Blog
What’s on our mind? You can read about it in our blog. Whether it’s ideas from the industry or emerging trends, you can read about it here. And once in a while, we may throw in a surprise. So keep checking in. We’re glad to have you reading along.
Outlook 2026: The Policy Engine
LPL Research is pleased to present Outlook 2026: The Policy Engine. Their annual update offers a thorough analysis of the economy and markets, highlighting potential implications for you. I’m pleased to bring you a few of the key...
Read MoreStocks Pass Another Test With November Rebound
Stock investors were rewarded for staying the course in November as broad stock market averages recovered from a mid-month dip to end near record highs. The comeback extended the S&P 500 Index’s streak of monthly gains to seven –...
Read MorePositive Momentum Builds as Year-End Approaches
The last week of October delivered a flurry of impactful headlines across earnings, monetary policy, and geopolitics — each shaping the investment landscape as we head into year-end. Here are some key takeaways: Corporate America...
Read MoreStock Market Fundamentals Outweigh Shutdown Drama
The October 1 deadline has passed, and the U.S. government has shut down. History suggests that shutdowns tend to be short-lived and have minimal sustained impact on the economy or the stock market. There are several essential services...
Read MoreSay Good-Bye to Summer and Hello to Historically Weak September
September 3, 2025 Dear Valued Investor, As summer winds down, the financial world remains focused primarily on the Federal Reserve (Fed). At last month’s Jackson Hole Economic Symposium, Fed Chair Jerome Powell signaled the Fed seems...
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Resilient Markets Amid Economic Crosscurrent
The last few days of July and the beginning of August have brought a flurry of key economic data, central bank activity, company earnings results, and tariff news. Here are some takeaways from the week of July 28:Slowing U.S. economy....
Read MoreMidyear Outlook 2025: Pragmatic Optimism, Measured Expectations
LPL Research recently unveiled Midyear Outlook 2025: Pragmatic Optimism, Measured Expectations, their semi-annual report that recaps where markets and the economy have been over the first half of 2025 and where they may be going over...
Read MoreAmerica Gets Record High Stock Prices for Its Birthday
As Americans get their grills and beach chairs ready for the July 4th holiday, the stock market and the weather across much of the country have both been on heaters. Stocks and bonds continue to effectively navigate a complex policy...
Read MoreVolatility Likely to Bring Opportunities As Trade Uncertainty Continues
As June begins, markets continue to navigate a complex landscape shaped by trade policy shifts, an uncertain economic and earnings outlook, and bond market headwinds. Several key developments in recent weeks may have implications for...
Read MoreMarket Resilience Amid Uncertainty
The latest recovery is another reminder that periods of turmoil can often create opportunities. Although stocks may pull back after their strong rally since the April 8 lows — especially if trade deals and tariff reductions don’t...
Read MoreTariffs Bring April Showers For Markets
April showers came a month early as stocks fell in March. Tariffs were the primary cause of the market jitters, although that uncertainty became too much for markets to shrug off once economic data started to weaken. The U.S. economy...
Read MoreTariff Transition
Dear Valued Investor, As spring approaches and the weather warms, the U.S. economy has begun to cool. After a sizzling recovery from the pandemic, followed by a period of surprisingly solid and steady growth on the back of resilient...
Read MoreAI Advances and Tariff Tactics
February 5, 2025 The new month brings two major market-moving stories to digest. First is the advances in artificial intelligence (AI) by Chinese startup DeepSeek. It has caused some investors to question America’s lead in the AI race...
Read MoreAnother Strong Year for Stocks
Stocks had another very strong year in 2024. In fact, 2024 marked the first time the S&P 500 has enjoyed a +20% gain in back-to-back years since 1997–98. Last year didn’t start out so optimistically though. The list of worries among...
Read MoreOutlook 2025: Pragmatic Optimism
LPL Research recently unveiled Outlook 2025: Pragmatic Optimism. The annual update offers a comprehensive analysis of the economic and market environment. I’m excited to bring to you a few of the key takeaways today. Looking back on...
