Forefront’s Market Notes: April 15th, 2024 ­ Stocks fell last week as investors sorted through conflicting inflation reports and assessed geopolitical tensions. ­ Inflation Spooks Markets On Wednesday, the March Consumer Price Index (CPI) report rattled markets, revealing that inflation accelerated slightly more than expected. Bond yields rose, and stocks retreated in response, as investors...Read More

Forefront’s Market Notes: April 8th, 2024 Stocks dropped last week as investors focused on “what’s next” for interest rates after mixed comments from multiple Fed officials. ­ Fed Officials Weigh In Stocks struggled out of the gate again last week, ending Monday and Tuesday in the red on concerns that recent economic data could derail...Read More

Forefront’s Market Notes: April 1st, 2024 Stocks were narrowly higher for the week as investors digested mixed economic news about consumer confidence. All three of the major averages posted gains for Q1 2024. ­ Stocks Finish Strong Markets slipped for the first half of the four-day week as investors took a breather after the prior...Read More

Forefront’s Market Notes: March 25th, 2024 Stocks posted their best week of the year, sparked by news that the dovish Fed decided to keep rates steady and signaled three rate cuts were still possible this year. ­ Stocks Bounce Back As widely expected, the Fed left rates unchanged at the conclusion of its two-day meeting....Read More

Forefront’s Market Notes: March 18th, 2024 Stocks fell for the second straight week on inflation concerns despite a report on consumer prices that was initially well received by investors. Stocks Slide Tuesday was the only bright spot during the week as stock prices rose after the Labor Department report showed the Consumer Price Index rose...Read More

Forefront’s Market Notes: March 4th, 2024 ­­ Stocks extended their tech-led advance last week as signs of a resilient and still-enthusiastic consumer boosted momentum. ­ Nasdaq Sets New High Stocks traded in a narrow band early in the week but ended the five-trading sessions with a powerful advance. While the Dow dipped lower, artificial intelligence...Read More

Forefront’s Market Notes: February 26th, 2024 ­­ Stocks vaulted to new heights last week on the back of an artificial intelligence (AI) semiconductor company, marking investors’ belief that AI has the potential to transform the U.S. economy.   Stocks Rally to Record Highs Stocks traded in a fairly tight range for the first half of...Read More

Forefront’s Friday Facts Coping with Windfalls and Windburns   In the turbulent journey of life, unexpected winds can dramatically alter our course. Whether it’s the sudden influx of wealth through a windfall or the harsh blow of job loss resulting in a windburn, these events can disrupt our equilibrium and challenge our ability to navigate...Read More

  While Americans are entitled to take every legitimate deduction to manage their taxes, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) places limits on your creativity. Here are some examples of deductions from the IRS that were permitted and some that were, well, too creative. Creative Deductions that Passed Muster Usually a child’s school-related costs are not...Read More

Forefront’s Market Notes: February 19th, 2024 ­ Stocks fell last week as investors reacted to disappointing inflation updates and other economic reports that fell short of estimates. ­ Stocks Snap Winning Streak Markets were quiet Monday but opened lower Tuesday in response to the January inflation report that showed higher-than-expected consumer prices. But stocks regained...Read More