Blog
What’s on our mind? You can read about it in our blog. Whether it’s ideas from the investment world or concepts from the financial industry, you can read about it here. And once in a while, we may throw in a movie review or some other surprise. So keep checking in. We’re glad to have you reading along.
Markets Warming Up
As spring approaches, the weather is starting to warm up. For the stock market, the temperature has been rising for a while now. In fact, since December 2023, the S&P 500 has not experienced a pullback of even 2%. Strong starts to...
Read MoreXimena Silva-Avila Joins Perennial Financial Services, LLC
Perennial Financial Services, LLC, is pleased to announce that Ximena Silva-Avila has joined their team of financial advisors. Ximena Silva-Avila emerges as a leading figure in the world of wealth management, blending analytical...
Read MoreSolid Start to 2024
Stocks are off to a solid start in 2024. January gains are particularly enjoyable because of the old adage from the Stock Trader’s Almanac, “As goes January, so goes the year.” Nearly 75 years of historical data shows...
Read MoreImportant Lessons from 2023
Stocks defied the skeptics in a very unpredictable 2023. The Dow Jones finished at an all-time record high on December 28, and the S&P 500 came within a whisker of a fresh all-time high after the index rallied more than 20% for the...
Read MoreOutlook 2024: A Turning Point
In 2024, LPL Research believes markets will make a definitive turn to a more recognizable place. En route, the transition will be marked by meaningful shifts in a few key areas. Inflation is going down. The risk of a recession is...
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A November to Remember
Solid gains for both stocks and bonds gave investors a November to remember. As financial markets continue to defy skeptics, I’m reminded of a quote from Warren Buffett’s long-time partner and one of the greatest investors...
Read MoreOffering Thanks
The penultimate month of the year is often a time to reflect and offer thanks. And while economic and geopolitical uncertainty can overshadow the positives, there are things to be thankful for. Here is just some of what we’re...
Read MoreTreasury Term Premium 101
The move higher in Treasury yields (lower in price) has been unrelenting, with intermediate and longer term Treasury yields bearing the brunt of the selloff recently. Since the end of July, 10-year yields are up over 0.90% and 30-year...
Read MoreStaying the Course
The S&P 500 lost 3.3% in the third quarter after sliding nearly 5% in September. Putting this into perspective, nothing really qualifies as out of the ordinary. Since 1950, the S&P 500 has historically declined in September 55% of the time.
Read MoreNavigating Market Setbacks
Financial markets lived up to their reputation during the month of August, which has a record for being difficult. On the first day of August, markets had to contend with a downgrade of U.S. long-term debt by the rating agency, Fitch....
Read MoreStaying Invested in a Tricky Market Environment
The market is pricing in an increasingly optimistic outlook, but the economy still faces challenges that will likely lead to slower growth in the second half — and perhaps even a mild economic contraction. So why stay invested?
Read MoreMidyear Outlook: The Path Toward Stability
https://www.lpl.com/news-media/research-insights/lpl-research-midyear-outlook-2023-the-path-toward-stability.html
Read MoreBetter-Than-Expected First Half
As we finalize the log on the first six months of 2023, we believe there’s value in reflecting on recent months gone by. Doing so can help crystallize key learnings and help chart a course through the rest of the year. Looking...
Read MoreDebt Ceiling Drama Is Behind Us
With the debt ceiling drama behind us, markets will likely return their attention to topics such as inflation, the health of the economy, and the Federal Reserve (Fed)—who is scheduled to meet June 14-15...
Read MoreInvestor Sentiment Tested
Spring is often thought of as an uplifting time, marked by growth and renewed hope as we emerge from the long months of winter and look ahead to the rest of year. Investors saw signs of such renewed hope in recent weeks, especially on...
Read MoreBrad Harris Named as a 2023 Leader of Influence by the Los Angeles Business Journal
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John B. Petrick Named as a 2023 Leader of Influence by the Los Angeles Business Journal
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A Resilient March
The financial markets’ resilient performance during March was striking, despite pockets of uncertainty surrounding the strength of the economy—and not to mention concerns over the durability of the banking system...