Read MoreA November to Remember
Dear Valued Investor, Solid gains for stocks gave investors a November to remember. In fact, the S&P 500’s more than 5% advance marked its best month of 2024. Several factors played into the stock market’s continued move higher. The U...
Read MoreThe U.S. Economy and Financial Markets: Passing the Tests
With fall upon us and students back in classrooms, it seems like a good time to reflect on the various tests that the U.S. economy and stock market have passed recently. When the economy and markets are tested, the foundation for...
Read MoreMidyear Outlook 2024: Still Waiting for the Turn
July 9, 2024 Dear Valued Investor, LPL Research recently unveiled Midyear Outlook 2024: Still Waiting for the Turn, the semi-annual report that recaps where markets and the economy have been over the first half of 2024. I am excited...
Read MoreNavigating May's Stock Market Outlook
May 1, 2024 Dear Valued Investor, After a strong first quarter for stocks, some April showers rained down as the S&P 500 fell about 4% last month. Hopefully those showers will bring some flowers in May, despite the widely cited stock...
Read MoreAn Excellent First Quarter for Stocks
The first quarter is in the books, and it was an excellent one for stocks. The S&P 500 index rode a resilient U.S. economy, easing inflation, rising corporate profits, and anticipation of summertime rate cuts from the Federal Reserve...
Read MoreMarkets Warming Up
As spring approaches, the weather is starting to warm up. For the stock market, the temperature has been rising for a while now. In fact, since December 2023, the S&P 500 has not experienced a pullback of even 2%. Strong starts to...
Read MoreOutlook 2024: A Turning Point
LPL Financial Research Outlook 2024: A Turning Point In 2024, LPL Research believes markets will make a definitive turn to a more recognizable place. En route, the transition will be marked by meaningful shifts in a few key areas....
Read MoreImportant Lessons from 2023
Stocks defied the skeptics in a very unpredictable 2023. The Dow Jones finished at an all-time record high on December 28, and the S&P 500 came within a whisker of a fresh all-time high after the index rallied more than 20% for the...
Read MoreA November to Remember
Solid gains for both stocks and bonds gave investors a November to remember. As financial markets continue to defy skeptics, I’m reminded of a quote from Warren Buffett’s long-time partner and one of the greatest investors...
Read MoreOffering Thanks
November 1, 2023 The penultimate month of the year is often a time to reflect and offer thanks. And while economic and geopolitical uncertainty can overshadow the positives, there are things to be thankful for. Here is just some of...
Read MoreStaying the Course
The S&P 500 lost 3.3% in the third quarter after sliding nearly 5% in September. Putting this into perspective, nothing really qualifies as out of the ordinary. Since 1950, the S&P 500 has historically declined in September 55% of the...
Read MoreNavigating Market Setbacks
September 6, 2023 Dear Valued Investor, Financial markets lived up to their reputation during the month of August, which has a record for being difficult. On the first day of August, markets had to contend with a downgrade of U.S....
Read MoreStaying Invested in a Tricky Market Environment
Making economic forecasts and stock market predictions can be humbling. It’s especially tough when you expect stocks to go higher and get a big drop instead. The environment today is the opposite, but still tricky, as recession...
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LPL Financial Research Midyear Outlook 2023: The Path Toward Stability
Our 2023 investing outlook started with a theme of returning to normalcy. Considering 2022’s market volatility and the aftereffects of the pandemic, the idea of finding balance was certainly a welcomed change. It’s a theme...
Read MoreBetter-Than-Expected First Half
As we finalize the log on the first six months of 2023, we believe there’s value in reflecting on recent months gone by. Doing so can help crystallize key learnings and help chart a course through the rest of the year. Looking...
Read MoreDebt Ceiling Drama Is Behind Us
Every so often Washington likes to remind us how hard it can be to get things accomplished. The most recent example is the debt ceiling—the amount Congress can borrow to pay its bills. It seems like we have this debate every few...
Read MoreInvestor Sentiment Tested
Spring is often thought of as an uplifting time, marked by growth and renewed hope as we emerge from the long months of winter and look ahead to the rest of year. Investors saw signs of such renewed hope in recent weeks, especially on...
