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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2023 Fourth Quarter Review & Commentary
2023 ended on a high note with stunning bond performance in a reviving stock market. With a U.S. presidential election on the horizon, Executive Vice President & Chief Investment Officer Chris Battifarano uses historical data to evaluate year-end happenings and ponder what may lie ahead.
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Year-end Tips and Preparation for 2024
As we approach the end of 2023, now is the perfect time to review your financial planning, track your progress and make adjustments for the year ahead. To help you get started, we’ve compiled a list of five suggestions to consider before the year comes to a close. Review Your Investments First up, take a …
2023 Third Quarter Review & Commentary
The third quarter marked a reversal for equities, which peaked for the year in July and then weakened in August and September. Bonds remain under pressure and did not provide diversification benefits for the traditional 60/40 investor during the quarter. Alternative investments, on the other hand posted positive returns for the period. We also saw a move up in longer term rates for the first time awhile.
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New Federal Beneficial Ownership Reporting Requirements in 2024
Beginning in 2024, US tax filers will have new obligations to report personal information to the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network of the Department of the Treasury (“FinCEN”), regarding certain closely held businesses. Failure to report could result in civil and criminal penalties, so it’s important to know if you’re subject to FinCEN’s Beneficial Ownership Information …
Conflict between Israel and Hamas
The world continues to watch in horror as the conflict between Israel and Hamas intensifies. We can only hope and pray for an end to the violence and a lasting peace in the Middle East. FineMark’s Chief Investment Officer, Chris Battifarano, weighs in on the potential economic ramifications in the attached brief video.
Emerging Trends: A.I. & Deglobalization
Given the current market rally year-to-date, what are our thoughts on the equity markets over the next 12 months? The performance of US equity market to date has vastly outstripped our and any other market forecasts we had seen from forecasters at the onset of the year. This rapid price appreciation is partially what led …
Our Views on the Risk of a Recession
Our view has been that we have been in an elevated period of risk for the US to enter a recession, however one has not officially occurred. We say officially because recessions are only known with certitude in hindsight, and we have not been informed by the NBER, The National Bureau of Economic Research that …
2023 Second Quarter Review & Commentary
While storm clouds remain on the investment horizon, Executive Vice President & Chief Investment Officer Chris Battifarano explains why savvy investors should focus on the long-term, ignore Wall Street chatter, and be aware of mega trends that develop and impact the economic landscape.
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Feature Story: How to invest in gold, according to experts
FineMark’s Chief Investment Officer, Chris Battifarano, was recently interviewed by CBS News Market Watch on whether now is a good time to invest in gold.
2023 First Quarter Review & Commentary
Both stock and bond markets move significantly higher during the quarter, making up some of their losses posted in 2022. This, despite continued Fed rate hikes and concerns about liquidity in the banking sector. Please enjoy our latest newsletter where FineMark’s CIO, Chris Battifarano, reviews the quarter and our newest investment theme: How artificial intelligence (AI) will impact the economy in the future.
2022 Fourth Quarter Review & Commentary
While 2022 was a challenging year for financial markets, the steady drumbeat of high inflation that dominated headlines appears to be abating and we see reasons to be more optimistic. Executive Vice President & Chief Investment Officer Chris Battifarano shares the relevance of “Minsky Moments” in 2022 and FineMark’s informed outlook for 2023 and beyond.
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