Now that we’re past the halfway point of 2024, we wanted to take this occasion to look back at the articles we’ve produced for our clients so far this year and share the five most popular pieces, in case you missed any of them — or if you want to revisit and share them with friends and family.

Twice a month, we thoughtfully craft these pieces with our clients in mind, broaching subjects we think are relevant and interesting. This is not syndicated content. We want you to find value in these letters — especially in times like these.

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1. Understanding How a Living Trust Can Help Your Estate Planning

June 20 | A living trust is a flexible, popular tool that allows the estate to avoid probate and lets you control asset distribution after your death. Read more

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2. Another Milestone for the Dow: What Could Happen Next?

May 23 | The Dow’s rise to 40,000 is a reminder that when it comes to investing, patience is the key. Read more

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3. Here’s Why Investors Shouldn’t Panic Over the Market’s New Year’s Hangover

Jan. 12 | We talk regularly about not timing the market, and we don’t see these circumstances any differently. Read more

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4. Here’s How We’re Rebalancing the Portfolio as We Enter the Second Quarter

March 15 | We think much of the pain from rising interest rates is behind us — and the key to navigating volatility remains being in a diversified portfolio. Read more

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5. Investor Outlook: A Strong May, the First 100 Trading Days and 4 Scams to Watch

June 6  |  S&P 500 companies are enjoying their best earnings season in almost two years. Read more

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P.S. Looking for more? Here are the five articles that are most popular this year on our website (no matter when they were published).

1. The Importance of Compound Interest and Tax Planning on Your Portfolio (Sept. 8, 2022)
2. You’ve inherited an IRA. What happens next? (April 14, 2022)
3. Understanding the 10-Year Treasury and Why It Matters to Investors (Nov. 2, 2023)
4. Understanding How a Living Trust Can Help Your Estate Planning (June 20, 2024)
5. Before you sell for a loss, make sure you know the wash-sale rule (May 5, 2022)

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The CD Wealth Formula

We help our clients reach and maintain financial stability by following a specific plan, catered to each client. 

Our focus remains on long-term investing with a strategic allocation while maintaining a tactical approach. Our decisions to make changes are calculated and well thought out, looking at where we see the economy is heading. We are not guessing or market timing. We are anticipating and moving to those areas of strength in the economy — and in the stock market. 

We will continue to focus on the fact that what really matters right now is time in the market, not out of the market. That means staying the course and continuing to invest, even when the markets dip, to take advantage of potential market upturns. We continue to adhere to the tried-and-true disciplines of diversification, periodic rebalancing and looking forward, while not making investment decisions based on where we have been.

It is important to focus on the long-term goal, not on one specific data point or indicator. Long-term fundamentals are what matter. In markets and moments like these, it is essential to stick to the financial plan. Investing is about following a disciplined process over time.

This material contains an assessment of the market and economic environment at a specific point in time and is not intended to be a forecast of future events, or a guarantee of future results. Forward-looking statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties. Actual results, performance, or achievements may differ materially from those expressed or implied. Information is based on data gathered from what we believe are reliable sources.

Using diversification as part of your investment strategy neither assures nor guarantees better performance and cannot protect against loss of principal due to changing market conditions.

Past performance is not a guarantee of future results.

The opinions expressed in this commentary are those of the author and may not necessarily reflect those held by Kestra Investment Services, LLC or Kestra Advisory Services, LLC. This is for general information only and is not intended to provide specific investment advice or recommendations for any individual. It is suggested that you consult your financial professional, attorney, or tax advisor with regard to your individual situation.

Securities offered through Kestra Investment Services, LLC (Kestra IS), member FINRA/SIPC. Investment Advisory Services offered through Kestra Advisory Services, LLC (Kestra AS) an affiliate of Kestra IS. CD Wealth Management and Bluespring Wealth Partners LLC* are affiliates of Kestra IS and Kestra AS.  Investor Disclosures: https://bit.ly/KF-Disclosures

*Bluespring Wealth Partners, LLC acquires and supports high quality investment adviser and wealth management companies throughout the United States.

Fidelity Investments and Fidelity Institutional® (together “Fidelity”) is an independent company, unaffiliated with Kestra Financial or CD Wealth Management. Fidelity is a service provider to both. There is no form of legal partnership, agency affiliation, or similar relationship between your financial advisor and Fidelity, nor is such a relationship created or implied by the information herein. Fidelity has not been involved with the preparation of the content supplied by CD Wealth Management and does not guarantee, or assume any responsibility for, its content. Fidelity Investments is a registered service mark of FMR LLC. Fidelity Institutional provides clearing, custody, or other brokerage services through National Financial Services LLC or Fidelity Brokerage Services LLC, Members NYSE, SIPC.