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Peek of the Week

Posts in Lifestyle
The economy's momentum during high inflation
The economy's momentum during high inflation

It may not be what investors want to hear but there is indeed a slowdown happening in our economy. We're facing labor market challenges on top of inflation running over 2 percent. Today's Peek of the Week explains how the historically high growth rates of 2021 (that reflected the economy reopening after the pandemic) have shifted to the place where we're at now. Currently, we have high inflation to focus on.

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Lifestyle, Peek of the Week, Stock marketLeif HagenAchievement Financial#inflation, #workers, #america, #economy, #GDP, #stockmarket, #slowdown, #value, #goods, #worth
The pace of rate hikes and people moving to North America
The pace of rate hikes and people moving to North America

Today's Peek of the Week attempts to answer this question. With everything going on, investors have embraced the idea that the Federal Reserve can be persuaded to slow the pace of rates hikes. Investors saw stocks move higher last week, but the bond market was less optimistic after more Consumer Price Index (CPI) data was released. So what's the chance of a recession happening? According to Vince Golle and Kyungjin Yoo of Bloomberg, the chance of a recession within the next year is just below 50-50.

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Money, Investment, Lifestyle, Peek of the WeekLeif HagenAchievement Financial#northamerica, #moving, #eviction, #trends, #inflation, #stockmarket, #stocks, #bonds, #investing, #investors, #blog, #money, #summer, #movingtrends
Cooling markets during the heat of summer
Cooling markets during the heat of summer

Today's Peek of the Week has the latest insight into how the stock markets are cooling down now that the U.S. economy isn't burning as hot as it once was. With that being said, and even after the last two quarters of slowed growth, the United States economy continues to surprise us. Unemployment has fallen quite low, the labor market is on fire, and the main driver for this shift has been women returning to the workplace. With all this "job talk" brings more "recession talk" and today's PEEK of the WEEK shares some second quarter business activity data to follow up on the whole recession idea.

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Lifestyle, Investment, World Events, Stock marketLeif HagenAchievement Financial#stockmarket, #stocks, #bonds, #news, #marketcommentary, #america, #inflation, #work, #workers, #jobmarket, #financialnews, #finance, #investing, #investors
Is it a recession or isn't it?
Is it a recession or isn't it?

Hello, August! As we begin a new week and a new month, it seems like each day brings the question, "is it a recession, or isn't it?!" Our Peek of the Week reexamines last week's analysis about economic growth in the United States and how it's slowed for two consecutive quarters. We discuss how the GDP (gross domestic product) is measured and how it's contributing to our current inflation and our potential recession.

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Lifestyle, Stock market, Peek of the WeekLeif HagenAchievement Financial#recession, #shopping, #retail, #stocks, #bonds, #stockmarket, #investing, #marketnews, #thefed, #federalreserve, #rates
Retail sales are slowing as inflation numbers get released
Retail sales are slowing as inflation numbers get released

What's the difference between volatility and risk? Our Peek of the Week analyzes the recent inflation numbers, current retail sales data, and the risks involved with market volatility. We do our best to explain the difference between risk and volatility. You may have noticed... we are hearing the word "inflation" A LOT and feeling the rising prices to go with it. Mainly, it's a consequence of Russia's invasion of Ukraine and the supply chain bottlenecks with no end in sight at the moment.

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Lifestyle, Peek of the Week, Money, NewsLeif HagenAchievement Financial#inflation, #shopping, #consumers, #consumerpriceindex, #CPI, #family, #earning, #lfestyle, #stockmarket, #challenge, #reports
The Fed is focused on calming inflation
The Fed is focused on calming inflation

According to today's blog, "rising inflation is a bit like a child throwing a temper tantrum in the grocery store." Would you agree? And, what will it take to calm this wild child down?

Our Peek of the Week explains how the Fed is laser focused on calming our country's conditions of inflation and volatility. Fed Chair Jerome Powell was quoted saying, "We have both the tools we need and the resolve that it will take to restore price stability on behalf of American families and business."

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Money, Lifestyle, World Events, Stock market, Peek of the WeekLeif HagenAchievement Financial#rates, #federalreserve, #money, #blog, #stockmarket, #bonds, #bearmarket, #manufacturing
Happy 4th of July!
Happy 4th of July!

The heat of summer brings one of our favorite holidays, the 4th of July! The fourth signifies our nationhood and our freedom. Please read our special 4th of July "Peek of the Week" for some great ways to spend the holiday this year. We hope that on this celebration of freedom, you make a promise to yourself to continue your hard work to stay on your path to financial freedom. And if you need help with that, we are here for you.

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Lifestyle, Peek of the WeekLeif HagenAchievement Financial#celebrate, #amerca, #american, #americanflag, #independence, #independenceday, #hiostry, #history, #nation, #president, #freedom, #letfreedomring
High consumer pessimism leads to higher consumer spending... WHAT???!
High consumer pessimism leads to higher consumer spending... WHAT???!

Consumers are feeling more pessimistic than they have in a decade. The University of Michigan Consumer Sentiment Survey shows that sentiment has been sliding lower all year. Today's Peek of the Week explains how during a time when consumer pessimism feels at an all-time high, consumers could actually be more optimistic than the reports are indicating.

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Lifestyle, Money, News, Peek of the WeekLeif HagenAchievement Financial#spending, #consumers, #inflation, #money, #costofliving, #wages, #gains, #losses, #optimism, #pessimism, #outlook, #markets, #stockmarket
The pace of inflation slows, optimism grows
The pace of inflation slows, optimism grows

The three major U.S. stock market indices moved higher last week... for the first time in weeks. Prior to the increase, we saw investors reassess their approach and predictions. Today's Peek of the Week explains how strong corporate profits, more attractive share prices and the Fed's potential slowdown of rate hikes have brought us a stock market rally. And we appreciate it!

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Lifestyle, Stock market, Peek of the WeekLeif HagenAchievement Financial#peekoftheweek, #inflation, #costs, #costofliving, #prices, #stockmarket, #marketcommentary, #marketnews, #news, #americans, #shopping, #thefed
Honoring heroes this Memorial Day
Honoring heroes this Memorial Day

While we get a day off to celebrate with backyard barbeques and family, we want the concept of 'giving back' to be considered this year. How have the heroes of our country's history inspired you? Honor our fallen heroes, choose to be inspired and get out in the community to give back this year. If you're short on ideas, today's special blog commentary will provide a few!

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Lifestyle, Community Involvement, Peek of the WeekLeif HagenAchievement Financial#MemorialDay, #memorial, #remember, #heroe, #holidayweekend, #thankful, #thankyou
Welcome to the bear market
Welcome to the bear market

Today's Peek of the Week explains how tensions seem to rise when investors encounter bear market territory, causing some to wearily stay the course, and others to tap out. How is a bear market defined? It can be when shares prices decline 20 percent or more, or it can also occur when investors are feeling more bearish than bullish. It's safe to say we are in bear territory... read our "Peek" for more details and learn about how the investing decisions that can be made today will ultimately affect your long-term outcomes. You don't want to miss this!

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Lifestyle, Investment, World Events, Stock market, Peek of the WeekLeif HagenAchievement Financial#invest, #investing, #marketnews, #stockmarket, #bearmarket, #decline, #inflation, #costs, #cost, #costofliving, #federalreserve