Hello,

“This generation got no destination to hold...We are volunteers of America” ~ “Volunteers” by Jefferson Airplane

Those of a certain age will recall these Jefferson Airplane lyrics as a call to action, though for a different period and place. Even with the passage of time and through a lifetime of changes, the desire of baby boomers to make an impact on the world has not diminished.

Retirement is no longer about the hammock or unending hours of golf. It is a period of rejuvenation, second chances, and renewed growth. For many, this new phase includes contributing their time and talents to an organization in need.

Before You Start

An important first step is to engage in honest self-assessment. Inventory your skill set and interests. This will help identify what sort of volunteering opportunities are the best match for you.

Determine the commitment you are willing to make. Is this something that you want to devote 5-10 hours a week to, or are you willing to commit to more time? Is this something you want to do locally, around the nation, or even the globe? Will this volunteering be done individually, as a couple, or as a group?

Survey the Waters

There are plenty of resources to get a good view of the opportunities that exist. One place to start is by asking friends, family, and colleagues.

As a local option, Connect Central Oregon is an independent 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to fostering community involvement and supporting future leaders in our community. You can check out their volunteer opportunities here.

On a national level, the AmeriCorps website is run by the federal government and has many different types of volunteer opportunities available. You may also want to take a look at the VolunteerMatch website for ideas.

Another approach may be to pick charities that you support and check out their volunteer opportunities. Don’t be afraid to call them since some opportunities may not be advertised.

This TEDx Talk shows a glimpse of how volunteering can also be beneficial to your health. If you do choose to volunteer during retirement, you may find that you will receive as much as you give.

Until next week, 

Your Eagle Wealth Team

The Week on Wall Street

Stocks finished the week mixed, bookending losses around midweek gains as investors digested fresh inflation data.

The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index slipped 0.64 percent, while the Nasdaq Composite Index ticked up 0.34 percent. The Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 1.82 percent. The MSCI EAFE Index, which tracks developed overseas stock markets, slid 1.48 percent.^1,2
 

Up and Down Week

Stocks fell broadly over the first part of the week. Leading chipmakers who produce semiconductors for artificial intelligence applications were under pressure after Chinese regulators announced an antimonopoly investigation.³

Investors breathed a sigh of relief Wednesday morning following news that consumer inflation in November was in line with expectations. Mega-cap tech stocks led the rally, with the Nasdaq closing above 20,000 for the first time. Meanwhile, the Dow fell as healthcare stocks came under pressure.⁴

Stocks remained in the trading range for the rest of the week on mild concerns about Thursday’s warmer-than-expected wholesale inflation report and a spending slowdown among lower-income consumers. The Dow registered its worst losing streak since 2020.^5,6,7
 

Final Fed Meeting of 2024

The consumer price index ticked up to 2.7 percent on an annualized basis in November, as expected. The market’s rally following the news reflected investor relief that inflation met expectations and that the increase from the prior month was slight.

Those two factors may reinforce the belief that the Fed would follow through with the December rate adjustment, which it penciled in back in September. The bellwether inflation measure was the last critical data point before the Fed’s two-day meeting, scheduled to end on December 18.⁸

<sup>Source: YCharts.com, December 14, 2024. Weekly performance is measured from Monday, December 9, to Friday, December 13. 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>1. The Wall Street Journal, December 13, 2024
2. Investing.com, December 13, 2024
3. CNBC.com, December 10, 2024
4. The Wall Street Journal, December 11, 2024
5. The Wall Street Journal, December 12, 2024
6. CNBC.com, December 13, 2024
7. The Wall Street Journal, December 13, 2024
8. The Wall Street Journal, December 11, 2024</sup>

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