The Tariff is in the Mail

July 14, 2025

  A resurgence of tariff announcements put a pause in the recent rally. For the week, the S&P 500 Index was -0.3%, the Dow Jones Industrials -1.0%, and the NASDAQ -0.4%. The Materials, Financials, and Technology sectors led the S&P 500 Index for the week, while the Communication Services, Utilities, and Consumer Discretionary sectors lagged. …

Trade Deadline

July 7, 2025

  An upbeat employment report led stocks to new highs in front of the holiday weekend. For the week, the S&P 500 Index was +1.8%, the Dow Jones Industrials +2.3%, and the NASDAQ +1.5%. The Materials, Financials, and Technology sectors led the S&P 500 Index for the week, while the Communication Services, Utilities, and Consumer …

Positive Vibes

June 30, 2025

  De-escalation in the Middle East and a return to new highs for equities has set a positive feeling as investors reach midyear. For the week, the S&P 500 Index was +3.5%, the Dow Jones Industrials +3.8%, and the NASDAQ +4.2%. The Communication Services, Technology, and Consumer Discretionary sectors led the S&P 500 Index for …

Financial Planning for Pre-Retirees

June 25, 2025

    What is Financial Planning? Financial planning is a comprehensive and custom process of managing your money to achieve financial security and to meet financial goals. Strategies are implemented to optimize wealth accumulation and minimize your tax liability while implementing risk mitigation strategies to protect your assets and achieve your financial goals. Financial planning …

Wait and See

June 23, 2025

  Markets closed flat following a week that included an update of economic projections from the Federal Reserve. For the week, the S&P 500 Index was -0.1%, the Dow Jones Industrials +0.1%, and the NASDAQ was flat. The Energy, Technology, and Financial sectors led the S&P 500 Index for the week, while the Health Care, …

Summer Solstice

June 16, 2025

  Conflict in the Middle East put a pause in the market advance last week. For the week, the S&P 500 Index was -0.4%, the Dow Jones Industrials -1.3%, and the NASDAQ -0.6%. The Energy, Health Care, and Utilities sectors led the S&P 500 Index for the week, while the Financial, Industrial, and Consumer Staples …

Labor Market Calm

June 9, 2025

  A healthy labor market report kept stocks in the green last week. For the week, the S&P 500 Index was +1.5%, the Dow Jones Industrials +1.2%, and the NASDAQ +2.0%. The Communication Services, Technology, and Energy sectors led the S&P 500 Index for the week, while the Consumer Staples, Utilities, and Consumer Discretionary sectors …

Financial Planning for Recent College Graduates

June 3, 2025

  What is Financial Planning? Financial planning is a comprehensive and custom process of managing your money to achieve financial security and to meet financial goals. Strategies are implemented to optimize wealth accumulation and minimize your tax liability while implementing risk mitigation strategies to protect your assets and achieve your financial goals. Financial planning considers: …

May Flowered

June 2, 2025

  Equities posted a positive week, capping off a strong May recovery that pushed the major U.S. indices into positive territory for the year. For the week, the S&P 500 Index was +1.9%, the Dow Jones Industrials +1.7%, and the NASDAQ +2.0%. For the month, the S&P 500 Index was +6.3%, the Dow Jones Industrials …

Yield Sign

May 27, 2025

  Rising bond yields put a halt to recent momentum in stocks last week. For the week, the S&P 500 Index was -2.6%, the Dow Jones Industrials -2.4%, and the NASDAQ -1.5%. All eleven S&P 500 sectors declined. The Consumer Staples, Communication Services, and Materials sectors declined the least and the Energy, Technology, and Real …

NovaPoint Supports Veteran Service Organizations

May 23, 2025

  NovaPoint would like to show our respect for those who have made the ultimate sacrifice in defense of our freedom. In their honor, we are making donations today to two Veteran Service Organizations: the Children of Fallen Patriots Foundation and the Special Operations Medical Association. Children of Fallen Patriots provides college scholarships and educational …

On the Move

May 19, 2025

  Stocks rallied as tame inflation and progress on trade deals calmed fears. For the week, the S&P 500 Index was +5.3%, the Dow Jones Industrials +3.5%, and the NASDAQ +6.9%. The S&P 500 Index was led by the Technology, Consumer Discretionary, and Communication Services sectors, while the Health Care, Real Estate, and Consumer Staples …

Trade Up

May 12, 2025

  An initial trade deal with the United Kingdom and an uneventful Federal Reserve meeting held markets to a small decline last week after back to-back positive weeks. For the week, the S&P 500 Index was -0.4%, the Dow Jones Industrials -0.1%, and the NASDAQ -0.2%. The S&P 500 Index was led by the Industrial, …

Data Check

May 5, 2025

  A flurry of economic data created both an air of pessimism and optimism depending on the day. A 0.3% contraction in first quarter Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth added to recession fears on Wednesday, but a strong jobs report ended the week on a note of optimism. For the week, the S&P 500 Index …

Economic Pulse

April 28, 2025

  Equity markets clawed back some of their recent declines last week. For the week, the S&P 500 Index was +4.6%, the Dow Jones Industrials +2.5%, and the NASDAQ +6.4%. The S&P 500 Index was led by the Technology, Consumer Discretionary, and Communication Services sectors, while the Consumer Staples, Real Estate, and Utility lagged. The …

