Investors' Insights and Market Updates

The Fed’s Crucial Role and What Comes Next The Federal Reserve continues to dominate market conversations, and for good reason. Each decision the Fed makes, particularly regarding interest rates, carries direct implications for markets, borrowing, saving, and overall economic momentum. This week’s meeting is no exception. The Fed is widely expected to cut interest rates by another 25 basis points,...

On this week’s episode of Educational Insights , Ashley Page breaks down why America’s manufacturing sector has slipped from 25% of the GDP in the 1950s to just 9.7% today and why restoring it could be transformative. He highlights how boosting manufacturing back to even 15% could strengthen the middle class, enhance national security, fuel innovation, and revitalize communities across the country...

Market Volatility, Seasonal Strength, and Key Economic Signals After an uptick in volatility throughout November, attention is now turning to December to determine whether seasonal strength can help stabilize or lift the markets. Historically, Thanksgiving week has marked the beginning of one of the strongest seasonal periods of the year. Given the market’s uneasiness in recent weeks, this timing...

The Cost of Thanksgiving Comes Down Each year, the American Farm Bureau releases an estimate of what it costs to feed a family of ten for Thanksgiving, a lighthearted but useful snapshot of price trends for holiday staples. The latest estimate projects an average meal cost of $55.18, which is 5% lower than last year and well below the record high of $64.05 set in 2022. After several years of eleva...

This week on Innovation Mavericks, we sat down with Jack Hernig, a standout leader known for bold innovation and creative strategy in the entrepreneurial world. From launching a business to future-focused planning and sharpening problem-solving skills, Jack reveals what it really takes to compete differently. His maverick mindset offers business owners and leaders a roadmap to break the mold and s...

Corporate Earnings: A Powerful Undercurrent Despite recent worries, rising credit card delinquencies, increases in announced layoffs, and other soft spots across the economy, corporate earnings continue to deliver strong support for equity markets. In the third quarter, 82% of S&P 500 companies surpassed earnings expectations, handily beating the four-year average of 76.3%. Year-over-year earn...

This week on Innovation Mavericks, we sat down with Elliott Davis, Owner and Operator of Automatic Audio Video, to explore what it really takes to build a business at the cutting edge of audio and video technology. From identifying a simple need, “a guy who can make it all work,” to creating a thriving company that simplifies home tech for everyone, Elliott’s story is all about turning innovation...

Understanding the Shutdown’s Economic Impact The surprise agreement over the weekend marks significant progress toward ending the shutdown. Lawmakers have reached the 60-vote threshold in the Senate to move forward with a “minibus” spending bill, which funds portions of the government, including the Department of Agriculture and food assistance programs, through September 30, the end of the federa...

AI is changing the game, and this week on Innovation Mavericks , Greg Powell sits down with Magna5’s Justin Cameron, Jacob Bever, and Jeff Jablonski to explore how businesses are turning AI into real-world results. From driving team adoption to keeping the conversation moving in a rapidly evolving landscape, their insights are not to be missed. As a trusted IT partner, Magna5 supports over 700 SMB...

On this week’s episode of Educational Insights , Trey Booth talks through why innovation can be disruptive, but it’s also a long-term engine for job creation. While new technologies can feel threatening in the moment, history shows they consistently spark new industries, new opportunities, and greater economic growth than they displace. Tune in to learn how creative destruction drives progre...

Credit Cards Flash a Warning Recent data highlights potential strain within the consumer sector. Three of the eight leading economic indicators we monitor are signaling concern, and one area drawing particular attention is credit card delinquencies. The percentage of Americans delinquent by 90 days or more has surpassed 12 percent, a level not seen since the Great Financial Crisis in 2009. Consume...

In our newest episode of Innovation Mavericks , Greg Powell sits down with Pam Smith, owner of Classic Travel by Pam, recently named Hoover’s Best Travel Agency and Best Travel Agent 2025. Pam shares how she turns travel planning into an art form, taking the stress out of every trip while delivering unforgettable, perfectly tailored experiences for her clients. Tune in to hear her secrets for seam...

