Holland Financial, Inc.

PlanStrongerTV? Market Update - February 26, 2025: Emerging and Frontier Markets On today's PlanStrongerTV? Market Update, David Dean Holland, CPA, CFP?, Chief Executive Officer of Holland Financial, and Chief Investment Officer, Robert Mara, CAIA, JD, start with a review of the latest market results. Developed markets offer greater stability for investors, but there are opportunities in developing and frontier markets. Robert and David define emerging markets and frontier markets for us, and they explain how they differ from developed markets as well as each other. They also give us examples of each type of market. You might be surprised by some of the international markets which are considered "emerging" or "frontier". They discuss the promises and pitfalls of investing in the emerging and frontier markets going forward. You will have to watch the report to learn how David creatively uses hot sauce to explain the allocation of emerging or frontier market investments in a portfolio! Watch the Market Update to Learn More! https://lnkd.in/ezJZE7_b #planstronger #marketupdate #emergingmarkets

PlanStrongerTV? Market Update - February 19, 2025: Across the International Scene On today's PlanStrongerTV? Market Update, David Dean Holland, CPA, CFP?, Chief Executive Officer of Holland Financial, and Chief Investment Officer, Robert Mara, CAIA, JD, provide insights into the latest market results, both domestically and internationally. International stocks have outperformed other sectors so far this year, reversing the trend of previous years. Robert and David discuss some of the external factors driving this shift and whether this could signal a long-term paradigm shift. In other words, will it last? They also highlight other asset classes worth considering in the current environment. Watch the Market Update Here: https://lnkd.in/ezJZE7_b #planstronger #marketupdate #foreignstocks

PlanStrongerTV??Market Update - February 12, 2025: Volatility, The VIX, and More... On?today's?PlanStrongerTV??Market Update,?David Dean Holland, CPA, CFP?, Chief Executive Officer of?Holland Financial, and Chief Investment Officer,?Robert Mara, CAIA, JD, give us a brief update on the latest market results. Robert explains what is meant by volatility in the markets and how it is measured by the VIX ("Chicago Board Options Exchange Volatility Index"). He also reviews some of the products and strategies that investors can use to take advantage of volatility, as it tends to move inversely to stocks. David cautions that these strategies are not for everyone?—?especially when you are investing funds that will need to be available within a short time horizon! David refers to this concept as "proximity of use". Also, investors need to carefully consider their own risk tolerance and personal situations before making changes to their portfolios. Watch the Market Update to Learn More: https://lnkd.in/ezJZE7_b #planstronger #volatility #stocks

Monthly Market Update: Period Ending January 31, 2025 Market and Economic Commentary The first month of 2025 witnessed the changing of the guard from the Biden administration to the return of Donald J. Trump as President of the United States of America.?The first full week of January’s economic calendar brought some promising news to investors.?The Institute for Supply Management’s Services Index registered a 54.1%.?Anything over 50.0% indicates expansion, showing that the services industry in the United States is expanding at a very healthy clip.?Job openings increased by 259,000, and initial unemployment claims came in lower than expected.?Both nonfarm payrolls and nonfarm private payrolls also crushed analyst expectations.?The National Federation of Independent Business’s Small Business Optimism index leaped higher, from a reading of 101.7 to 105.1.?Since small businesses are the backbone of America’s economy, an increase in optimism among their executives portends increased spending on capital expenditures.?Near the month’s end, consumer confidence moved markedly lower, with investors and consumers worried about the rate of price increases maintaining its elevated level above the Federal Reserve’s 2% target.?Only time will tell if the new administration’s policy shifts will catalyze supply-side growth, helping lower prices even in the face of rising demand.????? Continue Reading -> https://lnkd.in/e6Hqt8Fc #planstronger #marketupdate David Dean Holland???????

PlanStrongerTV??Market Update - February 5, 2025: The Tariff Tantrum On?today's?PlanStrongerTV??Market Update,?David Dean Holland Holland, CPA, CFP?, Chief Executive Officer of?Holland Financial, and Chief Investment Officer,?Robert Mara, CAIA, JD, review the latest market results. After a brief overview, Robert is eager to launch into a discussion of tariffs. In the early weeks of President Trump's administration, tariffs have made headlines, causing concern among market participants. David and Robert shed light on what tariffs are and how they are used as bargaining tools. They also explore the potential market volatility that could result from these measures. How should investors navigate this uncertainty? They advise against being overly reactive and emphasize the importance of reviewing one's personal situation, regardless of the headlines in the news. Watch Here: https://lnkd.in/ezJZE7_b #tariffs #planstronger #marketupdate

PlanStrongerTV??Market Update - January 29, 2025: The Energy Equation On?today's?PlanStrongerTV??Market Update,?David Dean Holland, CPA, CFP?, Chief Executive Officer of?Holland Financial, and Chief Investment Officer,?Robert Mara, CAIA, JD, review the latest (mostly positive) market results. David and Robert discuss how President Trump's energy policies differ from those of the previous administration and why they are likely to increase investment in energy infrastructure. What could this mean for gas prices at the pump? For investors, David and Robert also explore how these new policies may affect the energy sector itself as well as other market sectors (for example, AI and blockchain technology) which are heavily dependent upon energy. Watch here: https://lnkd.in/ezJZE7_b #marketupdate #planstronger #energy

