Forty "W"ritings

Global equity markets surged in February despite hawkish Fed commentary and stubborn inflationary pressures which are calling into question the likelihood of Fed rate cuts.

In this weekly, we focused on some of the major global impacts we have seen as a result of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Last week the Congressional Budget Office (CBO), a non-partisan independent organization, released its 10 year projections on the federal budget. This report is full of information about sources of government revenues, outlays and the deficit. Unfortunately, the fiscal situation in the U.S. does not look to get any better as we now have information through 2034.

Congratulations to the Kansas City Chiefs for winning Super Bowl LVIII. They were the first team to win back to back Super Bowls since the New England Patriots accomplished it about 20 years ago (2003-2004). The Super Bowl is always a bittersweet celebration as we binge on fried food and salty snacks but wake the next day to the realization that football season is over…for now. Therefore, to cheer up football fans we wanted to offer some interesting tidbits about what the Super Bowl has meant for the financial markets. However, we will reassure you that this is for fun and we do not make portfolio decisions around who wins the Super Bowl.

Net Unrealized Appreciation (NUA) is a valuable tax strategy that can offer the benefit of lower taxes and portfolo diversification for investors holding appreciated employer stock within their retirement plans. By understanding how NUA works and considering its potential impact on your overall financial plan, you can make informed decisions to optimize your tax efficiency and achieve your long-term financial goals.

KEY TAKEAWAYS: Inflationary pressures remain sticky. Consumer spending drives economic growth. Developed equity markets lead performance. Treasury yields inch higher amid Fed rate cut uncertainty. Crude oil rallies on geopolitical tensions.