Building a Solid Financial Foundation
Hello Eagle Wealth Community,
When you read about money matters, you may see the phrase, “getting your financial house in order.” What exactly does that mean?
- Cash Management. Cashflow is having a big picture understanding of where your money is coming from. Where does your money need to go to fulfill the goals you have for your future? While a budget tracks expenses, the purpose of cash flow is to organize the flow of money so that you don’t bat an eye at unplanned costs.
- Identity theft and safety. In the modern world, identity theft is one of the biggest threats to financial and personal safety. A cracked password or misplaced Social Security number can have big consequences on your current and future finances. Consider using a password manager. The common wisdom is to use a unique password for each site and service you use. A password manager can make this easier by generating and storing strong passwords until you need to use them.
- Check your credit score. If you plan on moving, purchasing a car, or taking out a personal loan, you’ll want your credit score in good shape. Your score can be impacted by recently accrued debt, late payments, hard credit inquiries, and more.
- Protection strategies. Like the other decisions you’ll need to make while building your financial foundation, choosing the appropriate insurance program depends on your own unique life circumstances. How prepared are you for life's potential financial risks?
- Estate Strategy. It’s never too early to start thinking about your legacy. For some, this can mean providing some financial support to your loved ones. For others, it might mean creating a program that supports charities and organizations. Whatever your aspirations, it’s important to ensure that your assets transition smoothly in accordance with your wishes.
To some, when your financial “house is in order,” it means it is built on a solid foundation. It implies that you have the “pillars” in place that are designed to support your long-term financial well-being. Please give us a call if you’re doubtful about your foundation. We’re here as a resource.
Sincerely,
Your Eagle Wealth Team
Central Oregon has no shortage of outdoor beauty. We work hard, play hard, and give back to the community whenever we can. Brody inspired the rest of our team when he spent the day at the Mt. Bachelor Clean Up a few weekends ago.
What made you decide to volunteer with the cleanup?
“The great outdoors brings me a lot of happiness and balance and I know it does for others. So being able to give back to move forward is something I always keep at the forefront of my mind. And since Mt. Bachelor is a place very special to me, I thought this opportunity was a no-brainer" says Brody.
How do you support your community? Hit reply and tell us how you give back.
The Week on Wall Street
A strong opening to the third-quarter earnings season sparked a late week, broad-based rally that helped stocks finish the week with solid gains.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 1.58%, while the Standard & Poor’s 500 added 1.82%. The Nasdaq Composite index led, gaining 2.18% for the week. The MSCI EAFE index, which tracks developed overseas stock markets, was up 1.37%.1,2,3
Investor Optimism Returns
After beginning the week on a lackluster note, stocks turned higher on Wednesday as companies kicked off a new earnings season and details about the Fed’s taper plans emerged. Investor enthusiasm shifted into high gear the following day on positive economic data and earnings reports that exceeded investor expectations. Buying continued through Friday on fresh earnings surprises and a better-than-expected retail sales report.
The economic data allayed some concerns about inflationary pressures and economic deceleration, while early earnings results provided hope that companies had weathered the surge in summer Covid infections. Nevertheless, worries about how supply-chain disruption and higher prices may impact corporate earnings guidance haven’t gone away.
Let the Tapering Begin
Minutes from September’s Federal Open Market Committee released last week provided detail around the Fed’s plans to taper its $120 billion monthly bond purchase program. The Fed expects to reduce its purchases by $15 billion each month, beginning in mid-November/December and ending in June 2022.4
This tapering schedule is somewhat faster than what investors were anticipating, reflecting the Fed’s concern that inflation has been somewhat higher and more persistent than it had anticipated, with continuing supply-chain bottlenecks raising that risk level. Fed Chair Powell’s commitment to transparency and advanced signaling of policy changes appeared to have worked, as markets greeted the news calmly. In fact, stocks rallied strongly the following day as yields moved lower.
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