Read MoreThe SVB Collapse
Financial markets were shaken last week as Silicon Valley Bank (SVB), the California bank subsidiary of SVB Financial Group (SIVB), fell into FDIC receivership. SVB is the first FDIC-insured institution to fail since 2020 and the...
Read MoreWaiting for New Highs
Financial markets have experienced quite a bit of change this year in just two short months. We started the year hopeful that stocks would benefit from a better economic and monetary policy environment by the spring, but...
Read MoreOpportunities in 2023
When we look back on 2022, it’s easy to identify the challenges—but if we look closer, we can also uncover some opportunities. So what does all of this mean for 2023—and where are these opportunities?
Read MoreJOHN B. PETRICK RECOGNIZED AS ONE OF LPL FINANCIAL’S TOP FINANCIAL ADVISORS
JOHN B. PETRICK RECOGNIZED AS ONE OF LPL FINANCIAL’S TOP FINANCIAL ADVISORS Los Angeles, CA — January 31, 2023 – John B. Petrick, senior managing director at Perennial Financial Services and an independent LPL...
Read MoreBRADLEY B. HARRIS RECOGNIZED AS ONE OF LPL FINANCIAL’S TOP FINANCIAL ADVISORS
BRADLEY B. HARRIS RECOGNIZED AS ONE OF LPL FINANCIAL’S TOP FINANCIAL ADVISORS Los Angeles, CA — January 31, 2023 – Bradley B. Harris, managing director of retirement planning at Perennial Financial Services and...
Read MoreBEN LAWLER RECOGNIZED AS ONE OF LPL FINANCIAL’S TOP FINANCIAL ADVISORS
BEN LAWLER RECOGNIZED AS ONE OF LPL FINANCIAL’S TOP FINANCIAL ADVISORS Los Angeles, CA — January 31, 2023 – Ben Lawler CPA, *Attorney, Financial Planner & Stockbroker, an independent LPL Financial advisor at...
Read MoreMICHAEL FULLER RECOGNIZED AS ONE OF LPL FINANCIAL’S TOP FINANCIAL ADVISORS
MICHAEL FULLER RECOGNIZED AS ONE OF LPL FINANCIAL’S TOP FINANCIAL ADVISORS Arroyo Grande, CA — January 31, 2023 – Michael Fuller, an independent LPL Financial advisor at the Central Coast office of Perennial...
Read MoreCHRISTOPHER NOWAKOWSKI HONORED AS ONE OF LPL FINANCIAL’S TOP FINANCIAL ADVISORS
CHRISTOPHER NOWAKOWSKI HONORED AS ONE OF LPL FINANCIAL’S TOP FINANCIAL ADVISORS Los Angeles, CA — January 31, 2023 — Christopher Nowakowski, senior managing director at Perennial Financial Services and an...
Read MoreReasons for Optimism
The beginning of a calendar year is often the time when the previous year’s reflections transition to a new year’s hopes. Given the market’s continued instability during 2022 and a resulting tough period for stock and bond prices...
Read MoreOutlook 2023
Through all the challenges, newfound opportunities, and every high and low we’ve experienced during the last couple of years, it’s no surprise why we might be striving for more balance. Whether it’s about the markets...
Read MorePerennial Financial Services & Ford Financial Group Combine To Create a near $2 Billion Hybrid RIA
Perennial Financial Services, a national hybrid RIA with offices throughout Los Angeles and Orange County, as well as Arroyo Grande, Boise, Idaho, and Arizona, today announced the merger of Ford Financial Group, a hybrid RIA based in Fresno
Read MoreLooking Ahead
October is now behind us and it has delivered on its track record as a historically favorable month for stocks, offering some respite for investors as major equity indices rose for the month. The downside pressure on equities had...
Read MoreCould the Worst be Behind Us?