Trade Dialogue

April 21, 2025

  While there is currently a 90-day pause on the implementation of some tariffs, the impact and timing of trade negotiations with multiple countries presents a risk that is causing some investors to be tentative in buying equities. Last week, the S&P 500 Index was -1.5%, the Dow Jones Industrials -2.7%, and the NASDAQ -2.3%. …

Pause

April 14, 2025

  A 90-day pause in the U.S. tariff implementation plan provided equities a large relief rally last week.  For the week, the S&P 500 Index was +5.7%, the Dow Jones Industrials +5.0%, and the NASDAQ +7.4%. The S&P 500 Index was led by the Technology, Industrial, and Communication Services sectors, while the Energy, Real Estate …

Inherited Retirement Plans

April 8, 2025

  Whether you’re a known beneficiary for someone else’s retirement plan assets, you already inherited a retirement plan, and/or you have a retirement plan that you plan to leave for your spouse or someone else, there are several factors to consider for optimal distributions. Factors include: Whether the decedent died before or after their required …

Behavioral Finance

April 7, 2025

  Equity markets saw their worst week since the pandemic on fear over escalation of a global trade war. For the week, the S&P 500 Index was -9.1%, the Dow Jones Industrials -7.8%, and the NASDAQ -9.7%. All eleven sectors in the S&P 500 Index had a negative return. The least negative were the Consumer …

Tariff Overhang

March 31, 2025

  Fear trumped greed to lead equity markets lower last week, mainly from concern over the economic impact of pending tariffs. For the week, the S&P 500 Index was -1.5%, the Dow Jones Industrials -1.0%, and the NASDAQ -2.4%. The S&P 500 Index was led by the Consumer Staples, Energy, and Real Estate sectors, while …

Joseph Sroka Speaking at Markets Group Private Wealth Southeast Forum – March 27th

March 26, 2025

  On Thursday, March 27th, NovaPoint’s chief investment officer, Joseph Sroka, CFA, CMT will be speaking at Markets Group’s 10th Annual Private Wealth Southeast Forum in Atlanta. Joe will be a panelist on the forum’s panel, “Maximizing Returns: Strategies for Investing in Equity Markets,” with several other investment professionals. The Private Wealth Southeast Forum is …

Policy Path

March 24, 2025

  The S&P 500 Index finished the week higher to break its four-week losing streak. For the week, the S&P 500 Index was +0.5%, the Dow Jones Industrials +1.2%, and the NASDAQ +0.3%. The S&P 500 Index was led by the Energy, Financial, and Health Care sectors, while the Materials, Utility, and Consumer Staples sectors …

Relief Rally

March 17, 2025

  The equity market saw a welcome relief rally on Friday but closed lower for the week. For the week, the S&P 500 Index was -2.2%, the Dow Jones Industrials -3.0%, and the NASDAQ -2.4%. The S&P 500 Index was led by the Energy, Utility, and Financial sectors, while the Consumer Staples, Consumer Discretionary, and …

Charitable Giving Strategies

March 11, 2025

  Charitable giving is an excellent method for individuals to support causes they care about while also reducing their tax liability. There are various philanthropic vehicles available to gift cash, appreciated securities, real property, and other tangible personal property. Charitable giving strategies can be applied throughout one’s lifetime to help reduce current tax liability and …

Swings

March 10, 2025

  Uncertainty caused by new policies such as lower government spending and tariffs to shape trade has weighed on the equity markets. For the week, the S&P 500 Index was -3.1%, the Dow Jones Industrials -2.3%, and the NASDAQ -3.2%. All sectors in the S&P 500 Index were lower for the week with the smallest …

Out Like a Lamb

March 3, 2025

  Despite a strong showing on Friday, the S&P 500 Index closed lower for both the week and month. For the week, the S&P 500 Index was -1.0%, the Dow Jones Industrials +1.0%, and the NASDAQ -3.4%. The S&P 500 Index was led by the Financial, Real Estate, and Health Care sectors, while the Technology, …

Follow the Money

February 24, 2025

  The S&P 500 Index experienced both a new all-time high and its worst down day of the year last week. For the week, the S&P 500 Index was -1.6%, the Dow Jones Industrials -2.5%, and the NASDAQ -2.2%. The S&P 500 Index was led by the Utility, Health Care, and Energy sectors, while the …

Information Flow

February 18, 2025

  Equity markets rebounded last week as investors continue to absorb new information on the economy, government spending, and proposed tariffs at rapid speed. For the week, the S&P 500 Index was +1.5%, the Dow Jones Industrials +0.6%, and the NASDAQ +2.5%. The S&P 500 Index was led by the Technology, Communication Services, and Consumer …

Love in the Time of Tariffs

February 10, 2025

  Mexico and Canada made border security concessions to avoid tariffs going into effect, but more tariff proposals may be looming for other countries. For the week, the S&P 500 Index was -0.2%, the Dow Jones Industrials -0.5%, and the NASDAQ +0.1%. The S&P 500 Index was led by the Consumer Staples, Real Estate, and …