Videos
Short videos from the industry's leading investment firms
Market Thoughts for March 2020
by Commonwealth Financial Network,
Brad McMillan, Commonwealth’s CIO, recaps the market and economic news for February. Both U.S. and international markets dropped sharply at month-end, as the coronavirus continued to spread across the globe. While the declines are worrisome, previous outbreaks, like Zika and SARS, have resulted in similar outcomes. As such, the markets’ response to the coronavirus can actually be considered normal. But what happens next? Stay tuned to find out. Follow Brad at blog.commonwealth.com/independent-market-observer.
What Keeps AAM 40 Years Strong
AAM CEO & CIO Scott Colyer, reflects on 40 years in the financial industry and how Advisors Asset Management has evolved as a leader in empowering financial advisors to succeed. “We started as an advisor-centric firm back in 1979, and are still an advisor-centric firm 40 years later.”
Vanguard’s Top Strategist on the Prospects for Inflation
by Vanguard,
In this series of interviews, Anne Mathias, a senior strategist at Vanguard, sits down with Bob Huebscher to discuss the likelihood of inflation in the short term as well as the outlook on a long-term, secular basis. She identifies the sectors of the bond market that are attractively priced and are most likely to protect investors against unexpected inflation.
Market Thoughts for February 2020
by Commonwealth Financial Network,
Brad McMillan, Commonwealth’s CIO, recaps the market and economic news for January. The year started with a slight setback, with both U.S. and international markets down. Some of this poor performance was driven by fear over the coronavirus. Although the virus is something to watch, it's not likely to be a long-term risk. Indeed, economic growth in the U.S. has been steady, and business and consumer confidence have improved. Will the fundamentals continue to provide a cushion for any risks on the horizon? Stay tuned to find out. Follow Brad at blog.commonwealth.com/independent-market-observer.
Market Thoughts for January 2020
by Commonwealth Financial Network,
Brad McMillan, Commonwealth’s CIO, recaps the market and economic news for December. It was a great close to 2019, with U.S. markets up more than 20 percent and international markets showing double-digit gains. Job growth was strong, and, for the ninth month in a row, income and spending went up. New home sales were at their highest level since 2007, and home builder confidence was the strongest in 20 years. But risks exist, including politics and the trade war. How greatly will they rattle the markets? Stay tuned to find out. Follow Brad at blog.commonwealth.com/independent-market-observer.
2020 Outlook
by Commonwealth Financial Network,
Brad McMillan, Commonwealth’s CIO, provides his 2020 market outlook. After a strong 2019, worries are starting to build for the year ahead—especially over a potential recession. But the data is actually improving. As such, 2020 may look much like 2019. Job growth might slow, but consumers are likely to keep spending. Plus, business investment is showing signs of a comeback, which would be a significant tailwind. The news for the markets may not be as positive, as we may see some volatility. But as long as the economy keeps growing? The markets should continue to move forward.
Market Thoughts for December 2019
by Commonwealth Financial Network,
Brad McMillan, Commonwealth’s CIO, recaps the market and economic news for November. It was another great month for U.S. markets, although international markets didn’t fare as well. Still, the news was positive given the worrying headlines on the Hong Kong riots and the ongoing trade dispute. Here in the U.S., consumer confidence remained at a strong level, and business confidence bounced back. Plus, job growth beat expectations, and new home sales were up. What should we expect as we head into year-end? Stay tuned to find out. Follow Brad at blog.commonwealth.com/independent-market-observer.
Market Thoughts for November 2019
by Brad McMillan of Commonwealth Financial Network,
Brad McMillan, Commonwealth’s CIO, recaps the market and economic news for October. It was a great month, with U.S. markets doing well and international markets doing even better. This positive news was surprising, given the impeachment inquiry, weak job growth, and declining business confidence. Still, major sectors of the economy remain strong. Consumers continue to earn and spend more. Plus, the Fed has gotten behind the markets with rate cuts at its last two meetings. But is there volatility ahead? Stay tuned to find out. Follow Brad at blog.commonwealth.com/independent-market-observer.
Market Thoughts for October 2019
by Brad McMillan of Commonwealth Financial Network,
Brad McMillan, Commonwealth’s CIO, recaps the market and economic news for September. It was a pretty good month, with U.S., international, and emerging markets all up. These results were surprising given the month’s events, including a drone strike on a Saudi oil complex and the impeachment inquiry of President Trump. Still, the fundamentals remained solid. New and existing home sales went up. We also saw strong personal income growth, leading to strong retail sales growth. But are there headwinds ahead? Stay tuned to find out. Follow Brad at blog.commonwealth.com/independent-market-observer.
Market Thoughts for September 2019
by Brad McMillan of Commonwealth Financial Network,
Brad McMillan, Commonwealth’s CIO, recaps the market and economic news for August. It was a tough month for markets, with fixed income the only bright spot. There was a lot of volatility, with markets down between 4 percent and 6 percent on three occasions. What drove the declines? Politics. The U.S.-China trade war heated up, and the Fed and the White House sparred over rates. Still, the economy remained solid—with consumer confidence high and strong job growth. So, will there be more volatility ahead? Stay tuned to learn more. Follow Brad at blog.commonwealth.com/independent-market-observer.
