Sure . . . #CrushIt. Then get some rest.

Eagle Wealth Management |
 

It feels like we’ve been in the “Crush It Age” for the last 20 years.

Up at five in the morning?

Daily workouts?

Paleo, bulletproof, gluten-free, cold showers?

Build a business, start a side hustle, dominate Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook?

Make family a priority?

Serve the community?

We don’t think we’re alone in this.

Every time we turn around, somebody is crushing something. Gary Vaynerchuk became the Godfather of this Age.  He wrote a book on it, in fact.  According to him, people “need to work harder. And faster.  There’s really nothing else to it.  I’m exhausted every day, but I’m making all sorts of things happen in my 18 hours.”

And he added, “And I’m prioritizing what’s important and what’s not.”

So, there we have it.  We can add “exhausted” to words like “cynical” and “busy” that we wear as badges of honor.

We’d like to grant ourselves — and everyone else — permission to declare the Crush It Age finished.

So, what comes next?

The Age of Work Hard, Rest Hard.

In this Age, we’re still hustling. But we’re also resting. In fact, we’re trying to be as good at resting as we are at crushing things.

We’re working on turning off social media, getting great sleep, working less, and living more.

We want to make being rested cool.  So that when people ask how you’re doing, you can say, “Sit down. Let’s talk about it for a minute, because I have time for you, my friend.”  At a minimum, you should be able to answer, “Rested, and how are you?”

We know this sounds like crazy talk, and it’s not easy, but we can do it.  Let’s make it a priority to be human again — to work hard and rest hard without buying into the idea that we’ll fail at life if we rest.

Tomorrow is a great day to start.  It’s time to celebrate our democracy, our diversity, our personal freedom, our liberty to pursue our goals and dreams. . . and to hopefully rest.

Enjoy the Fourth, and the fireworks and fun that the day brings!
 

Until next week,


Your Eagle Wealth Team

 

 

 


Red, White, and Blue Trifle

When you're looking for festive 4th of July desserts or just an easy summer treat, turn to this red, white, and blue trifle to satisfy your sweet tooth. Some background on the popular dessert: Classic trifle recipes are layered with pound cake and fruit, then served in a glass bowl so you can admire all its layers. Best of all, with this recipe, there's no baking required! With the help of one particular store-bought ingredient, it comes together quicker than you can say "Happy 4th of July"... almost.
 

YIELDS:  8 - 10 serving(s)
PREP TIME:  30 mins
TOTAL TIME: 30 mins

Ingredients

  • 8 oz. cream cheese, at room temperature
  • 1/2 c. granulated sugar
  • 1 1/2 c. heavy cream
  • 1 tsp. vanilla extract
  • 1 lb. pound cake, cubed 
  • 2 x 6 oz. containers blueberries (about 2 cups)
  • 2 x 6 oz. containers blackberries (about 2 1/2 cups)
  • 1 1/2 qt. strawberries, stems removed, sliced

Directions

1.  Combine the cream cheese and granulated sugar in the bowl of a stand mixer with a paddle attachment. Beat on medium-high speed for 1 to 2 minutes until smooth. Scrape the sides and bottom of the bowl. With the mixer on medium, slowly add the heavy cream and vanilla and mix until combined. Switch to the whisk attachment and whip at medium speed until soft peaks form and the mixture is easy to dollop.

2.  Place a single layer of cake cubes in a large trifle dish (about 12 to 14 cups). Top with 2/3 of the blueberries and blackberries, then 1/2 of the whipped cream (about 2 cups), then 2/3 of the strawberries. Repeat the cake and cream layers once more, then decorate the top with the remaining berries. Serve immediately or make in advance and store for up to 24 hours in the refrigerator. 

Recipe courtesy of The Pioneer Woman,
https://www.thepioneerwoman.com/food-cooking/recipes/a36321045/red-white-and-blue-trifle/

 


The Week on Wall Street

Stocks posted gains for the week to close out a stellar month, aided by positive economic data and reports that all major banks had passed the Federal Reserve’s annual stress test.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 2.02%, while the Standard & Poor’s 500 rose 2.35%. The Nasdaq Composite index added 2.19%. The MSCI EAFE index, which tracks developed overseas stock markets, increased by 0.76%.1,2,3

 Stocks Climb As Recession Fears Ease

Investors shrugged off weekend news of a short-lived insurrection in Russia and calls later in the week for more restrictive monetary policies from global central bankers.

What powered early-week gains? New home sales, durable goods orders, and a rise in consumer confidence proved influential. More so were Thursday’s reports of a drop in initial jobless claims and an upward revision in first quarter Gross Domestic Product growth, which helped allay recession fears. The results of the Fed’s annual bank stress tests, which all major banks passed–further emboldened investors.

Stock prices rallied Friday following an encouraging inflation report, capping the end to a solid week, month, and first half.

 

Global Central Bankers Meet

At last week’s European Central Bank Forum, central-bank governors from around the world gathered to discuss their monetary outlook and the policies needed to manage inflation amid unexpected economic strength.

Fed Chair Powell reiterated that more rate hikes were coming owing to a robust labor market. He added that he wouldn’t dismiss the idea of hiking rates at consecutive Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) meetings. While saying there is a possibility of an economic downturn, Powell didn’t believe it was the most likely case.

Meanwhile, bankers from the European Central Bank and the U.K. echoed Powell’s comments, declaring that further rate hikes are needed to tame their still-elevated inflation rates.4

 

THE WEEK AHEAD


KEY ECONOMIC DATA

Monday:  Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) Manufacturing, Institute for Supply Management (ISM) Manufacturing Index
Wednesday:  Factory Orders, FOMC Minutes
Thursday:  Automated Data Processing (ADP) Employment Report, Jobless Claims, Institute for Supply Management (ISM) Services Index, Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) Composite, Job Openings and Turnover Survey (JOLTS)
Friday:  Employment Situation

Source: Econoday, June 30, 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

Thursday:  Seven and I Holdings Co., Inc. (SVNDY), Levi Strauss & Co. (LEVI)

Source: Zacks, June 30, 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.

 

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, June 30, 2023.

2. The Wall Street Journal, June 30, 2023.

3. The Wall Street Journal, June 30, 2023.

4. CNBC, June 28, 2023.

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 2023 FMG Suite.