U.S. Announced Tariffs and Investment Implications
The last 6 weeks of the first quarter 2025 were characterized by increased economic and investment uncertainty, much of it due to lack of clarity regarding U.S. tariff policy and resulting concerns about short-term detrimental inflation and growth.
(more…)Read MoreWESCAP Economic and Investment Outlook for 2025
Will inflation reaccelerate after declining significantly last year? Will this cause interest rates to rise again, putting stress on borrowers and the economy? Are U.S. stocks priced to perfection, so that any less-than-perfect outcome will cause a sharp decline in prices? Will the new Republican-led federal government help or hurt the economy and investment assets? In this report, we explore these topics. We discuss how investors should be positioned in 2025.
(more…)Read MoreWESCAP Q4 2024 Quarterly Commentary: A Challenging Quarter for Investments Amid Rising Interest Rates
Portfolio results for the last quarter of 2024 were weak with most investment categories posting negative returns. A rise in long term U.S. interest rates had a detrimental effect on most fixed income and equity assets.
(more…)Read MoreSignificant Tax, Economic and Investment Implications of the Federal Republican Elections Sweep.
Given a Republican election sweep at the federal level, significant changes in tax, tariff, and regulatory policies are anticipated. We want to address those forthcoming policies that are most likely to have significant impacts on economic growth, interest rates, profits, inflation, and the impacts on select investments.
(more…)Read MoreYear-End Financial Planning Opportunity Checklist
As 2024 comes to a close, now is the perfect time to review your year-end tax strategies and plan for the year ahead. Below is a checklist of items to consider before year end:
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