Covenant Wealth Strategies' News (August 21 - March 22)

SWIFT Sanctions and Russia Central Bank Restrictions
The U.S. has cut off major Russian banks from the SWIFT secure messaging system - severely limiting the banks’ ability to participate in international transactions.

Timely and Relevant News: Ukraine - Understanding The Market Reaction
Russian military forces attacked a broad range of targets across Ukraine last night while Russian President Putin vowed to replace Ukraine’s government.

What Could The End Of The Omicron Surge Mean For Inflation?
It has been easy to overlook the fact that getting Omicron in the rear view mirror is a huge step toward a fully functioning economy

It's Tax Season
As you prepare to file your taxes, there are a number of important dates and information to keep in mind.

Timely and Relevant News: Inflation Shifts Fed Expectations
The Consumer Price Index (CPI), the most well known measure of inflation, climbed 7.5% over the last year through January - its highest reading since 1982.

Timely and Relevant News: Potential Catalyst for a Market Turnaround
After a tough start for stocks in 2022, investors are looking for reasons to expect a rebound.

Ward Keever and Team Honored as One of LPL Financial's Top Financial Advisors
This preeminent award is presented to less than 0.5% of the firm's more than 19,000 advisors nationwide, affiliated with LPL Financial.

Updates From The Market Pull Back
Markets started to pull back Wednesday, which resulted in the biggest one-day decline for the Nasdaq since last February.

Three 2021 Market Lessons for 2022
In many ways, 2021 was a good year for the markets. It also reinforced some basic market lessons that are hard to learn, even if they are not new.

Season Greetings From Our Team At Covenant!
Covenant Wealth Strategies wishes you and your loved ones a very Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!

Timely and Relevant News: Highlights From The Federal Reserve Meeting
The Federal Reserve (Fed) recently ended its two-day Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) meeting and as expected - there were some notable shifts to monetary policy.

Retirement Plan Contribution Limit Increases For 2022
The IRS recently announced that beginning in 2022, taxpayers will be allowed to contribute an additional $1,000 into their 401(k), 403(b) and most 457 plans.

Omicron Variant & Market Update
Omicron - the new COVID-19 variant, which apparently originated in South Africa was named as a ‘variant of concern" by the WHO last Friday.

Thankful and Grateful
Perhaps this year, more than ever, Thanksgiving gives us an opportunity to appreciate what we have – family, friendships and a sense of connection.

Gratitude and Your Finances
It’s that time of year where many people begin thinking about everything they have to be thankful for.

Year-End Deadlines and Reminders
For those who are charitably inclined and/or are subject to Required Minimum Distributions (RMD), it is important to note that the year-end deadline is just around the corner.

Timely and Relevant News: Bullish Setup Into Year-End
The S&P 500 Index has gained more than 20% so far this year - making more than 50 record highs along the way.

Social Security Sees Its Largest Increase In 40 Years
The Social Security Administration recently announced that the cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) will be 5.9% in 2022.

Roadmap To Medicare
Medicare open enrollment this year is from October 15 - December 7, 2021.

Timely and Relevant News: The Most Important Chart
The calendar turned to October and volatility instantly picked up in a big way - with three consecutive 1% moves for the S&P 500 Index to start the month.

Could There Be An October Crash?
October has long been a source of anxiety for stock investors.

Protecting Your Financial Information
The financial services industry is seeing a massive increase in fraudsters, scammers and criminals trying to take advantage of investors.

Stocks Do Just Fine During Government Shutdowns
With the discussions in Washington heating up, we’ve heard more in the media about a potential government shutdown later this year.

Are You Familiar With The Common Types Of Investments?
First-time investors often find the process intimidating and let's be honest - even those with an extensive portfolio may still not quite understand all the complexities.

Federal Reserve Meeting Recap
The Federal Reserve (Fed) ended its two-day Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) meeting last Wednesday (9/22).

Timely and Relevant News: Why Evergrande Isn't The Next Lehman Brothers
Chinese property developer Evergrande’s liquidity crisis has sparked fear and massive selling in Chinese property stocks over the past several weeks.

Timely and Relevant News: Our Market Outlook Remains Optimistic
Business sentiment on Main Street has declined in recent months as the economy navigates the latest wave of COVID-19. Nevertheless, sentiment remains elevated as business leaders look past current obstacles.

Covenant Celebrates Adding Two New Virtual LPL Assistants!
As part of our commitment to delivering proactive concierge service to our clients, Covenant Wealth Strategies is pleased to share that we have added two new Virtual Assistants from LPL Financial to support our continued growth.

Timely and Relevant News: Welcome to August!
Stocks gained again in July, with the S&P 500 Index now up six months in a row! We've highlighted a few data points and reminders to keep in mind for the month of August.

Covenant Celebrates Adding A New Team Member!
Please welcome Dan Crisona who joins us as a Client Concierge!

Timely and Relevant News: Shortest Recession Ever is Over!
The National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER) recently announced that the COVID-19 recession is over.

Timely and Relevant News: Economic Lessons on Inflation
U.S. consumer prices rose in June 2021 at the fastest pace since August 2008.

Mid-Year Outlook 2021: Picking Up Speed
While the speed can be exhilarating as economic growth accelerates, it can also be dangerous. Read more in our latest Mid-Year Outlook: 2021: Picking Up Speed and join us for our upcoming event on 8/12!

Child Tax Credit Advances
The IRS recently announced additional details and changes to the Child Tax Credit (CTC), outlined in the American Rescue Plan. We've included several key highlights in our communication.