Read MoreA Resilient March
The financial markets’ resilient performance during March was striking, despite pockets of uncertainty surrounding the strength of the economy—and not to mention concerns over the durability of the banking system. The...
Read MoreSVB Collapse
Financial markets were shaken last week as Silicon Valley Bank (SVB), the California bank subsidiary of SVB Financial Group (SIVB), fell into FDIC receivership. SVB is the first FDIC-insured institution to fail since 2020 and the...
Read MoreWaiting for New Highs
March 1, 2023Dear Valued Investor,Financial markets have experienced quite a bit of change this year in just two short months. We started the year hopeful that stocks would benefit from a better economic and monetary policy environment...
Read MoreOpportunities in 2023
Whether you’re one to set ambitious New Year’s resolutions or simply use the beginning of the year to reset on a few habits, there’s almost always some value in reflecting on the past year before looking ahead. The...
Read MoreReasons for Optimism
January 4, 2023Dear Valued Investor,We wish you a happy New Year and hope you were able to close out 2022 with friends and family.The beginning of a calendar year is often the time when the previous year’s reflections transition...
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Outlook 2023: Finding Balance
Through all the challenges, newfound opportunities, and every high and low we’ve experienced during the last couple of years, it’s no surprise why we might be striving for more balance. Whether it’s about the markets...
Read MoreLooking Ahead
October is now behind us and it has delivered on its track record as a historically favorable month for stocks, offering some respite for investors as major equity indices rose for the month. The downside pressure on equities had...
Read MoreCould the Worst be Behind Us?
First, we want to acknowledge the tremendous damage and displacement caused by Hurricane Ian. Our thoughts are with those impacted by this devastating storm.This has clearly been a challenging year for households. Stocks and bonds are...
Read MoreBetter Times Ahead
In the last several weeks, we have continued to face elevated uncertainty in financial markets due to high inflation and rising interest rates, and we thought it was an important time to take stock with the final quarter of 2022 just...
Read MoreThe Best and Worst of Times
When it comes to stock market performance, August was “the best of times, and the worst of times.” The strong market rally that peaked in mid-August was viewed by many analysts as a transition from a bear to bull market,...
Read MoreBig Week for Market Watchers
Last week was epic for market-watchers. A Federal Reserve (Fed) rate hike, a much-anticipated gross domestic product (GDP) report, and the busiest week of earnings season got most of the headlines. There was even a surprise out of...
Read MoreLPL Financial Research Midyear Outlook 2022: Navigating Turbulence
Markets rarely give us clear skies, and there are always threats to watch for on the horizon, but the right preparation, context, and support can help us navigate anything that may lie ahead. So far, this year hasn’t seen a...
Read MoreLooking Forward
As the calendar has turned to July, investors would certainly like to forget the first six months of 2022. However, the Fourth of July Independence Day holiday does bring with it reason for celebration. Not only is it the 246th...
Read MoreA Bear Market is Officially Here
A bear market is officially here thanks largely to stubbornly high inflation. For many of us, it has probably felt like a bear market for a while now, but the S&P 500 Index didn’t close more than 20% below its January 3 record...
Read MoreBull Market Hangs By a Thread
The bull market that began in March of 2020 came dangerously close to an end. From March 23, 2020 through January 3, 2022, the S&P 500 Index gained 114% (excluding dividends). From that January 3 closing high through the recent low on...
Read MoreHoliday Resilience
We hope everyone enjoyed the Thanksgiving holiday with family and friends. While life has been challenging during the pandemic, we have a lot to be thankful for. At this time, we are especially grateful for COVID-19 vaccines and...
Read MoreMany Reasons to be Thankful
The past year and a half have tested all of us, but overall, the economy continues to strengthen, COVID-19 trends are greatly improving, and this still relatively young bull market is alive and well. As the leaves turn colors and begin...
Read MoreChange May Bring Opportunities
One constant in life is change. During the past year and a half, we have experienced more change than any of us bargained for. Change is disruptive—but also brings opportunities. For investors right now, there is no shortage of...
