How did we do last quarter?

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We've been keeping up with the latest headlines...
here are two of our favorites worth sharing.

Your Money

The third quarter ended on a down note. The benchmark stock index had been essentially flat heading into the central bank’s meeting last week but turned lower after officials signaled they might hold rates near current levels through 2024. Cuts seem to be off the table, so yields on longer-term government bonds soared.

Higher rates are particularly troublesome for the tech stocks that powered the S&P 500 in the first half. Many such stocks command lofty valuations based on expectations that their business will expand far into the future. Higher rates eat into the worth of that anticipated growth.

Broad Market (S&P 500): -3.3% 3Q | +21.6% last 12 months
Small Companies (Russell 2000): -5.1% 3Q | +8.9% last 12 months
International Stocks (EAFE): -4.1% 3Q | +26.3% last 12 months
Emerging Markets (MSCI EM): -2.8% 3Q | +12.2% last 12 months
Bonds (Barclays Agg): -3.2% 3Q | +0.6% last 12 months

Personal video statements will begin going out next week.

The 2023 Stock-Market Rally Sputters in New World of Yield
by Karen Langley

Your Life

Shopping looks different from just a few years ago thanks to advancements in technology enabling smartphones, online shopping, personalized ads, and even machines replacing people, such as self-checkouts. Thanks to social media, consumers are bombarded with customized “shoppertainment” and advice from favorite social media darlings. If you shop clothes online, there’s no more trying on in person. You either have to rely on written reviews or posted reviews. However, some stores allow a 3D live format where you can virtually try on a product. An extensive marketing focus has been on saving consumers’ money through cash-back using money-saving apps like coupons.com or Rakuten, RetailMeNot, and others, or buying second-hand products using Poshmark, eBay, etc. The good news is that mom-and-pop shops can survive and thrive by selling online, competing against big department stores that no longer get foot traffic that began during COVID and continues today, permanently changing how we shop. Dollar stores are taking over. Between the top two chains, Dollar General and Dollar Tree (which also own Family Dollar), there are more than six times as many dollar stores in the US as there are Walmarts—with more than 35,000 locations combined. Lastly, people can shop online and then pick up at the store. This particularly appeals to health-compromised people who want to limit their risk of getting airborne illnesses.

The 10 most important trends in how you buy and what you buy
by Lisa Lee Freeman

Complexity Simplified

Body wash, body gel, or bar soap? It’s not just a matter of preference. Both cleanse the skin, but bars may be harsher, removing essential lipids and proteins, altering the skin’s pH level, and causing skin irritation. Also, body wash and gels can be slightly more hygienic because bacteria can live on bars and remain there from shower to shower and person to person. To avoid bacteria buildup on a soap bar, rinse it between uses and allow it to drain and dry completely. Also, did you know that the microbeads in exfoliating washes can harm the environment? Since there’s no plastic packaging, bar soap is also better for the environment. As for gels vs. body wash, the latter tends to be more hydrating and moisturizing. However, gels are an excellent choice for people living in warmer climates with oily skin since they give a more thorough “squeaky” cleaning, like bar soap, stripping the body of oils, dirt, and moisture. Overall, it’s best to avoid parabens and phthalates and heavy fragrances and dyes due to irritations. Lastly, keep in mind that you need to consider changing alternatives as you age.

When You Should Choose Body Wash Over Bar Soap—and When to Stick With Bar Soap
by Stacey Leasca

Trivia

A: Flamingos
Q: What color is a polar bear’s skin?

Back in 1975, this song reached #1