Welsh & Taylor Wealth

As the festive break approaches, the Welsh & Taylor Wealth team would like to extend our heartfelt thanks for your trust and support throughout the year. To allow our team to enjoy this special time with their loved ones, our office will be closed from mid-day on Tuesday, 24th December, and we will reopen at 9am on Friday, 3rd January. This year, in the spirit of giving, we have donated to AberNecessities and MRS. MURRAY'S HOME FOR STRAY DOGS AND CATS, supporting those in need during this season of goodwill 🎁 Wishing you and your loved ones a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year filled with joy and warmth. We look forward to working together in 2025! 🌟 Thank you for being part of our journey. 🌟 #WelshAndTaylorWealth #MerryChristmas #HappyNewYear #SeasonOfGiving

Stock futures were looking very healthy this morning after the S&P 500 and technology-heavy Nasdaq Composite concluded the first session of December’s trading month at an all-time closing high. Looking as though 2024 will go down as a very good year for investors 📈 😀 This week, we will watch for the October job openings report 👨🔧👩💼 It is a chance to get some insight into the strength of the labour market. The main event will be Friday’s November payrolls report. The data will arrive ahead of the Federal Reserve’s policy meeting on December 17-18. Fed funds futures are currently pricing in a nearly 75% probability that the central bank lowers interest rates ✂️during its policy gathering, according to CME’s FedWatch Tool. A rate cut would be well received by the stock market and would likely cause a positive bump in your pension or investment fund 📊

Scott Bessent, is probably a guy you have never heard of. But, could he help with the returns in your pension & investment portfolio over the next 4 years? 🤔 He has been appointed as US Treasury Minister by President Trump when he takes office in January next year. Bessent is a former hedge fund manager and his appointment has been incredibly well received by markets 📊 This because the 62-year-old will push for Trump to consider a softer approach to tariffs, strip back regulation to boost economic growth and target a reduction in deficit spending. It is very early to say, however, appointments like this can be key to position your portfolio for your future financial success.

No points for guessing what markets will be paying attention to this week. The polls for the US election close on Tuesday evening with the new President to be sworn in on January 2025. In times like these, it is easy for nerves to set in about your investment/retirement portfolio in an election year. Would you be right to worry? Well, since 1928 - 2016. the average annual return from the S&P 500 on an election year has been +11.28%... so, the answer to the question above would be not really. Regardless of who wins: 1. The economy still needs to grow 📊 2. Companies still need to innovate 🤖 3. Most of us will need to invest to reach our long term wealth building goals 💰 Sit back, enjoy the show 🍿 and stay focussed on the long term.

According to the Canada Life Life100+ report, 70% of adults believe that retiring at age 60 is "𝐚 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐚𝐬𝐭" Those interviewed in the survey cited that living longer, lack of finances & the desire to work for longer meant that retiring at age 60 was not likely to be a reality for them. Interestingly, 75% of those surveyed who sought financial advice felt more satisfied and in control of their life than those who did not, 69%. What are your retirement plans? Do you feel prepared? Do you feel you have the financial clarity to ensure your aspirations become a reality?

Financial markets took a significant rally 📈 last week after the Federal Reserve cut interest rates ✂️ by 0.50% The federal reserve 🏦 funds rate now sits at a range of 4.75% to 5.00%. This pushed the Dow Jones & the S&P 500 to new record highs as investors hope we have hit the first phase of a new bull market. Rate-sensitive sectors such as utilities 💡 and financials 💰have moved higher in recent weeks in anticipation of further interest rates cuts. Traders will mull over fresh economic data today, with the Conference Board’s consumer confidence reading for September due. The Richmond Fed manufacturing index for this month will also be out later today.

Jerome Powell, Chair of the Federal Reserve of the United States. He doesn't have the public profile of Taylor Swift, however, he holds the keys 🔑 to growth within your pension , ISA & investment portfolio. How? 🤔 We hear you ask. Well, he has the power to cut interest rates this week by either 0.25% or 0.50%. Doing so could give the stock market a push in the right direction 📈 as this would signal to markets that the battle with inflation is being won. Powell's central bank colleagues in the UK, Norway, Brazil, South Africa also have the same decision to make this week. Watch this space.

Delighted to see ourselves represented in the VouchedFor’s 2024 Top Rated Financial Adviser Guide. This years guide was part of yesterday's publication by The Telegraph yesterday. In total, this reaches more than 3 million consumers, helping to improve understanding of (and trust in) advice. Well done to all of our advisers for their hard work which resulted in our clients putting them forward for the guide. https://lnkd.in/eDNRWUPW

What does the market have in store for us this September? 🤔 Well, history would tell us that it could be a bumpy ride. Looking at the table below, the S&P 500 has a positive return only 46% of the time since 1964. That being said, past performance does not guarantee future performance. With the US Presidential election race heating up as well as a stream of economic data we may need to brace for impact. However, it is not all doom & gloom. The CME FedWatch Tool is predicting a 73% chance that the Federal Reserve 🏦 will cut interest rates ✂️ this month. This would be welcome news for equities, particularly small cap stocks 📊

🎉 𝗘𝘅𝗰𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗡𝗲𝘄𝘀! 🎉 We are delighted to announce the arrival of a new member to the Welsh & Taylor family! Kieran and his wife Natalie welcomed their beautiful baby girl, Ruby, into the world on 13th August. 👶💖 Kieran will be enjoying a couple of weeks out of the business to spend this special time with Natalie and Ruby. Please join us in congratulating them on this beautiful journey into parenthood! 👏👨👩👧