Read MoreThe Bull Market Continues
September 2, 2021 The bull market continues, with the S&P 500 Index now up seven months in a row. Stocks have impressively gained 20% year-to-date, with the S&P 500 making 53 new all-time highs before the end of August—another...
Read MoreSix Months and Counting
Six months and counting. That is the current monthly winning streak for the S&P 500 Index. To take that a step further, this key equity benchmark has posted gains in 13 of the last 16 months—dating back to the March 2020 low....
Read MoreLPL Financial Research Midyear Outlook 2021: Picking Up Speed
In the first half of 2021, the U.S. economy powered forward faster than nearly anyone had expected. Speed can be exhilarating, but it can also be dangerous. In our view, the overall economic picture remains sound and will likely...
Read MoreGearing Up for Summer
As we move into June, a path to normalcy is coming quickly with stadiums allowing full capacity, restaurants filling up, and summer vacations in full swing. Meanwhile, the U.S. economy continues to recover remarkably quickly and the...
Read MoreOut of the Shadows
As the calendar has turned to May, the popular “Sell in May and Go Away” stock market cliché is getting a lot of airtime. This is the idea that the stock market tends to be weakest between May and October (and...
Read MoreSpring Into A Positive Outlook
“The real key to making money in stocks is not to get scared out of them.” Peter LynchThey say April showers bring May flowers. Well, after a lot of showers and storms over the past year, flowers are starting to bloom and things are...
Read MoreThe Return of Normal is Approaching
It’s now been over a year since COVID-19 first hit American shores. While the pandemic has affected everyone to varying degrees, we can all agree that everyone’s life is different today than it was a year ago. It’s...
Read MoreMarket Update
“In the short-term, the market is a popularity contest. In the long-term, the market is a weighing machine.” Warren Buffett 2021 is under way, as our nation and the rest of the world look to begin to put the global...
Read MoreMarkets Shrug off Debt Levels
Markets Shrug off Debt Levels The level of US debt, already elevated before COVID-19 hit, skyrocketed as Congress put into place much needed fiscal stimulus in response to the pandemic, and it may jump again as the Biden administration...
Read More2021 Brings a Fresh Start
Happy New Year! A new year offers a welcomed turn of the calendar and a fresh start. However, it’s difficult to put 2020 completely behind us just yet because the COVID-19 pandemic still presents a significant threat. Healthcare...
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Outlook for 2021
As 2020 comes to a close, we are already looking forward to a new year—and to a world very different from the one we’re leaving behind. Areas of the economy have been damaged and may never fully recover, but other areas...
Read MoreElection Results
November 9, 2020 Former Vice President Joe Biden has been elected the 46th President of the United States, defeating President Donald Trump in a tight race and bringing an end to the highly contested 2020 election. The new...
Read MorePost-Election
November 4, 2020 The American people have voted, casting a record number of ballots under extraordinary circumstances, which is a testament to the enduring resilience of our democracy. Determining the outcome of our elections is a...
Read MoreMarket Update
Autumn has arrived, with students back in school, baseball playoffs beginning, and football in full swing. Life is trying to get back to as normal as possible despite the ongoing impact from COVID-19. While the number of new daily...
Read MoreBack to School in a New Way
Back to school this year will be different. On the one hand, like other years, it marks the end of summer, the arrival of cooler weather, kids hitting the books again, and Labor Day gatherings. But unlike other years, going back to...
Read MoreMarket Update
The battle versus COVID-19 continues. The spread in some of the recent hotspots like California and Florida is slowing, while states in the Northeast and Midwest are now experiencing increases in cases. According to the World Health...
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Midyear Outlook 2020
We are at the midpoint of 2020, and it would be an understatement to say it’s been a challenging year so far in the United States and around the world. We’ve faced health, social, and economic crises that continue to...
Read MoreMarket Update
The July Fourth holiday will be very different this year. Although it’s a time to enjoy family and friends, and maybe even watch some fireworks, social distancing and a new wave of COVID-19 cases also may take a seat at the...
Read MoreMarket Update
As we look ahead to the summer months, we can’t help but think what a challenging year it’s been so far. At the same time, we’re encouraged by the resiliency and accelerated innovation among US businesses and the...
