanley.com

Morgan Stanley CEO James Gorman has pivoted sharply from the Firm's roots in investment banking and trading, turning the company into an asset management giant, Barron's said in a recent article.

Check out the full piece "Inside Morgan Stanley’s Success—and What’s Ahead" to learn more about Gorman's vision for the company.

Barron's | Inside Morgan Stanley’s Success—and What’s Ahead Morgan Stanley plans to hit $10 trillion in client assets over the next decade

Morgan Stanley clients with eligible brokerage accounts can earn up to 5.01% Annual Percentage Yield with a 3 to 11-month CD. Learn more and contact me to take advantage of this competitive CD offer. https://mgstn.ly/3MAAyAc