Hilltop Wealth Advisors

Happy Birthday, Brittany! We hope you have a great day! Here are some fun facts about Brittany: 🎂favorite birthday treat: a warm cinnamon roll or freshly baked cookies – or better yet, both! ✈️farthest you’ve been from home: Berlin, Germany 👎something you’re really bad at: sleeping in – even when I’m on vacation, I’m rarely still asleep past 7AM. 🥰proudest accomplishment: either passing the CFP® exam back in 2017, or running a few half marathons in less than 2 hours!

As we approach the start of a new school year, it’s a great time to think about saving for your long-term goals. Hilltop intern Everett Oehler explains why opening a Roth IRA while you're still in high school or college can be a smart move, due to the potential benefits of compound interest and tax-free growth. https://lnkd.in/eSYDZzZm

Hilltop presents our third quarterly Economic and Market Update of 2024. Chris and Dave share Hilltop’s latest investment views: a concentrated market run-up, bonds recovering, upcoming opportunities, and more. If you would like to discuss anything, we look forward to hearing from you. #hilltopviews #hilltopwa https://lnkd.in/dew87BaN

Happy Birthday, Ben! We hope you have a wonderful day. Here are some fun facts about Ben: 🎂favorite birthday treat: German chocolate cake w/ Blue Bell ice cream ✈️farthest you’ve been from home: Italy 👎something you’re really bad at: Open wounds, I go pale just getting a shot at the doctor’s office 🥰proudest accomplishment: My Family

On August 5th, the Dow plunged by over 1000 points – the worst day in the markets since 2022 – after also dropping on Thursday and Friday the week before. The main reasons for the recent market drops are fairly straightforward: a spike in unemployment, coupled with fear that the Federal Reserve has waited too long to cut interest rates. The Federal Reserve has been keeping interest rates at their highest levels since the early 2000s in an effort to tame inflation. The most recent inflation data suggests that we are getting ever closer to the Fed’s stated goal of a 2% inflation rate, so investors have been expecting the Fed to start cutting interest rates in the near future. However, the latest U.S. jobs report showed the economy added only 114,000 jobs in the month of July, and the unemployment rate increased to 4.3%, which is the highest it’s been since October 2021*. This labor market data has investors worrying that the Fed has waited too long to cut rates. The concern is, even if a rate cut happens in the next month or two, unemployment will still continue to rise, and the economy will enter a recession. This fear is the main reason behind the selloff we’ve been seeing in the stock market – which is a natural reaction. However, savvy investors know that fear and panic are never good reasons to make a decision, and it’s important to put the recent economic data in context. An unemployment rate of 4.3% is historically still very low, and most data shows that the economy is actually in good shape**. That said, market volatility can take some time to subside, so it’s important to be prepared for the next several weeks to months to be turbulent. In the meantime, remember that market turbulence is a normal part of investing and doesn’t necessarily require a change to your long-term strategy. If you aren’t working with Hilltop yet and would like to discuss investment opportunities given the recent market volatility, please give us a call! * “Job growth totals 114,000 in July,” CNBC, https://buff.ly/3WCjQ6Z **“Unemployment rate 3.4% in April 2023,” U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, https://buff.ly/4dfvQ5r

We already know how great the Triangle area is for young professionals, and the numbers are showing it now. The money side is good for Gen Z – hiring, wages, and affordability. But the culture, food, and Southern hospitality make it a great place to stay! If you’re a young professional – in the Raleigh area OR elsewhere in the country – and want an advisor to help you plan for the future while enjoying life in your current city, check out Hilltop’s Ascend service. https://lnkd.in/eQqYTzM9

Wishing a happy, happy birthday to Chris! Here are some fun facts about Chris: 🎂favorite birthday treat: I love a good chocolate éclair cake! ✈️farthest you’ve been from home: Shuangliu, Chengdu, China – serving as a camp counselor/English tutor one summer in college 👎something you’re really bad at: Remembering to gas up my wife’s car when I’m done driving it (says my wife) 🥰proudest accomplishment: Completing multiple Tough Mudder obstacle courses. I don’t consider myself athletic, so I had to really earn those finisher headbands!

Our last (but not least) team member introduction this week is Client Service Associate Max Buico! Max prepares client meeting agendas, manages post-meeting action items, and services client accounts. Max earned a BA in Economics at Belmont Abbey College, where he also captained the wrestling team. He is now pursuing the Financial Paraplanner Qualified Professional℠ (FPQP®) designation. Away from the office, he enjoys spending time with his girlfriend, Elizabeth, his family, and their dog, Stella. He spends his free time playing disc golf, supporting the Pittsburgh Steelers, reading science fiction or philosophy, and watching any movie featuring Ryan Gosling.

Hilltop is excited to introduce another new team member, Client Service Associate Muhammad Ahsan! Mo prepares client meeting agendas, manages post-meeting action items, and services client accounts. Mo earned a BS in Economics at Penn State, where he also helped organize TEDx and participated in the Rock Climbing Club and the Student Film Organization. Away from the office, he enjoys spending time with his partner, YingChi, and you’ll find him hitting the climbing gym, working out, hiking, or reading. Finally, he’s been a movie buff since his younger days growing up in Dubai – whenever you need a pop culture reference or movie quote, Mo’s your guy.

Introducing our newest hire, Associate Tyler Bayless-Edwards, who joined Hilltop just last week! Tyler was a self-employed real estate broker before moving to financial services. At Hilltop, he reviews and develops financial strategies, prepares for client meetings, and helps Hilltop manage the overall planning process. Tyler earned a BS in Business Administration from East Carolina and is an MBA candidate at Indiana University’s Kelley School of Business. He lives in Wake Forest with his son, Axton, and their two dogs, Calypso (Pit Bull) and Maverick (Lab/Husky mix). He is passionate about the Los Angeles Chargers and the local foodie scene. To stay active, he’s into golf, running, and traveling.