Read MoreMarket Update
May 21, 2020 “Never confuse a single defeat with a final defeat.” — F. Scott Fitzgerald The economic struggles in our country are among the worst we’ve ever seen. In April, a record 20 million people lost their...
Read MoreMarket Update
Investors like labels for the economy and financial markets—many of them with the word “great” in them. The Great Depression. The Great Recession. The Great Lockdown. Well, we’ve moved into what we might call...
Read MoreMarket Update
“Life is 10% what happens to you and 90% how you respond to it.” — Lou Holtz, Hall of Fame football coach As the battle against the COVID-19 pandemic continues, how we respond to it will determine how we beat it....
Read MoreMarket Update
These are challenging times, and this week may be the toughest as we wait for COVID-19 to reach its peak in the United States. As the war against COVID-19 wages on, we continue to be inspired by the tremendous bravery shown by...
Read MoreMarket Update
“Every decade or so, dark clouds will fill the economic skies, and they will briefly rain gold. When downpours of that sort occur, reach for a bucket.” —Warren Buffett The battle with COVID-19 rages on, and the...
Read MoreCOVID-19 Market Update
The world continues its battle to contain the COVID-19 pandemic, which now has likely impacted, either directly or indirectly, nearly every person on Earth. This is far more than just a health crisis—this is a human crisis. Its...
Read MoreMarket Update
It’s been a tough week. The number of coronavirus cases have continued to increase globally, and new cases have been confirmed in the United States. Countries are making progress with containment, but those efforts also have...
Read MoreMarket Update
“The stock market takes an escalator up, and an elevator down,” is a classic Wall Street saying. The last week has sure felt like taking an express elevator down, as the end of February brought a historic stock market...
Read MoreMarket Update
The start of 2020 has brought increased stock market volatility. The uncharacteristically calm market environment we experienced for much of the past four months was bound to end, but identifying the catalyst for a potential sell-off...
Read MoreMarket Update
Happy New Year! What a difference a year makes. One year ago the stock market was plunging and came perilously close to ending what has become the longest bull market ever recorded. In December 2018, dropping stocks were suggesting an...
Read MoreOutlook 2020: Bringing Markets Into Focus
Hindsight is 20/20, but finding clarity in future uncertainty can be fuzzy. 2019 has been a very rewarding year for investors. One year ago after publishing Outlook 2019 we were all tested with market volatility, and that’s a...
Read MoreYour Year-End Financial Checklist
Your Year-End Financial Checklist With 2019 coming to a close, the time is right to review your finances and begin preparations for the new year. It happens every year. December 31 sneaks up before we know it, and we’re suddenly...
Read MoreMarket Update
Turning the calendar from October to November brought more than trick-or-treaters, pumpkins, and leaves to rake. It also brought a wave of important economic updates that delivered more treats than tricks and helped the stock markets...
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Midyear Outlook 2019: FUNDAMENTAL: How to Focus on What Really Matters in the Markets
We are pleased to announce the release of the LPL Research Midyear Outlook 2019: FUNDAMENTAL: How to Focus on What Really Matters in the Markets, with investment insights and market guidance through the end of 2019. LPL Research...
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Street View: Midyear Outlook 2019
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Read MoreWhy Advisory?
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Read MoreMarket Update
Most of the country might still be in the throes of the winter, but after extreme cold throughout many parts of the United States, thankfully the weather has warmed up. Stocks followed a similar path, warming up in January after a...
Read MoreA New Year's Perspective
It’s a new year and resolutions are in place, but investors in the financial markets may be struggling to find their optimism. The past several weeks have been very difficult, as the stock market sell-off resulted in the worst...
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Outlook 2019: FUNDAMENTAL: How to Focus on What Really Matters in the Markets
LPL Research Outlook 2019: FUNDAMENTAL: How to Focus on What Really Matters in the Markets is filled with investment insights and market guidance for the year ahead.LPL Research believes the following three themes will be key to the...
