Posts by MeritMarketing
Santa Claus Is Coming
By Brian Andrew, CFA® – Chief Investment Officer While the stock market has been rallying since October of 2023, the complexion of the rally continues to change. In particular, what worked post-election, has changed as we enter the Santa rally period between now and the end of December. Yesterday’s Fed announcement that they would cut…
Read MorePreparing for 2025: Setting Your Business Goals
The New Year is fast approaching, making it the perfect time to establish your 2025 business goals and strategize how to reach them in the year ahead and beyond. At Merit, we take a dedicated approach to shaping the future of our business through an all-day annual planning session. This structured approach allows us to…
Read MoreGiving Thanks this Holiday Season-Merit Financial Advisors
As the year comes to a close, we want to take a moment to express our heartfelt thanks. On behalf of the entire team at Merit Financial Advisors, we are deeply grateful for your trust and partnership. It is your loyalty that drives our commitment to enrich the lives of those we serve. As we…
Read MoreNovember 2024 Market Update
In this November market update, Chief Investment Officer Brian Andrew, CFA®, examines recent market trends and discusses their potential impact on your investment strategy as we move toward year-end and into 2024. Key Takeaways: We hope you find this video both informative and insightful. For any questions, please reach out to your Merit financial advisor.…
Read MoreSECURE 2.0 Will Bring New Changes in 2025: What Business Owners Need to Know
By Don Hammond, CFP®, AIF®, MBA, Senior Vice President and Managing Partner, Merit Financial Advisors Are you or your employees in danger of outliving your retirement? It’s a troubling prospect facing many Americans today. Recent analysis from Vanguard confirms an average 401(k) balance of $134,128 in 2024, with the median balance being $35,286. Shockingly, 28%…
Read MoreMarket Commentary: 50x All Time High!
By Brian Andrew, CFA® – Chief Investment Officer Please join me in remembering our Veterans on this Veterans Day. At Merit we celebrate their contributions and especially appreciate their sacrifices. As we closed out election week, the S&P 500 Index price was almost at 6,000 and the DJIA almost 44,000. This was the 50th all-time-high…
Read MoreA Five-Part Framework for Amplifying Your Charitable Giving
By Mike Smalley, CFP®, Wealth Manager, Merit Financial Advisors Americans continue to be generous with their money, but could they be more strategic? According to the Giving USA 2024: The Annual Report on Philanthropy for the Year 2023, total giving grew 1.9% to an estimated $557.16 billion for U.S. charities in 2023 from individuals, bequests,…
Read MoreSpecial Market Commentary – Now What?
By Brian Andrew, CFA® – Chief Investment Officer While we are still waiting for the election outcome for the House of Representatives, we have a clear picture of who will be in the White House and in control of the Senate. Today’s market reaction is a continuation of the market’s pricing in a former President…
Read MoreWebinar Replay – 2024 Elections: Navigating Market Shifts and Economic Trends for Investors
As the 2024 U.S. elections draw near, their outcomes could significantly impact the markets, economy, and your investment strategies. In our recent live webinar, we explored how these elections could influence fiscal policies, regulatory landscapes, and market trends. Our seasoned panelists, Allison Boxer, Senior Vice President and Economist at PIMCO, and Brian Andrew, Chief Investment…
Read MoreWhy Is It So Hard For the Non-Breadwinner to Get Divorced? The System Is Broken
Written by: Hollis Hardiman, CDFA™ Wealth Manager | Partner Let’s talk about something that doesn’t get enough attention: the financial hurdles many non-breadwinners face when trying to get divorced. It’s frustrating, it’s unfair, and honestly, it’s a broken system. As a Certified Divorce Financial Analyst (CDFA), I’ve seen this play out time and time again,…
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