Good morning!

Welcome to October. It’s officially fall, and we’re glad to see lots of people are enjoying safe outdoor activities while the weather is still lovely.

This week, we’re going to look back at September from a stock market perspective, a look toward the end of the year money moves, and what it is about fall that makes us all want to clean and redecorate our homes.

September’s market correction was tough on everyone. From its intraday high on September 2nd to its intraday low September 23rd, the Standard & Poor’s

500 Index dropped more than 10%. The Nasdaq Composite dropped as much as 14% as technology stocks bore the brunt of the selling.

During the four-week stretch, it’s important to remember the market grappled with several big-picture issues. Hopes for an additional fiscal stimulus

faded as legislators appeared deadlocked. And investors learned that the Federal Reserve plans to keep short-term interest rates low for an extended period of time.

The Fed signaled that interest rates would not increase “until labor market conditions have reached levels consistent with the committee’s assessments of maximum employment and inflation has risen to 2% and is on track to moderately exceed 2% for some time.” Some don’t see this happening until 2023.

Keep in mind that investing involves risks, and you should base your investment decisions on your own goals, time horizon, and risk tolerance. The return

and principal value of investments will fluctuate as market conditions change. When sold, investments may be worth more or less than their original cost.vIf you’re concerned about the recent market volatility, give us a call. We’d like to hear what’s on your mind.

As 2020 enters its last quarter, it’s a good time to take a look at what has changed in your financial life this year. Whether the year has been uneventful for you or seen a big overhaul, now is the moment to see what you need to manage in your overall finances to set you up for 2021.

Some things that we’re keeping an eye on for you include tax-loss harvesting, itemizing deductions, retirement plan contributions, withholding, updating your estate plans, and gifting.

If you have questions about our strategy for you in any of these areas, give us a call. Now is a much better time to have these conversations than February or March of 2021 with tax season on the immediate horizon.

While you’re figuring out what to do financially for next year, if you’re like most of us, you’re probably nesting. Getting your house clean, maybe sprucing

up some decorations, decluttering, and in general making way for the fall and winter seasonal decorations that make this time of year so much fun.

While science has disproved the idea that pregnant people are prone to nesting, it’s still something that seems to happen at transitional moments, and fall is certainly one of those. This year that transition might feel more significant, between a presidential election year, a holiday season that will likely look different than it has in the past, and the end of a really strange year overall. Here are some great budget-friendly ways to change up your living environment for the fall.

If you’re looking for other great ways to enjoy this time of year, check out this list of 50 COVID-safe fall activities–and tell us if you did any of them!

Past performance is no guarantee of future results.  Securities offered through Triad Advisors, member FINRA/SIPC. Advisory Services offered through Obsidian Personal Planning Solutions, LLC. Obsidian Personal Planning Solutions, LLC, and Obsidian Personal Planning Solutions, Inc, are not affiliated with Triad Advisors.