Articles/Education
Please choose any of the following articles below that interest you. Each article is listed under the month it was written. Articles written in prior months may still have educational interest.
March 2024 Indexes
(all values as of 02.29.2024) Stock Indexes: Dow Jones 38,996 S&P 500 5,096 Nasdaq 16,091 Bond Sector Yields: 2 Yr ...
Benefits Of A Trust Versus A Will – Estate Planning
A properly drafted will or trust is essential for anyone that has assets to leave to heirs. Either a will ...
Brief History of U.S. Freight Railroads – Historical Note
Since Cornelius Vanderbilt established the first railroads for commerce and shipping in the early 1860s, transportation has become more efficient ...
World’s Largest Energy Consumers – Global Energy Demand
As China and other developing countries continue to grow their middle class and build new cities and roads, the demand ...
Rates Hold Steady – Fixed Income Review
Interest rates held steady as the Federal Reserve opted to maintain current levels as inflation worries still were a concern ...
Stocks Start Year Off With Slight Gain – Domestic Equity Overview
Domestic equity indexes were mixed in January, as selective sectors outperformed other sectors. The disparity in performance, known as “sector ...
Consumers Drive Economic Growth, Not Government – Consumer Expenditures
Each month the Department of Commerce releases its Gross Domestic Product (GDP) report. This report is the single most recognized ...
Car Prices Are Falling – Auto Industry Review
Years of consecutive increases in U.S. auto sales have put a glut of vehicles on U.S. highways. In addition, a ...
Macro Economic Overview / Feb 2024
Financial markets started the year off with an eye on earnings, the upcoming election, and developments in the Middle East ...
U.S. Oil Production Reaches Another Record – Commodity Sector Overview
Despite efforts to curtail oil consumption and production of domestic oil, the U.S. achieved another record producing year in 2023. ...
Market Performance During Presidential Election Years – Political Dynamics
Election year markets are always a quandary, as candidates propose economic and fiscal plans in order to boost the nation’s ...
More U.S. Households Own Stocks – Consumer Finances
A recent survey conducted by the Federal Reserve, called the Survey of Consumer Finances has identified that 58% of U.S. ...
