
September Monthly Insights – Gold Highs, RILA Growth & Life Insurance Tips
Consumer confidence dipped in August as people worried about jobs, high prices, and tariffs. Some small companies also grew cautious, expecting higher costs ahead.

August Monthly Insights: U.S. Economy Growth • Stock Market • Private Investments
The U.S. economy grew by 3.0% in the second quarter of 2025 (April–June), after shrinking by 0.5% in the first quarter. That gives us about 1.2% average growth for the first half of the year — slower than 2.5% growth in 2024, mostly due to less consumer spending.

July Monthly Insights: Inflation in May • Housing Market • Life Tip
Some people thought the trade war would make inflation jump higher, but that hasn’t happened. Instead, inflation is moving closer to the Federal Reserve’s 2% goal. Consumer spending was soft in May, especially on travel and fun activities.

June Monthly Insights: Dollar Drop • Retiring in China • Financial Aid & Life Insurance
The U.S. dollar has dropped about 5% against a basket of global currencies.
But according to Federal Reserve data, the “real value” of the dollar (after inflation) is still high—about two standard deviations above its long-term average.

May Monthly Insights: Top Retirement Spots, Market Headlines & Sector ETF Q&A
U.S. News & World Report’s 2025 ranking highlights the top three U.S. retirement destinations and the criteria used: