In this blog post, we discuss the challenges of the 2022 investment environment and what to expect in 2023.

In this blog post, we will explore three charitable giving strategies intended to reduce taxes, minimize record keeping, and increase donations to charity.

After initially hearing the phrase “Drowning in Gloom” on Bloomberg Radio while on a road trip with my son in early August it has been replaying in my head often over recent weeks. The phrase was delivered by Bloomberg Surveillance host Tom Keene (noted skeptic, Red Sox fan, and hardly a perma-bull) to describe the current zeitgeist of financial markets…

Last Thursday, Cleveland Federal Reserve Bank President Loretta Mester characterized the current Federal Reserve policy stance as “the great recalibration of monetary policy.”

The dominant theme for the market this year has been the continued strong economic recovery, albeit at a rate slightly slower than the consensus had expected entering the year. Strong – but slightly disappointing – economic growth explains above average equity returns paired with relatively defensive leadership, and rotations between growth and value groups through the year.

Please watch the following Video introduction to Bluebird Wealth Management put together by
by Keith Corbett, CFP

Chief Investment Officer, Brian Sokolowski, sits down with Financial Advisor, Keith Corbett, to review investor questions from Q3, 2021.

We believe investors are well served by owning innovative companies with durable competitive advantages, in attractive categories, over long periods of time; we are growth investors at our core.

Prior to founding Bluebird in 2018, I had spent the previous 14 years in investment research and portfolio management. A central function of the role was to attend a dozen or so investment conferences each year, which involved meeting with company management and discovering opportunities to actively invest client capital.

While “The Most Hated Stock Market Rally” was a common refrain over much of the 2009-2020 bull market, the remarkable rally off the March 2020 lows has truly earned the moniker, in our opinion.

Last Friday’s jobs report confirmed remarkable and better than expected news. While the newly released December data was as expected and favorable job creation for an economy late in a growth cycle, the revision of November’s data supported the initial report released in early December.

Although it is a popular metaphor in the investment commentary business, especially in recent years, referencing Goldilocks seems particularly apt as we assess recent months and the current situation in markets. It is fitting that the great Goldilocks Bull Market which began in 2009 gets one more thrust from the recent “just right” mix of economic and market conditions.

To borrow from a certain well known football coach in New England, we’re on to 2019. In his infamous press conference Coach Belichick was responding (well, refusing to respond) to questions regarding a difficult start to the 2014 season and he was clear that his focus was on the future.

US stock market, as measured by the S&P 500, has thus far narrowly averted the standard definition of a bear market.

“Guaranteed” income for life, ability to participate in potential stock market growth, and downside protection in case of a stock market slump form a theoretically appealing combination for many people as they plan their retirement savings and investment strategies.

Last quarter we wrote about significant crosscurrents and contradictions in the economy and markets and wondered how they would play out over the latter half of 2018, specifically if strong earnings growth would continue in the face of trade risks and rising interest rates.