First, we want to acknowledge the tremendous damage and displacement caused by Hurricane Ian. Our thoughts are with those impacted by this devastating storm.This has clearly been a challenging year for households. Stocks and bonds are...
Read MoreBetter Times Ahead
In the last several weeks, we have continued to face elevated uncertainty in financial markets due to high inflation and rising interest rates, and we thought it was an important time to take stock with the final quarter of 2022 just...
Read MoreDavis Aldana Joins Perennial Financial Services & LPL Financial
September 12, 2022 – LPL Financial LLC announced today that financial advisor Davis Aldana has joined LPL Financial’s broker-dealer, RIA and custodial platforms doing business as Aldana Financial and affiliating with Perennial Financial...
Read MoreThe Best and Worst of Times
When it comes to stock market performance, August was “the best of times, and the worst of times.” The strong market rally that peaked in mid-August was viewed by many analysts as a transition from a bear to bull market,...
Read MoreThank Uncle Fester: The Origin of "Coogan Accounts"
You likely have never heard of a Coogan Account unless you have a minor working as an actor or you are involved in the entertainment industry. Even if you have heard of it, I doubt you know the history that led to the creation of this...
Read MoreBig Week for Market Watchers
Last week was epic for market-watchers. A Federal Reserve (Fed) rate hike, a much-anticipated gross domestic product (GDP) report, and the busiest week of earnings season got most of the headlines. There was even a surprise out of...
Read MoreLPL Financial and Perennial Financial Services Welcome Eddie Chan
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – July 28, 2022 – LPL Financial LLC announced today that financial advisor Eddie Chan has joined LPL Financial’s broker-dealer, RIA and custodial platforms, affiliating with Perennial...
Read MoreMidyear Outlook 2022: Navigating Turbulence
We expect the U.S. economy to grow in 2022 and also eek out growth in 2023. Annual growth rates may mask some of the intra-year economic activity which could be quite volatile.
Read MoreLooking Forward
As the calendar has turned to July, investors would certainly like to forget the first six months of 2022. However, the Fourth of July Independence Day holiday does bring with it reason for celebration. Not only is it the 246th...
Read MoreA Bear Market is Officially Here
A bear market is officially here thanks largely to stubbornly high inflation. For many of us, it has probably felt like a bear market for a while now, but the S&P 500 Index didn’t close more than 20% below its January 3 record...
Read MoreBull Market Hangs By a Thread
The bull market that began in March of 2020 came dangerously close to an end. From March 23, 2020 through January 3, 2022, the S&P 500 Index gained 114% (excluding dividends). From that January 3 closing high through the recent low on...
Read MoreVolatility Continues
2022 has been a challenging year for investors so far. The S&P 500 Index just had one of its worst Aprils in decades, and May is off to a rocky start. Bond investors have not fared much better as rising interest rates have pushed down...
Read MoreHave We Really Seen Extreme Pessimism Yet?
"It’s been a very tough start to the year with both stocks and bonds down sharply. Adding to the “wall of worry” for investors are the highest levels of U.S. inflation in decades, an aggressive Federal Reserve (Fed),...
Read MoreApril Showers Bring May Flowers
As we move into spring and leave behind the last signs of a long winter, many worries from a chilly start to the year for markets, unfortunately, are still with us. The S&P 500 Index had its worst April in more than 40 years, leaving...
Read MoreAn Attractive Entry Point
It has been a turbulent 2022 so far for investors. The S&P 500 Index is on track for its worst April in more than 40 years, the Nasdaq entered a bear market on April 26 with its more than 20% decline, and bonds, which typically provide...
Read MoreLos Angeles Business Journal - Leaders of Influence: Wealth Managers- JOHN PETRICK
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A Ways to Go
“Bull markets are born on pessimism, grown on skepticism, mature on optimism, and die on euphoria.” - Sir John Templeton According to the guidance of revered investor Sir John Templeton, it appears to us that this market...
