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As another eventful year comes to a close, we’d like to offer a heartfelt “thank you” for being part of the journey.
We’re grateful you’re part of our Eagle Wealth community, and we’re sending our warmest wishes for an amazing end to 2023 and a great start to 2024.
In spite of the uncertainty, stumbling blocks, and worries of 2023, we still count it as an excellent year.
We’re here. We’re safe. We’ve got enough to eat and have a roof over our heads. We’re pursuing our goals and dreams one day at a time.
There are so many in the world who don’t have those blessings this year.
We can’t predict or control what 2024 brings, but as we usher in a new year, let’s commit to a few guiding principles together.
Committing to Big Dreams
Let’s commit to the big dreams that inspire us. Together, let's grow and protect your wealth so you can reach your dreams, retire in comfort, make a difference in the world, and leave a lasting legacy.
Our team is here to help, and your dreams motivate us to work tirelessly on your behalf.
Accepting Our Power
With so much out of our control (the markets, the economy, inflation, politics, wars...), it's so helpful to focus on what we CAN control — our hopes, our goals, and our dreams. Accepting and owning the choices we can control isn’t just a good financial lesson; it’s a powerful life lesson.
Let’s jointly commit to harnessing every ounce of power we have and the choices we can make.
Embracing Kindness And Patience
As we enter another presidential election year and grapple with hard, polarizing choices, let’s demonstrate kindness, patience, love, and respect for one another.
When talking to people we disagree with, we try to remember: "Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting their own battle."
Even when we disagree with each other, let’s remember we’re all human and we’re all doing the best we can with what we have.
Counting Our Blessings
It’s so easy to focus on the things we don’t have that we lose sight of all the wonders around us. Let’s take time every day to be grateful for what we have — our families, our faiths, our friends, our homes, and our dreams.
As we close out the year, please accept our heartfelt gratitude for your time and trust and warmest wishes for the year ahead.
May you and your loved ones enjoy all the joy of the season.
Warmest wishes,
Your Eagle Wealth Team
P.S. With December 31 approaching, it’s our last chance to make charitable gifts, take Required Minimum Distributions, and make Qualified Charitable Distributions. Need any help? Hit “reply” and let us know.
How To Take A Vacation Without Leaving Home
Vacations provide a ton of benefits and are a great way to relax and take a break from your everyday stressors. But sometimes, you can't swing a whole vacation.
The good news is you can still enjoy a little getaway without leaving the comfort of your own home.
Here are some fun ways to "get away" without actually getting away:
- Create a themed cocktail or drink based on the place you're dreaming of. Whip up a fancy French cocktail and pretend you're sitting on a terrace in Paris, or order a local microbrew from a US destination that you've always wanted to go to.
- You can also create a themed dinner night and take a culinary adventure around the world. Bonus points if you design a real menu.
- Visit a museum (virtually). The Google Arts and Culture Project makes it possible to visit the Tate, Reina Sofia, and Acropolis Museum all from the comfort of your own home.
Whether you want to visit a national park, learn a new language, or try a new recipe, there are countless ways to explore the world from your living room.
Tip adapted from Ideas.ted.com
The Week on Wall Street
Investor optimism and fears of missing out on future gains propelled stocks higher in the last full week of trading before year-end.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average added 0.22%, while the Standard & Poor’s 500 gained 0.75%. The Nasdaq Composite index advanced 1.21% for the week. The MSCI EAFE index, which tracks developed overseas stock markets, added 0.51%.1,2,3
Stocks Build On Gains
The current market narrative of declining inflation, easing interest rates, and better earnings ahead continued to fuel stock market gains, with some of the year’s laggards, such as smaller cap stocks and energy names, leading the way.
While the stock market has repeatedly seen gains gather steam in the final trading hours, a late-day sell-off on Wednesday unnerved investors. While it’s difficult to know precisely why, the sharp decline may have resulted from profit-taking and low trading volumes, which can result in unexpected volatility or other technical reasons. Whatever the case, stocks rebounded nicely the following day and Friday.
Housing Revival?
The housing market struggled this year amid higher mortgage rates and rising home prices. Last week, several housing reports suggested the housing market may be improving.
New home construction rose 14.8% in November, reaching levels not seen since May, while existing home sales rebounded 0.8%, reversing five straight months of declines. Existing home sales have been hurt by low inventory since many homeowners with low-rate mortgages are hesitant to move and take on a higher-rate mortgage. This logjam may loosen as 30-year mortgage rates fell from 7.79% at the end of October to 6.95% in mid-November.4, 5
New home sales disappointed, however, falling 12.2%, though they came in 1.4% higher from November a year ago.6
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1. The Wall Street Journal, December 22, 2023
2. The Wall Street Journal, December 22, 2023
3. The Wall Street Journal, December 22, 2023
4. MarketWatch, December 19, 2023
5. Fox Business, December 20, 2023
6. U.S. Census Bureau, December 22, 2023.
7. IRS.gov, October 23, 2023
8. CDC.gov, December 11, 2023
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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.
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.
U.S. Treasury Notes are guaranteed by the federal government as to the timely payment of principal and interest. However, if you sell a Treasury Note prior to maturity, it may be worth more or less than the original price paid. Fixed income investments are subject to various risks including changes in interest rates, credit quality, inflation risk, market valuations, prepayments, corporate events, tax ramifications and other factors.
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 2023 FMG Suite.
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