Tracking Economic Health: The Recession Checklist With headlines focused on government shutdowns, slowing consumer spending, and questions about the direction of the economy, now is the perfect time to revisit our recession checklist, an essential tool we use weekly to evaluate the economy’s health. This checklist functions like a diagnostic report, monitoring key leading indicators such as GDP gr...

In this week’s episode of Innovation Mavericks , Greg Powell sits down with John Bentley, founder of Power 2 Transform, to explore how true leadership begins with self-leadership. After 21 years in the Air Force and a powerful personal journey of renewal, John shares how discipline, accountability, and emotional awareness can unlock both personal and organizational success. He also opens up...

Corporate Profit Margins and Market Valuations In recent months, market valuations have drawn renewed attention as investors question whether current price levels are sustainable. A closer look, however, reveals that strong corporate profitability continues to support elevated valuations, particularly in the S&P 500, where profit margins remain near all-time highs. The technology sector now re...

Understanding Market Valuations Recent surveys indicate that 91% of fund managers believe U.S. stocks are overvalued, while emerging markets are considered undervalued. Historically, market pullbacks often occur when investors are least expecting them, rather than when caution is high. Significant changes in market composition have contributed to elevated valuation multiples. Technology companies...

Momentum Carries into October September is typically known as a difficult month for equities, yet this year it defied that reputation. The broader market ended the month up 3.1%, supported by strong earnings momentum, a resilient economy, and renewed optimism around the Federal Reserve’s rate-cutting cycle. The ongoing surge in artificial intelligence investments also continues to be a powerful ca...

Did you know Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) allow contributions to bypass payroll, federal, and state taxes. Watch this week’s Educational Insights episode as Mark Hume outlines how HSAs work, who is eligible, and why they are sometimes referred to as offering a “triple tax advantage.” Watch to learn more. Mark Hume, CFP® Senior Vice President Wealth Consultant Email Mark Hume here   Fi Plan...

Housing’s Key Role in the Economy Housing remains one of the most significant drivers of the U.S. economy, representing roughly 18% of GDP and more than one-third of consumer spending. Because of this outsized impact, it also serves as a critical indicator of economic activity and future trends. Recent Federal Reserve rate cuts have prompted questions about whether housing affordability may improv...

We are thrilled to welcome Lexie Watts to the Fi Plan Partners team as our new Marketing Manager. In this episode of Team Strategies, she sits down with our President and CEO, Greg Powell, and our COO, Felicia Ludlum, to discuss her passion for using marketing to elevate the client experience and her vision amplifying the Fi Plan Partners brand. Lexie brings a desire for clear, impactful communica...

Navigating Today’s Bull Market The current bull market, which began on October 12, 2022, has now run for 34 months, well below the historical average of 59 months for bull markets since 1928. Although it may feel extended, the data suggests it is still relatively young compared to past cycles and has not yet delivered the triple-digit returns seen in some previous runs. Bull markets are periods ch...

Market ups and downs don’t cancel each other out the way you might think. Watch this week’s Educational Insights episode as Trey Booth explains the “hidden tax” of volatility and why focusing on downside protection can make a major difference in your long-term returns. Watch to learn more.   Trey Booth , CFA®, AIF® Chief Investment Officer Wealth Consultant Email Trey Booth here   Fi Pla...

The Federal Reserve’s Decision and Market Impact The Federal Reserve is scheduled to meet on September 16–17, with markets largely expecting a 25-basis-point rate cut. While the size of the cut may already be priced in, the real question is how markets will respond afterward. Two areas are especially important: Long-term interest rates: The Fed directly controls short-term rates but yields on 10-...

Falling Rates and Market Implications Recent jobs data came in weaker than expected, which pushed long-term interest rates lower. The 10-year Treasury yield dropped from around 4.3% to below 4.1%, a significant move that reflects market forces rather than direct Federal Reserve action. This decline is important because most businesses and households rely on long-term borrowing. When long-term rate...

Fed Hints at Rate Cuts Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell made statements last Friday that strongly hinted at a potential interest rate cut in September. This would mark the first rate cut since December 18, 2024, when the Fed reduced rates by 25 basis points. If implemented, the September cut would come after a nine-month gap, the longest pause between cuts in recent history. Historically, ex...