How to say "goodbye" to holiday stress & "hello" to a more joyful season

Eagle Wealth Management |
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Weekly Market Commentary

 

How much joy do you feel during the holidays?

If you’re like many people, the spirit of the season comes with a side of stress.

In fact, research shows that nearly 8 in 10 Americans have a hard time relaxing during the holiday season1— with too much pressure to socialize and be festive a major source of holiday stress and depression.2

Before holiday stress becomes overwhelming, stop it from snowballing.  There’s plenty you can do to manage holiday stress and get more joy out of the season!


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In this month’s Visual Insights Newsletter, we explore the causes of holiday stress and effective ways to deal with it.   Click here to see it!

When it comes to holiday stress, there’s no one-size-fits-all solution.  But with the right mindset and strategies, you can cut through the stress and truly enjoy the holiday season, instead of just trying to survive it!

Sincerely,

Your Eagle Wealth Team

Medicare Reminder

As Medicare’s open enrollment period is due to end December 7th, recipients of the program are preparing for a larger-than-expected jump in prices for premiums and deductibles.1,2

For example, Medicare Part B monthly premiums are set to rise to $170.10, a 14.5% increase and much higher than the estimate of 6.7%.  The deductible for Part B will rise to $233, a 14.8% increase.  The Part A deductible will increase to $1,556, up $72 in 2022.2

While many Medicare programs will carry over if participants take no action, it’s not clear that everyone is aware of the increase that’s coming.  According to a recent survey from MedicareGuide.com, 67% of beneficiaries hadn’t looked at their choices by mid-November, while the Kaiser Family Foundation discovered that 71% don’t review their options at all during the open enrollment period.1

For many Americans, Medicare remains a vital program, keeping healthcare affordable. In this final week of the open enrollment, it’s definitely worth your time to familiarize yourself with the changes and the options you might select for your coverage. If that’s a concern, get started right away at Medicare.gov.

Recipe

One of our wonderful clients shared a favorite holiday recipe with us.  We can’t wait to get to work this week and try it for ourselves.  This Pumpkin Dutch Apple Pie recipe features a layer of crisp, crunchy apples topped with creamy pumpkin and sprinkled with a crumble topping. 

Send us your favorite recipe and we’ll share it in our newsletter.

Pumpkin Dutch Apple Pie

Serves 8

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Ingredients

 

  • 1 unbaked 9-inch (4-cup volume) deep-dish pie shell
  • 2 cups peeled, cored, thinly sliced green apples
  • 1 cup plus 1 tablespoon granulated sugar, divided
  • 1/2 cup plus 2 teaspoons all-purpose flour, divided
  • 1 teaspoon lemon juice
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon, divided
  • 1 1/2 cups 100% pure pumpkin
  • 1 cup evaporated milk
  • 2 large eggs, lightly beaten
  • 2 tablespoons butter or margarine, melted
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • 1/3 cup chopped walnuts
  • 3 tablespoons butter

Directions

  1. Preheat oven to 375° F.
  2. Combine apples, 1/4 cup sugar, 2 teaspoons flour, lemon juice and 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon in medium bowl; pour into pie shell.
  3. Combine pumpkin, evaporated milk, 1/2 cup sugar, eggs, melted butter, remaining 3/4 teaspoon cinnamon, salt and nutmeg in medium bowl; pour over apple mixture.
  4. Bake for 30 minutes.
  5. Combine remaining 1/2 cup flour, nuts and remaining 5 tablespoons sugar in medium bowl.  Cut in 3 tablespoons butter with pastry blender or 2 knives until mixtures resembles coarse crumbs.
  6. Remove pie from oven; sprinkle with crumble topping. Return to oven; bake for 20 minutes or until custard is set.  Cool completely on wire rack.

 

The Week on Wall Street

Stocks took investors on a wild ride last week as the Omicron variant and Fed comments upended market expectations.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 0.91%, while the Standard & Poor’s 500 stumbled 1.22%. The Nasdaq Composite index dropped 2.62% for the week. The MSCI EAFE index, which tracks developed overseas stock markets, lost 0.62%.1,2,3

 
A Tumultuous Week

Stock prices were volatile all week, swinging wildly after staging a modest recovery to begin the week. Omicron fears were not the only issue weighing on investors. Markets were also rattled by Fed Chair Powell’s Congressional testimony stating conditions warranted considering an acceleration of its bond purchase taper schedule. Last week’s roller-coaster action was epitomized on Wednesday when stocks rallied intraday by 520 points on the Dow Industrials, only to close the session lower by 460 points.4

Stocks staged a powerful rebound on Thursday on news that a second Omicron infection exhibited mild symptoms. Also helping the rebound was news that an agreement was reached in the House of Representatives to temporarily fund the government and word from President Biden that an economic lockdown was not in the plan to fight COVID this winter. Emblematic of the volatile week, stocks fell on Friday following a weak jobs report.

 
Powell Surprises Markets

Markets easily digested the Fed’s early-November announcement that it would pull the trigger on its bond purchase tapering program, but were caught off-guard by Powell’s comments during Congressional testimony last Tuesday. Powell indicated that the Fed would discuss the option of accelerating its tapering plans at its next meeting.5

Powell cited the risk of higher inflation and substantial improvement in the labor market as warranting ending bond purchases a few months sooner than planned. Powell sought to move away from describing inflation as transitory, acknowledging that rising energy prices, higher rents, and strong wage gains could keep inflation elevated, though he maintained inflation would decline sometime in 2022.5

THE WEEK AHEAD

Key Economic Data

Wednesday: JOLTS (Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey).
Thursday: Jobless Claims.
Friday: CPI (Consumer Price Index). Consumer Sentiment.
 
Source: Econoday, December 3, 2021
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

Monday:  Coupa Software (COUP), MongoDB (MDB).
Tuesday:  AutoZone, Inc. (AZO).
Wednesday: Gamestop Corp. (GME), UiPath, Inc. (PATH).
Thursday:  lululemon athletica, inc. (LULU), Broadcom, Inc. (AVGO), Costco Wholesale Corporation (COST), Chewy (CHWY).

Source: Zacks, December 3, 2021
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.