Equilibrium Insider 10.31.24
Equilibrium Wealth Advisors
Wealth Management firm serving physicians, retirees, corporate leaders, and business owners.
Welcome to Equilibrium Insider. Each week, our team delivers sharp market commentary, thought-provoking ideas, and curated recommendations. No filler, just what you need to get ahead.
Market Commentary
Financial markets appear to have pre-election jitters.
The United States election is less than two weeks away. The candidates are neck and neck. The outcome remains uncertain. And expectations for volatility have been rising, with the CBOE Volatility Index (VIX) finishing last week at 20.33.
“When the VIX goes north of 20, Wall Street pays attention because that level signals heightened volatility,” reported Connor Smith of Barron’s.
One reason for heightened volatility may be concerns about the election. Ian Salisbury of Barron’s explained, “There are plenty of theories about how particular stocks will fare, depending on next month’s outcome. It isn’t hard to see why. The candidates have tried to curry favor with voters by championing or attacking favored industries, and sometimes individual companies. Vice President Harris has promised to raise the corporate tax rate, a move that could cut into corporate earnings, and Democrats are widely seen as tougher on antitrust issues, a potential hurdle for Wall Street banks looking to capitalize on pent-up [merger and acquisition] activity. Trump, meanwhile, has threatened hefty new tariffs, which could help U.S. manufacturers but hurt multinationals. He’s even threatened individual companies like John Deere over plans to move manufacturing facilities abroad. The good news? Investors can mostly shrug the campaign rhetoric off and focus on stocks’ fundamentals.”
Podcast
Matt Blocki and Devin Faddoul dive into financial planning topics for newlyweds, emphasizing the importance of communication. They introduce the concept of a "money vision" to set a clear path for couples' financial futures, covering crucial decisions around budgeting, debt, and savings that can shape a stable financial foundation.
Recommendations
Book: Excellent Advice for Living by Kevin Kelly
Kevin Kelly, who has been called “the most interesting man in the world,” shares a compilation of insights and practical wisdom he’s accumulated over the years. His simple, profound lessons serve as gentle nudges toward a life of purpose and well-being.
CHECK IT OUT ??
Article: Who died and left the US $7 billion?
“The data wasn’t erroneous, Treasury officials found, who are legally forbidden to discuss tax filings. But it was a mystery. Who died? And why didn’t they hire better tax attorneys?”
CHECK IT OUT ??
Quote of the Week
“Vision is not enough, it must be combined with a venture. It is not enough to stare up the steps, we must step up the stairs.”
— Vaclav Havel
At Equilibrium Wealth Advisors, we help physicians, retirees, corporate leaders, and business owners reach their goals with a stress-free, integrated approach to wealth management.