As you are likely aware, inflation is dominating the financial headlines. The cost of living has gone up, the supply chain is experiencing major delays and shortages, and expenses across the board are rising — from food to housing to all types of goods and services. One of the largest budget items for both individuals … Continued

The S&P 500 ended September at its lowest level for the year, as a miserable year for investors continued with the stock market firmly in bear market territory and the bond market also seeing losses in the mid-teens. Following something of a relief rally through the summer, as investors grappled with whether inflation had peaked … Continued

The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) has a long history of responsible investing practices, or values-based investing. This dates back to a policy adopted by the General Assembly in 1971. The policy statement included a discussion about investments being “an instrument of mission and includes theological, social and economic considerations.” The basis for this belief is that … Continued

Many years ago, it seemed a church only had to open its doors and people would come. Many came out of a sense of tradition or ritual — being in church on Sundays was simply what we did. With that tradition came a sense of responsibility to give to the church and fund its ministry. … Continued

It’s been a strong summer for the markets, with the S&P 500 and especially the NASDAQ stock index rallying through July on news that inflationary pressures throughout the economy may be easing. Even the bond market, which experienced one of its worst first half returns on record, saw modest price gains, as expectations for future … Continued

During the 225th General Assembly (GA) of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), there was significant debate on climate change. While we all agree that the environment is a serious issue that requires meaningful action, the debate specifically centered on what actions the church should take regarding fossil fuel divestment. One of the proposed responses was to divest church investments … Continued

The S&P 500 dropped -20.6% in the first six months of 2022, the worst first half for the index since 1970. Bonds, as measured by the Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Bond Index, fell -10.7% in the same period, its worst first half on record going back to 1975. The market weakness in the first half of … Continued

The S&P 500 touched bear market territory during a volatile May, down over -20% from its high intra-day on May 20th. Stock investing can be volatile, but nearly a century of bull and bear markets show the good times have outshined the bad times. From 1926 through 2021, the S&P experienced 17 bear markets, ranging … Continued

We went many years without changes to our federal retirement savings laws, but here we are, just two years after the SECURE Act was passed, discussing additional proposed changes that seem likely to become law in 2023. SECURE stands for Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement. It was originally signed into law on December … Continued

By now, most Americans are aware that high inflation has permeated the global economy, resulting in higher prices for everything from food to gasoline, furniture, cars, and energy. A delicately balanced global supply chain, made leaner and leaner over decades to improve efficiencies, proved incapable of weathering a shock like a global pandemic without severe … Continued