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Solid Gains for Thanksgiving Week

jmuch2024-12-02T05:45:52-06:00December 2, 2024|Categories: Weekly Update|Tags: chicago, CPI, estate planning, financial planning, financial strategy, Inflation, insurance, Interest Rates, investing, investment, market volatility, markets, PPI, retirement, retirement planning, risk, risk management, social security, taxes, wealth management, wealth transfer, women|

The Weekly Update

December 2nd, 2024
By Christopher T. Much, CFP®, AIF®

Stocks posted solid gains over a short and busy holiday week as investors parsed fresh economic data, comments on potential future trade policy, and a few Q3 reports from technology companies.

The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index gained 1.06 percent, while the Nasdaq Composite Index advanced 1.13 percent. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 1.39 percent. The MSCI EAFE Index, which tracks developed overseas stock markets, added 2.02 percent.

Rally Extends
Stocks staged a broad-based rally to start the week as investors reacted to the nominee for Secretary of the Treasury. Small-cap stocks continued their month-to-date surge as the Russell 2000 Index rose to an all-time high. News that consumer confidence rose in November appeared to contribute to gains.

Then stocks took a pre-Thanksgiving pause as investors digested economic data. Also, disappointing Q3 updates from two computer hardware manufacturers weighed on the tech …

6 Steps for Early Retirement

jmuch2025-03-26T08:45:02-05:00March 7, 2019|Categories: Resource Center|Tags: financial planning, investment, retirement|

6 Steps for Early Retirement

6 Steps for Early Retirement
We’ve gotten a lot of questions recently on what it takes to retire early. While leaving the workforce may sound appealing, the people we work with want to make sure they have enough money saved and their portfolio is positioned for the road ahead.

Retiring early can seem like a dream, but it comes with its own set of challenges. Your savings must last longer, and the last thing you want is to run out of money. With careful planning, early retirement is possible, and there are six key steps to make sure you’re prepared. If you want more detailed guidance or help with your specific financial plan, reaching out to your team at CTS Financial Group is a great next step.

The first step is to create a budget. Retirement looks different for everyone, so it’s important to understand what your lifestyle …