Investment Commentary – 4th Quarter 2025 December market review For the third consecutive year – and sixth among the past seven – the S&P 500 tallied double-digit gains – a remarkable run. As the index climbed 16.39% for the year, it also recorded 38 new record highs. “We...
September market review Despite inflation remaining a concern, the Federal Reserve (Fed) cut interest rates in response to weakening jobs numbers. This allowed small-cap equity performance to lead a month that was generally positive across sectors, cap sizes and asset classes. Small caps tend to be more...
The article below from College Inside Track outlines some emerging college application trends. Keep these in mind for your high schoolers: https://collegeinsidetrack.com/college-application-trends/...
The college admissions landscape has grown increasingly competitive and complex over the last five years, and students must start earlier than ever before to build a profile that will stand out to admissions officers at their dream schools. Summer, with its lighter schedule and fewer distractions,...
June market review Equity markets continued to march higher in June, seemingly unfazed by heightened Middle East tensions (which were short-lived) and the looming July 8 deadline for the administration’s pause on reciprocal tariffs. Despite an interim bout of volatility, it was a record-breaking month for...
March market review The equity market remained turbulent through March, with the S&P 500 dipping into correction territory – 10% off its February peak – largely spurred by tariff policy uncertainty and related fears of potentially rising inflation and dwindling growth. "The extreme optimism that was embedded...
Columbia, MD – Richard Wagener, Managing Partner of Wagener-Lee, LLC located at 5950 Symphony Woods Road, Suite 412, Columbia, MD 21044, was among the Raymond James-affiliated advisors named to the Barron’s list of Top 1,200 Financial Advisors. The list, which recognizes advisors from national, regional...
December market review December added a question mark to the end of an otherwise strong year of growth for the equity markets. As inflation numbers continued to stagnate above its 2% year-over-year target, the Federal Reserve (Fed) – despite cutting current interest rates by another 25...
September market review September is typically the weakest month of the year for stocks, but thanks to the much-anticipated federal funds rate cut, the S&P 500 turned in its first positive performance in a September since 2019, achieving its 43rd record high of the year. “The Federal...
Richard Wagener, managing partner at Wagener Lee, has been a cornerstone of the financial planning industry since 1981 – having seen the highs and lows the industry has navigated. Speaking to Investment News, Wagener says that the key to his success lies in an insatiable...
June market review Having hit 31 record highs since January and up more than 15% year to date, the S&P 500 is off to its best start to the year since 2019 and the best start to an election year ever, driven by mega-cap tech stocks...
March market review March was a month of new records. All three major equity indices — the S&P 500, Dow Jones Industrial Average and Nasdaq — hit all-time highs and equity markets were positive for the fifth month in a row. The equity market rally was driven...
Columbia, MD – Richard Wagener, Managing Partner of Wagener-Lee, LLC located at 5950 Symphony Woods Road, Suite 412, Columbia, MD 21044, was among the Raymond James-affiliated advisors named to the Barron’s list of Top 1,200 Financial Advisors. The list, which recognizes top advisors across the...
Save4College State Contribution Program For Maryland families saving for college for their children or grandchildren, you may be interested in checking out the “Save4College” State Contribution Program. This program provides direct contributions to your MD 529 account from the State of Maryland of either $250 or...
December market review A choir of optimistic investor sentiment closed 2023 on a high note, as expectations of “steep cuts to interest rates” may be at odds with the Federal Reserve’s (Fed’s) actual sheet music. Considering the tumult of the year as sentiment focused on economic...
Thank you, Raymond James, for recognizing my commitment to my clients and their financial goals. I find myself in good company: raymondjames.com/recognition Richard H. Wagener, CFP Managing Partner, Wagener-Lee, LLC Branch Manager, RJFS Membership is based on prior fiscal year production. Requalification is required annually. The ranking may not...
Rick Wagener spoke to Money Geek about getting Life Insurance at age 60. What are the key factors 60-year-olds should consider when choosing a life insurance policy? The main starting point is the need for insurance. If it is short-term, less than ten years, then term insurance...
September market review Throughout the run of the Federal Reserve’s (Fed) inflation-fighting, rate-raising program, the equity market has shown uncommon enthusiasm supported by a growing economy, a strong labor market and healthy consumer spending. Contrary to the expected way of these things, inflation continued to cool...
June market review The bear may have entered hibernation in June, but can we now count a bona fide bull? That may be overselling it. Equities capped off a remarkable first half of the year by continuing to gain value even as the Federal Reserve (Fed)...
Columbia, MD – Richard Wagener, Managing Partner of Wagener-Lee, LLC located at 5950 Symphony Woods Road, Columbia, MD 21044, was among the Raymond James-affiliated advisors named to Barron’s list of Top 1,200 Advisors. The list, which recognizes top advisors across the country, was released online...
Events through March would again test a market that has continued to demonstrate resilience. While volatile conditions remain, and despite equities’ February retreat carrying into mid-March, the major indices ended the first quarter of 2023 up. If one were to look solely at the headlines, this...
December did not bring the good tidings investors wished for – and typically see in the final month of the year – as most major asset classes struggled at the end of an especially volatile year for the capital markets. December is historically the third-strongest month...
Rick spoke with Money Geek about holiday spending. Read this article to hear some of his alternative gift giving ideas. https://www.moneygeek.com/financial-planning/resources/budgeting-for-the-holidays/#expert=richard-wagener-cfp...
September market review Inflation remains persistent. To fight it, the Federal Reserve (the Fed) indicated it would need to raise rates higher than originally expected for longer, sending shocks through the market. As in previous months, these events drove the market’s major currents in September as...
We have many clients who are grandparents and know all too well that “it takes a village” to afford to send children to college. They’ve learned the basics of 529 plans, but many are unsure of how best to get started. While there is no one...
June market review As the Federal Reserve (Fed) committed itself to battling inflation this year, one question looming large was how aggressive a tack it would take. In June, we received a second, clarifying answer. In light of continuing high inflation, the Fed took a more forceful...
Welcome to our College Savings series. Over the next few weeks, we will be providing short (maybe a long one here and there) blog posts about College Savings – specifically 529 Plans. ...
March market review Global equities experienced volatility throughout March, though a late rally softened some of the sharper losses from earlier in the month. The volatility of recent months continued, driven by geopolitical events that I believe are unlikely to dissipate soon, a more hawkish Federal...
Watch this video to hear Rick sharing his views on the market, as well as: Contributing to your 401k: How much you can contribute, as well as how much should you contribute? Should you contribute a percent of your salary or a fixed dollar amount? How often can...
Columbia, MD – Richard Wagener, Managing Partner at Wagener-Lee, LLC and financial advisor with Raymond James Financial Services, Inc., member FINRA/SIPC, was recently named to Barron’s list of the Top 1,200 Financial Advisors. The prestigious 2022 list was published March 11 and draws from all...
Amanda joined fellow financial advisor, Melissa Joy, on her podcast to talk about active vs. passive investing. The 52 Pearl Weekly Money Wisdom Podcast is hosted by Melissa to provide actionable advice to improve financial decisions. Listen to Amanda and Melissa discuss investing – the...
December market review While the traditional end-of-year Santa Claus equity rally may not have been as pronounced as we typically see, it may have just come early. Thus far, we’ve seen both the Dow Jones Industrial Average and the S&P 500 notch new highs in December...
Sustainable investing describes investment strategies that incorporate environmental, social or governance considerations into investment decisions. You may have heard of Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG), Socially Responsible Investing (SRI) or Impact Investing. SRI began by excluding “sin industries” in the early 20th century. Since that...
