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Peek of the Week

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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
The first half of 2022 is one for the history books
The first half of 2022 is one for the history books

The first six months of the year have been quite the ride. So far this year we've faced: ongoing inflation, witnessed the Fed's response to inflation, seen stock prices fall and we've FELT consumer sentiment tumble with it. Our Peek of the Week is explaining what brought us this bear market and how investors are expected to respond going forward.

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Peek of the Week, Stock market, World EventsLeif HagenAchievement Financial#inflation, #history, #bearmarket, #bonds, #rates, #stockprice, #markets, #volatile, #volatility, #americans, #american, #culture, #policy, #time
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
Predicting an upcoming recession is like flipping a coin
Predicting an upcoming recession is like flipping a coin

The stock market has been dropping, but it's important to know the stock market isn't very accurate when it comes to predicting recessions. And it sure seems like that's the word being thrown around these days: recession. The fact is, bear markets in stocks lead to recessions only about 53 percent of the time. In other words, the stock market has about the same predictive value for recessions as a simple coin toss. Let that sink in!

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Investment, Money, News, Peek of the WeekLeif HagenAchievement Financial#recession, #cost, #costofliving, #pandemic, #stockmarket, #marketnews, #USmarkets, #shopping, #shortages, #data, #thefed, #federalreserve, #centralbanks, #banks, #bondmarket, #bonds, #stocks, #recovery
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
Have a happy and meaningful Mother's Day
Have a happy and meaningful Mother's Day

We invite you to read our special Mother's Day 2022 Commentary on our blog today. On Mother's Day, we honor our Mother's love and how it helped mold us into who we are. We hope you have a special Mother's Day this weekend and if you're looking for some meaningful ways to celebrate, today's blog lists a few ideas.

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Lifestyle, Peek of the WeekLeif HagenAchievement Financial#mom, #moms, #mothersday, #happymothersday, #spring, #family, #love, #motherlylove
The Fed plays catch up with 'anti-inflation' campaign
The Fed plays catch up with 'anti-inflation' campaign

Today's Peek of the Week tells us how the Federal Reserve has stepped up their "anti-inflation campaign" in the last week, with the goal to slow inflation. Inflation has been high and is getting further exacerbated by the war in Ukraine and by China's virus lockdowns. So far, the American economy has avoided a recession but it has not avoided ongoing inflation.

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Money, Lifestyle, Stock market, Peek of the Week, World EventsLeif HagenAchievement Financial#inflation, #campaign, #marketwatch, #stockmarket, #stocks, #bonds, #wealth, #advisor, #Ukraine, #war, #interestrates, #earnings, #unemployment
Policymakers wonder where inflation is headed
Policymakers wonder where inflation is headed

Today's Peek of the Week explains the complexity of inflation and how the numbers may vary, depending on how things get measured. To determine how quickly prices will rise or fall is not easy and our government relies on two indexes to get their answers: the CPI (Consumer Price Index) and the PCE (the Personal Consumption Index). These signify headline inflation and core inflation. Read our "Peek of the Week" to learn how to differentiate between them and learn why the cost of two things we use daily, food and energy, can be excluded from inflation calculations. One thing we know for sure: policymakers have A LOT of data to consider before they make their predictions for the future.

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Investment, Lifestyle, Money, News, Peek of the WeekLeif HagenAchievement Financial#inflation, #groceries, #inflating, #policy, #prices