PlanStrongerTV??Market Update - January 15, 2025: Expectations & Uncertainty On?today's?PlanStrongerTV??Market Update,?David Dean Holland, CPA, CFP?, Chief Executive Officer of?Holland Financial, and Chief Investment Officer,?Robert Mara, CAIA, JD, review the latest market results. Although the markets are, as David Holland says, giving us "a wake-up call, rolling off of these last couple years of very strong returns", we continue to see a lot of optimism. So, David asks Robert Mara why we are seeing so many negative numbers for the year-to-date performance in 2025. Aside from the focus on the Federal Reserve and interest rates, they also discuss other expectations which may be coloring investors' views. These expectations regarding tariffs, immigration, and deficits often have "Push/Pull" effects. They may be positive for market performance in one respect, yet negative in another. David?and?Robert?also discuss what asset classes may perform better in this investing environment. Watch the Market Update to Learn More! https://lnkd.in/ezJZE7_b

Annual Market Update: Period Ending December 31, 2024 ? Market and Economic Commentary This past year, investors have witnessed a continuation of the 2023 bounce-back from the precipitous decline experienced by both equities and fixed income securities in 2022.?Fueling the push higher in stocks and bonds has been the expectation for Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell’s commencement of interest rate cuts.?Before a reduction in the federal funds rate could take place, the Fed needed to see inflation fall further.?With the Consumer Price Index (CPI) at 3.4% in December of 2023, it rose to 3.5% in March of 2024 before falling to 2.4% in September.?That, along with a large decline in the stock market at the beginning of August (catalyzed by poor jobs numbers), the Fed decided to slash rates not by 0.25%, but by 0.50% in September, in the last meeting before the presidential election no less.?Unfortunately, the CPI rose to 2.7% in November – the last month we have for CPI data – and Core CPI (subtracts out food and energy prices) stands at 3.3%.?Both are well above the Fed’s 2% target.?Regardless, the Fed cut twice more, once in November and again in December, bringing the federal funds rate’s upper bound down from 5.50% to 4.50%.?With the U.S. economy’s GDP humming above 3% and actual inflation well above the 2% target, it will be interesting to see how stocks and bonds will react to a potentially new and disappointing reality of fewer rate cuts going forward.? Continue Reading: https://lnkd.in/e5hc5twk #marketupdate #planstronger David Dean Holland

PlanStrongerTV? Market Update: December 11, 2024 - International Risks at Year End On today's?PlanStrongerTV??Market Update,?David Dean Holland, CPA, CFP?, Chief Executive Officer of?Holland Financial, and Chief Investment Officer,?Robert Mara, CAIA, JD, provide a quick update on year-to-date overall market results before turning their attention to international markets and associated risks. Last week, we saw some interesting, if not worrying, events occur overseas: South Korea, France, and Syria all experienced turbulence in their ruling governments. The South Korean President attempted to install martial law but had to back down quickly in the face of overwhelming opposition from citizens and legislators. In France, the Prime Minister's government received a vote of no confidence. French President Macron, unpopular himself but unwilling to resign, is now in the position of appointing a new Prime Minister. In Syria, the brutal dictator, Bashar al-Assad has fled to Russia, only to be replaced by a rebel coalition with ties to groups designated as terrorist organizations by our country. David points out that these international risks underscore the importance of diversifying investments and not relying too heavily on any single market sector, such as foreign stocks, even when trends seem positive. Meanwhile, here in the United States, Robert points to signs of optimism amongst small businesses and investors going into 2025, buoyed by anticipated tax and regulatory policies. Both 2023 and 2024 were very strong years for stocks. The pace of interest rate cuts by the Federal Reserve, inflation, consumer confidence, labor market resilience, and corporate profits will all play a part in what is in store for investors in 2025! Watch the Market Update Here! https://lnkd.in/ezJZE7_b #planstrongertv #marketupdate #internationalmarkets

PlanStronger? Monthly Market Update Period Ending November, 2024 Market and Economic Commentary One large area of market uncertainty during November revolved around the U.S. elections.?What if we do not have a winner the morning following election day??How long before we find out??Will one side or the other dispute the results??All of these “what-if” scenarios evaporated with the emergence of a clear victor in both the Electoral College and the popular vote.?Furthermore, the Senate and House results aligned with the victor for the Executive Branch.?Needless to say, no one is speaking about a divided government or ambiguous mandate – and that provides clarity for markets.?Of course, that does not mean market uncertainty and volatility have vanished.?They are alive and well. However, the removal of one source of volatility and doubt is refreshing for market participants. Investors are keenly focused on the pace and magnitude of cuts to the federal funds rate.?The stronger the incoming economic data, the more optimistic investors are about how deregulation and accountability will boost the equity markets, the lower and more infrequent rate cuts will be.?How the strength of the economic data will affect inflation remains to be seen.?Have we flatlined in terms of prices coming down, or will America see the Consumer Price Index reach the Fed’s 2% target??The strength of the labor market remains under a microscope.?An increase in the number of people voluntarily quitting their jobs shows an increase in optimism in obtaining better employment elsewhere.?These and a host of other economic metrics will be combed through as the transition from one administration to the other unfolds over the course of the next several weeks, and concrete changes in policy and vision take hold. Continue Reading Here: https://lnkd.in/eGbuCzuY #planstronger #marketupdate David Dean Holland Robert Mara Holland Financial