Read MoreMarket Update
Another year is drawing to a close, but so far neither market volatility nor market-moving headlines have shown any signs of winding down. As we reflect on a challenging 2018 and look for bright spots in 2019, confidence in continued...
Read MoreMidterm Election Results
The potential outcomes of the midterm elections have been dominating the news cycle lately, and we know from history that the markets typically do not like uncertainty. With the Democrats taking control of the House of Representatives...
Read MoreStocks Building on Positive Momentum Heading into Q4
The first day of fall may be in September, but the beginning of October is when that autumn feeling really kicks in. Whether you’re mourning the end of long summer days or embracing the return of pumpkin spice at your local...
Read MoreManny's Message
September is Life Insurance Awareness Month. This is a topic many people try to avoid. When was the last time you reviewed your current policy? How old is your current policy? Or, do you even have life insurance? Life changes quickly;...
Read MoreManny's Message
I am excited to announce that TWM has partnered with MoneyGuidePro to provide state of the art Financial Planning. I believe building better planning habits starts with making tools accessible, easy to use, and digital. MoneyGuidePro...
Read MoreManny's Message
On Thursday, August 16, 2018, I had the privilege of attending a regional event hosted by LPL Financial. As part of my fiduciary duty to my clients, I spend many hours a week educating myself, keeping up to date with market trends, and...
Read MoreMidyear Outlook 2018: The Plot Thickens Video
A short video addition to the LPL Midyear Outlook 2018:
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Midyear Outlook 2018: The Plot Thickens
Presenting the LPL Research Midyear Outlook 2018: The Plot Thickens, packed with investment insights and market analysis to guide you through all the action we may see in the year ahead. When we as investors began 2018, we were tuned...
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LPL Research Outlook 2018: Return of the Business Cycle
Presenting the LPL Research Outlook 2018: Return of the Business Cycle, packed with investment insights and market analysis to guide you through all the action we may see in the year ahead. “Return of the business cycle”...
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Great American Teach-In
Thank you to Sunset Hills Elementary for allowing us to participate in the Great American Teach-In 2017! We truly enjoy visiting the classroom each year and working with such smart and endearing kids. This year, they learned about...
Read MoreMarket Watch
This time of year can seem quiet, with summer vacations and back to school behind us, but the buzz of the holiday season still a few weeks away. Although this sense of calm may be a welcomed break, there is plenty of activity in the U...
Read MoreFocus on the Fundamentals
During the past several weeks, we’ve seen news headlines dominated by everything from extreme weather to heightened geopolitical risks, with speculation on policy changes in the U.S. an ongoing hot topic. With so many events...
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Midyear Outlook 2017: A Shift In Market Control Video
A short video addition to the LPL Outlook 2017:
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Midyear Outlook 2017: A Shift In Market Control
The LPL Research Midyear Outlook: A Shift In Market Control states the following four themes may be key to the markets over the balance of 2017: Monetary policy: Slow path to normalization. Maintaining economic growth without...
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Sustainable Investing
Thanks to LPL's Thought Leadership team for this thought-provoking article on Sustainable Investing. Drop me a line at the side of the page if you'd like to discuss it. I find the topic interesting and look forward to hearing your...
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Outlook 2017: Gauging Market Milestones
In 2016, financial markets, the economy, and geopolitics experienced an unusual number of milestones. While markets are testing new directions, it’s easy to overemphasize change, putting a spotlight on uncertainty and playing up...
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Great American Teach-In 2016
Thank you, to Sunset Hills Elementary, for allowing us the privilege of showcasing our business and career to their students at this year's Great American Teach-In.
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Midyear Outlook 2016: A Vote of Confidence
The recently released LPL Research Midyear Outlook 2016: A Vote of Confidence publication contains the guidance and investment insights to support you throughout the rest of this year. As we embark on the second half of 2016, the...
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Outlook 2016: Embrace the Routine Video
Our short video addition to the LPL Outlook 2016:
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Outlook 2016: Embrace the Routine
A key to success, in life and investing, is juggling the familiarity and wisdom of old routines with the adjustments demanded by an ever-evolving world. As we look forward to 2016, the LPL Research team expects a return to routine for...
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