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On February 26, the national average 30-year mortgage rate fell below 6% for the first time since 2022. Since then, war broke out in Iran, causing all kinds of interest rates to lurch higher, from Treasury bond yields to mortgage rates. This has been frustrating to many who are either looking to buy a home ... Read more
When we talk about investing at Facet, we always start with the same foundation: Your portfolio should be designed to achieve your specific life goals. It sounds simple, but it requires a careful balance. We want to maximize the chance you reach those goals, which means seeking growth. However, we also need to protect your ... Read more
Planning for the future can sometimes feel like you’re trying to hit a moving target, especially when you’re balancing today’s needs with tomorrow’s dreams. It’s completely normal to want an investment strategy that feels secure and manageable without requiring you to watch the stock market every single day. We’re here to walk you through how ... Read more
Retirement can come with new and unexpected challenges that have nothing to do with your bank balance. Many retirees find themselves feeling unprepared for the next stage of life even after they’ve saved enough to meet every need. It’s completely normal to feel a bit of “now what?” energy as you move from a lifetime ... Read more
Stocks fell sharply in the first quarter of 2026, with most of the losses coming after the war began in Iran. The Morningstar Global Markets index fell 2.9% for the quarter, marking the worst quarter for global stocks since 2023. The U.S. was one of the worst performing major world markets, with the S&P 500 ... Read more
Transitioning from a steady paycheck to living off your life savings is one of the most significant, and potentially stressful, pivots you’ll ever make. There is a dizzying amount of conflicting “expert” advice out there, but for a lot of people, this just adds to the confusion. Between fluctuating market volatility and the nagging fear ... Read more
The recent breakout of major conflict in Iran has had a significant impact on world politics and the flow of global trade. Beyond the tragic human cost, these events have left investors grappling with how a potential regime change or a wider regional war could impact their portfolios. Here is how Facet approaches geopolitics in ... Read more
As artificial intelligence continues to dominate headlines, many investors are left wondering if we are witnessing a sustainable technological revolution or a repeat of the late-90s dot-com bubble. While AI infrastructure spending has powered stocks higher over the last couple years, concerns are mounting regarding the sustainability of these capital expenditures and the actual pace ... Read more
The U.S. dollar has struggled lately. According to the ICE U.S. Dollar Index, the American currency was down 9.4% in 2025, which was the worst year for the dollar since 2017. The trend has continued so far in 2026, with the dollar down another 1.5% through February 11. So why is the dollar dropping? How ... Read more
President Donald Trump will nominate Kevin Warsh as the next Chair of the Federal Reserve. If confirmed by the Senate, Warsh would take over for Jerome Powell, whose 8-year tenure at the helm of the Fed saw the stock market nearly triple in value. Warsh has long been a critic of the Fed, and may ... Read more
As expected, the Federal Reserve left its target interest rate unchanged after the January meeting. However I might argue this was one of the most intriguing Fed meetings in a long time. Since the Fed last met in December, Chair Jerome Powell was served with a grand jury subpoena, threatening criminal charges over Powell’s handling ... Read more
New year, smart(er) tricks As we head into the new year, financial scams continue to evolve. While the tools may be changing with the help of artificial intelligence (AI), the goal of scammers has stayed constant – to defraud you, the victim, of your hard earned funds. The most effective defense isn’t complex technology; it ... Read more