LIFESTYLE DRIVEN ADVICE
FEBRUARY 2024

Hello,

 

As we quickly leap ahead in 2024, this month we celebrate an extra day in February! It’s fun to think about Leap Year traditions and how you may choose to spend an extra 24 hours. Time is one of your most valuable assets, and we hope you can reflect on how to spend this “extra” day.

 

Although an additional day in the year does not automatically or magically translate to higher returns, we have some insights to share with you that could help achieve that goal. First, we share a market outlook for the year, taking into account the macroeconomic landscape that lays the groundwork ( Harvard Business Reviews - 2024 Economic Forecast ). Next, with nearly two months of the year on the books, the market has already leaped to new highs. As with everything in the market, there are many ways to look at the achievement of new highs – both positive and negative. XML President,  Curtis Congdon, CFP®, CRPC® , does a great job highlighting some key considerations about reaching new all-time highs in this week’s video:  Historical Implications of All Time Highs . You may be surprised to learn that oftentimes strength begets further strength, and the revelation of new highs can influence even more highs.

 

One high that some individuals would like to see relaxed is the overall cost of buying a home. Pressure from limited supply, elevated mortgage rates, and increasing insurance costs have challenged would-be home buyers. Thankfully, it’s possible that a reprieve could be in store this year according to some experts: Realtor.com Housing Affordability .

 

As a last note of leaping forward, be sure to join us next month for what is expected to be an exciting and empowering webinar that has received lots of praise in the past. This year’s  Womenomics Webinar will be hosted by XML Wealth Advisor, Nicole Treiber , with special guest Candice Tse from Goldman Sachs. We hope you can join us for this event on March 21st!  

 

As always, if you have any questions about the information shared in the newsletter, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.

 

Best,

Brett

 

Brett Shane Bernstein, CFP ^®
CEO and Co-founder   

XML Financial Group
www.XMLFG.com  
(O) 301.770.5234 x 2030

Wealth Insights: Investing at All-Time Highs

 

In the most recent episode of Wealth Insights with XML President, Curtis Congdon, CFP®, CRPC® , with the S &P 500 reaching all-time highs in the early part of 2024, Curtis takes a look at the historical data to see whether it's worth it to invest in the markets during this euphoric run.

Blogs

Will Housing Become More Affordable In 2024?

 

 

The housing market has been red hot the past few years but in a recent Realtor.com market forecast, it appears there may be some reprieve in housing costs for prospective homebuyers in 2024. Take a look at this housing market forecast to see what factors may need to happen in order for this prediction to come true.

 

The Harvard Business Review’s Economic Forecast For 2024

 

With economic indicators such as inflation, unemployment, and the overall health of the American economy trending in the right direction, according to some analysts, the economic outlook still seems uncertain. Read on to find out what geopolitical factors are standing in the way of more positive economic forecasts.

Upcoming Webinar: Empowering Women Investors

 

On  Thursday, March 21 at 12PM ET , Nicole Treiber   (Wealth Advisor) will be joined by  Candice Tse , (Managing Director, Global Client Business at Goldman Sachs Asset Management) for a must-see conversation aimed at empowering women investors. Structured as an open discussion, this webinar will focus on the impact of women in the global economy, the common financial planning challenges affecting women, and how women can improve their confidence as investors.

XML Team News

Welcome to the team, Louis!

We would like to wish a warm welcome to Louis Blanc to the XML family. Louis will be working with the Collins Investment Group as a Client Service Associate. Louis brings with him a distinguished career in the financial services industry and is hoping to use that experience to enhance client relationships. Welcome to the team, Louis!

News Feature

With the approval of the Bitcoin Spot ETFs in January being a hot topic among investors, XML CEO and Co-founder Brett Bernstein, CFP® , shared his thoughts on the matter by stressing to exercise caution when it comes to investing in digital assets and to not invest what they cannot afford to lose. You can read Brett's comments in this Financial Planning article .

 

Brett also had the pleasure of joining The Connected Advisor podcast hosted by Milemarker CEO, Kyle Van Pelt. Brett shared insights into his industry journey, his unique approach, the future of financial planning, the crucial role of technology investment in firm growth, and much more! You can watch the conversation on YouTube , or listen to it on your preferred podcast platform: Spotify and Apple Podcasts .

Virginia Office Update

We have received so many great questions about the future of our Virginia office. We are currently in lease negotiations for a new office in Northern Virginia. We hope to finalize that and have an announcement in the coming weeks so stay tuned!

This communication is for information and educational purposes only. This is not a recommendation for the sale or investment in any product or strategy nor should it be perceived as individual advice. Information presented has been prepared from sources believed to be reliable but is not guaranteed and does not represent all available data necessary for making investment decisions. Economic and market forecasts presented herein reflect a series of assumptions and judgments as of the date of this presentation and are subject to change without notice. Forecasts do not consider the specific investment objectives, restrictions, tax and financial situation or other needs of an individual. Actual data will vary and may not be reflected here. Accordingly, these forecasts should be viewed as merely representative of a broad range of possible outcomes. The opinion expressed by this individual is based on facts and circumstances known at this time, is subject to change and does not reflect the opinions of all financial professionals of XML.

 

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