Tariffs Are Back — But Haven’t We Learned This Lesson Before? ­ On Wednesday, the U.S. government announced a sweeping series of new tariffs that could reshape how we shop, work, and even how our food is grown. But what does this policy shift really mean for everyday Americans? And why do economists keep comparing...Read More

Forefront’s Market Notes March 31st, 2025   Stocks moved lower last week as investors swung from exuberance to disappointment on news over tariffs and inflation. The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index fell 1.53 percent, while the Nasdaq Composite Index retreated 2.59 percent. The Dow Jones Industrial Average slid 0.96 percent. The MSCI EAFE Index, which...Read More

What Does “Enough” Look Like for You? (Hint: It’s Not on Instagram)   The other day, I saw an ad for a cruise line that promised “more.” More restaurants. More shows. More pools. More fun. They must’ve said “more” more times than my kids say, “What’s for dinner?” (which, for the record, is always after they’ve...Read More

Investors Aren’t Rewarded for Predictions They’re Rewarded for Preparation ­ There’s no shortage of people trying to predict what the market will do next. Analysts flood financial news with projections—bull markets, bear markets, recessions, rate cuts, inflation trends. Every day, some talking heads claim they have the answer. But here’s the reality: investors aren’t rewarded...Read More

The Market Just Dropped – Now What?   ­ If you’ve been investing for more than five minutes, you’ve probably felt the urge to panic at some point. The market drops, the financial media screams “crash,” and suddenly, your well-diversified portfolio feels like a ticking time bomb. But take a deep breath. Now look at...Read More

Navigating Market Volatility:  Why Smart Investors Stay the Course ­ There’s an old saying: “The stock market is designed to transfer money from the Active to the Patient.” Warren Buffett has lived by this mantra for decades, and history continues to prove him right. Right now, we’re in a market cycle where volatility is elevated,...Read More

Forefront’s Market Notes February 24th, 2025   Stocks fell last week as concerns about sticky inflation and the pace of economic growth rattled investors.  The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index declined 1.66 percent, while the Nasdaq Composite Index dropped 2.51 percent. The Dow Jones Industrial Average also fell 2.51 percent. The MSCI EAFE Index, which tracks...Read More

Forefront’s Market Notes February 18th, 2025   Stocks advanced last week despite some intra-week volatility as investors showed concern about the economy’s strength.  The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index gained 1.47 percent, while the Nasdaq Composite Index picked up 2.58 percent. The Dow Jones Industrial Average added 0.55 percent. The MSCI EAFE Index, which tracks...Read More

Forefront’s Market Notes February 3rd, 2025 ­ Stocks were mixed last week as investors parsed market-moving news nearly every trading day—from an unsettling AI update to White House news to Q4 corporate reports. The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index fell 1.00 percent while the Nasdaq Composite Index slid 1.64 percent. Meanwhile, the Dow Jones Industrial...Read More

Forefront’s Market Notes January 27th, 2025   Stocks rallied last week as investors reacted positively to a handful of better-than-expected corporate earnings reports and developments out of Washington, D.C. The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index gained 1.74 percent, while the Nasdaq Composite Index added 1.65 percent. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 2.15 percent. The MSCI...Read More