After periods of volatility and uncertainty, 2024 was a remarkably positive year for stock investors.

Despite persistent geopolitical tensions, elevated inflationary pressures, and a divisive U.S. election, markets delivered a second consecutive year of double-digit returns. Inflation, while remaining above the Federal Reserve’s 2% target, slowed sufficiently to enable three rate cuts during the year. Concurrently, fears of significant domestic economic disruption from foreign conflicts proved overstated, and the U.S. election produced a decisive and, contrary to expectations, uncontested result—an outcome that brought much-needed clarity to investors.

After periods of volatility and uncertainty, 2024 was a remarkably positive year for stock investors.

Despite persistent geopolitical tensions, elevated inflationary pressures, and a divisive U.S. election, markets delivered a second consecutive year of double-digit returns.

During the third quarter of 2024, the markets finally got a long-awaited interest rate cut by the Federal Reserve, signaling a beginning to the end of a period of elevated interest rates meant to slow price growth.

In the second quarter of 2024, markets continued to navigate evolving interest rate expectations and the monetization prospect of Artificial Intelligence. Concern about persistent inflation led to a decline in equity markets in April.

Investors entered 2024 with expectations for continued tailwinds, with a resilient economy strong enough to maintain employment but sufficiently moderate to allow the Federal Reserve to begin lowering rates.

In 2023, the year concluded with a remarkable turnaround, characterized by a year-end surge driven by the collective relief that the U.S. economy had managed to steer clear of the recession many had feared would dominate the year.

Markets were off to one of the best starts in decades during the first seven months of 2023, as economic data strengthened market participants’ view that a recession could be avoided and that the Federal Reserve could soon cease monetary tightening and perhaps might even begin lowering interest rates.

Warren Buffet offered this bit of salient advice to investors: “We don’t have to be smarter than the rest. We have to be more disciplined than the rest.” It is the disciplined investor who, staying patient in the face of a rush to action by other market participants, earns the rewards that accrue to investors over time.

As the second quarter of 2023 came to a close, investors’ persistent optimism dominated the equity markets. Despite the first half of the year that witnessed interest rate increases, turmoil in the banking sector, and geopolitical uncertainty, markets spent the second quarter gaining back some of the value lost in 2022.

Come June 1st, if nothing is agreed upon, the US will no longer be able to pay its bills. While Congress appropriates money to be spent, the Treasury can only spend what it has “in the bank” and that pot is about to run out.

During the first quarter of 2023, markets successfully navigated a highly uncertain environment, from dramatic swings in economic data to the sudden onset of a banking crisis.

Events over the past few days have been shocking, given the rapid demise of Silicon Valley Bank (“SVB”) and Signature Bank and a potential contagion among regional banks with similar characteristics.

There is an old saying about March coming “in like a lion, out like a lamb,” as it is traditionally the month we transition from winter’s chilly roar to the gentle green shoots of spring.

Although focusing on investing is how you will grow your nest egg, all of us will encounter times when we need cash quickly. From auto repairs to medical bills, you should have cash on hand to fund not just monthly expenses…

The fourth quarter began with data pointing to cooling inflationary pressures that relieved fears of continued aggressive action by the Federal Reserve. As a result, markets rallied.

The past few months have been an emotional ride for many investors, as stocks and bonds offered glimpses of hope early in the third quarter, only eventually to succumb to the continued pressures of persistent inflation.

The second quarter of 2022 was challenging for investors as markets responded negatively to shifting interest rates, supply chain snarls, inflationary pressures, and geopolitical challenges.

In the first quarter of 2022, the markets encountered more global turmoil and economic uncertainty than at any period for decades. Already buffeted by Covid-related supply constraints and more, the world was jolted.