Read MoreNavigating Geopolitical Tensions
he green shoots are hard to see right now as spring approaches, clouded by war in Ukraine. Democracy is under attack and innocent lives are tragically being lost. But while we keep one eye on overseas developments, the other remains...
Read MoreNew Beginnings in 2022
With the New Year comes new beginnings, new goals, new challenges, new friendships, and new opportunities. 2021 was an incredible year for the economy and investors, but to us the future remains bright for 2022 and beyond...
Read MoreHoliday Resilience
We hope everyone enjoyed the Thanksgiving holiday with family and friends. While life has been challenging during the pandemic, we have a lot to be thankful for. At this time, we are especially grateful for COVID-19 vaccines and...
Read MoreMany Reasons to be Thankful
The past year and a half have tested all of us, but overall, the economy continues to strengthen, COVID-19 trends are greatly improving, and this still relatively young bull market is alive and well. As the leaves turn colors and begin...
Read MoreChange May Bring Opportunities
One constant in life is change. During the past year and a half, we have experienced more change than any of us bargained for. Change is disruptive—but also brings opportunities. For investors right now, there is no shortage of...
Read MoreThe Bull Market Continues
The bull market continues, with the S&P 500 Index now up seven months in a row. Stocks have impressively gained 20% year-to-date, with the S&P 500 making 53 new all-time highs before the end of August—another new record. All of...
Read MoreSix Months and Counting
Six months and counting. That is the current monthly winning streak for the S&P 500 Index. To take that a step further, this key equity benchmark has posted gains in 13 of the last 16 months—dating back to the March 2020 low....
Read MorePicking Up Speed
In the first half of 2021, the U.S. economy powered forward faster than nearly anyone had expected. Speed can be exhilarating, but it can also be dangerous. In our view, the overall economic picture remains sound and will likely...
Read MoreLPL Financial and Perennial Financial Services Welcome Advisors Mike Fuller and Rob Barber
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – June 9, 2021 – LPL Financial LLC today announced that financial advisors Mike Fuller and Rob Barber have joined LPL Financial’s broker-dealer, hybrid (RIA) and custodial platforms,...
Read MoreA Return to Normalcy
As we move into June, a path to normalcy is coming quickly with stadiums allowing full capacity, restaurants filling up, and summer vacations in full swing. Meanwhile, the U.S. economy continues to recover remarkably quickly and the...
Read MoreOut of the Shadows
As the calendar has turned to May, the popular “Sell in May and Go Away” stock market cliché is getting a lot of airtime. This is the idea that the stock market tends to be weakest between May and October (and...
Read MoreSpring Into A Positive Outlook
“The real key to making money in stocks is not to get scared out of them.” Peter Lynch They say April showers bring May flowers. Well, after a lot of showers and storms over the past year, flowers are starting to bloom and...
Read MoreThe Return of Normal is Approaching
It’s now been over a year since COVID-19 first hit American shores. While the pandemic has affected everyone to varying degrees, we can all agree that everyone’s life is different today than it was a year ago. It’s...
Read MoreStay the Course
“In the short-term, the market is a popularity contest. In the long-term, the market is a weighing machine.” Warren Buffett 2021 is under way, as our nation and the rest of the world look to begin to put the global pandemic behind us...
Read More2021 Brings a Fresh Start
Happy New Year! A new year offers a welcomed turn of the calendar and a fresh start. However, it’s difficult to put 2020 completely behind us just yet because the COVID-19 pandemic still presents a significant threat. Healthcare...
Read MoreOutlook 2021 - Powering Forward
More than most years, it’s hard to look ahead to the next year, to 2021, without looking back at 2020. A global pandemic, a massive economic collapse, a bear market, a surprisingly sharp reversal, a hotly contested election where...
Read MoreOutlook for 2021
As 2020 comes to a close, we are already looking forward to a new year—and to a world very different from the one we’re leaving behind. Areas of the economy have been damaged and may never fully recover, but other areas...
