Welsh & Taylor Wealth

According to the Canada Life Life100+ report, 70% of adults believe that retiring at age 60 is "𝐚 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐚𝐬𝐭" Those interviewed in the survey cited that living longer, lack of finances & the desire to work for longer meant that retiring at age 60 was not likely to be a reality for them. Interestingly, 75% of those surveyed who sought financial advice felt more satisfied and in control of their life than those who did not, 69%. What are your retirement plans? Do you feel prepared? Do you feel you have the financial clarity to ensure your aspirations become a reality?

Financial markets took a significant rally 📈 last week after the Federal Reserve cut interest rates ✂️ by 0.50% The federal reserve 🏦 funds rate now sits at a range of 4.75% to 5.00%. This pushed the Dow Jones & the S&P 500 to new record highs as investors hope we have hit the first phase of a new bull market. Rate-sensitive sectors such as utilities 💡 and financials 💰have moved higher in recent weeks in anticipation of further interest rates cuts. Traders will mull over fresh economic data today, with the Conference Board’s consumer confidence reading for September due. The Richmond Fed manufacturing index for this month will also be out later today.

Jerome Powell, Chair of the Federal Reserve of the United States. He doesn't have the public profile of Taylor Swift, however, he holds the keys 🔑 to growth within your pension , ISA & investment portfolio. How? 🤔 We hear you ask. Well, he has the power to cut interest rates this week by either 0.25% or 0.50%. Doing so could give the stock market a push in the right direction 📈 as this would signal to markets that the battle with inflation is being won. Powell's central bank colleagues in the UK, Norway, Brazil, South Africa also have the same decision to make this week. Watch this space.

Delighted to see ourselves represented in the VouchedFor’s 2024 Top Rated Financial Adviser Guide. This years guide was part of yesterday's publication by The Telegraph yesterday. In total, this reaches more than 3 million consumers, helping to improve understanding of (and trust in) advice. Well done to all of our advisers for their hard work which resulted in our clients putting them forward for the guide. https://lnkd.in/eDNRWUPW

What does the market have in store for us this September? 🤔 Well, history would tell us that it could be a bumpy ride. Looking at the table below, the S&P 500 has a positive return only 46% of the time since 1964. That being said, past performance does not guarantee future performance. With the US Presidential election race heating up as well as a stream of economic data we may need to brace for impact. However, it is not all doom & gloom. The CME FedWatch Tool is predicting a 73% chance that the Federal Reserve 🏦 will cut interest rates ✂️ this month. This would be welcome news for equities, particularly small cap stocks 📊

🎉 𝗘𝘅𝗰𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗡𝗲𝘄𝘀! 🎉 We are delighted to announce the arrival of a new member to the Welsh & Taylor family! Kieran and his wife Natalie welcomed their beautiful baby girl, Ruby, into the world on 13th August. 👶💖 Kieran will be enjoying a couple of weeks out of the business to spend this special time with Natalie and Ruby. Please join us in congratulating them on this beautiful journey into parenthood! 👏👨👩👧

Last week, the Dow Jones Industrial Average and S&P 500 made moves back towards record highs ⬆️ Market confidence surged after Jerome Powell hinted that US interest rate cuts could be on the way soon 👀 Meanwhile, the Russell 2000 (small caps index) jumped 3% on Friday, driven by hopes of lower borrowing costs 💸 This week, we’ll be keeping a close eye on inflation and GDP data that could impact the markets 📊 Stay tuned!

Last week was a positive week of gains for global markets 📈 In the US, the Commerce Department reported that retail sales surged 1% in July, the best we’ve seen for 18 months 😍 Last week’s inflation data also seemed to support sentiment. Notably, the year-over-year increase in CPI fell below 3% for the first time in over 3-years. Softer inflation and better economic data has been really encouraging for the markets and may well impact the next US Fed meeting regarding interest rates in just under 1 month. This week, many of you will be focusing on your children going back to school. We are wishing them all, especially the new Primary 1’s, the very best for their first day back today 📚💖

Last Monday was a tad...stressful for investors. After the unfolding of the "Yen Trade" and troubling job data from the US (driving fears of a recession) we enter this week where the market has almost fully recovered from last weeks sell off ✅ Which goes to show volatility is forever present 📈📉 but not always justified. Investors this week are hoping to get a better sense of the state of the economy after recent fears of a job market slowdown. On Tuesday, they’ll be watching the July producer price index report, followed by the consumer price index Wednesday, for more confirmation that price growth has continued to stabilize. July retail sales are also due out Thursday. So, we have a data heavy week that could stabilise, spook or even grow markets. Basically, just another week 😅

Got multiple retirees in the family? It’s a growing trend, and it can significantly impact your financial planning. Coordinating pensions, healthcare costs, and lifestyle needs across several retirees requires careful planning and open communication. It’s not just about managing money—it’s about ensuring that everyone’s needs are met, from housing and medical care to travel and hobbies. By working together and planning ahead, families can navigate the complexities of multi-retiree households and enjoy a comfortable, fulfilling retirement. So, gather the family, discuss your goals, and make a plan that works for everyone! #Retired #MultipleRetirees #FinancialPlanning