The Big "Why"

Eagle Wealth Management |

Today, we want to ask you… “Why?”

That is, we want you to ask yourself.

Why do I spend what I spend?

Why do I save as much (or as little) as I do?The reason we want you to ask yourself these questions is because “Why?” is a question we tend to avoid.

That may be because “Why” is scary.  It may be scary because we don’t know the answer.  And honestly, we may not know the answer because we don’t want to know the answer.  After all, the moment we start questioning our true motivations, we’re likely to discover that some of what we do doesn’t line up with what we say we believe.

For example, if someone says that time with their family is the most important thing in their life, but they work long hours to manage a big car payment, then they’ll be forced to deal with that conflict.

Questioning your motivations will also lead you to discover things about your decisions simply because you’ve never thought about them before.  Like the fact that it’s not just your kids who are subject to peer pressure.

This type of introspection isn’t easy.  We suspect it’s one of the key reasons humans do questionable things with money.  We’re afraid to know why we do what we do, so we don’t take the time to question our behavior.

But here’s the thing: Asking ourselves why we make a certain money decision is integral to our financial success, even if it takes a bit of time and effort to reach an answer.

Having a solid financial foundation and a plan is crucial.  But understanding why we behave the way we do will build the financial confidence we need to succeed. 

So go ahead… ask yourself, "Why?"  If you discover some new insights, please reach out.  We’d love to hear from you.

Until next week,

Your Eagle Wealth Team

 

Gratitude is the Attitude

It’s hard to be anything else when you are in an attitude of gratitude. A grateful mindset is an instant way to get positive and feel better. But just how do you do that? Here are some great tips to start now:

    Make a commitment to gratitude. This is a daily practice; one you can do at the end of each day. Compile a gratitude list of all the positive things to be grateful for.

    Pay attention to your thoughts. Have a mindset of gratitude. Notice if your mind wants to be negative or judgmental. That’s okay. Gently guide it back to grateful. 

    Help others. There are always others who are less fortunate. Giving, whether it is your time, service, or a financial donation, feels good and shares your abundance. Living in abundance is a flow, an ability to give and receive. 

Tip adapted from Lifehack. (7)


 

The Week on Wall Street

An improving inflation outlook buoyed investors’ spirits last week, helping lift stocks to solid gains.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average advanced 2.92%, while the Standard & Poor’s 500 rose 3.26%. The Nasdaq Composite index added 3.08% for the week. The MSCI EAFE index, which tracks developed overseas stock markets, gained 2.39%.1,2,3

Lower Inflation Spurs Buying

Stock prices surged mid-week when the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics released a better-than-expected Consumer Price Index (CPI) number, with buying momentum building throughout the trading session.

Gains were significant across the board, with technology and small-cap companies leading the market higher. The mid-week rally sent the S&P 500 to its highest level since May and the Nasdaq to its highest level since April. Bond yields fell on expectations that the Fed's pressure to hike rates further might ease. After pausing on Thursday, stocks again ripped higher on Friday, aided, in part, by a report indicating improving consumer sentiment.4

Inflation Cools

The Consumer Price Index in July was softer than expected, with prices unchanged from the previous month thanks to a 4.6% decline in energy prices and a 7.7% drop in gasoline.4

Despite the encouraging results, the CPI report still evidenced upward price pressure. The year-over-year inflation rate remained at 8.5%, while the core CPI (excluding food and energy) came in at 5.9%. Among the index components seeing substantial price increases were food (+10.9% from 12 months ago) and shelter (+5.7%). Producer prices fell 0.5% in July, suggesting that future consumer price increases may continue to moderate.5,6

THE WEEK AHEAD


KEY ECONOMIC DATA


Tuesday:  Industrial Production. Housing Starts
Wednesday:  Retail Sales. Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) Minutes
Thursday:  Jobless Claims. Existing Home Sales. Index of Leading Economic Indicators

 

Source: Econoday, August 12, 2022
The Econoday economic calendar lists upcoming U.S. economic data releases (including key economic indicators), Federal Reserve policy meetings, and speaking engagements of Federal Reserve officials. The content is developed from sources believed to be providing accurate information. The forecasts or forward-looking statements are based on assumptions and may not materialize. The forecasts also are subject to revision.


COMPANIES REPORTING EARNINGS


Tuesday:  Walmart, Inc. (WMT), The Home Depot, Inc. (HD)
Wednesday: Cisco Systems, Inc. (CSCO), Target Corporation (TGT), Lowe’s Companies, Inc. (LOW), The TJX Companies, Inc. (TJX)
Thursday:  Applied Materials, Inc. (AMAT), NetEase, Inc. (NTES)
Friday:  Deere & Company (DE)
 

Source: Zacks, August 12, 2022
Companies mentioned are for informational purposes only. It should not be considered a solicitation for the purchase or sale of the securities. 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. Companies may reschedule when they report earnings without notice.

 

 

 

 

 

Timeline

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Footnotes and Sources


1. The Wall Street Journal, August 12, 2022

2. The Wall Street Journal, August 12, 2022

3. The Wall Street Journal, August 12, 2022

4. CNBC, August 10, 2022

5. CNBC, August 10, 2022

6. CNBC, August 11, 2022

7.[https://www.lifehack.org/articles/communication/10-tips-more-grateful-life.html

 

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 2022 FMG Suite.