July 2018

by Dan Zalipski, CFA & Scott Rosenquist, CFA

Market Update

The U.S. equity markets moved higher over the past month.  They found support in economic reports on expanding manufacturing and service sector activity, strong retail sales, and a positive employment report.  Fixed income trimmed their year-to-date losses as investors sought out safety from trade related headline risk.  International markets continue to struggle this year as trade-related concerns and a stronger dollar continue to weigh on the space.  The trade issue has also spilled over in to commodities, which have suffered a recent price collapse as fears of a global slowdown continue to build.  

 by Jonathan Alton, CFP®

Now that we’re well past peak tax season, it’s the perfect time to lay back, relax, and possibly fall for a scam phone call asking for a tax debt you “owe.” These tax scams really do happen, and it’s important that you stay vigilant and know how to differentiate a scam from a real IRS contact.