Read MoreElection 2020 Is Undecided
The American people have voted, casting a record number of ballots under extraordinary circumstances, which is a testament to the enduring resilience of our democracy. Determining the outcome of our elections is a process, but it...
Read MoreSigns of Strength in the Economy
Autumn has arrived, with students back in school, baseball playoffs beginning, and football in full swing. Life is trying to get back to as normal as possible despite the ongoing impact from COVID-19. While the number of new daily...
Read MorePositive Territory
The battle versus COVID-19 continues. The spread in some of the recent hotspots like California and Florida is slowing, while states in the Northeast and Midwest are now experiencing increases in cases. According to the World Health...
Read MoreMidyear Outlook 2020: The Trail to Recovery
We are at the midpoint of 2020, and it would be an understatement to say it’s been a challenging year so far in the United States and around the world. We’ve faced health, social, and economic crises that continue to impact...
Read MoreFourth of July Optimism
The July Fourth holiday will be very different this year. Although it’s a time to enjoy family and friends, and maybe even watch some fireworks, social distancing and a new wave of COVID-19 cases also may take a seat at the...
Read MoreLooking Forward
As we look ahead to the summer months, we can’t help but think what a challenging year it’s been so far. At the same time, we’re encouraged by the resiliency and accelerated innovation among US businesses and the...
Read MoreBetter Times Are Coming
“Never confuse a single defeat with a final defeat.” — F. Scott Fitzgerald The economic struggles in our country are among the worst we’ve ever seen. In April, a record 20 million people lost their jobs, and 36...
Read MoreNowhere To Go But Up
Investors like labels for the economy and financial markets—many of them with the word “great” in them. The Great Depression. The Great Recession. The Great Lockdown. Well, we’ve moved into what we might call...
Read MoreCelebrating 12 Years
Congratulations to our Managing Director of Insurance and Estate Planning Strategies - Dane Streeter, for his 12 years of excellence with Perennial Financial Services!
Read MoreHow We Respond Matters
“Life is 10% what happens to you and 90% how you respond to it.” — Lou Holtz, Hall of Fame football coach As the battle against the COVID-19 pandemic continues, how we respond to it will determine how we beat it....
Read MoreA Unique Economic Situation
These are challenging times, and this week may be the toughest as we wait for COVID-19 to reach its peak in the United States. As the war against COVID-19 wages on, we continue to be inspired by the tremendous bravery shown by...
Read MoreWhen It Rains Gold, Reach for A Bucket
“Every decade or so, dark clouds will fill the economic skies, and they will briefly rain gold. When downpours of that sort occur, reach for a bucket.” —Warren Buffett The battle with COVID-19 rages on, and the...
Read MoreA Test of Our Resolve
The world continues its battle to contain the COVID-19 pandemic, which now has likely impacted, either directly or indirectly, nearly every person on Earth. This is far more than just a health crisis—this is a human crisis. Its...
Read MoreWe Are Here For You
Delivering the Support and the Financial Guidance You Need We know that these can be frightening times, but we want to assure you that one thing you don’t need to worry about is us supporting you through them. We are committed...
Read MoreManaging Volatility and Looking for Some Green Shoots
Fears over the spread of COVID-19 (coronavirus) have gripped the country and sent stocks in the US and around the world into bear markets. Thursday’s nearly 10% and Monday's nearly 12% declines in the S&P 500 Index were some of...
Read MoreUpdate on COVID-19 and Market Volatility
It’s been a tough week. The number of coronavirus cases have continued to increase globally, and new cases have been confirmed in the United States. Countries are making progress with containment, but those efforts also have...
Read MoreCelebrating 13 Years
Congratulations to our Managing Director of Retirement Planning - Brad B. Harris, AIF®, for his 13 years of excellence with Perennial Financial Services!
Read MoreOutlook 2020 - Bringing Markets Into Focus
Hindsight is 20/20, but finding clarity in future uncertainty can be fuzzy. AT LPL RESEARCH, as we look forward to the year 2020 and a new decade, some key trends and market signals will be important to watch, including progress on U.S...
