Celebrate Financial Confidence this International Women’s Day

Eagle Wealth Management |

March 8th is International Women’s Day so there’s no better time to talk about women’s personal finance.  If financial freedom leads to stability and personal empowerment, then why is talking about money so taboo for women? 

For one thing, it’s relatively new to discuss financial literacy.  Depending on family dynamics, a lot of women didn’t have a seat at the table when it came to personal finance.  (Remember, most single women couldn’t even take out a mortgage without a co-signer until 1975!)1.  Women are also more likely to work part-time or take career breaks which impact retirement account contributions, social security dollars, and lifetime earning potential. 

Despite these challenges, a wise strategy can give women reasons to be hopeful.  Here are a few insights to think about. 

Knowledge is Power
Get comfortable talking about money.  Whether it’s with your partner or friends (and especially your financial team), having conversations about saving and investing will ultimately make you more comfortable over time.  While you’re at it, if you have a young woman in your life, encourage her to take an active role in her financial future. 

Plan Retirement Early
When it comes to retirement, women may face unique obstacles that can make saving for retirement more challenging.  Given that women typically live longer than men, retirement money for women may need to stretch even further.

Get clear on your vision.
Determine your pathway to retirement and what you want to do in those years.  Do you want to spend your retired years traveling, or do you envision staying closer to home?  Are you seeing yourself moving to a retirement community, or do you want to live as independently as you can?  

You can't see if you're on track for your goals if you haven't defined them.  If you do find you’re falling short of where you want to be, our team is here to help you strategize about how you can get to where you want to go. 

Be Your Own Financial Advocate
One of the best things you can do is to make sure you have a clear understanding of your overall financial standing and be comfortable enough to ask for help when you need it.  There are more resources than ever at your disposal and it’s important to seek out information from sources you can trust.  (Hint: Check out our Women and Investing article for some helpful information).

While women may face many challenges as they save for retirement, careful preparation and a creative approach will help you meet your goals.  Our team is here to help ensure that you always know where things stand.

Happy International Women’s Day,
Your Eagle Wealth Team

P.S.  Did you know that women outperform men in investing?  Here’s why.

 



Valentine’s Day Deliveries at the Eagle Wealth Office


Our team received the most adorable visitors on Valentine’s Day.  Kim’s nieces, Alizay and Alanna, hand-delivered valentines to each team member.  These sweet girls made everyone’s day. We love our family-friendly office and are so happy when even the littlest eagles stop by to say hello. 
 

 


The Week on Wall Street

A late-week surge, triggered by reassuring Fed-speak, propelled stocks higher last week.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 1.75%, while the Standard & Poor’s 500 advanced 1.90%. The Nasdaq Composite index picked up 2.58% for the week. The MSCI EAFE index, which tracks developed overseas stock markets, added 0.81%.1,2,3

 

Stocks Resume Climb

After rebounding to start the week, stocks weakened following higher inflation numbers out of Europe and higher-than-expected manufacturing activity.

Stocks continued their decline into early Thursday following a report of higher labor costs and low initial jobless claims. But stocks staged an afternoon relief rally on Thursday following comments by Atlanta Fed President Raphael Bostic that he was “still very firmly” supportive of increasing rates in quarter-point increments. The climb in stocks was remarkable, given that yields on 10-year Treasuries reached their highest level since November. Undeterred by a strong services data report, the upside momentum continued into the final trading day and added to the week’s gains.4
 

Disconcerting Economic Data

It was a relatively quiet week for economic news, but several new economic data reports gave insights into overall activity. U.S. manufacturing activity contracted in February–the fourth consecutive month it has done so. While this may eventually justify a reason for moderating future rate hikes, the activity exceeded analysts’ expectations. An accompanying survey of manufacturers pointed to improving demand and potentially accelerating price pressures.

Meanwhile, China reported an outsized jump in manufacturing activity, which may help relieve remaining supply chain kinks. But the report may also fuel commodity price increases and influence global inflation. Inflation remained a persistent issue in Europe, as February’s Eurozone inflation read was hotter than anticipated.

THE WEEK AHEAD


KEY ECONOMIC DATA

Monday:  Factory Orders.
Wednesday:  Automated Data Processing (ADP) Employment Report. Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey (JOLTS).
Thursday:  Jobless Claims. 
Friday: Employment Situation. 

 

Source: Econoday, March 3, 2023
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:  Dick’s Sporting Goods, Inc. (DKS), CrowdStrike (CRWD).
Wednesday:  MongoDB, Inc. (MDB).
Thursday:  Ulta Beauty, Inc. (ULTA), DocuSign (DOCU).

Source: Zacks, March 3, 2023
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.

Disclosures and Footnotes

Any companies mentioned are for informational purposes only, and this should not be considered a solicitation for the purchase or sale of their securities. Any investment should be consistent with your objectives, time frame, and risk tolerance.

1. The Wall Street Journal, March 3, 2023

2. The Wall Street Journal, March 3, 2023

3. The Wall Street Journal, March 3, 2023

4. The Wall Street Journal, March 2, 2023

5.  IRS.gov, October 18, 2022

6. HelpGuide.org, November 1, 2022

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.