In his third quarter installment of our FinePoints Newsletter, Chief Investment Officer, Chris Battifarano, discusses how shifting trade policies, ebullient equity markets, and evolving labor dynamics are shaping the investment landscape. He offers perspective on what these developments mean for investors and why maintaining balance and diversification remains as critical as ever.
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2025 Second Quarter Review & Commentary
Between an ever-shifting tariff landscape, rapidly rising fiscal deficits, and the growing risk of stagflation, the second quarter kept investors on edge—constantly reassessing how markets might interpret the latest developments. In a world that seems to be in a perpetual state of flux, what’s an investor to do? Our Chief Investment Officer, Chris Battifarano, shares FineMark’s perspective on how to navigate this complex environment in this quarter’s market commentary. We believe his insights will provide clarity, context, and confidence in this period of uncertainty.
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The One Big Beautiful Bill
During the first quarter we saw a reversal of several markets. The most consequential was the selloff in US equity markets, on the heels of outsized returns in 2023 & 2024. The Mag 7 stocks that rose to prominence during the market ascent were the biggest losers, not surprisingly. FineMark’s Chief Investment Officer, Chris Battifarano, reviews the quarter and our forward outlook during this period of heightened economic uncertainty.
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2025 First Quarter Review & Commentary
During the first quarter we saw a reversal of several markets. The most consequential was the selloff in US equity markets, on the heels of outsized returns in 2023 & 2024. The Mag 7 stocks that rose to prominence during the market ascent were the biggest losers, not surprisingly. FineMark’s Chief Investment Officer, Chris Battifarano, reviews the quarter and our forward outlook during this period of heightened economic uncertainty.
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Liberation Day Impacts
Liberation Day Impacts April 3, 2025 Yesterday’s tariff announcements by President Trump were far more sweeping than what markets had anticipated. This will introduce a new degree of uncertainty and thus greater market volatility. It is imperative that clients remain committed to long-term investment plans, although they may find the current situation unsettling. Here are …
2024 Fourth Quarter Review & Commentary
2024 brought all the benefits of a bull market, including outsized returns for U.S. equity investors. Looking back on the quarter and the year, Executive Vice President & Chief Investment Officer Chris Battifarano acknowledges the wisdom of capitalizing on opportunity, and offers insight on how to prepare for the eventual return of a bear market.
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2024 Third Quarter Review & Commentary
Inflation, the U.S. national debt, and the U.S. economy. Chief Investment Officer Chris Battifarano knows these are the topics keeping FineMark clients awake at night. He addresses these concerns and shares valuable insights to help you sleep more peacefully in the coming months.
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Interest Rates & Market Impact
On Wednesday, September 11th, our CIO, Chris Battifarano, and Tom Richmond, Co-Head of Taxable SMAs at Wasmer Schroeder (Schwab Asset Management), led a live discussion on interest rates and investment impacts. Their insights are crucial ahead of the Federal Reserve rate announcement on September 18th.
Questions to Consider Before Opening a 529 Account
What is a 529 Plan? A 529 plan is an investment account that offers tax-free withdrawals and other benefits when used to pay for qualified education expenses. You can use a 529 plan to pay for college, K-12 tuition, apprenticeship programs, and even student loan repayments. Any leftover funds can be used in different ways, …
Market Update
Stock markets are beginning to regain footing today after the S&P 500’s worst day in nearly two years. Now investors are wondering, what caused this market turmoil and more importantly, what can we expect next. Chief Investment Officer Chris Battifarano explains.
2024 Second Quarter Review & Commentary
Election year politics can breed market uncertainty. How should investors navigate this seemingly uncertain period? FineMark’s Chief Investment Officer lays out our approach to portfolio construction and investment management in our second quarter investment newsletter.
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2024 First Quarter Review & Commentary
Equity markets continued their strong upward rise, with US large caps leading the charge. Markets were clearly in risk seeking mode, and equites were not the only asset class to experience significant appreciation, cryptocurrencies continue to race ahead as well. Select commodities also rose significantly including gold, oil and cocoa. FineMark Chief Investment Officer Chris Battifarano breaks it all down, offering FineMark’s views on risk, opportunities, and what you need to consider as 2024 unfolds.
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