Private: Wealth in a changing world
As you work to build a financial future for yourself and the ones you love, it is beneficial to have perspective on the world around you and the outside factors that may impact how your wealth can grow and thrive in a global economy.
March was yet another interesting month for the U.S. Unemployment: came in touch lower than last month at 4.3% for March (basically full employment). Inflation (CPI) ticked up a bit at 3.3% for March (should reverse course significantly in the coming months) and is still trending in the direction of the Fed’s target of 2% vs highs of 9.1% in 2022. The US economy for the last quarter grew by 2% year over year at 31.4 trillion dollars, https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/GDP. Mortgage interest rates will continue to drop in the coming months as demand is plagued by high interest rates and real estate prices. Interesting fun fact (a little in the weeds): Not a whole lot to talk about regarding the talking heads this past month, other than the normal lack of perspective. I will work on picking something up for next time.
On the international front, thoughts of growth are starting to fill the air and we are seeing more signs of stability. The Eurozone’s PPI(Producer Price Index, an inflation indicator) came in -3.1% for February year over year (a big win on the lower inflation side) and Unemployment for February came in at 6.2% (pretty good for them. In Asia Pacific economies: Japan’s economy we did not find and unemployment, inflation or GDP date to update. China’s CPI (inflation) year over year came in at .5% for March (lower inflation numbers are good for everyone) and GDP (gross domestic product) came in at 5% year over year for the 1st quarter of 2026 (a great number for them). Australia’s Unemployment rate stayed firm at 4.3% for March (a pretty good spot to be at for them). As a result of U.S. companies deriving 40% +/- of earnings from outside this country and the current strength of the U.S. economy, I still feel investment in stocks will continue to favor the U.S. over the long run with most markets outside the U.S. continuing to play catch-up.
The market (measured by the S&P 500 ETF, SPY) was down -5.20 +/- in March, bringing us to down -4.63% year to date for 2026, not great but the last 3 years were kind of awesome. I believe market valuations have moved back to a fair value and less volatility, not zero, should be on the horizon. My expectation is for choppy and sideways performance in the coming weeks. At AWMS, we still own equities/stocks for the same reasons we always have for their long-term growth and consistent dividend cash flow. Although markets can be volatile at times, dividend and interest payments continue to pour in like Havasu Falls.
Please continue to make healthy decisions like washing your hands, getting plenty of sleep, eating balanced meals, staying hydrated, and taking a stroll if you feel like it. Reach out to a friend or loved one and have a great conversation.
Until next time, be well and keep putting one foot in front of the other. If you are not a client and would like to receive our newsletter or our monthly blog update, please use the contact tab on our website and drop us an email.
Sincerely,
Thaddeus D. Phelps, CEO/CIO
PS: Understanding what you are paying for advisory services can be important. Our advisory services are priced in the medium-to-low range on average. If the postings on your statements under “Transaction Details” and labeled “MGMTFEE ADVISOR” are not adequate, we do create reports on our portal at awm-s.com monthly. Please reach out to srphelps@awm-s.com if you have any questions or would like a copy sent.
This commentary on this website reflects the personal opinions, viewpoints and analyses of an Advance Wealth Management Service, LLC employee, and should not be regarded as a description of advisory services provided by Advance Wealth Management Service, LLC or performance returns of any Advance Wealth Management Service, LLC client. The views reflected in the commentary are subject to change at any time without notice. Nothing on this website constitutes investment advice, performance data or any recommendation that any particular security, portfolio of securities, transaction or investment strategy is suitable for any specific person. Any mention of a particular security and related performance data is not a recommendation to buy or sell that security. Advance Wealth Management Service, LLC manages its clients’ accounts using a variety of investment techniques and strategies, which are not necessarily discussed in the commentary. Investments in securities involve the risk of loss. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.