Hello,  

We’ve reached the mid-point of winter and are already over a full month into the new year.

How are you doing with your New Year’s resolutions?

If you’re like half of Americans, you made more than one.¹ And staying motivated to keep your resolutions can be challenging. On average, New Year’s resolutions last only 3.74 months.²

While the majority (79%) of New Year’s resolutions are related to health, 61% are related to money and finances.¹

 And why do we make these in the first place?

The tradition of New Year’s resolutions dates back thousands of years to ancient Babylonia, around 2000 B.C. The Babylonians celebrated a religious festival, which marked the beginning of the lunar calendar year. They pledged to pay off debts and return borrowed items—typically farm tools—and essentially looked to start the year with a clean slate. If they kept their promises, they believed that the gods would favor them in the coming year.

In 45 B.C. Emperor Julius Caesar introduced the Julian calendar, which established January 1st as the beginning of the new year. January is named after Janus, the Roman god of beginnings and transitions, who was depicted with two faces: one looking back at the past year, and the other looking forward to the year ahead. Romans would offer sacrifices to Janus and make vows for the coming year, often involving self-improvement and seeking forgiveness for past wrongdoings, similar to modern resolutions.

By the 18th century, New Year's resolutions became more secular. People began to see them as personal commitments to improve various aspects of their lives.

And that brings us to today.

So whether your New Year’s resolutions are about health, finances, or relationships, we’re here to help.

Here are a few strategies you can use to increase your chances of success: 

1. Set SMART goals: Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, and Time-Bound.³ It's important to set realistic and specific goals that are achievable within a certain timeframe. Break down your resolutions into smaller, manageable steps to avoid feeling overwhelmed.
2. Create a plan and establish a routine to help you stay on track. You are 42% more likely to achieve a goal if you write it down.⁴
3. Be sure to celebrate the small victories. Recognizing your progress can reinforce positive behaviors toward achieving your goals.⁵

It's also beneficial to find a support system, such as friends or family members, who can offer encouragement and hold you accountable.

If you’ve made any new financial goals, let’s talk about them. You’ve got this!

Enthusiastically,

Your Eagle Wealth Team

The Week on Wall Street

Stocks posted modest losses last week as tariff deals, January jobs data, and Q4 corporate reports injected volatility into markets.
 
The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index slipped 0.24 percent, while the Nasdaq Composite Index lost 0.53 percent. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 0.54 percent. The MSCI EAFE Index, which tracks developed overseas stock markets, edged ahead 0.17 percent.^6,7
 

Tariffs, Q4 Reports, and Jobs

On Monday, stocks opened lower on news that tariffs on Mexico, Canada, and China went into effect over the weekend. However, markets rebounded midmorning following news of a U.S.-Mexico deal that delayed new trade rules. News of a similar last-minute agreement with Canada followed.⁸
 
Stocks continued their rally midweek, led by technology stocks from companies that provided upbeat Q4 corporate reports.^9,10

The S&P 500 and Nasdaq rose for the third consecutive day on Thursday, while the Dow experienced a slight fall as investors digested more corporate earnings reports. The week closed on a down note as a mixed jobs report and a cautionary inflation outlook disappointed investors.^11,12
 

Mixed Signals on the Labor Market

As has happened several times in recent years, two job reports told conflicting stories about the state of the jobs market. On Friday, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that 143,000 jobs had been added for the month–a four-year low. Earlier in the week, the ADP report showed the economy added 188,000 new jobs, ahead of the 150,000 economists expected.^13,14
 
Why do the reports tell different stories? Economists point to various factors, including how January can be challenging to measure accurately, typically due to the more significant number of laid-off seasonal workers.¹⁵

<sup>Source: YCharts.com, February 8, 2025. Weekly performance is measured from Monday, February 3, to Friday, February 7. TR = total return for the index, which includes any dividends as well as any other cash distributions during the period. Treasury note yield is expressed in basis points.

Past performance is not a guarantee of future results. Any companies mentioned are for informational purposes only, and this should not be considered a solicitation for the purchase or sale of their securities. Any investment should be consistent with your objectives, time frame, and risk tolerance.</sup>

<sup>FMG – January 2025 Quarterly Market Insights “By the Numbers: New Year’s Resolutions”
ChatGPT – “History of New Year’s Resolutions”
1. PewResearch.org, January 29, 2024
2. Forbes.com, December 18, 2023
3. Forbes.com, July 9, 2024
4. Entrepeneur.com, April 20, 2024
5. PsychologyToday.com, January 17, 2024
6. The Wall Street Journal, February 7, 2025
7. Investing.com, February 7, 2025
8. The Wall Street Journal, February 3, 2025
9. CNBC.com, February 4, 2025
10. CNBC.com, February 5, 2025
11. The Wall Street Journal, February 6, 2025
12. The Wall Street Journal, February 7, 2025
13. MarketWatch.com, February 4, 2025
14. MarketWatch.com, February 5, 2025
15. The Wall Street Journal, February 7, 2025

Investing involves risks, and investment decisions should be based on your own goals, time horizon, and tolerance for risk. The return and principal value of investments will fluctuate as market conditions change. When sold, investments may be worth more or less than their original cost.</sup>

^{The forecasts or forward-looking statements are based on assumptions, may not materialize, and are subject to revision without notice.}

^{The market indexes discussed are unmanaged, and generally, considered representative of their respective markets. Index performance is not indicative of the past performance of a particular investment. Indexes do not incur management fees, costs, and expenses. Individuals cannot directly invest in unmanaged indexes. Past performance does not guarantee future results.}

^{The Dow Jones Industrial Average is an unmanaged index that is generally considered representative of large-capitalization companies on the U.S. stock market. Nasdaq Composite is an index of the common stocks and similar securities listed on the NASDAQ stock market and is considered a broad indicator of the performance of technology and growth companies. The MSCI EAFE Index was created by Morgan Stanley Capital International (MSCI) and serves as a benchmark of the performance of major international equity markets, as represented by 21 major MSCI indexes from Europe, Australia, and Southeast Asia. The S&P 500 Composite Index is an unmanaged group of securities that are considered to be representative of the stock market in general.}

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^{International investments carry additional risks, which include differences in financial reporting standards, currency exchange rates, political risks unique to a specific country, foreign taxes and regulations, and the potential for illiquid markets. These factors may result in greater share price volatility.}

^{Please consult your financial professional for additional information.}

^{This content is developed from sources believed to be providing accurate information. The information in this material is not intended as tax or legal advice. Please consult legal or tax professionals for specific information regarding your individual situation. This material was developed and produced by FMG Suite to provide information on a topic that may be of interest. FMG is not affiliated with the named representative, financial professional, Registered Investment Advisor, Broker-Dealer, nor state- or SEC-registered investment advisory firm. The opinions expressed and material provided are for general information, and they should not be considered a solicitation for the purchase or sale of any security.  Copyright 2025 FMG Suite.}