Fi Plan Partners

Employment Remains on Solid Ground Employment continues to be one of the most important indicators for both the economy and the stock market. A healthy labor market means more people are earning income, saving, investing, and contributing to overall economic growth. Those factors typically create greater demand for investment assets and provide support for stock […] The post Reports Are In f...

Employment Remains a Key Market Driver Although the week is shortened by the holiday, one of the most important economic reports of the month arrives before the weekend. The latest payroll report provides an updated snapshot of the labor market, one of the Federal Reserve’s primary measures of economic health. Because the Fed’s dual mandate […] The post Market Fireworks first app...

For decades, the United States relied on imported natural gas, but a surge in domestic production has transformed the country into the world’s leading exporter of liquefied natural gas (LNG). In this week’s episode of Educational Insights, Ashley Page explores how LNG exports are strengthening global energy security, reducing Europe’s dependence on Russian energy, and […] T...

Earnings Continue to Lead the Way June is traditionally known as wedding season, and in many ways the market’s relationship with the Federal Reserve feels a bit like a honeymoon period. A new Federal Reserve Chairman has taken the helm, corporate earnings remain strong, and investors continue to push markets higher despite several reasons for […] The post Honeymoon with the Fed first a...

A Critical Week for Global Markets and the Federal Reserve Markets entered the week focused on two major developments: ongoing diplomatic discussions involving the United States and Iran, and the Federal Reserve’s latest policy meeting. Reports of progress toward a potential agreement between the United States and Iran have been welcomed by investors. News of […] The post Deal or No De...

Market Strength Remains Concentrated One of the most important developments in the market this year has been the concentration of returns within a relatively small portion of the S&P 500. An analysis of sector performance reveals that technology stocks have once again emerged as the primary driver of market gains over the past several weeks, […] The post The Fed’s Influence on the Market...

Most investors think of wealth and money as the same thing, but the distinction can have a major impact on financial markets and personal financial planning. In this week’s episode of Educational Insights, Trey Booth explores why assets like homes and investments represent wealth, why converting that wealth into spendable money isn’t always as simple […] The post Wealth vs. Money first...

Corporate Profitability Remains Exceptionally Strong With earnings season now complete, the latest results indicate that the fundamental backdrop for the equity market remains healthy. One of the most important measures of market strength is operating margin, which reflects how much profit a company generates from its core operations after covering production-related costs. Companies within the [&...

New research from several highly regarded institutions suggests that Americans, not foreign nations, are absorbing nearly the full cost of recent tariffs. While tariffs are beginning to reshape global trade flows and create leverage through reduced trade volume, the immediate financial impact is falling much closer to home than many may realize. Watch this week’s […] The post Who is Carrying...

Markets and elections often create uncertainty, but history tells an interesting story about how midterm election years have traditionally impacted market performance. In this week’s episode of Educational Insights, Ty Miller breaks down the historical trends, why volatility tends to rise during midterm years, and what past market cycles may suggest about the road ahead. While […] The post M...