Financial Planning
February 2025 Market Outlook
By Brian Andrew, CFA® – Chief Investment Officer I spent time in NYC this week, attending a research conference, hosted by a $680 billion global asset manager. The conference was held at the New York Stock Exchange. The meeting started with a market history about the exchange and then ringing the opening bell. I stayed…
Read MoreTax Filing Season Has Arrived. Here’s What Individuals and Small Business Owners Need to Know
By Kat Grier CFP®, CPA, Wealth Manager; and, Steven Henderson, CPA, PFS, CFP®, CKA® Regional Director, Partner Tax preparation is complex for many Americans. In 2023, 54 percent of all individual income tax returns were prepared by paid return preparers. Small business owners are no exception. According to the NFIB’s 2024 Tax Survey, 90 percent…
Read More2025 Investment Outlook: Navigating Inflation, AI, and Policy Shifts for Sustainable Growth
By Brian Andrew, CFA® – Chief Investment Officer 2024 Recap: The Economy Has Landed Over the past two years, discussions around a potential U.S. recession or soft landing dominated economic outlooks. Now, as 2024 concludes, it is evident that the economy has achieved a soft landing. Government spending played a key role in supporting economic…
Read More2025 Market Outlook
In this 2025 Market Outlook, we explore how the U.S. economy achieved a soft landing in 2024 and discuss the key themes shaping the year ahead. From Federal Reserve policy shifts to the growing influence of artificial intelligence and the implications of a new administration, we delve into the factors impacting investment opportunities in 2025.…
Read MoreSanta 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 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 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 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,…
Read More