Read MoreCelebrating 15 Years
July 2, 2004 was a Friday, under the sign of Cancer. The US president was George W. Bush. In that special week of July people in the US were listening to Burn by Usher. The Bourne Supremacy, directed by Paul Greengrass, was one of the...
Read MoreStreet View: Midyear Outlook 2019
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Read MoreTrade Tensions Causing Volatility
Trade tensions have interrupted an unusually calm year in U.S. stocks. In May, the S&P 500 Index fell from an April 30 record high as the United States and China failed to reach a trade deal and escalated tariff tensions. The United...
Read MoreFive Takeaways on October’s Rough Ride
October has been a rough month for equities, but then again it’s historically been one of the most volatile periods of the year. “October is known for volatility, and we’ve sure seen it so far,” explained Senior...
Read MoreVolatility Has Returned
The volatility that is often associated with the month of October has arrived with the market sell-off on Wednesday, October 10. Experiencing market declines and increased volatility can be unnerving for any investor, but if we can...
Read More2018 Outlook - Return of the Business Cycle
Where are we in the current economic cycle? Why may fiscal support and better business fundamentals be key themes in 2018? Hear from LPL Financial's Chief Investment Officer Burt White and Chief Investment Strategist John Lynch in LPL...
Read MoreMidyear Outlook 2016: A Vote of Confidence
At the midyear point of 2016, LPL Research proposes a vote of confidence: in the economy, the market, and most importantly, in our ability as investors to remain focused on our long-term goals. This is not always easy. We may be...
Read MoreThe Fed Finally Raises Rates
The events of today bring one word to mind: finally. Earlier today, the Federal Reserve (Fed) finally raised the target for the federal funds rate by 0.25%. By raising this key overnight borrowing rate, the Fed raised interest rates...
Read MoreUpdate on Recent Market Volatility
August brings with it the end of summer, but in recent years, bouts of stock market volatility have been common. It is quite normal for stock prices to decline at some point almost every year. In 30 of the 34 calendar...
Read MoreIs America Prepared to Retire?
Only 48% of Americans say they think they are saving enough. And 30% feel that they are not even slightly confident that they are saving enough for retirement. That finding comes from the 2015 Consumer Financial...
Read MoreThe New Gradual Retirement
Do we really want to retire at 65? Not according to the latest annual retirement survey from the Transamerica Center for Retirement Studies which gauges the outlook of American workers. It found that 51% of us plan to...
Read MoreIs It Time for Life Insurance?
Many younger Americans lack life insurance. A 2014 report from insurance industry analyst LIMRA found that only a third of Gen Y Americans have any life insurance coverage. In the same survey of 6,000 respondents, six in...
Read MoreAre You Underprepared for Retirement?
Financially speaking, how many Americans are truly on track to retire? A recently published white paper suggests that about half of us are approaching our “third acts” with faulty assumptions. Perception differs...
Read MoreTerm vs. Permanent Life Insurance
Thirty-nine percent of American households have no life insurance at all, according to LIMRA, which keeps close tabs on the life insurance industry.In the same survey, half of all American households...
Read MoreYour Emergency Fund: How Much Is Enough?
Have you ever had one of those months? The water heater stops heating, the dishwasher stops washing and your family ends up on a first-name basis with the nurse at urgent care. Then, as you’re driving to work,...
Read MoreMerging Your Money When You Marry
Getting married is exciting, but it brings many challenges. One such challenge that you and your spouse will have to face is how to merge your finances. Planning carefully and communicating clearly are important,...
Read MoreMaximizing the Value of Your Business During Difficult Economic Times
This year has continued to challenge many business owners as they wade through these challenging economic times. By looking beyond the current difficult environment many business owners can prosper by planning for the...
Read MoreAs Easy as a Game of Darts
We are over one decade into the twenty first century and what do we have to show for it? From an investment perspective: next to nothing. The perennial money makers -- stocks and real estate –...
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